Meaning
- respect, sympathy and well wishes for a deceased person
- often said after the death of someone or something
- wishing the dead will find eternal peace in heaven
Example Sentences
- He was a kind, caring and well-loved family man. May he rest in peace.
- It was dreadfully sudden in the end, and I hope she rests in peace.
- The epitaph says 'Here lies Frank James Skinner, Loving son, brother, husband and father, may he rest in peace.
- Following the murder trial and the media circus in the aftermath, the victim's family begged that she be allowed to rest in peace.
- The war was over, and the fallen should now be allowed to rest in peace.
Origin
This phrase is a common epitaph on gravestones in Western (Christian) cemeteries. It originates from the Latin phrase requiescat in pace meaning 'may (the deceased person) rest in peace'. It was first appearing on gravestones as long ago as the 8 th century. Catholic burials may still use the original Latin phrase, but, today it is more common to hear and see rest in peace or the acronym R.I.P in cemeteries and obituaries.
