Home

requiescere

Requiescere is a Latin verb meaning to rest, be quiet, or lie at rest. It can denote physical repose, cessation from labor, or a figurative sense of tranquillity. The word appears in classical, late antique, and ecclesiastical Latin and is common in epitaphs and religious writings where the idea of rest—often peaceful or eternal—is central.

Grammar and form: The verb is treated as a regular third-conjugation verb. Its infinitive is requiescere, and

Usage and nuance: In classical and later Latin, requiescere covers both physical rest after exertion and a

Context and scope: Requiescere is encountered in a range of Latin genres, from poetry and prose to

it
follows
standard
third-conjugation
patterns
in
tense
and
voice.
The
exact
principal
parts
can
vary
by
author,
but
the
core
meaning
remains
“to
rest”
and
it
is
used
intransitively
to
express
settling
or
quieting
of
activity
or
mind.
broader
sense
of
quiet
or
stillness.
Metaphorically,
it
can
refer
to
mental
calm
or
the
cessation
of
unrest.
A
well-known
formula
in
Latin
epitaphs
is
requiescat
in
pace,
meaning
“may
he
rest
in
peace,”
illustrating
its
use
in
expressions
of
final
rest.
religious
and
funerary
texts.
While
not
as
common
as
some
other
rest-related
verbs,
it
remains
a
standard
lexical
item
for
describing
repose,
peace,
and
the
state
of
being
at
rest
in
Latin.