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This article is from the Calendars FAQ, by Claus Tondering claus@tondering.dk with numerous contributions by others.

2.13.4. What do AD, BC, CE, and BCE stand for?

Years before the birth of Christ are in English traditionally
identified using the abbreviation BC ("Before Christ").

Years after the birth of Christ are traditionally identified using the
Latin abbreviation AD ("Anno Domini", that is, "In the Year of the
Lord").

Some people, who want to avoid the reference to Christ that is implied
in these terms, prefer the abbreviations BCE ("Before the Common Era"
or "Before the Christian Era") and CE ("Common Era" or "Christian Era").

 

Continue to:

• prev: 2.13.3. When did the 3rd millennium start?
• Index
• next: 2.14. What is the Indiction?

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