Not sure if this is what you are referring to, but in that time period these Latin words were used to refer to certain time periods: inst. (instant) - current month ult. (ultimo) - month preceding this one; "last month") prox. (proximate) - next month Susan Regan wrote: > I was just wondering what "instant" or "instantly" meant is obits from the mid to late 1800's. I have a few relative's obits that were worded like that but they died of illnesses like consumption, pneumonia...things that aren't so suddenly...so what other meaning can it have? > > Thanks for any insight. > > Susan > -- Alice J. Gayley Pennsylvania in the Civil War http://www.pa-roots.com/~pacw/