David Copperfield is reading a letter from Mr. Micawber.
"Among other havens of domestic tranquillity and peace of mind, my feet will naturally tend towards the King's Bench Prison. In stating that I shall be (D. V.) on the outside of the south wall of that place of incarceration on civil process, the day after tomorrow, at seven in the evening, precisely, my object in this epistolary communication is accomplished. "

Am I right in believing, based on that gentleman's predilection for effusiverhetorical effects, that "D.V" stands for "Deus volens" = "God willing"?

Yes, I myself have always preferred the more euphonious inshallah.

It should, however, be in the ablative: deo volente

Bingley

in the ablative: deo volente

I'd often wondered about that, but I think I just got it; ablative of means: by a willing God.

I've always taken it as being an ablative absolute.

Bingley

My thanks for the correction.

ablative absolute

Right you are. Eighteen hits for "ablative absolute" "deo volente"