A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V -
A
a cappella - in the chapel style,
without instruments
a mensa et thoro - from board and bed
(legal separation)
a posteriori - from what comes later
a priori - from what comes before
a verbis ad verbera - from words to blows
ad absurdum - taken to absurd lengths, to an absurd extreme
ad hoc - to this particular purpose
ad hominem - according to the person
ad infinitum - going on forever
ad interim - for the meantime
ad libitum (ad lib) - as one pleases
ad locum - at the place
ad nauseam - to the point of making
one sick
addendum - an item to be added
advocatus diaboli - devil's advocate (Someone takes a position solely for the sake of a discussion or argument.)
agenda - things to be done
Alea iacta est. - "The die is
cast." (Julius Caesar)
alias - otherwise
alibi - elsewhere
alma mater - nurturing or nourishing
mother (refers to the university one has attended)
alter ego - another "I" or another self
alumnus - from the word "alere"
meaning to nurture, a graduate of a school or university Feminine form is alumna, plural - alumni.
amicus curiae - friend of the court
amor patriae - love of country
Amor vincit omnia. - Love conquers
all.
anno (an.) - year
Anno Domini (A.D.) - In the year of
the Lord
anno mundi - in the year of the world
annus horribilis - a horrible year
(Queen Elizabeth II described 1992.)
annus mirabilis - year of wonders
ante - before
ante cibum (a.c.) - before meals
ante meridiem (a.m.) - before noon in
the period from midnight to noon.
ante mortem - before death
ante prandium (a.p.) - before a meal,
especially lunch
antebellum - before the war
aqua vitae - water of life (spirits,
wine/brandy)
argumentum ad populum - A fallacious argument; because many people believe something it is not necessarily true
ars gratia artis - art for art's sake
Artium Baccalaureus - Bachelor of
Arts (BA)
Artium Magister - Master of Arts (MA)
Audaces fortuna iuvat. - Fortune
favours the bold.
Audio, video, disco. - I hear, I see,
I learn. (Smile!)
aurora borealis - northern lights
Aut vincere aut mori. - Either
conquer or die.
ave atque vale - hello and goodbye
B
bis in die (bid) �twice a day
bona fide -in good faith
C
Carpe diem. - Seize the day.
(literally "pluck� the day)
casus belli - an act used to justify
war
causa mortis - cause of death
Caveat. - Let him/her beware.
Caveat emptor. - Let the buyer
beware.
Caveat lector. - Let the reader
beware. (Text might not be
accurate.)
circa (ca.) - around or approximately, usually used with dates.
circulus vitiosus - vicious circle
citius altius fortius � �Faster,
higher, stronger� (Olympic motto)
Cogito ergo sum. - "I think
therefore I am." (Ren� Descartes)
commune bonum - the common good
compos mentis - of sound mind
consensu omnium - by the agreement of
all
Consummatum est. - It is completed
Cui prodest scelus, is fecit. - The one who derives advantage from the crime is the one most likely to have committed it. -
Seneca .
culpa - a sin
cum - with
cum grano salis - with a grain of
salt
cum laude - with praise
curriculum vitae - the course of
one's life (resum�)
D
de facto - in fact
de iure - according to law
De mortuis nil nisi bonum. � Say
only good about the dead.
Deo gratias. - Thanks be to God.
deus ex machina - god from the
machine (contrived solution usually to a literary plot)
De gustibus non est disputandum. -
There is no arguing tastes.
Deus vobiscum. - God be with you.
Divide et impera - Divide and
conquer.
Dominus vobiscum. - The Lord be with
you.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. �It is sweet and honourable
to die for one's country." (Horace)
Dum spiro, spero. - While I breathe,
I hope.
E
E pluribus unum - "From many,
one." - a national motto (USA)
Ecce homo. - Behold the man.
editio princeps - first printed
edition
eiusdem generis - of the same kind
emeritus - from merit (often used to
refer to a retired professor)
eo ipso - by that very act
ergo � therefore (used to show a
logical conclusion)
Errare humanum est. - To err is
human.
erratum - error
Esse quam videri - to be rather than to seem
et alii (et al.) - and others (used
to abbreviate a list of names)
et cetera (etc.) - and the rest,
nowadays also "and others", "and so on", "and
more")
et sequens - and the following
Et tu, Brute - "And you,
Brutus?" (quotation from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar)
ex - out of
ex animo - from the heart (sincerely)
ex cathedra - with authority
ex Deo - from God
ex dolo - intentionally
ex gratia - from kindness or from
grace (referring to someone performing an act out of kindness as opposed to
being forced to do it)
ex libris -from the books (library)
of
ex more - according to custom
ex officio - from the office (when
someone holds one position by virtue of holding another, for example, the U.S.
vice president is ex officio president of the Senate)
ex post facto - from what is done
afterward, of a law with retroactive effect.
ex tempore - right away, immediately
excelsior - higher, ever upward (NYS
motto)
Exceptio probat regulam. - The
exception proves the rule.
extempore - without premeditation
exempli gratia (e.g.) - for the sake
of example, usually translated "for example."
Exeunt. - They leave.
Exit. He/she leaves.
extempore - without premeditation
F
facile princeps - acknowledged leader
Facsimile. - Make a similar one.
(origin of the word fax)
facta, non verba - deeds, not words
Factum est. - It is done.
Fiat - Let it be done.
Fiat lux. - Let there be light.
finis - the end
flagrante delicto - in the act of
committing a crime
Flamma fumo est proxima. - There is
no smoke without fire.
Fugit hora. - The hour flies.
G
gloria - glory
gloria in excelsis Deo - glory to God
in the highest
H
Habeas corpus. - You must have the
body. (You must justify an imprisonment.)
hic et nunc - here and now
hic iacet - here lies
Homo sum. - I am a man.
honoris causa - for the sake of honor
Horas non numero nisi serenas. - I
only count the sunny hours. (common inscription on sundials)
hora somni (h.s.) - at bedtime, literally at the hour of sleep
I
ibidem (ibid.) - in the same place,
usually in bibliographic citations.
id est (i.e.) - that is to say,
sometimes "in this case," depending on the context
Ignorantia legis neminem excusat. -
Ignorance of the law excuses no one.
imago Dei - image of God
imperium - absolute power
Imprimatur. - Let it be printed.
imprimis - in first place
inter arma silent leges - There is no law on the battlefield".
in absentia - in the absence of
in articulo mortis - at the moment of
death
In camera -in secret (literally
"in the chamber")
Incipit - Begin here.
index librorum prohibitorum - list of
forbidden books
in dubio - in doubt
in duplo - in two
in effigie - in (the form of) an
image
in esse - in existence
in excelsis - in the highest
in extenso - in long (form) that is
complete, unabridged.
in extremis - in extremity
In fidem - to faith
in fine - at the end
In flagrante delicto - In flaming
crime (caught in the act)
in flore - in bloom
in foro - in forum (in court)
infra - below, underneath
in futuro - in the future
in infinitum - to infinity
In loco - at the place
in loco parentis - in the place of a
parent
In medias res - into the middle of
things
in memoriam - in memory of
In nuce - in a nutshell
in perpetuum - for ever
in personam - against the person
in pleno - in full
in praesenti - at the present time
in principio - in the beginning
in propria persona - in person
in puris naturalibus - completely
naked
in rem - against the matter
(property)
in rerum natura - in the nature of
things
In salvo - in safety
in se - in itself
in situ - in position
in totidem verbis - in so many words
in toto - totally,completely
in transitu - in passing
In triplo - in three (copies)
in usu - in use
in utero - in the womb
in vacuo - in a vacuum
In vino veritas. - In wine is truth.
in vitro - in glass
in vivo - in the living (thing)
incredibile dictu - incredible to say
inter alia - among other things
inter alios - among other people
inter se - between themselves
inter spem et metum - between hope
and fear
inter vivos - between living (people)
intra muros - within the walls, not
public
intra vires - within the powers
Ipsi dixit. - He himself said it.
ipsissima verba - the exact words
ipso facto - by the fact itself
ipso iure - by operation of the law
ius gentium - the law of nations
J
justitia omnibus - justice for all
K
Not used in Latin
L
lapsus linguae - a slip of the tongue
lapsus memoriae - a slip of the
memory
Laus Deo - Praise be to God.
lex domicilii - the law of a person's
home country
Lex lata - the law as it exists
lex loci - the law of the place
lex non scripta - the unwritten
(common) law
lex scripta - the written law
Licentia poetica - Poetic license
literati - men of letters
locus delicti - the scene of the
crime
locus in quo - the place in which
something happens
Loquitur - He/She speaks.
lumen naturale - natural light
lusus naturae - a freak of nature
lux et veritas - light and truth
lux mundi - the light of the world
M
Magister Artium (MA) - master of arts
magna cum laude - with great
distinction
Magnificat. - It magnifies.
magnum opus - the greatest piece of
work
mala fide - in bad faith
manu propria (m.p.) - with one's own
hand
mater - mother
materfamilias - mother of family
mea culpa - through my fault
Memento mori. - Remember that you
must die.
memorabilia - memorable things
mens sana in corpore - a healthy mind
in a healthy body
millennium (millennia) - a thousand
year period
mirabile visu - wonderful to behold
Miserere. - Have mercy.
modus operandi (m.o.) - way of
operating
modus vivendi - way of living
moratorium - a delay
Morituri te salutant. - Those who are
about to die salute you.
N
Nascentes morimur. - From the moment
we are born, we die.
Natura abhorret a vacuo. - Nature
abhors a vacuum
ne plus ultra (also non plus ultra)
"nothing more beyond" literally, the best or most extreme example of
something.
nihil - nothing
nihil per os (n.p.o.) - nothing by
mouth
nolens volens - whether unwilling or willing
Noli me tangere. - Touch me not.
nolle prosequi -
not willing to prosecute (a legal motion to drop legal charges, usually in
exchange for a diversion program or out-of-court settlement)
Nolo contendere - I do not wish to
contend. (no contest - a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a
court that states the accused doesn't admit guilt but will accept punishment for
a crime.)
non mihi solum �not for myself
alone
non sequitur - it does not follow
Nota bene (n.b.) Note it well.
nulli secundus - second to none
nunc pro tunc - now for then
(effective from an earlier date)
O
O tempora, O mores! - "Oh the
times! Oh the morals!" (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
oculus dexter (O.D.) - right eye
oculus sinister (O.S.) - left eye
Oderint dum metuant
~ Let them hate so long as they fear. Lucius Accius Better known perhaps as one of Caligula's favorite sayings
Odi et amo. � �I hate (her) and I
love (her).� (Catullus)
Omnia vincit amor - Love conquers
all.
onus probandi - the burden of proof
opera omnia - all works (the
collected works of an author)
opere citato (op.cit) - in the cited
work
ophidia in herba - a snake in the
grass (hidden danger or unknown risk)
opus Dei - the work of God
P
panem et circenses - bread and
circuses
pari passu - with equal step (moving
together, simultaneously)
pater noster - our father
paterfamilias - father of the family
paucis verbis - in a few words
pax - peace
Pax vobiscum. - Peace be with you.
per annum - yearly
per capita - per head (per person)
per cent - per hundred
per diem - daily
per os (p.o.) - by mouth
per se - by itself
per
qod - by virtue of and depending on external facts e.g. a libel would
only be valid if the accuser were truly of good character. Opposite of
per se.
per stirpes - per branch (used in
wills to indicate that each branch of the testator's family should inherit
equally)
persona non grata - person not
wanted,
post bellum - after the war
post cibum (p.c.) - after meals
post facto - after the fact
post hoc - after this
Post hoc ergo procter hoc - A logical fallacy of ascribing causatiuon when it is not justified.
post meridiem (pm) - after midday,
from noon to midnight
post mortem - after death
post partum - after childbirth
Post prandial - after eating.
post scriptum (ps) - written later,
used to mark additions to a letter after the signature.
prima facie - at first sight
Primum non nocere. "First, do no
harm." (Hippocrates)
primus inter pares - first among
equals
pro bono (pro bono publico) - for the
good of the public said of a lawyer's work that is not charged for.
pro forma - as a matter of form,
formality
pro nunc - for now
pro patria - for one's country
pro rata - for the rate, (in
proportion to the value)
pro re nata (prn) - as needed
pro tempore - for the time being,
(temporary)
Probatum est - It has been proved.
punctum saliens - the outstanding
(essential or most notable) point
Q
qua - in so far as
Quaere verum. - Seek the truth.
quaque die (qd) - every day
quaque hora (qh) - every hour
quaque mane (qm) - every morning
quaque nocte (qn) - every night
quater in die (qid) - four times a
day
Quem deus vult perdere, dementat prius - Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad
Qui tacet consentit. - Who keeps
silent, consents.
quid pro quo - this for that (a favor
for a favor)
Quidnunc? or Quid nunc? - What now?
(noun: a busybody or a gossip)
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who
will guard the guardians?
quo iure - by what law
Quo vadis - Where are you going?
quod erat demonstrandum (QED) - which
was to be demonstrated
Quod est (qe) - which is
quorum - of whom
R
re - concerning
redivivus - come back to life
reductio ad absurdum - reduction to
the absurd
referendum - something to be referred
regina - queen
Requiescat in pace. - (RIP) May
he/she rest in peace.
Res ipsa loquitur. - The thing speaks
for itself.
res iudicata � a judged thing
(Legal concept: once a matter has been finally decided by the courts, it cannot
be litigated again.)
rex - king
rigor mortis - the rigidity of death
S
salve - hello
satis - enough
scilicet (s.c.) - that is to say
Scripsit. - He/She wrote it.
semper fidelis � (Semper Fi) always
faithful
semper paratus - always prepared.
sequens (seq) - the following (one)
sic - thus
Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you wish for peace, prepare for war
Sic vita est - Such is life.
Signetur (sig) - Let it be labeled.
sine anno (s.a.) - without year
(unknown publication date)
sine cura - without a care
sine die - without a day
(indefinitely)
sine qua non - something/someone
indispensable
sine loco (sl) - without place
sine prole (sp) - without issue
statim (stat) - immediately
Sola scriptura -
the idea that the holy book is doctrinally infallible and all required
knowledge is to be found therin (A Theological concept.)
solum Deum prae oculis habentes - having only God before your eyes
Solvitur Ambulando - It is all solved with a walk
status quo - the current state of
being
Stet - Let it stand. (marginal mark
in proofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or marked for
deletion should be retained)
stricto sensu - in the strict sense
stupor mundi - wonder of the world
sub poena - under penalty of law
sub rosa - under the rose (secretly)
sui generis - of his/her/its own kind
sui juris - of one's own right (capable of legal responsibility)
summa cum laude - with highest praise
summum bonum - the highest good
summum malum - the supreme evil
Sunt omnes unum. - They are all one.
suo iure - in one's own right
suo loco - in a person's rightful
place
supra - above
T
tabula rasa - blank tablet or slate
tacet - silence
tempore - in the time of
Tempus fugit. - Time flees.
terra firma - solid ground
terra incognita - unknown land
ter in die (t.i.d.) - three times a
day
U
ut dictum - as directed
unus multorum - one of many (an
average person)
V
Vade in pace. - Go in peace.
vale - farewell
Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas. -
"Vanity, vanity, all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes, 1:2)
Veni, vidi, vici. - I came, I saw, I
conquered.
vera causa - the true cause (of)
verbatim et litteratim - word for
word and letter for letter
Verbum sapienti sat est. - A word is
enough to the wise.
Veritas - truth
Veritas nunquam perit. - Truth never
dies.
Veritas vos liberabit. - The truth
will set you free.
versus (vs.) - against
veto - I forbid (a right to
unilaterally stop a certain piece of legislation)
via - by way of
vice - in place of
vice versa - with places exchanged
(in reverse order)
vide - see
Vis legis - force of the law
Vivat regina - Long live the queen.
Vivat rex - Long live the king.
vox populi - voice of the people
Linda Byard
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