List of Latin phrases (full)

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This article lists direct English translations of common Latin phrases. Some of the phrases are
themselves translations of Greek phrases, as Greek rhetoric and literature reached its peak
centuries before that of ancient Rome.
This list is a combination of the twenty divided "List of Latin phrases" pages.

List of Latin phrases sub-articles

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 List of Latin phrases sub-articles

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A[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

from the greater to the From general to particular; "What holds for all X also
a maiore ad minus
smaller holds for one particular X." – argumentum a fortiori

An inference from smaller to bigger; what is

from the smaller to the forbidden at least is forbidden at more ("If riding a
a minore ad maius
greater bicycle with two on it is forbidden, riding it with
three on it is at least similarly punished".)

A solis ortu usque

from sunrise to sunset
ad occasum
 Said of an argument either for a conclusion that rests
on the alleged absurdity of an opponent's argument
(cf. appeal to ridicule) or that another assertion is
ab absurdo from the absurd
false because it is absurd. The phrase is distinct
from reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid
logical argument.

ab abusu ad usum
An inference from an Rights abused are still rights; confer abusus non tollit
non valet
abuse to a use is not valid usum.
consequentia

Literally, "from the everlasting", "from eternity", and

"from outside of time". Philosophically and
theologically, it indicates something, e. g., the
universe, that was created from outside of time.
ab aeterno from the eternal Sometimes the phrase is used incorrectly to denote
"from time immemorial", "since the beginning of
time", or "from an infinitely remote time in the past",
i. e., not from without time but from a point within
time.

ab antiquo from the ancient From ancient times

Or, "at will" or "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and

its Italian (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplácito)
a bene placito from one well pleased
derivatives, are synonymous with the more
common ad libitum (at pleasure).

Regarding or pertaining to
ab epistulis from the letters[1] correspondence;[1] secretarial office in the Roman
Empire

Legal term denoting derivation from an external

ab extra from beyond/without source, rather than from a person's self or mind, this
latter source being denoted by "ab intra".

ab hinc from here on Also sometimes written as "abhinc"

Or "from the bottom of my heart", "with deepest

ab imo pectore from the deepest chest
affection", or "sincerely". Attributed to Julius Caesar.

ab inconvenienti from an inconvenient thing New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from
inconvenience", or "from hardship". An argumentum
 ab inconvenienti is one based on the difficulties
involved in pursuing a line of reasoning, and is thus a
form of appeal to consequences. The phrase refers to
the legal principle that an argument from
inconvenience has great weight.

Thus, "from the beginning" or "from

infancy". Incunabula is commonly used in English to
ab incunabulis from the cradle refer to the earliest stage or origin of something, and
especially to copies of books that predate the spread
of the printing press circa AD 1500.

Or, "from the outset", referring to an inquiry or

investigation. In literature, it refers to a story told
from the beginning rather than in medias res("from
the middle"). In law, it refers to a thing being true
from its beginning or from the instant of the act,
rather than from when the court declared it so.
An annulment is a judicial declaration of the
ab initio from the beginning invalidity or nullity of a marriage ab initio; i. e., that
the pseudo marriage was "no thing" (in Latin, nullius,
from which the word "nullity" derives) and never
existed, except perhaps in name only. In science, the
phrase refers to the first principles. In other contexts,
it often refers to beginner or training courses. Ab
initio mundi means "from the beginning of the
world".

From a decedent, i. e., a dead person, who died

ab intestato from an intestate
without executing a legal will; cf. ex testamento

ab intra from within From the inside; the opposite of ab extra

ab invito unwillingly

Or, "by an angry person"; used in law to describe a

decision or action that is detrimental to those whom it
affects and is motivated by hatred or anger instead of
ab irato from an angry man reason. The form irato is masculine; however, this
does not limit the application of the phrase to men:
rather, "person" is meant because the phrase probably
elides "homo" ("man/person"), not "vir" ("men").

From the origin, beginning, source, or

ab origine from the source commencement; i. e., "originally". It is the source of
the word aboriginal.
 From Horace, Satire, 1.3. Means "from beginning to
end", based on the Roman main meal typically
ab ovo usque ad
from the egg to the apples beginning with an egg dish and ending with fruit; cf.
mala
the English phrase soup to nuts. Thus, ab ovo means
"from the beginning", and can connote thoroughness.

absens haeres non an absent person will not Legal principle that a person who is not present is
erit be an heir unlikely to inherit

[with] the defendant being Legal phrase denoting action "in the absence of the
absente reo (abs. re.)
absent accused"

Expresses the wish that no insult or injury be

presumed or done by the speaker's words, i. e., "no
absit iniuria "let injury be absent" offense". Also rendered absit iniuria verbis("let
injury be absent from these words"). Contrast
with absit invidia.

Said in the context of a statement of excellence:

unlike the English expression "no offense", absit
invidia is intended to ward off envious deities who
might interpret a statement of excellence as hubris.
absit invidia "let ill will/envy be absent"
Also extended to absit invidia verbo, ("may ill
will/envy be absent from these words"). Contrast it
with absit iniuria verbis. An explanation of Livy's
usage.

Or, "let this not be a bad omen". Expresses the wish

that something seemingly ill-boding does not turn out
absit omen let an omen be absent
to be an omen for future events, and calls on Divine
protection against evil.

absolutum Total, if not supreme, power, dominion, ownership,

absolute dominion
dominium and sovereignty

Legal term pronounced by a judge to acquit a

defendant following his trial. Te absolvo or absolvo
te, translated, "I forgive you", said by Roman
absolvo I acquit
Catholic priests during the Sacrament of Confession,
in Latin prior to the Second Vatican Council and in
vernacular thereafter.

abundans cautela abundant caution does no Frequently re-phrased as "one can never be too
non nocet harm careful"

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 2, 65-6. Refers to

situations where a single example or observation
ab uno disce omnes from one, learn all indicates a general or universal truth. Visible in the
court of the character King Silas in the American
television series Kings.

Or, "from the founding of Rome", which occurred in

753 BC, according to Livy's count. It was used as a
referential year in ancient Rome from which
ab urbe from the city having been
subsequent years were calculated, prior to being
condita (a.u.c.) founded
replaced by other dating conventions. Also anno
urbis conditae (a.u.c.); literally "in the year of the
founded city".

abusus non tollit misuse does not remove The misuse of some thing does not eliminate the
usum use possibility of its correct use.

ab utili from utility Used of an argument

abyssus abyssum From Psalms 42:7; some translations have "sea calls
deep calleth unto deep
invocat to sea".

Or, "from Heaven all the way to the center of the

Earth". In law, it may refer to the proprietary
a caelo usque ad principle of Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad
from the sky to the center
centrum coelum et ad inferos ("Whosesoever is the soil, it is
his up to the sky and down to the depths [of the
Earth]").

From top to bottom; all the way through; or from

a capite ad calcem from head to heel
head to toe; see also a pedibus usque ad caput

Motto of the 848 Naval Air Squadron, British Royal

accipe hoc take this
Navy

Legal principle denoting that an accused person is

entitled to plead not guilty, and that a witness is not
accusare nemo se no one ought to accuse
obligated to respond or submit a document that
debet nisi coram himself except in the
would incriminate himself. A similar phrase is nemo
Deo presence of God
tenetur se ipsum accusare ("no one is bound to
accuse himself"). See right to silence.
 Equivalent to "on the contrary" and "au contraire".
An argumentum a contrario ("argument from the
a contrario from the opposite
contrary") is an argument or proof by contrast or
direct opposite.

Ovid, Tristia, 1.2.97: si tamen acta deos numquam

acta deos numquam mortal actions never mortalia fallunt, / a culpa facinus scitis abesse
mortalia fallunt deceive the gods mea. ("Yet if mortal actions never deceive the gods, /
you know that crime was absent from my fault.")

Common ending to ancient Roman

comedies; Suetonius claimed in The Twelve
Caesars that these were the last words
acta est fabula The play has been
of Augustus; Sibeliusapplied them to the third
plaudite performed; applaud!
movement of his String Quartet No. 2, so that his
audience would recognize that it was the last one,
because a fourth would be ordinarily expected.

Motto of the United States Merchant Marine

acta non verba Deeds not Words
Academy

Also used in the singular preceding a saint's

acta sanctorum Deeds of the Saints name: Acta Sancti ("Deeds of Saint") N.; a common
title of hagiography works

actiones secundum "We act according to what we believe (ourselves to

action follows belief
fidei be)."[2]

actus me invito
the act done by me against
factus non est meus
my will is not my act
actus

actus non facit The act does not make [a

Legal principle of the presumption of mens rea in
reum nisi mens sit person] guilty unless the
a crime
rea mind should be guilty.

The actual crime that is committed, as distinguished

from the intent, thinking, and rationalizing that
actus reus guilty act procured the criminal act; the external elements of a
crime, as contrasted with the mens rea, i. e., the
internal elements.
 In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical.
ad absurdum to absurdity See also reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused
with ab absurdo ("from the absurd").

In legal language, used when providing additional

evidence to an already sufficient collection. Also
ad abundantiam to abundance
used commonly, as an equivalent of "as if this wasn't
enough".

ad acta to the archives Denoting the irrelevance of a thing

I strive towards higher

ad altiora tendo
things

ad arbitrium at will, at pleasure

Name or motto, in whole or part, of many

ad astra to the stars
organizations' publications

Or, "a rough road leads to the stars", as on the

to the stars through Launch Complex 34 memorial plaque for the
ad astra per aspera
difficulties astronauts of Apollo 1; motto of the State of
Kansas and other organisations

ad augusta per to rise to a high position

angusta overcoming hardships

To appeal to the masses. Often said of or used by

ad in order to capture the
politicians. An argumentum ad captandum is an
captandumvulgus crowd
argument designed to please the crowd.

Formal letter or communication in the Christian

tradition from a bishop to his clergy. An "ad clerum"
ad clerum to the clergy
may be an encouragement in a time of celebration or
a technical explanation of new regulations or canons.

a Deucalione from or since Deucalion A long time ago; from Gaius Lucilius, Satires, 6, 284

ad eundem to the same An ad eundem degree, from the Latin ad eundem

gradum ("to the same step" or "to the same degree"),
 is a courtesy degree awarded by a university or
college to an alumnus of another. It is not an
honorary degree but a recognition of the formal
learning for which the degree was earned at another
college.

Motto of Renaissance humanism and the Protestant

ad fontes to the sources
Reformation

Said during a generic toast; equivalent to "bottoms

ad fundum to the bottom up!" In other contexts, it generally means "back to the
basics".

Generally means "for this", in the sense of

ad hoc to this improvised or intended only for a specific, immediate
purpose.

Or, "at the man". Typically used in argumentum ad

hominem, a logical fallacy consisting of criticizing a
person when the subject of debate is the person's
ad hominem to the man
ideas or argument, on the mistaken assumption that
the soundness of an argument is dependent on the
qualities of the proponent.

"for the honour", not for the purpose of gaining any

ad honorem to the honour
material reward

Enduring forever. Used to designate a property which

repeats in all cases in mathematical proof. Also used
ad infinitum to infinity
in philosophical contexts to mean "repeating in all
cases".

As in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim",

ad interim (ad int.) for the meantime denoting a diplomatic officer who acts in place of an
ambassador

Attributed by Suetonius in The Twelve

Caesars to Augustus. The Calends were specific days
ad kalendas graecas at the Greek Calends of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, and so the
"Greek Kalends" would never occur. Similar to
"when pigs fly".

ad libitum (ad lib) toward pleasure Loosely, "according to what pleases" or "as you
wish"; libitum comes from the
 past participle of libere, "to please". It typically
indicates in music and theatrical scripts that the
performer has the liberty to change or omit
something. Ad lib is specifically often used when
someone improvisesor ignores limitations. Also used
by some restaurants in favor of the colloquial "all you
can eat or drink".

Legal phrase referring to a party appointed by a court

to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party who is
ad litem to the lawsuit deemed incapable of representing himself. An
individual who acts in this capacity is called
a guardian ad litem.

Used to suggest looking for information about a term

ad locum (ad loc.) at the place in the corresponding place in a cited work of
reference.

ad lucem to the light frequently used motto for educational institutions

ad maiorem Dei
Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Edward
gloriam orad
to the greater glory of God Elgar dedicated his oratorio The Dream of
majorem Dei
Gerontius "A.M.D.G."
gloriam (AMDG)

ad meliora towards better things Motto of St Patrick's College, Cavan, Ireland

ad mortem to death Medical phrase serving as a synonym for death

ad multos annos to many years Wish for a long life; similar to "many happy returns"

Or, "to the point of disgust". Sometimes used as a

humorous alternative to ad infinitum.
An argumentum ad nauseam is a logical
ad nauseam to seasickness fallacy whose erroneous proof is proffered by
prolonged repetition of the argument, i. e., the
argument is repeated so many times that persons are
"sick of it".

ad oculos to the eyes "obvious on sight" or "obvious to anyone that sees it"
 Thus, "exactly as it is written"; similar to the phrase
ad pedem litterae to the foot of the letter
"to the letter", meaning "to the last detail"

Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is

ad perpetuam
to the perpetual memory used to wish for someone to be remembered long
memoriam
after death

More loosely, "considering everything's weight". The

ad pondus abbreviation was historically used by physicians and
omnium (ad pond to the weight of all things others to signify that the last prescribed ingredient is
om) to weigh as much as all of the previously mentioned
ones.

Meaning "according to the harm" or "in proportion to

the harm". The phrase is used in tort law as a measure
ad quod damnum to whatever damage of damages inflicted, implying that a remedy, if one
exists, ought to correspond specifically and only to
the damage suffered (cf. damnum absque iniuria).

Loosely "subject to reference": provisionally

ad referendum to be proposed [before the
approved, but still needing official approval. Not the
(ad ref) Senate]
same as a referendum.

ad rem to the matter "to the point", without digression

ad sumus here we are Motto of the Brazilian Marine Corps

ad susceptum in order to achieve what

Motto of the Association of Trust Schools
perficiendum has been undertaken

ad terminum qui for the term which has Legal phrase for a writ of entry ad terminum qui
praeteriit passed praeteriit ("for the term which has passed").[3]

ad undas to the waves Equivalent to "to Hell"

ad unum to one

Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive

ad usum Delphini for the use of the Dauphin
or improper parts. The phrase originates from
editions of Greek and Roman classics which King
 Louis XIV of France had censored for his heir
apparent, the Dauphin. Also rarely "in usum
Delphini" ("into the use of the Dauphin").

ad usum
proprium (ad us. for one's own use
propr.)

Motto of Lund University, with the implied

ad utrumque prepared for either alternatives being the book (study) and the sword
paratus [alternative] (defending the nation in war), and of the United
States Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force

Used in commerce to refer to ad valorem taxes, i. e.,

ad valorem according to value taxes based on the assessed value of real estate or
personal property

More commonly translated "for victory", it was a

ad victoriam to victory
battlecry of the Romans

ad vitam aeternam to eternal life Also "to life everlasting"; a common Biblical phrase

Phrase describing the term of a political office as

ad vitam aut ending upon the death of the officer or his
for life or until fault
culpam commission of a sufficiently grave immorality and/or
legal crime.

An item to be added, especially as a supplement to a

addendum thing to be added
book. The plural is addenda.

One of the classic definitions of "truth". When the

adaequatio correspondence of the
mind has the same form as reality, we think truth.
intellectus et rei mind and reality
Also found as adaequatio rei et intellectus.

adaequatio
conformity of our minds to Phrase used in epistemology regarding the nature of
intellectus nostri
the fact understanding.
cum re

Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite

adsum I am here
of absum ("I am absent").
adversus solem ne do not speak against the Or, "do not argue what is obviously/manifestly
loquitor Sun incorrect".

Someone who, in the face of a specific argument,

voices an argument that he does not necessarily
advocatus diaboli Devil's advocate accept, for the sake of argument and discovering the
truth by testing the opponent's argument. Confer the
term "arguendo".

aegri somnia a sick man's dreams Horace, Ars Poetica, 7. Loosely, "troubled dreams".

Often abbreviated to "aetat.", or more frequently

further to "aet."; meaning "of age _ [years]" or "aged
aetatis of age / aged
_ [years]". E. g., "aetatis 36" denotes being "36 years
old".

Thus, "at the age of _ [years]". Appears on portraits,

gravestones, monuments, et cetera. Usually preceded
by anno (AAS), "in the year [of his age/life] _".
Sometimes shortened to aetatis, aetat.", or even
of his age (followed by an "aet. Frequently combined with Anno Domini, giving
aetatis suae
ordinal number) a date as both the theoretical age of Jesus Christ and
the age of the decedent; e. g., Obiit anno Domini
MDCXXXVIo (tricensimo sexto), [anno] aetatis suae
XXVo (vicensimo quinto) ("he died in the 1636th year
of the Lord, [being] the 25th [year] of his age[/life]").

a falsis principiis to set forth from false

Legal phrase; Cicero, De Finibus, 4.53.
proficisci principles

Legal term from "fides" ("faith"), originating at least

affidavit he asserted from Medieval Latin to denote a statement under
oath.

Loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger

a fortiori from the stronger reason". Often used to lead from a less certain
proposition to a more evident corollary.

More often translated as "do well whatever you do".

Literally translated, it means "do what you do";
age quod agis do what you are doing figuratively it means "keep going, because you are
inspired or dedicated to do so". This is the motto of
several Roman Catholic schools. It was also used
by Pope John XXIII in the sense of "do not be
 concerned with any other matter than the task in
hand"; he was allaying worry of what would become
of him in the future: his sense of "age quod agis" was
"joy" regarding what is presently occurring and
"detachment" from concern of the future. (Pope John
XXIII, Journal of a Soul, pages 154-5)

agere sequitur Metaphysical and moral principle that indicates the

action follows being
(esse) connection of ontology, obligation, and ethics.[2]

Latin translation from John 1: 36, when St. John the

Baptist exclaimed "Ecce Agnus Dei!" ("Behold the
Agnus Dei Lamb of God Lamb of God!") upon seeing Jesus Christ; it refers
both to the innocence of a lamb and to Christ being
a sacrificial lamb after the Jewish religious practice.

Or, in Greek, ἀνερρίφθω κύβος anerrhíphthō kýbos;

said by Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon in
49 BC, according to Suetonius. The original meaning
was similar to "the game is afoot", but its modern
alea iacta est the die is cast
meaning, like that of the phrase "crossing the
Rubicon", denotes passing the point of no return on a
momentous decision and entering into a risky
endeavor where the outcome is left to chance.

alenda lux ubi orta light [is] to be nourished

Motto of Davidson College
libertas where liberty [has] arisen

An assumed name or pseudonym; similar to alter

alias at another time, otherwise ego, but more specifically referring to a name, not to
a "second self".

Legal defense where a defendant attempts to show

that he was elsewhere at the time a crime was
alibi elsewhere committed.
His alibi is sound; he gave evidence that he was in another city
on the night of the murder.

aliquid stat pro something stands for

Foundational definition in semiotics
aliquo something else

Quotation from Isaiah, 40: "But those who wait for

alis aquilae on an eagle's wings
the Lord shall find their strength renewed, they shall
mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not
 grow weary, they shall walk and not grow faint."

Or, "nothing is heavy to those who have wings".

nothing [is] heavy with
alis grave nil Motto of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de
wings
Janeiro, Brazil.

Motto of the State of Oregon, adopted in 1987; it

she flies with her own
alis volat propriis replaced the previous state motto of "The Union",
wings
which was adopted in 1957.

Term used for the university one attends or has

attended. Another university term, matriculation, is
also derived from mater. The term suggests that the
alma mater nourishing mother
students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by the
university. The term is also used for a university's
traditional school anthem.

Another self, a second persona or alias. Can be used

to describe different facets or identities of a single
alter ego another I character, or different characters who seem
representations of the same personality. Often used of
a fictional character's secret identity.

Final sentence from Aesop ascribed fable (see

also Aesop's Fables) "The Frogs Who Desired a
alterius non sit qui let no man be another's King" as appears in the collection commonly known
suus esse potest who can be his own as the "Anonymus Neveleti", in Fable 21B: De ranis
a Iove querentibus regem). Motto of Paracelsus.
Usually attributed to Cicero.

alterum non laedere to not wound another One of Justinian I's three basic legal precepts

Graduate or former student of a school, college, or

alumnus or
pupil university. Plural of alumnus is alumni (male). Plural
alumna
of alumna is alumnae (female).

This translation ignores the word usque, which is an

emphasis word, so a better translation is probably
from sea even unto sea. From Psalm72:8, "Et
a mari usque ad dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine
from sea to sea
mare usque ad terminos terrae" (KJV: "He shall have
dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river
unto the ends of the earth"). National motto of
Canada.
amicus certus in re a sure friend in an unsure Ennius, as quoted by Cicero in Laelius de
incerta matter Amicitia s. 64

An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant

access to the favour of a powerful group, e. g., the
a Roman Curia. In current United States legal usage,
amicus curiae friend of the court
an amicus curiae is a third party allowed to submit a
legal opinion in the form of an amicus brief to the
court.

An assertion that truth is more valuable than

Amicus Plato, sed
Plato is my friend, but friendship; attributed to Aristotle, Nicomachean
magis amica
truth is a better friend. Ethics, 1096a15 and Roger Bacon, Opus Majus, Part
veritas.
1, Chapter 5.

An obsolete legal phrase signifying the forfeiture of

amittere legem
to lose the law of the land the right of swearing in any court or cause, or to
terrae
become infamous.

amat victoria
victory favors care frequently used motto for educational institutions
curam

amor Dei
intellectual love of God Baruch Spinoza
intellectualis

amor et melle et
love is rich with both
felle est
honey and venom
fecundissimus

Nietzscheian alternative world view to that

represented by memento mori ("remember you must
amor fati love of fate
die"): Nietzsche believed "amor fati" was more
affirmative of life.

amor omnibus idem love is the same for all Virgil, Georgics, 3

amor patriae love of the fatherland Or, "love of the nation", i. e., patriotism

Inscribed on a bracelet worn by

amor vincit omnia love conquers all
the Prioress in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales;
originally from Virgil, Eclogues, 10, 69: omnia vincit
 amor: et nos cedamus amori ("love conquers all: let
us too surrender to love").

Said by Axel Oxenstierna to encourage his son, a

An nescis, mi fili, Do you not know, my son, delegate to the negotiations that would lead to
quantilla prudentia with how little wisdom the the Peace of Westphalia, who worried about his
mundus regatur? world is governed? ability to hold his own amidst experienced and
eminent statesmen and diplomats.

Used before the anglicized version of a word or

anglice in English name. For example, "Terra Mariae, anglice,
Maryland".

animus in a mind unfettered in

Motto of NATO
consulendo liber deliberation

Also used in such phrases as anno urbis

anno (an.) in the year conditae (see ab urbe condita), Anno Domini,
and anno regni.

Abbreviated from Anno Domini Nostri Iesu

Christi ("in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ"), the
predominantly used system for dating years across
the world; used with the Gregorian Calendar and
based on the perceived year of the birth of Jesus
anno Domini(A.D.) in the year of the Lord Christ. The years before His birth were formerly
signified by a. C. n (ante Christum natum ("before
Christ was born")), but now use the English
abbreviation "BC" ("before Christ"). For
example, Augustus was born in the year 63 BC and
died in AD 14.

anno regni In the year of the reign Precedes "of" and the current ruler

Or, "he approves our undertakings". Motto on the

he nods at things now reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and,
annuit cœptis
begun consequently, on the reverse of the United States one-
dollar bill; in this context the motto refers to God.

Variation on annus mirabilis, recorded in print from

1890;[4] notably used in a speech by Queen Elizabeth
annus horribilis horrible year II to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her.
In Classical Latin, this phrase actually means
"terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.
 Used particularly to refer to the years 1665 and 1666,
during which Isaac Newton made revolutionary
inventions and discoveries in calculus, motion, optics
and gravitation. Annus Mirabilis is also the title of a
poem by John Dryden written in the same year. It has
annus mirabilis wonderful year since been used to refer to other years, especially to
1905, when Albert Einstein made equally
revolutionary discoveries concerning the
photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, mass-energy
equivalence, and the special theory of
relativity. (See Annus Mirabilis papers)

Used to describe 1348, the year the Black

annus terribilis dreadful year
Death began to afflict Europe

As in status quo ante bellum ("as it was before the

war"); commonly used in the Southern United
ante bellum before the war
States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding
the American Civil War.

ante cibum (a.c.) before food Medical shorthand for "before meals"

Ante faciem Domini before the face of the Lord Motto of the Christian Brothers College, Adelaide

Said of an expression or term that describes

something which existed before the phrase itself was
ante litteram before the letter introduced or became common. Example: Alan
Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram, since the field
of "computer science" was not yet recognized in Turing's day.

ante meridiem (a.m.) before midday From midnight to noon; confer post meridiem

ante mortem before death See post mortem ("after death")

ante omnia armari before all else, be armed

Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote

ante prandium (a.p.) before lunch "before a meal". Less common is post
prandium ("after lunch").

The motto of Chester

antiqui colant let the ancients worship
antiquum dierum the ancient of days

Or, "completely"; similar to the English expressions

a pedibus usque ad
from feet to head "from tip to toe" and "from head to toe". Equally a
caput
capite ad calcem. See also ab ovo usque ad mala.

Motto of Ferdinand de Lesseps referring to the Suez

aperire terram
open the land to nations and Panama Canals. Also appears on a plaque
gentibus
at Kinshasa train station.

"From possibility to actuality" or "from being

a posse ad esse from being able to being
possible to being actual".

Based on observation, i. e., empirical evidence; the

reverse of a priori. Used in mathematics and logic to
a posteriori from the latter denote something that is known after a proof has
been carried out. In philosophy, used to denote
something known from experience.

Textual notes or a list of other readings relating to a

apparatus criticus tools of a critic
document, especially in a scholarly edition of a text.

Presupposed independent of experience; the reverse

of a posteriori. Used in mathematics and logic to
denote something that is known or postulated before
a proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to
a priori from the former
denote something is supposed
without empirical evidence. In everyday speech, it
denotes something occurring or being known before
the event.

apologia pro vita [5]

defense of one's life
sua

Used in scholarly works to cite a reference at second

apud in the writings of
hand

aqua (aq.) water

aqua fortis strong water Refers to nitric acid

aqua pura pure water Or, "clear water" or "clean water"

Refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric

aqua regia royal water
acid, thus called because of its ability to dissolve gold

"Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer

to various native distilled beverages, such
aqua vitae water of life as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and
Ireland, gin in the Netherlands, brandy (eau de vie) in
France, and akvavit in Scandinavia.

aquila non capit an eagle does not catch Or, "a noble or important person does not deal with
muscas flies insignificant matters"

Desiderius Erasmus, Adagia (AD 1508); meaning

arare litus to plough the seashore
"wasted labor"

One who prescribes, rules on, or is a recognized

arbiter authority on matters of social behavior and taste. Said
judge of tastes
elegantiarum of Petronius. Sometimes found in the singular
as arbiter elegantiae ("judge of taste").

Originally used by Tacitus to refer to the state secrets

arcana imperii the secrets of power and unaccountable acts of the Roman imperial
government

arcanum boni The secret behind a good

Motto of the Starobrno Brewery in Brno
tenoris animae mood

An opaque circle around the cornea of the eye, often

arcus senilis bow of an old person
seen in elderly people

arduus ad solem Striving towards the Sun Motto of Victoria University of Manchester

Also "silver coin"; mentioned in the Domesday Book;

argentum album white silver
signifies bullion or silver uncoined

Or, "for the sake of argument". Said when something

arguendo for arguing
is done purely in order to discuss a matter or illustrate
a point. E. g., "let us assume, arguendo, that your
 claim is correct."

Or "reasoning", "inference", "appeal", or "proof". The

plural is argumenta. Commonly used in the names of
logical arguments and fallacies, preceding phrases
such as a silentio (by silence), ad antiquitatem (to
antiquity), ad baculum (to the stick), ad
captandum (to capturing), ad consequentiam (to the
consequence), ad crumenam (to the purse), ad
feminam (to the woman), ad hominem (to the
person), ad ignorantiam(to ignorance), ad
invidiam (to hatred – appealing to low passions), ad
argumentum argument
judicium (to judgment), ad lazarum (to poverty), ad
logicam (to logic), ad metum (to fear), ad
misericordiam (to pity), ad nauseam (to nausea), ad
novitatem (to novelty), ad personam (to the
character), ad numerum(to the number), ad odium (to
spite), ad populum (to the people), ad
temperantiam (to moderation), ad verecundiam (to
reverence), ex silentio(from silence), in
terrorem (into terror), and e contrario (from/to the
opposite).

charge made by a Justice of the Peace in Medieval

armata potentia armed and powerful England against those who rode in arms against the
King's Peace.

An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural

ars celare artem art [is] to conceal art rather than contrived. Of medieval origin, but often
incorrectly attributed to Ovid.[6]

Translated into Latin from Baudelaire's L'art pour

l'art. Motto of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. While
ars gratia artis art for the sake of art
symmetrical for the logo of MGM, the better word
order in Latin is "Ars artis gratia".

Seneca, De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1, translating a phrase

ars longa, vita of Hippocrates that is often used out of context. The
art is long, life is short
brevis "art" referred to in the original aphorism was the craft
of medicine, which took a lifetime to acquire.

arte et labore by art and by labour Motto of Blackburn Rovers F.C.

Motto of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

arte et marte by skill and valour
(EME) Branch of the Canadian Forces
 Award of the Minister of Culture of the Czech
Artis Bohemiae
Friends of Czech Arts Republic for the promotion of the positive reputation
Amicis
of Czech culture abroad

Desiderius Erasmus, Adagia (AD 1508); meaning "an

asinus ad lyram an ass to the lyre
awkward or incompetent individual"

the jackass rubs the Used to describe 2 persons who are lavishing
asinus asinum fricat
jackass excessive praise on one another

the assured does not seek

assecuratus non
profit but makes [it his Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity
quaerit lucrum sed
profit] that he not be in can not be larger than the loss
agit ne in damno sit
loss

astra inclinant, sed the stars incline us, they do Refers to the distinction of free will from astrological
non obligant not bind us determinism

Used in bibliography for books, texts, publications,

auctores varii various authors
or articles that have more than 3 collaborators

auctoritas authority Level of prestige a person had in Roman society

This formula appears in the 1668 Latin revised

auctoritas non authority, not truth, makes
edition of Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, book 2,
veritas facit legem law
chapter 26, p. 133.

Cornelis Jol,[7] in a bid to rally his rebellious captains

audacia pro muro boldness is our wall, action
to fight and conquer the Spanish treasure fleet in
et scuto opus is our shield
1638.

audacter
slander boldly, something
calumniare, semper Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (AD 1623)
always sticks
aliquid haeret

audax at fidelis bold but faithful Motto of Queensland, Australia

Motto of the Canadian Special Operations

audeamus let us dare
Regiment [CSOR] on their regimental coat of arms;
of Otago University Students' Association, a direct
 response to the university's motto of sapere
aude ("dare to be wise"); and of Champlain
College in Burlington, Vermont.

Motto of the State of Alabama, adopted in AD 1923;

translated into Latin from a paraphrase of the stanza
audemus jura we dare to defend our
"Men who their duties know / But know their rights,
nostra defendere rights
and knowing, dare maintain" from William Jones,
"What Constitutes a State?"

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 10, 284, where the first

word is in the archaic form audentis. Allegedly the
last words of Pliny the Elder before he left the docks
audentes fortuna at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption
fortune favors the bold
iuvat of Vesuvius in 79. Often quoted as audaces fortuna
iuvat. Also the motto of the Portuguese Army
Commandos and the USS Montpelier in the latter
form.

audere est facere to dare is to do Motto of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

audi alteram Legal principle; also worded as audiatur et altera

hear the other side
partem pars ("let the other side be heard also")

audio hostem I hear the enemy Motto of the 845 NAS Royal Navy

audi, vide, tace hear, see, be silent

From Horace's Odes, 2, 10. Refers to the ethical goal

of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two
aurea mediocritas golden mean
sinful extremes. The golden mean concept is
common to many philosophers, chiefly Aristotle.

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 3, 57. Later quoted

by Seneca as quod non mortalia pectora coges, auri
auri sacra fames accursed hunger for gold
sacra fames ("what do not you force mortal hearts [to
do], accursed hunger for gold").

Common ancient proverb, this version from Terence.

auribus teneo It indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where
I hold a wolf by the ears
lupum both holding on and letting go could be deadly. A
modern version is "to have a tiger by the tail".
 The Southern Lights, an aurora that appears in
the Southern Hemisphere. It is less well-known than
aurora australis southern dawn the Northern Lights (aurorea borealis). The Aurora
Australis is also the name of an
Antarctic icebreaker ship.

The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in

aurora borealis northern dawn
the Northern Hemisphere.

Title of a distich by Iohannes Christenius (1599–

1672): "Conveniens studiis non est nox, commoda
lux est; / Luce labor bonus est et bona nocte quies."
dawn is a friend to the
aurora musis amica ("Night is not suitable for studying, daylight is; /
muses
working by light is good, as is rest at night.");
in Nihus, Barthold (1642). Epigrammata disticha.
Johannes Kinckius.

Motto of the fictional Fowl Family in the Artemis

aurum potestas est gold is power
Fowl series, written by Eoin Colfer

auspicium melioris Motto of the Order of St Michael and St George and

hope/token of a better age
aevi of Raffles Institution in Singapore

Denotes an absolute aspiration to become

the Emperor, or the equivalent supreme magistrate,
and nothing else. More generally, "all or nothing". A
personal motto of Cesare Borgia. Charles
aut Caesar aut nihil either Caesar or nothing
Chaplin also used the phrase in The Great Dictator to
ridicule Hynkel's (Chaplin's parody of Hitler)
ambition for power, but substituted "nullus" for
"nihil".

I. e., either through reasoned discussion or through

either by meeting or the war. It was the first motto of Chile (see coat of arms),
aut consilio aut ense
sword changed to Spanish: Por la razón o la fuerza. Name
of episode 1 in season 3 of Berlin Station.

Or, "do or die" or "no retreat". A Greek expression

(«Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς») that Spartan mothers said to their
sons as they departed for battle. It refers to the
aut cum scuto aut either with shield or on
practices that a Greek hoplite would drop his
in scuto shield
cumbersome shield in order to flee the battlefield,
and a slain warrior would be borne home atop his
shield.
 Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium,
aut imiteris aut 7:7. From the full phrase: "necesse est aut imiteris aut
imitate or loathe it
oderis oderis" ("you must either imitate or loathe the
world").

aut neca aut necare either kill or be killed Also: "neca ne neceris" ("kill lest you be killed")

aut pax aut bellum either peace or war Motto of the Gunn Clan

Said of two situations that can only occur

aut simul stabunt they will either stand
simultaneously: if one ends, so does the other, and
aut simul cadent together or fall together
vice versa.[8]

aut viam inveniam I will either find a way or

Hannibal
aut faciam make one

General pledge of victoria aut mors ("victory or

death"). Motto of the Higgenbotham and
aut vincere aut Higginbottom families of Cheshire, England;
either to conquer or to die
mori participants in the War of the Roses. Also the motto
for the United States 1st Fighter Wing, Langley Air
Force Base in Virginia.

Catullus, Carmen 101, addressed to his deceased

ave atque vale hail and farewell
brother

ave Europa nostra hail Europe, our true

Anthem of Imperium Europa
vera patria fatherland

From Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, Claudius 21. A

salute and plea for mercy recorded on one occasion
by naumachiarii–captives and criminals fated to die
Ave Imperator, Hail, Emperor! Those who
fighting during mock naval encounters. Later
morituri te salutant are about to die salute you!
versions included a variant of "We who are about to
die", and this translation is sometimes aided by
changing the Latin to nos morituri te salutamus.

Roman Catholic prayer of intercession asking St.

Ave Maria Hail, Mary Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ to pray for the
petitioner
ave mater Angliae Hail, Mother of England Motto of Canterbury, England

B[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

beard grows,
barba crescit
head doesn't
caput nescit
grow wiser

a beard doesn't
barba non facit
make one a
philosophum
philosopher

barba tenus wise as far as the

Wise only in appearance. From Erasmus's collection of Adages.
sapientes beard

A common name in the Roman Catholic Church for Mary, the

Beata Virgo Blessed Virgin mother of Jesus. The genitive, Beatae Mariae Virginis (BMV),
Maria (BVM) Mary occurs often as well, appearing with such words
as horae (hours), litaniae (litanies) and officium (office).

of blessed
beatae memoriae See in memoriam
memory

A Beatitude from Matthew 5:3 in the Vulgate: beati pauperes

beati pauperes blessed in spirit
spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum "Blessed in spirit
spiritu [are] the poor.
[are] the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens".

blessed [are]
beati possidentes those who Translated from Euripides
possess

beati qui blessed are they

Inscription above the entrance to St. Andrew's Church (New York
ambulant lege who walk in the
City), based on Psalm 119:1
domini law of the Lord

From Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same

beatus homo qui blessed is the
name by Orlando di Lasso.
invenit man who finds
sapientiam wisdom

Bella, mulier qui war, a woman

hominum allicit who lures men
Latin proverb[citation needed]
et accipit eos per and takes them
fortis by force

Originally from Ovid, Heroides 13.84,[9] where Laodamia is

let others wage writing to her husband Protesilaus who is at the Trojan War. She
bella gerant alii war begs him to stay out of danger, but he was in fact the first Greek to
Protesilaus amet! Protesilaus should die at Troy. Also used of the Habsburg marriages of 1477 and
love! 1496, written as bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube (let others
wage war; you, happy Austria, marry). Said by King Matthias.

bella detesta war hateful to

From Horace
matribus mothers

I grow old
bello et jure
through war and Motto of the House of d'Udekem d'Acoz [nl]
senesco
law

bellum omnium war of all

A phrase used by Thomas Hobbes to describe the state of nature
contra omnes against all

bellum se ipsum
war feeds itself
alet

Tradition of biblical pictures displaying the essential facts of

Biblia pauperum Paupers' Bible
Christian salvation

I drink, therefore
bibo ergo sum A play on "cogito ergo sum", "I think therefore I am"
I am

he gives twice,
bis dat qui cito
who gives A gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts.
dat
promptly

bis in die (bid) twice in a day Medical shorthand for "twice a day"

bona fide in good faith In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly". In modern contexts,
often has connotations of "genuinely" or "sincerely". Bona fides is
 not the plural (which would be bonis fidebus), but the nominative,
and means simply "good faith". Opposite of mala fide.

In law, if a person dying has goods, or good debts, in another

diocese or jurisdiction within that province, besides his goods in
note-worthy
bona notabilia the diocese where he dies, amounting to a certain minimum value,
goods
he is said to have bona notabilia; in which case, the probat of his
will belongs to the archbishop of that province.

bona officia good services A nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other nations

goods of a
bona patria A jury or assize of countrymen, or good neighbors
country

United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that passes

bona vacantia vacant goods
to The Crown

it is a good
boni pastoris est shepherd's [job]
Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders, as a
tondere pecus to shear his
warning against taxing the populace excessively.
non deglubere flock, not to flay
them

bono malum overcome evil

Motto of Westonbirt School
superate with good

Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society, as opposed

to bonum commune hominis, which refers to what is good for an
bonum commune common good of individual. In the film Hot Fuzz, this phrase is chanted by an
communitatis the community assembled group of people, in which context it is deliberately
similar to another phrase that is repeated throughout the film,
which is The Greater Good.

Refers to an individual's happiness, which is not "common" in that

bonum commune common good of
it serves everyone, but in that individuals tend to be able to find
hominis a man
happiness in similar things.

the North is our

boreas domus,
home, the sea is Motto of Orkney
mare amicus
our friend
 harmless (or
Used to indicate either an empty threat, or a judgement at law
brutum fulmen inert)
which has no practical effect
thunderbolt

John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the
word meant. It turns out that the original text said in diebus illis
magnis plenae(in those days there were plenty of great things),
which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnis plenae (in India
baffling puzzle,
busillis [it] there were plenty of large busillis). This mondegreen has since
thorny problem
entered the literature; it occurs in Alessandro Manzoni's novel The
Betrothed (1827), in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers
Karamazov (1880), and in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector
Montalbano series.

C[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Cacoēthes[10] "bad habit", or medically, "malignant

disease" is a borrowing of Greek kakoēthes.[11] The phrase
cacoethes insatiable desire to is derived from a line in the Satires of Juvenal: Tenet
scribendi write insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes, or "the incurable
desire (or itch) for writing affects many".
See hypergraphia.

cadavera vero Used by the Romans to describe the aftermath of the Battle
truly countless bodies
innumera of the Catalaunian Plains.

Supposed statement by Abbot Arnaud Amalric before

Caedite eos. Novit Kill them all. For the
the Massacre at Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade,
enim Dominus qui Lord knows those who
recorded 30 years later, according to Caesarius of
sunt eius. are his.
Heisterbach. cf. "Kill them all and let God sort them out."

Those who hurry

Caelum non Hexameter by Horace (Epistula XI).[12] Seneca shortens it
across the sea change
animum mutant to Animum debes mutare, non caelum (You must
the sky [upon them],
qui trans mare change [your] disposition, not [your] sky) in his Letter to
not their souls or state
currunt Lucilium XXVIII, 1.
of mind

Caesar has no
Caesar non supra Political power is limited; it does not include power over
authority over the
grammaticos grammar.[13]
grammarians
caetera desunt the rest is missing Caetera is Medieval Latin spelling for cētera.

calix meus my cup making me

inebrians drunk

calamus gladio The pen is mightier

fortior than the sword

An optical device used in drawing, and an ancestor of

camera obscura dark chamber
modern photography. The source of the word camera.

Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as funny

from modern Italians because the same exact words, in
Cane Nero magna Tell, oh Nero, of the
today's dialect of Rome, mean "A black dog eats a
bella Persica great wars of Persia
beautiful peach", which has a ridiculously different
meaning.

war dogs or fighting

canes pugnaces
dogs

Refers to a situation where nobody is safe from anybody,

canis canem edit dog eats dog
each man for himself.

From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso

capable of receiving imago Dei est quo eius capax est,[14] "The mind is the
capax Dei
God image of God, in that it is capable of Him and can be
partaker of Him."

Capability of achieving goals by force of many instead of a

capax infiniti holding the infinite
single individual.

So aggrandized as to be beyond practical (earthly) reach or

caput inter nubila (she plunges) [her]
understanding (from Virgil's Aeneid and the shorter form
(condit) head in the clouds
appears in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government)

Originally an alchemical reference to the dead

caput mortuum dead head head or worthless residue left over from a reaction. Also
used to refer to a freeloader or worthless element.
 It implies a command to love as Christ loved. Motto of St.
Caritas Christi The love of Christ Francis Xavier High School located in West Meadowlark
Park, Edmonton.

Caritas in Veritate Charity in Truth Pope Benedict XVI's third encyclical.

An exhortation to live for today. From Horace, Odes I,

carpe diem seize the day 11.8. Carpere refers to plucking of flowers or fruit. The
phrase collige virgo rosashas a similar sense.

An exhortation to make good use of the night, often used

when carpe diem, q.v., would seem absurd, e.g., when
carpe noctem seize the night
observing a deep-sky object or conducting a Messier
marathon or engaging in social activities after sunset.

carpe vinum seize the wine

The Roman senator Cato the Elder ended every speech

Carthago delenda Carthage must be after the Second Punic War with ceterum censeo
est destroyed Carthaginem esse delendam, literally "For the rest, I am of
the opinion that Carthage is to be destroyed."

Or, "[Comedy/Satire] criticises customs through humour",

is a phrase coined by French New Latin poet Jean-Baptiste
castigat ridendo One corrects customs
de Santeul (1630–1697), but sometimes wrongly attributed
mores by laughing at them
to his contemporary Molière or to Roman lyric
poet Horace.

Refers to an incident that is the justification or case for

casus belli event of war
war.

The cause is hidden,

causa latet, vis est
but the result is well Ovid: Metamorphoses IV, 287; motto of Alpha Sigma Phi.
notissima
known.

causa mortis cause of death

especially used by Doctors of Medicine, when they want to

cave beware! warn each other (e.g.: "cave nephrolithiases" in order to
warn about side effects of an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in
some British public schools by pupils to warn each other
 of impending authority.

Earliest written example is in the Satyricon of Petronius,

cave canem Beware of the dog
circa 1st century C.E.

The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the

goods suit his need. Phrases modeled on this one
caveat emptor let the buyer beware
replace emptor with lector, subscriptor, venditor, utilitor:
"reader", "signer", "seller", "user".

It is a counter to caveat emptor and suggests that sellers

can also be deceived in a market transaction. This forces
caveat venditor let the seller beware the seller to take responsibility for the product and
discourages sellers from selling products of unreasonable
quality.

"Let military power yield to civilian power", Cicero, De

let arms yield to the
cedant arma togae Officiis I:77. Former motto of the Territory of Wyoming.
gown
See also Toga

I know not how to

cedere nescio Motto of HMAS Norman
yield

Motto of the United States Marine Corps Force

Reconnaissance, also known as FORCE
RECON or FORECON, one of the United States Marine
Corps Special Operations Capable Forces (SOC) that
Celer – Silens – Swift – Silent –
provide essential elements of military intelligence to the
Mortalis Deadly
command element of the Marine Air-
Ground Task Force (MAGTF), supporting their task force
commanders, and their subordinate operating units of
the Fleet Marine Force (FMF).

Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". A variant of

more swiftly
celerius quam the Roman phrase velocius quam asparagi coquantur,
than asparagus [stem]s
asparagi cocuntur using a different adverb and an alternative mood and
are cooked
spelling of coquere.

In law, it is a return made by the sheriff, upon a capias, or

cepi corpus I have taken the body other process to the like purpose; signifying, that he has
taken the body of the party. See also habeas corpus.

certum est quod it is certain, whatever Or "... if it can be rendered certain." Often used in law
certum reddi can be rendered when something is not known, but can be ascertained (e.g.
potest certain the purchase price on a sale which is to be determined by a
third-party valuer)

when the reason for A rule of law becomes ineffective when the reason for its
cessante ratione
the law ceases, the law application has ceased to exist or does not correspond to
legis cessat ipsa lex
itself ceases the reality anymore. By Gratian.

cetera desunt the rest are missing Also spelled "caetera desunt".

all other things being That is, disregarding or eliminating extraneous factors in a
ceteris paribus
equal situation.

charta
a paper of pardon to The form of a pardon for killing another man in self-
pardonationis se
defend oneself defence (see manslaughter).
defendendo

charta
a paper of pardon to The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed. Also
pardonationis
the outlaw called perdonatio utlagariae.
utlagariae

Christianos ad [Throw the] Christians

leones to the lions!

Christo et For Christ and

The motto of Furman University.
Doctrinae Learning

Christus nos title of volume I, book 5, chapter XI of Les

Christ has freed us
liberavit Misérables by Victor Hugo.

Christus Rex Christ the King A Christian title for Jesus.

In the sense of "approximately" or "about". Usually used

circa (c.) or (ca.) around
of a date.

circulus in circle made in testing

Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus vitiosus.
probando [a premise]

circulus vitiosus vicious circle In logic, begging the question, a fallacy involving the
presupposition of a proposition in one of the premises
 (see petitio principii). In science, a positive feedback loop.
In economics, a counterpart to the virtuous circle.

citius altius fortius faster, higher, stronger Motto of the modern Olympics.

Is a phrase used in Cicero's In Verrem as a plea for the

civis romanus sum I am (a) Roman citizen
legal rights of a Roman citizen

clamea
A writ whereby the king of England could command the
admittenda in
justice to admit one's claim by an attorney, who being
itinere per
employed in the king's service, cannot come in person.
atturnatum

clarere audere [be] bright, daring,

Motto of the Geal family.
gaudere joyful

A legal action for trespass to land; so called, because the

writ demands the person summoned to answer wherefore
clausum fregit
he broke the close(quare clausum fregit), i.e., why he
entered the plaintiff's land.

claves Sancti Petri the keys of Saint Peter A symbol of the Papacy.

The means of discovering hidden or mysterious meanings

clavis aurea golden key
in texts, particularly applied in theology and alchemy.

In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the admitting a

clerico admittendo for being made a clerk clerk to a benefice upon a ne admittas, tried, and found for
the party who procures the writ.

clerico capto per

In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk out of prison, who
statutum
is imprisoned upon the breach of statute merchant.
mercatorum

clerico convicto
In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his ordinary,
commisso gaolae
that was formerly convicted of felony; by reason that his
in defectu
ordinary did not challenge him according to the privilege
ordinarii
of clerks.
deliberando
clerico intra
sacros ordines In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc., that have thrust
constituto non a bailiwick or beadleship upon one in holy orders;
eligendo in charging them to release him.
officium

Codex Iuris The official code of canon law in the Roman Catholic
Book of Canon Law
Canonici Church (cf. Corpus Iuris Canonici).

Cogitationis "No one suffers

A Latin legal phrase. See, State v Taylor, 47 Or 455, 84 P
poenam nemo punishment for mere
82.
patitur intent."

A rationalistic argument used by French philosopher René

cogito ergo sum I think, therefore I am.
Descartes to attempt to prove his own existence.

Aborting sexual intercourse prior to ejaculation—the only

coitus interruptus interrupted congress
permitted form of birth control in some religions.

coitus more congress in the way of

A medical euphemism for the doggy-style sexual position.
ferarum beasts

Exhortation to enjoy fully "Gather ye

the youth, similar rosebuds
to Carpe diem, from "De while ye
collige virgo rosas pick, girl, the roses rosis nascentibus" (also may", 1909,
titled "Idyllium de by John
rosis"), attributed William
to Ausonius or Virgil.[15] Waterhouse

It is frequently abbreviated comb. nov.. It is used in the life

combinatio nova new combination sciences literature when a new name is introduced,
e.g. Klebsiella granulomatis comb. nov..

One year with another; on an average. "Common" here

communibus annis in common years does not mean "ordinary", but "common to every
situation"

A term frequently used among philosophical and other

writers, implying some medium, or mean relation between
communibus locis in common places several places; one place with another; on a medium.
"Common" here does not mean "ordinary", but "common
to every situation"
 prevailing doctrine, generally accepted view (in an
communis opinio common opinion academic field), scientific consensus; originally communis
opinio doctorum, "common opinion of the doctors"

Describes someone of sound mind. Sometimes used

ironically. Also a legal principle, non compos mentis (not
compos mentis in control of the mind
in control of one's faculties), used to describe an insane
person.

concilio et labore by wisdom and effort Motto of the city of Manchester.

concordia cum
in harmony with truth Motto of the University of Waterloo
veritate

well-being through Motto of Montreal. It is also the Bank of Montreal coat of

concordia salus
harmony arms and motto.

concordia parvae small things grow in

Motto of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
res crescunt harmony

They condemn what

they do not understand
condemnant quod or The quod here is ambiguous: it may be the relative
non intellegunt They condemn pronoun or a conjunction.
because they do not
understand

A required, indispensable condition. Commonly

condicio sine qua condition without mistakenly rendered with conditio ("seasoning" or
non which not "preserving") in place of condicio("arrangement" or
"condition").

it is founded on the Motto of Peterhouse Boys' School and Peterhouse Girls'

conditur in petra
rock School

The abbreviation cf. is used in text to suggest a comparison

confer (cf.)[16][17] compare
with something else (cf. citation signal).

Congregation of the
Congregatio Redemptorists
Most Holy Redeemer
Sanctissimi
RedemptorisC.Ss.R

with connected Or "with united powers". Sometimes rendered conjunctis

coniunctis viribus
strength viribus. Motto of Queen Mary, University of London.

consensu with consent

Where there are no specific laws, the matter should be

decided by custom;[18] established customs have the force
consuetudo pro of laws.[19] Also consuetudo est altera lex (custom is
Custom is held as law.
lege servatur another law) and consuetudo vincit communem
legem (custom overrules the common law); see
also: Consuetudinary.

The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latin

consummatum est It is completed.
translation of John 19:30.

contemptus scorn for the Despising the secular world. The monk or philosopher's
mundi/saeculi world/times rejection of a mundane life and worldly values.

contra bonos
against good morals Offensive to the conscience and to a sense of justice.
mores

Especially in civil law jurisdictions, said of an

understanding of a statute that directly contradicts its
contra legem against the law
wording and thus is neither valid by interpretation nor
by analogy.

In contract law, the doctrine of contractual interpretation

which provides that an ambiguous term will be construed
contra
against the proferror against the party that imposed its inclusion in the contract
proferentem
– or, more accurately, against the interests of the party who
imposed it.

Title of a poem by Lesya Ukrainka; it derives from an

expression found in Paul's Letter to the Romans 4:18
(Greek: παρ' ἐλπίδα ἐπ' ἐλπίδι) with reference
contra spem spero I hope against hope
to Abraham the Patriarch who maintained faith in
becoming the father of many nations despite being
childless and well-advanced in years.

contra vim mortis No herb (or sage)grows there is no medicine against death; from various medieval
non crescit in the gardens against medicinal texts
herba (or salvia) in the power of death
hortis

A thing or idea that would embody a contradiction, for

contradictio in
contradiction in terms example, payment for a gift, or a circle with corners.
terminis
The fallacy of proposing such a thing.

contra principia there can be no debate

Debate is fruitless when you don't agree on common rules,
negantem non est with those who deny
facts, presuppositions.
disputandum the foundations

From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a prescribed

method of prayer: having a "heart to heart" with God.
cor ad cor loquitur heart speaks to heart Commonly used in reference to a later quote by
Cardinal John Henry Newman. A motto of Newman
Clubs.

(Your choice is between) The Heart (Moral Values, Duty,

cor aut mors Heart or Death Loyalty) or Death (to no longer matter, to no longer be
respected as person of integrity.)

cor meum tibi my heart I offer to you

John Calvin's personal motto, also adopted by Calvin
offero domine Lord promptly and
College
prompte et sincere sincerely

A popular school motto. Often used as names for religious

cor unum one heart and other organisations such as the Pontifical Council Cor
Unum.

A phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the

idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the
coram Deo in the presence of God
authority of, and to the honor and glory of God; see
also coram Deo (disambiguation).

coram in our presence, in

Two kinds of writs of error.
nobis, coram vobis your presence

in the presence of the

coram populo Thus, openly.
people
coram publico in view of the public

The name of a feast in the Roman Catholic

Church commemorating the Eucharist. It is also the name
Corpus Christi Body of Christ of a city in Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, the name of
Colleges at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and a
controversial play.

The fact that a crime has been committed, a necessary

factor in convicting someone of having committed that
corpus delicti body of the offence
crime; if there was no crime, there can not have been a
criminal.

Corpus Iuris The official compilation of canon law in the Roman

Body of Canon Law
Canonici Catholic Church (cf. Codex Iuris Canonici).

Corpus Iuris
Body of Civil Law The body of Roman or civil law.
Civilis

A person or thing fit only to be the object of an

corpus vile worthless body experiment, as in the phrase 'Fiat experimentum in corpore
vili.'

corrigenda things to be corrected

corruptio optimi the corruption of the

pessima best is the worst

When the republic is at

corruptissima re
its most corrupt the
publica plurimae Tacitus
laws are most
leges
numerous

a raven does not pick

corvus oculum
out an eye of another
corvi non eruit
raven

corruptus in
corrupt to the extreme Motto of the fictional Mayor's office in The Simpsons
extremis
 The refrain from the 'Pervigilium Veneris', a poem which
May he who has never
cras amet qui describes a three-day holiday in the cult of Venus, located
loved before, love
nunquam amavit; somewhere in Sicily, involving the whole town in religious
tomorrow; And may
quique amavit, festivities joined with a deep sense of nature and Venus as
he who has loved, love
cras amet the "procreatrix", the life-giving force behind the natural
tomorrow as well
world.

As "The Future is Ours", motto of San Jacinto College,

cras es noster Tomorrow, be ours
Texas

A concept about creation, often used in a theological or

philosophical context. Also known as the 'First Cause'
creatio ex nihilo creation out of nothing
argument in philosophy of religion. Contrasted
with creatio ex materia.

Credo in Unum The first words of the Nicene Creed and the Apostles'
I Believe in One God
Deum Creed.

A very common misquote of Tertullian's et mortuus est

Dei Filius prorsus credibile quia ineptum est (and the Son
of God is dead: in short, it is credible because it is
unfitting), meaning that it is so absurd to say that God's
son has died that it would have to be a matter of belief,
credo quia I believe it because it rather than reason. The misquoted phrase, however, is
absurdum est is absurd commonly used to mock the dogmatic beliefs of the
religious (see fideism). This phrase is commonly shortened
to credo quia absurdum, and is also sometimes
rendered credo quia impossibile est (I believe it because it
is impossible) or, as Darwin used it in his
autobiography, credo quia incredibile.

I believe so that I may A motto of St Anselm, used as the motto of St. Anselm
credo ut intelligam
understand Hall, Manchester

crescamus in Illo May we grow in Him

Motto of Cheverus High School.
per omnia through all things

Motto of the University of Chicago. Often rendered in

crescat scientia let knowledge grow, English as "Let knowledge grow from more to more, And
vita excolatur let life be enriched so be human life enriched," so as to achieve
an iambic meter.

crescente luce Light ever increasing Motto of James Cook University.

crescit cum Civilization prospers
Motto of Claremont McKenna College.
commercio civitas with commerce

From Lucretius' De rerum natura book VI, where it refers

in context to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky,
which acquires power and momentum as it goes. This
crescit eundo it grows as it goes metaphor was adapted as the state motto of New
Mexico (adopted in 1887 as the territory's motto, and kept
in 1912 when New Mexico received statehood) and is seen
on the seal. Also the motto of Rocky Mount, Virginia.

while I live, I trust in

cruci dum spiro the cross, Whilst I Motto of the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) and its associated
fido trust in the Cross I schools.
have life

cucullus non facit The hood does not

William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Scene I, Act V 48–50
monachum make the monk

"Who benefits?" An adage in criminal investigation which

suggests that considering who would benefit from an
unwelcome event is likely to reveal who is responsible for
cui bono Good for whom?
that event (cf. cui prodest). Also the motto of the Crime
Syndicate of America, a fictional supervillain group. The
opposite is cui malo (Bad for whom?).

Short for cui prodest scelus is fecit (for whom the crime
advances, he has done it) in Seneca's Medea. Thus, the
cui prodest for whom it advances
murderer is often the one who gains by the murder (cf. cui
bono).

cuique suum to each his own

First coined by Accursius of Bologna in the 13th century.

cuius est solum, Whose the land is, all
A Roman legal principle of property law that is no longer
eius est usque ad the way to the sky and
observed in most situations today. Less literally, "For
coelum et ad to the underworld is
whosoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and
inferos his.
down to the depths."

The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of his

cuius regio, eius whose region, his
subjects. A regional prince's ability to choose his people's
religio religion
religion was established at the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.
cuiusvis hominis
est errare, nullius Anyone can err, but
nisi insipientis in only the fool persists Cicero, Philippica XII, 5.
errore in his fault
perseverare.

Also "blame" or "guilt". In law, an act of neglect. In

culpa fault
general, guilt, sin, or a fault. See also mea culpa.

cum gladiis et
with swords and clubs From the Bible. Occurs in Matthew 26:47 and Luke 22:52.
fustibus

cum gladio et sale with sword and salt Motto of a well-paid soldier. See salary.

cum grano salis with a grain of salt Not to be taken too seriously or as the literal truth.

cum hoc ergo with this, therefore on

Fallacy of assuming that correlation implies causation.
propter hoc account of this

The standard formula for academic Latin honors in the

cum laude with praise United States. Greater honors include magna cum
laude and summa cum laude.

cum mortuis in with the dead in a dead Movement from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest
lingua mortua language Mussorgsky

cum privilegio ad Copyright notice used in 16th-century England, used for

with the exclusive
imprimendum comic effect in The Taming of the Shrew by William
right to print
solum Shakespeare

cuncti adsint
let all come who by
meritaeque
merit deserve the most Motto of University College London.
expectent praemia
reward
palmae

From the Bible, locution indicating a will to death ("I want

cupio dissolvi desire to be dissolved
to die").

cur Deus Homo Why the God-Man The question attributed to Anselm in his work of by this
name, wherein he reflects on why the Christ of Christianity
 must be both fully Divine and fully Human. Often
translated "why did God become Man?"

care for the whole Motto of Georgetown University School of

cura personalis
person Medicine and University of Scranton.

take care of your own An exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal

cura te ipsum
self with their own problems before addressing those of others.

An overview of a person's life and qualifications, similar to

curriculum vitae course of life
a résumé.

custodi civitatem,
guard the city, O Lord Motto of the City of Westminster.
Domine

custos morum keeper of morals A censor.

distinguished by its
cygnis insignis Motto of Western Australia.
swans

cygnus inter
swan among ducks
anates

D[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

O God, give
da Deus fortunae A traditional greeting of Czech brewers.
fortune/happiness

Also da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius (plural "facta" (facts)

for the singular "factum"). A legal principle of Roman
da mihi factum, Give me the fact, I will
law that parties to a suit should present the facts and the
dabo tibi ius give you the law
judge will rule on the law that governs them. Related
to iura novit curia (the court knows the law).

Paraphrase of Quintilianus, De Institutione Oratoria,

damnant quod They condemn what they Book 10, Chapter 1, 26:
non intellegunt do not understand
 Modesto tamen et circumspecto iudicio de tantis
 viris pronuntiandum est, ne, quod plerisque
accidit, damnent quae non intellegunt.
o Yet students must pronounce with diffidence
and circumspection on the merits of such
illustrious characters, lest, as is the case with
many, they condemn what they do not
understand. (translated by Rev. John Selby
Watson)
damnatio ad condemnation to [the]
Colloquially, "thrown to the lions".
bestias beasts
The ancient Roman custom by which it was pretended
damnatio that disgraced Romans, especially former emperors),
damnation of memory
memoriae never existed, by eliminating all records and likenesses
of them.
Meaning a loss that results from no one's wrongdoing.
In Roman law, a person is not responsible for
damnum absque unintended, consequential injury to another that results
damage without injury
injuria from a lawful act. This protection does not necessarily
apply to unintended damage caused by one's negligence
or folly.
dat deus
incrementum or
God gives growth Motto of several schools.
deus dat
incrementum
with due respect / given
data venia Used before disagreeing with someone.
the excuse
datum
We shall accomplish the Motto of Batalhão de Operações Policiais
perficiemus
mission assigned Especiais (BOPE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
munus
In law, a de bene esse deposition is used to preserve the
de bene esse as well done testimony of a witness who is expected not to be
available to appear at trial and be cross-examined.
In law, trespass de bonis asportatis was the traditional
de bonis
carrying goods away name for larceny, i.e., the unlawful theft
asportatis
of chattels (moveable goods).
Used, e.g., in "as we agreed in the meeting d.d. 26th May
de dato of the date
2006".
Said of something that is the actual state of affairs, in
contrast to something's legal or official standing, which
de facto by deed is described as de jure. De facto refers to "the way things
really are" rather than what is officially presented as the
fact of the matter in question.
A clerk of a court makes this declaration when he is
de fideli with faithfulness appointed, by which he promises to perform his duties
faithfully as a servant of the court.
Describes an oath taken to faithfully administer the
de fideli
of faithful administration duties of a job or office, like that taken by a court
administratione
reporter.[20]
de futuro regarding the future Usually used in the context of "at a future time".
de gustibus non Of tastes there is nothing Less literally, "there is no accounting for taste", because
est disputandum to be disputed they are judged subjectively and not objectively:
everyone has his own and none deserve preeminence.
The complete phrase is "de gustibus et coloribus non est
disputandum" ("when we talk about tastes and colours
there is nothing to be disputed"). Probably
of Scholastic origin; see Wiktionary.
de integro again, a second time
"Official", in contrast with de facto; analogous to "in
principle", whereas de facto is to "in practice". In other
de jure by law
contexts, it can mean "according to law", "by right", and
"legally".
de lege ferenda of/from law to be passed
of/from law passed /
de lege lata
of/from law in force
A court does not care about small, trivial things. A case
de minimis non The law does not care
must have some importance in order for a court to hear
curat lex about the smallest things.
it. See "de minimis non curat praetor".
Also, "the chief magistrate does not concern himself
with trifles." Trivial matters are no concern of a high
The commander does not
de minimis non official; cf. aquila non capit muscas(the eagle does not
care about the smallest
curat praetor catch flies). Sometimes rex (king) or lex (law) is used in
things.
place of praetor. De minimis is a legal phrase referring
to things unworthy of the law's attention.
de mortuis aut about the dead, either Less literally, "speak well of the dead or not at all";
bene aut nihil well or nothing cf. de mortuis nil nisi bonum.
From de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est ("nothing
must be said about the dead except the good"), attributed
de mortuis nil nisi about the dead, nothing by Diogenes Laërtius to Chilon. In legal contexts, this
bonum unless a good thing quotation is used with the opposite meaning: defamation
of a deceased person is not a crime. In other contexts, it
refers to taboos against criticizing the recently deceased.
Thus: "their story is our story". Originally it referred to
de nobis fabula
About us is the story told the end of Rome's dominance. Now often used when
narratur
comparing any current situation to a past story or event.
"Anew" or "afresh". In law, a trial de novo is a retrial. In
biology, de novo means newly synthesized, and a de
novo mutation is a mutation that neither parent possessed
de novo from the new or transmitted. In economics, de novo refers to newly
founded companies, and de novo banks are state
banks that have been in operation for five years or less.
(Cf. ex novo)
The Italian scholar Giovanni Pico della Mirandola of the
about every knowable
de omni re scibili 15th century wrote the De omni re scibili ("concerning
thing, and even certain
et quibusdam aliis every knowable thing") part, and a wag added et
other things
quibusdam aliis ("and even certain other things").
Attributed to the French philosopher René Descartes. It
Be suspicious of
de omnibus was also Karl Marx's favorite motto and a title of one
everything / doubt
dubitandum of Søren Kierkegaard's works, namely, De Omnibus
everything
Dubitandum Est.
free from having been Loosely, "to liberate the oppressed". Motto of the United
de oppresso liber
oppressed States Army Special Forces.[21]
de praescientia from/through the
Dei foreknowledge of God
de profundis from the depths
about/regarding the
de re
matter
decessit sine prole died without issue
decessit sine prole died without legitimate
legitima issue
decessit sine prole died without legitimate
mascula legitima male issue
decessit sine prole
died without surviving
mascula
male issue
superstite
decessit sine prole died without surviving
superstite issue
decessit vita died in the lifetime of the
matris mother
died in the lifetime of the
decessit vita patris
father
an ornament and a
decus et tutamen
safeguard
There is safety in
defendit numerus
numbers
Defensor Fortis Defender of the Force
Dei gratia By the grace of God
By the Grace of God,
Dei gratia regina
Queen
Dei sub numine Under God's Spirit she
viget flourishes
Motto of the Worshipful Company of Barbers.
Meaning from out of the depths of misery or dejection.
From the Latin translation of the Vulgate Bible of Psalm
130, of which it is a traditional title in Roman Catholic
liturgy.
In logic, de dicto statements regarding the truth of a
proposition are distinguished from de re statements
regarding the properties of a thing itself.
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.s.p.,
to indicate a person who died without having had any
children.
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated
as d.s.p.l., to indicate a person who died without having
had any children with a spouse.
Used in genealogical records in cases of nobility or other
hereditary titles, often abbreviated
as d.s.p.m.l. or d.s.p.m. legit, to indicate a person who
died without having had any legitimate male children
(indicating there were illegitimate male children)
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated
as d.s.p.m., to indicate a person who died without having
had any male children who survived, i.e., outlived, him.
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated
as d.s.p.s., to indicate a person who died without having
had any children who survived, i.e., outlived him.
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated
as d.v.m., to indicate a person who predeceased his
mother.
Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.v.p.,
to indicate a person who predeceased his father.
A phrase from the Aeneid of Virgil. Inscription
on British one-pound coins. Originally inscribed on
coins of the 17th century, it refers to the inscribed edge
of the coin as a protection against the clipping of its
precious metal.
Official motto of the United States Air Force Security
Forces (Security Police).
Part of the full style of a monarch historically considered
to be ruling by divine right, notably in the style of the
English and British monarch since 1521
Also Dei gratia rex ("By the Grace of God, King").
Abbreviated as D G REG preceding Fidei Defensor (F
D) on British pound coins, and as D G Regina on Canadian
coins.
Motto of Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey,
United States.
 In Catholic theology, pleasure taken in a sinful thought
or imagination, such as brooding on sexual images. As
delectatio morosa peevish delight voluntary and complacent erotic fantasizing, without
attempt to suppress such thoughts, it is distinct from
actual sexual desire.
A legal principle whereby one to whom certain powers
delegata potestas
Delegated powers can were delegated may not ipso facto re-delegate them to
non potest
not be [further] delegated another. A distinction may be had between delegated
delegari
powers and the additional power to re-delegate them.
A Latin translation of René Goscinny's phrase in
delirant isti They are mad, those French ils sont fous, ces romains! or Italian Sono pazzi
Romani Romans[!] questi Romani. Cf. SPQR, which Obelix frequently used
in the Asterix comics.
Deo ac veritati for God and for truth Motto of Colgate University.
Deo confidimus In God we trust Motto of Somerset College.
Deo domuique For God and for home Motto of Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne.
Motto of Regis High School in New York City, New
Deo et patriae For God and country
York, United States.
A frequent phrase in the Roman Catholic liturgy, used
especially after the recitation of a lesson, the Last
Deo gratias Thanks [be] to God
Gospel at Mass or as a response to Ite Missa
Est / Benedicamus Domino.
Motto of Monaco and its monarch, which is inscribed on
Deo juvante with God's help
the royal arms.
Deo non fortuna by God, not fortune/luck Motto of the Epsom College in Surrey, England.
Derived from the pagan Iupiter optimo maximo ("to the
Deo optimo To the best and greatest
best and greatest Jupiter"). Printed on bottles
maximo (DOM) God
of Bénédictine liqueur.
Deo patriae For God, country, [and]
Motto of Scotch College (Melbourne).
litteris learning
For God, king and
Deo regi vicino Motto of Bromsgrove School.
neighbour
This was often used in conjunction with a signature at
the end of letters. It was used in order to signify that
"God willing" this letter will get to you safely, "God
willing" the contents of this letter come true. As an
abbreviation (simply "D.V.") it is often found in personal
Deo volente God willing letters (in English) of the early 1900s, employed to
generally and piously qualify a given statement about a
future planned action, that it will be carried out, so long
as God wills (see James 4:13-15, which encourages this
way of speaking). The motto of Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale.
descensus in The descent into the cave Down the rabbit hole. See Alice's Adventures in
cuniculi cavum of the rabbit Wonderland#Famous lines and expressions.
desiderantes From Hebrews 11: 16. Adopted as the motto of
they desired a better land
meliorem patriam the Order of Canada.
Title and first words of the first encyclical of Pope
Deus caritas est God Is Love
Benedict XVI. For other meanings see Deus caritas est
 (disambiguation).
From the Greek ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεός (apò mēchanēs
theós). A contrived or artificial solution, usually to a
literary plot. Refers to the practice in Greek drama of
deus ex machina a god from a machine lowering by crane (the mechanê) an actor playing a god
or goddess onto the stage to resolve an insuperable
conflict in the plot. The device is most commonly
associated with Euripides.
Deus lux mea est God is my light The motto of The Catholic University of America.
Deus meumque The principal motto of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. See
God and my right
jus also Dieu et mon droit.
Deus nobis haec God has given us these
Motto of the city of Liverpool, England.
otia fecit days of leisure
Deus otiosus God at leisure
The motto of Sir Thomas de Boteler, founder of Boteler
Deus spes nostra God is our hope
Grammar School in Warrington in 1526.
The principal slogan of the Crusades. Motto of Bergen
Deus vult God wills it
Catholic High School in New Jersey, United States.
A recent academic substitution for the spacious and
dictatum inconvenient phrase "as previously stated". Literally, has
as previously stated
erat (dict) been stated. Compare also "dicta prius"; literally, said
previously.
I.e. "from a rule without exception." Short for a dicto
simpliciter, the a is often dropped because it is confused
with the English indefinite article. A dicto
simpliciter occurs when an acceptable exception is
ignored or eliminated. For example, the appropriateness
dicto simpliciter [from] a maxim, simply
of using opiates is contingent on suffering extreme pain.
To justify the recreational use of opiates by referring to a
cancer patient or to justify arresting said patient by
comparing him to the recreational user would be a dicto
simpliciter.
dictum factum what is said is done Motto of United States Navy Fighter Squadron VF-194.
dictum meum
my word [is] my bond Motto of the London Stock Exchange.
pactum
From the Roman Emperor Titus. Recorded in the
diem perdidi I have lost the day biography of him by Suetonius in Lives of the Twelve
Caesars.
Reference to the Judgment Day in Christian eschatology.
The title of a famous Medieval Latin hymn by Tommaso
dies irae Day of wrath
da Celano in the 13th century and used in the
Requiem Mass.
Days under common law (traditionally Sunday), during
which no legal process can be served and any legal
dies nonjuridicum Day without judiciary
judgment is invalid. The English Parliament first
codified this precept in the reign of King Charles II.
In Classical Latin, "I arrange". Motto of the State of
dirigo I direct Maine, United States; based on a comparison of the State
to the star Polaris.

It seemed otherwise to
dis aliter visum
the gods
dis manibus
Sacred to the ghost-gods
sacrum (D.M.S.)
learn or depart / learn or
disce aut discede
leave
disce ut semper Learn as if always going
victurus, vive ut to live; live as if
cras moriturus tomorrow going to die.
discendo discimus while learning we learn
discere faciendo learn by doing
disiecta membra scattered limbs
ditat Deus God enriches
divide and rule / "divide
divide et impera
and conquer"
dixi I have spoken
["...", ...] dixit ["...", ...] said
do ut des I give that you may give
It is learned by teaching /
docendo discitur
one learns by teaching
docendo disco, I learn by teaching, I
scribendo cogito think by writing
dolus specialis special intent
Domine dirige nos O Lord, guide us
In other words, the gods have ideas different to those of
mortals, and so events do not always occur in the way
persons wish them to. Confer Virgil, Aeneid, 2: 428.
Also confer "Man proposes and God disposes" and "My
Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
My ways", Isaiah 55, 8-9.
Refers to the Manes, i.e. Roman spirits of the dead.
Loosely, "to the memory of". A conventional pagan
inscription preceding the name of the deceased on his
tombstone; often shortened to dis manibus (D.M.), "for
the ghost-gods". Preceded in some earlier monuments
by hic situs est (H. S. E.), "he lies here".
Motto of Royal College, Colombo and of King's School,
Rochester.
Attributed to St. Edmund of Abingdon. First seen
in Isidoro de Sevilla
See also docendo…(2).
Motto of California Polytechnic State
University, California, United States.
I.e., "scattered remains". Paraphrased
from Horace, Satires, 1, 4, 62, where it is written
"disiecti membra poetae" (limbs of a scattered poet).
Motto of the State of Arizona, United States, adopted in
1911. Probably derived from the translation of
the Vulgate Bible of Genesis 14: 23.
A Roman maxim adopted by Roman Dictator Julius
Caesar, King Louis XI of France and the Italian political
author Niccolò Machiavelli.
A popular, eloquent expression, usually used in the end
of a speech. The implied meaning is that the speaker has
said all that he had to say and thus his argument is
completed.
Used to attribute a statement or opinion to its author,
rather than the speaker.
Often said or written of sacrifices, in which one "gives"
and expects a return from the gods.
Attributed to Seneca the Younger.
"The ... concept is particular to a few civil law systems
and cannot sweepingly be equated with the notions of
'special' or 'specific intent' in common law systems. Of
course, the same might equally be said of the concept of
'specific intent', a notion used in the common law almost
exclusively within the context of the defense of
voluntary intoxication." (Genocide scholar William A.
Schabas)[22]
Motto of the City of London, England.
Domine salvum
O Lord, save the king Psalm 20, 10.
fac regem
Domine salvam
O Lord, save the queen After Psalm 20, 10.
fac reginam
Dominica in Sunday in [Setting Aside Latin name of the Octave of Easter in the
albis[depositis] the] White Garments Roman Catholic liturgy.
Dominus Motto of the Southland College, Philippines. Psalm 28,
The Lord is our strength
fortitudo nostra 8.
Dominus Motto of the University of Oxford, England. Psalm 27,
The Lord is my light
illuminatio mea 1.
The Lord is [our] Motto of St. John's College and Prep
Dominus pastor
shepherd School, Harare, Zimbabwe. After Psalm 23, 1.
A phrase used in the Roman Catholic liturgy, and
Dominus sometimes in its sermons and homilies, and a general
The Lord be with you.
vobiscum form of greeting among and towards members of
Catholic organizations. See also Pax vobiscum.
Often set to music, either by itself or as the final phrase
dona nobis pacem give us peace of the Agnus Dei prayer of the Holy Mass. Also an
ending in the video game Haunting Ground.
A legal concept in which a person in imminent mortal
donatio mortis a donation in expectation danger need not satisfy the otherwise
causa of death requisite consideration to effect a testamentary donation,
i.e., a donation by instituting or modifying a will.
draco dormiens Motto of the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
a sleeping dragonis never
nunquam and Wizardry of the Harry Potter series; translated more
to be tickled
titillandus loosely in the books as "never tickle a sleeping dragon".
dramatis the parts/characters of the More literally, "the masks of the drama"; the cast of
personae play characters of a dramatic work.
duae tabulae two blank slates with
Stan Laurel, inscription for the fan club logo of The Sons
rasae in quibus nothing written upon
of the Desert.
nihil scriptum est them
ducimus we lead Motto of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.
ducit amor Motto of the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland
love of country leads me
patriae Regiment, Australia.
ducunt volentem
the fates lead the willing
fata, nolentem Attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Sen. Ep. 107.11).
and drag the unwilling
trahunt
Motto of the United States Marine Corps Officer
ductus exemplo leadership by example Candidates School, at the base in Quantico, Virginia,
United States.
Meaning: "war may seem pleasant to those who have
dulce bellum war is sweet to the
never been involved in it, though the experienced know
inexpertis inexperienced
better". Erasmus of Rotterdam.
It is sweet on occasion to
Horace, Odes 4, 12, 28. Also used by George
dulce est desipere play the fool. / It is
Knapton for the portrait of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th
in loco pleasant to relax once in
Baronet in 1744.
a while.
dulce et decorum It is sweet and honorable Horace, Odes 3, 2, 13. Also used by Wilfred Owen for
est pro patria to die for the fatherland. the title of a poem regarding World War I, Dulce et
mori Decorum Est.
a sweet and useful thing / Horace, Ars Poetica: poetry must be dulce et utile, i.e.,
dulce et utile
pleasant and profitable both enjoyable and instructive.
Title of a popular English school song sung before the
dulce domum joyous home end of term, most famously as the school song
of Winchester College
Horace, Odes, 3 25, 16. Motto of the Scottish
dulce periculum danger is sweet
clan MacAulay.
dulcius ex asperis sweeter after difficulties Motto of the Scottish clan Fergusson.[23]
dum cresco spero I hope when I grow Motto of The Ravensbourne School.
dum Roma while Rome Used when someone has been asked for urgent help, but
deliberat debates, Saguntum is in responds with no immediate action. Similar to Hannibal
Saguntum perit danger ante portas, but referring to a less personal danger.
Cicero. Motto of the State of South Carolina. Motto of
dum spiro spero while I breathe, I hope
the Clan MacLennan.
dum vita est, spes while there is life, there
est is hope
dum vivimus
while we live, we serve Motto of Presbyterian College.
servimus
dum vivimus, An encouragement to embrace life. Motto inscribed on
while we live, let us live
vivamus the sword of the main character of the novel Glory Road.
[the] law [is] harsh, but Ulpian, Digesta Iustiniani, Roman jurist of the 3rd
dura lex sed lex
[it is the] law century AD.
dura mater tough mother The outer covering of the brain.
durante bene Meaning: "serving at the pleasure of the authority or
during good pleasure
placito officer who appointed". A Mediaeval legal Latin phrase.
For example, the Governor General of Canada is durante
durante munere while in office munere the Chancellor and Principal Companion of
the Order of Canada.
dux bellorum war leader
initium sapientiae The fear of the Lord is A quotation of Psalm 111:10. Motto of the University of
timor Domini the beginning of wisdom. Aberdeen, Scotland.

E[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Often used in medicine when the underlying

e causa ignota of unknown cause disease causing a symptom is not known. See
also idiopathic.

Literally, out of more (than one), one. The former

E pluribus unum out of many, one national motto of the United States, which "In God
We Trust" latter replaced; therefore, it is still
inscribed on many US coins and on the United
 States Capitol. Also the motto of S.L. Benfica.
Less commonly written as ex pluribus unum.

behold the From Luke 1:38 in the Vulgate Bible. Name of

ecce ancilla domini handmaiden of the an oil painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and
Lord motto of Bishopslea Preparatory School.

From the Gospel of John in

the Vulgate 19:5 (Douay-Rheims), where Pontius
Pilate speaks these words as he presents Christ,
crowned with thorns, to the crowd. It is also the
ecce homo behold the man
title of Nietzsche's autobiography and of the theme
music by Howard Goodall for the ITVcomedy Mr.
Bean, in which the full sung lyric is Ecce homo
qui est faba ("Behold the man who is a bean").

From the Catholic hymn Lauda Sion; occasionally

behold the bread of inscribed near the altar of Catholic churches; it
ecce panis angelorum
angels refers to the Eucharist, the Bread of Heaven;
the Body of Christ. See also: Panis angelicus.

editio princeps first edition The first published edition of a work.

From the canons of statutory interpretation in law.

When more general descriptors follow a list of
of the same kinds, many specific descriptors, the otherwise wide
ejusdem generis
class, or nature meaning of the general descriptors is interpreted as
restricted to the same class, if any, of the
preceding specific descriptors.

Part of the formula

of Catholic sacramental absolution, i. e., spoken
ego te absolvo I absolve you
by a priest as part of the Sacrament of
Penance (see also absolvo).

Used as a challenge; "I dare you". Can also be

ego te provoco I challenge you
written as te provoco.

Alas, the fleeting

eheu fugaces labuntur anni From Horace's Odes, 2, 14.
years slip by

let the light shine out

eluceat omnibus lux The motto of Sidwell Friends School.
from all
 Retired from office. Often used to denote an office
held at the time of one's retirement, as an honorary
title, e. g. professor emeritus and provost emeritus.
emeritus veteran
Inclusion in one's title does not necessarily denote
that the honorand is inactive in the pertinent
office.

Or "being one's own cause". Traditionally, a being

existing because of that owes its existence to no other being,
ens causa sui
oneself hence God or a Supreme Being (see also Primum
Mobile).

by the sword she

ense petit placidam sub Motto of the US state of Massachusetts, adopted in
seeks a serene repose
libertate quietem 1775.
under liberty

entia non sunt entities must not be Occam's Razor or Law of Parsimony; arguments
multiplicanda praeter multiplied beyond which do not introduce extraneous variables are to
necessitatem necessity be preferred in logical argumentation.

entitas ipsa involvit

reality involves a
aptitudinem ad A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on
power to compel
extorquendum certum the nature of truth.
certain assent
assensum

Technical term in philosophy and law. Similar

to ipso facto. Example: "The fact that I am does
eo ipso by that very (act) not eo ipso mean that I think." From
the Latinablative form of id ipsum ("that thing
itself").

eo nomine by that name

From Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48–49; a reference to

equo ne credite do not trust the horse
the Trojan Horse.

in relation to Used in law, especially international law, to

erga omnes
everyone denote a kind of universal obligation.

Denotes a logical conclusion (see also cogito ergo

ergo therefore
sum).

errare humanum est
erratum
errantis voluntas nulla est
eruditio et religio
esse est percipi
esse quam videri
Sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger, but
not attested: Errare humanum est, perseverare
autem diabolicum, et tertia non datur (To err is
human; to persist [in committing such errors] is of
the devil, and the third possibility is not given.)
Several authors contemplated the idea before
Seneca: Livy, Venia dignus error is
humanus (Storie, VIII, 35) and Cicero: is Cuiusvis
errare: insipientis nullius nisi, in errore
perseverare (Anyone can err, but only the fool
to err is human persists in his fault) (Philippicae, XII, 2, 5).
Cicero, being well-versed in ancient Greek, may
well have been alluding to Euripides'
play Hippolytus some four centuries earlier.[24] 300
years later Saint Augustine of Hippo recycled the
idea in his Sermones, 164, 14: Humanum fuit
errare, diabolicum est per animositatem in errore
manere.[25] The phrase gained currency in the
English language after Alexander Pope's An Essay
on Criticism of 1711: "To err is human, to forgive
divine" (line 325).
I. e., mistake. Lists of errors in a previous edition
error of a work are often marked with the
plural errata ("errors").
Roman legal principle formulated
the will of a mistaken by Pomponius in the Digest of the Corpus Juris
party is void Civilis, stating that legal actions undertaken by
man under the influence of error are invalid.
scholarship and duty Motto of Duke University
Motto of George Berkeley for his subjective
to be is to be idealist philosophical position that nothing exists
perceived independently of its perception by a mind except
minds themselves.
Truly being a thing, rather than merely seeming to
be a thing. The motto of many institutions.
From Cicero, De amicitia (On Friendship),
Chapter 26. Prior to Cicero, Sallust used the
to be, rather than to
phrase in Bellum Catilinae, 54, 6, writing
seem
that Cato esse quam videri bonus
malebat("preferred to be good, rather than to seem
so"). Earlier still, Aeschylus used a similar phrase
in Seven Against Thebes, line 592: ou gar dokein
aristos, all' enai thelei ("he wishes not to seem the

est modus in rebus
esto perpetua
esto quod es
et adhuc sub iudice lis est
et alibi (et al.)
et alii (et al.)
best, but to be the best").
there is a middle or mean in things, there is a
middle way or position;
from Horace, Satires 1.1.106; see also: Golden
mean (philosophy). According to Potempski and
Galmarini (Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9471-9489,
there is measure in
2009) the sentence should be translated as: "There
things
is an optimal condition in all things", which in the
original text is followed by sunt certi denique fines
quos ultra citraque nequit consistere
rectum("There are therefore precise boundaries
beyond which one cannot find the right thing").
Said of Venice, Italy, by the Venetian historian Fra
Paolo Sarpi shortly before his death. Motto of the
may it be perpetual US state of Idaho, adopted in 1867; of S. Thomas'
College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka; of Sigma Phi
Society.
be what you are Motto of Wells Cathedral School.
it is still before the From Horace, Ars Poetica (The Art of
court Poetry) 1.78.
A less common variant on et cetera ("and the
and elsewhere rest") used at the end of a list of locations to
denote unenumerated/omitted ones.
Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest") to
denote names that, usually for the sake of space,
are unenumerated/omitted. Alii is masculine, and
therefore it can be used to refer to men, or groups
of men and women; the feminine et aliae is proper
when the "others" are all female, but as with
many loanwords, interlingual use, such as in
reference lists, is often invariable. Et alia is neuter
plural and thus in Latin text is properly used only
and others
for inanimate, genderless objects, but some use it
as a gender-neutral alternative.[26] APA style uses
et al. (normal font)[27] if the work cited was written
by more than six authors; MLA style uses et al. for
more than three authors; AMA style lists all
authors if ≤6, and 3 + et al if >6. AMA
style forgoes the period (because it forgoes the
period on abbreviations generally) and it forgoes
the italic (as it does with other loanwords
naturalized into scientific English); many journals

et cetera (etc. (US English); etc
(UK English)) or(&c. (US); &c
(UK))
et cum spiritu tuo
Et facere et pati fortia
Romanum est
et facta est lux
et hoc genus omne
et in Arcadia ego
et lux in tenebris lucet
et nunc reges intelligite
erudimini qui judicatis
terram
et sequentes (et seq.)
et suppositio nil ponit in
that follow AMA style do likewise.
In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or
and the rest
"and more".
A response in the Sursum corda element of
and with your spirit
the Catholic Mass.
Acting and suffering
The words of Gaius Mucius Scaevola when Lars
bravely is the
Porsena captured him.
attribute of a Roman
From Genesis, 1:3: "and there was light". Motto
And light came to
of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, United
be or was made
States. See also Fiat lux.
and all that sort of
Abbreviated as e.h.g.o. or ehgo
thing
In other words, "I too am in Arcadia". See
and in Arcadia [am] I
also memento mori.
and light shines in the See also Lux in Tenebris. Motto of the Pontificia
darkness Universidad Católica del Perú.
"And now, O ye
kings, understand:
From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate), 2.10
receive instruction,
(Douay-Rheims).
you that judge the
earth."
Also et sequentia ("and the following
things": neut.), abbreviations: et seqq., et seq.,
or sqq. Commonly used in legal citations to refer
and the following
to statutes that comprise several sequential
(masculine/feminine
sections of a code of statutes (e. g. National Labor
plural)
Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 159 et seq.; New Jersey
Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J. Stat.
Ann. § 2C:25-17 et seq.).
and a supposition puts More usually translated as "Sayin' it don't make it
esse nothing in being so".

Or "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?"

Indicates betrayal by an intimate associate.
From William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, based
on the traditional dying words of Julius Caesar.
Et tu, Brute? And you, Brutus? However, these were almost certainly not Caesar's
true last words: Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying
in Greek, the language of the Roman elite at the
time, καὶ σὺ τέκνον (Kaì sù téknon?), translated as
"You too, (my) child?", quoting from Menander.

et uxor (et ux.) and wife A legal term.

et vir and husband A legal term.

Saint Peter to Jesus Christ, from

Even if all others, I
Etiam si omnes, ego non the Vulgate, Gospel of Matthew 26:33; New King
will never
James Version: Matthew 26:33).

even if God were not This sentence synthesizes a famous concept

etsi deus non daretur
a given of Hugo Grotius (1625).

In law, describes someone taking precautions

against a very remote contingency. "One might
wear a belt in addition to braces ex abundanti
cautela".[28] In banking, a loan in which
the collateral is more than the loan itself. Also the
out of an abundance
ex abundanti cautela basis for the term "an abundance of caution"
of caution
employed by United States President Barack
Obama to explain why the Chief Justice of the US
Supreme Court John Roberts had to re-administer
the presidential oath of office, and again in
reference to terrorist threats.

for out of the From the Gospel of Matthew, XII.xxxiv

ex abundantia enim cordis abundance of the (Vulgate), 12.34 (Douay-Rheims) and the Gospel
os loquitur heart the mouth of Luke, VI.xlv (Vulgate), 6.45 (Douay-Rheims).
speaketh. Sometimes rendered without enim ("for").

Denoting "on equal footing", i. e., in a tie. Used

for those two (seldom more) participants of a
ex aequo from the equal
competition who demonstrated identical
performance.
 "(There is) always Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 8, 42 (unde
ex Africa semper aliquid something new etiam vulgare Graeciae dictum semper aliquid
novi (coming) out of novi Africam adferre[29]), a translation of the Greek
Africa" «Ἀεὶ Λιβύη φέρει τι καινόν».

Often used on internal diplomatic event

ex amicitia pax peace from friendship invitations. A motto sometimes inscribed on flags
and mission plaques of diplomatic corps.

ex animo from the soul Sincerely.

Denoting "beforehand", "before the event", or

ex ante from before "based on prior assumptions"; denoting a
prediction.

The motto of the fictional Starfleet

From the Stars, Academy of Star Trek. Adapted from ex luna
Ex Astris Scientia
Knowledge scientia, which in turn derived from ex scientia
tridens.

A phrase applied to the declarations or

promulgations of the Catholic Supreme
Pontiff (Pope) when, preserved from the
possibility of error by the Holy Spirit (see Papal
infallibility), he solemnly declares or promulgates
("from the chair" that was the ancient symbol of
ex cathedra from the chair
the teacher and governor, in this case of the
Church) a dogmatic doctrine on faith or morals as
being contained in divine revelation, or at least
being intimately connected to divine revelation.
Used, by extension, of anyone who is perceived as
speaking as though with supreme authority.

from culture [comes]

ex cultu robur The motto of Cranleigh School, Surrey.
strength

ex Deo from God

"From harmful deceit"; dolus malus is

the Latin legal term denoting "fraud". The full
ex dolo malo from fraud legal phrase is ex dolo malo non oritur actio ("an
action does not arise from fraud"). When an action
has its origin in fraud or deceit, it cannot be
supported; thus, a court of law will not assist a
 man who bases his course of action on an immoral
or illegal act.

From suffering Motto of Rapha Cycling club (see also Rapha

ex duris gloria
[comes] glory (sportswear)).

Idiomatically rendered "on the face of it". A legal

term typically used to state that a document's
ex facie from the face
explicit terms are defective absent further
investigation.

from faith [comes] Motto of St George's College,

ex fide fiducia
confidence Harare and Hartmann House Preparatory School.

from faith [comes] Motto of Loyola School in New York City, New
ex fide fortis
strength York, United States.

from the acorn the Motto of the Municipal Borough of

ex glande quercus
oak Southgate, London, England, United Kingdom.

More literally "from grace". Refers to someone

voluntarily performing an act purely from
kindness, as opposed to for personal gain or from
ex gratia from kindness
being compelled to do it. In law, an ex
gratia payment is one made without recognizing
any liability or obligation.

ex hypothesi from the hypothesis Denoting "by hypothesis".

ex ignorantia ad from ignorance into

Motto of Miskatonic University in Arkham,
sapientiam; ex luce ad wisdom; from light
Massachusetts
tenebras (e.i.) into darkness

Recent academic notation denoting "from below in

ex infra (e.i.) "from below"
this writing". See also ex supra.

The medical pitfall in which response to a

ex juvantibus from that which helps
therapeutic regimen substitutes proper diagnosis.

ex lege from the law

 Precedes a person's name, denoting "from the
ex libris from the books library of" the nominate; also a synonym for
"bookplate".

The motto of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, derived

from the moon, from ex scientia tridens, the motto of Jim
ex luna scientia
knowledge Lovell's alma mater, the United States Naval
Academy.

From Saint Augustine of Hippo, "Sermon LXI", in

which he contradicts the dictum of Seneca the
Younger in Epistulae morales ad
ex malo bonum good out of evil Lucilium, 87:22: bonum ex malo non fit ("good
does not come from evil"). Also the alias of the
song "Miserabile Visu" by Anberlin in the
album New Surrender.

ex mea sententia in my opinion

out of mere impulse,

ex mero motu or of one's own
accord

From Lucretius, and said earlier by Empedocles.

Its original meaning is "work is required to
succeed", but its modern meaning is a more
general "everything has its origins in
something" (see also causality). It is commonly
applied to the conservation laws in philosophy and
nothing comes from modern science. Ex nihilo is often used in
ex nihilo nihil fit
nothing conjunction with "creation", as in creatio ex nihilo,
denoting "creation out of nothing". It is often used
in philosophy and theology in connection with the
proposition that God created the universe from
nothing. It is also mentioned in the final ad-lib of
the Monty Python song Always Look on the Bright
Side of Life.

Denotes something that has been newly made or

ex novo anew
made from scratch (see also de novo).

Ex Oblivione from oblivion The title of a short story by H. P. Lovecraft.

 By virtue or right of office. Often used when
someone holds one office by virtue of holding
another: for example, the President of France is
an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. A common
misconception is that all ex officio members of a
committee or congress may not vote; but in some
ex officio from the office
cases they do. In law ex officio can also refer to an
administrative or judicial office taking action of its
own accord, in the case of the latter the more
common term is ex proprio motu or ex meru motu,
for example to invalidate a patent or prosecute
infringers of copyright.[30]

A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere

from the work of the operato, referring to the notion that the validity or
ex opere operantis
one working promised benefit of a sacrament depends on the
person administering it.

A theological phrase meaning that the act of

receiving a sacrament actually confers the
promised benefit, such as a baptism actually and
from the work
ex opere operato literally cleansing one's sins. The Catholic
worked
Church affirms that the source of grace is God, not
just the actions or disposition of the minister or the
recipient of the sacrament.

Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but

ex oriente lux light from the east alludes to culture coming from the Eastern world.
Motto of several institutions.

A legal term that means "by one party" or "for one

ex parte from a part
party". Thus, on behalf of one side or party only.

from his foot, so From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall
ex pede Herculem
Hercules know his size; from a part, the whole.

"Afterward", "after the event". Based on

ex post from after knowledge of the past. Measure of past
performance.

from a thing done

ex post facto Said of a law with retroactive effect.
afterward
 Or 'with due competence'. Said of the person who
from one declaring
ex professo perfectly knows his art or science. Also used to
[an art or science]
mean "expressly".[31]

The term is a legal phrase; the legal citation guide

called the Bluebook describes ex rel. as a
"procedural phrase" and requires using it to
[arising] out of the
abbreviate "on the relation of," "for the use of,"
ex rel. or ex relatio relation/narration [of
"on behalf of," and similar expressions. An
the relator]
example of use is in court case titles such
as Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States
ex rel. Escobar

The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers

from knowledge, sea to knowledge bringing men power over the sea
ex scientia tridens
power. comparable to that of the trident-bearing Greek
god Poseidon.

from knowledge, The motto of the College of Graduate Studies

ex scientia vera
truth at Middle Tennessee State University.

In general, the claim that the absence of something

demonstrates the proof of a proposition.
An argumentum ex silentio ("argument from
silence") is an argument based on the assumption
ex silentio from silence
that someone's silence on a matter suggests
("proves" when a logical fallacy) that person's
ignorance of the matter or their inability to
counterargue validly.

ex situ out of position opposite of "in situ"

Recent academic notation for "from above in this

ex supra (e.s.) "from above"
writing". See also ex infra.

from [this moment of] "This instant", "right away" or "immediately".

ex tempore
time Also written extempore.

A legal doctrine which states that a claimant will

From a dishonorable
Ex turpi causa non oritur be unable to pursue a cause of action, if it arises in
cause an action does
actio connection with his own illegal act. Particularly
not arise
relevant in the law of contract, tort and trusts.
 from the shadow into Motto of Federico Santa María Technical
ex umbra in solem
the light University.

from the waves [of

ex undis motto in the coat of arms of Eemsmond
the sea]

union is strength, or
Ex Unitate Vires motto of South Africa.
unity is strength

from the force of the

ex vi termini Thus, "by definition".
term

ex vita discedo, tanquam I depart from life as

ex hospitio, non tanquam from an inn, not as Cicero, Cato Maior de Senectute (On Old Age) 23
ex domo from home

Used in reference to the study or assay of living

ex vivo out of or from life tissue in an artificial environment outside the
living organism.

Thus, in accordance with a promise. An ex voto is

ex voto from the vow
also an offering made in fulfillment of a vow.

from crowd, used to describe social computing, in The Wisdom

ex vulgus scientia
knowledge of Crowds and discourse referring to it.

"Ever upward!" The state motto of New York.

excelsior higher Also a catchphrase used by Marvel
Comics head Stan Lee.

A juridical principle which means that the

The exception statement of a rule's exception (e.g., "no parking
exceptio
confirms the rule in on Sundays") implicitly confirms the rule (i.e., that
firmat (or probat) regulam
cases which are not parking is allowed Monday through Saturday).
in casibus non exceptis
excepted Often mistranslated as "the exception that proves
the rule".

an excuse that has not More loosely, "he who excuses himself, accuses
excusatio non petita
been sought [is] an himself"—an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt.
accusatio manifesta
obvious accusation In French, qui s'excuse, s'accuse.
exeat
exegi monumentum aere
perennius
exempli gratia(e.g.)
exercitus sine duce corpus
est sine spiritu
exeunt
experientia docet
experimentum crucis
experto crede
expressio unius est exclusio
alterius
s/he may go out A formal leave of absence.
I have reared a
monument more Horace, Carmina III:XXX:I
enduring than bronze
Exempli gratiā, 'for example', is usually
abbreviated "e.g." (less commonly, ex. gr.). The
abbreviation "e.g." often is interpreted anglicised
as 'example given'. It is not usually followed by a
for the sake of
comma in British English, but it is in American
example, for example
usage. E.g. is often confused with i.e. (id est,
meaning 'that is' or 'in other words').[32] Some
writing styles give such abbreviations without
punctuation, as ie and eg.[a]
an army without a
On a plaque at the former military staff building of
leader is a body
the Swedish Armed Forces.
without a spirit
Third-person plural present active indicative of the
they leave Latin verb exire; also seen in exeunt omnes, "all
leave"; singular: exit.
This term has been used in dermatopathology to
express that there is no substitute for experience in
dealing with all the numerous variations that may
experience teaches
occur with skin conditions.[49] The term has also
been used in gastroenterology.[50] It is also the
motto of San Francisco State University.
experiment of the Or "crucial experiment". A decisive test of a
cross scientific theory.
Literally "believe one who has had experience".
trust the expert
An author's aside to the reader.
"Mentioning one thing may exclude another
thing". A principle of legal statutory interpretation:
the expression of the
the explicit presence of a thing implies intention to
one is the exclusion
exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief
of the other
Act 1601 to "lands, houses, tithes and coal mines"
was held to exclude mines other than coal mines.
Sometimes expressed as expressum facit cessare
 tacitum (broadly, "the expression of one thing
excludes the implication of something else").

Refers to a possible result of Catholic

[placed] outside of ecclesiastical legal proceedings when the culprit is
extra domum
the house removed from being part of a group like a
monastery.

This expression comes from the Epistle to

Jubaianus, paragraph 21, written by Saint Cyprian
outside the Church of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It is
extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
[there is] no salvation often used to summarise the doctrine that the
Catholic Church is absolutely necessary for
salvation.

It is issued by the Master of the Papal Liturgical

Celebrations before a session of the Papal
conclave which will elect a new Pope. When
extra omnes outside, all [of you]
spoken, all those who are not Cardinals, or those
otherwise mandated to be present at the Conclave,
must leave the Sistine Chapel.

he who administers
extra territorium jus
justice outside of his Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited
dicenti impune non
territory is disobeyed in law of the sea cases on the high seas.
paretur
with impunity

"extreme solution",
"last possibility", "last
extrema ratio
possible course of
action"

F[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Appius Claudius Caecus; motto

faber est suae quisque every man is the artisan of his own
of Fort Street High School in
fortunae fortune
Petersham, Sydney, Australia

fac et spera do and hope motto of Clan Matheson

 motto of Prince Alfred College in
fac fortia et patere do brave deeds and endure
Adelaide, Australia

origin of the word facsimile, and,

fac simile make a similar thing
through it, of fax

appeared on British coinage

faciam eos in gentem unum I will make them into one nation
following the Union of the Crowns

faciam quodlibet quod

I'll do whatever it takes
necesse est

from Plautus, Persa IV.3–24; used

faciam ut mei memineris I'll make you remember me by Russian hooligans as tattoo
inscription

said of the acknowledged leader in

facile princeps easily the first some field, especially in the arts and
humanities

facilius est multa facere It is easier to do many things, than Quintilian, Institutio
quam diu one thing consecutively Oratoria 1/12:7

motto of St. John's College in

facio liberos ex liberis "I make free adults out of children
Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe,
libris libraque by means of books and a balance."
New Mexico

facta, non verba deeds, not words Frequently used as motto

factum fieri infectum non It is impossible for a deed to be

Terence, Phormio 5/8:45
potest undone

A Roman legal principle indicating

that a witness who willfully falsifies
one matter is not credible on any
falsus in uno, falsus in matter. The underlying motive for
false in one, false in all
omnibus attorneys to impeach opposing
witnesses in court: the principle
discredits the rest of their testimony
if it is without corroboration.
familia supra omnia
fas est et ab hoste doceri
feci quod potui, faciant
meliora potentes
NN fecit
fecisti patriam diversis de
gentibus unam
felicior Augusto, melior
Traiano
Felicitas, Integritas Et
Sapientia
felix culpa
felix qui potuit rerum
family over everything
It is lawful to be taught even by an
enemy
I have done what I could; let those
who can do better.
NN made (this)
"From differing peoples you have
made one native land"
"be more fortunate
than Augustus and better
than Trajan"
The motto of Oakland Colegio
Campestre school through
Happiness, Integrity and Knowledge
which Colombia participates
of NASA Educational Programs
fortunate fault
happy is he who can ascertain the
frequently used as a family motto
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4:428
Slight variant ("quod potui feci")
found in James Boswell's An
Account of Corsica, there described
as "a simple beautiful inscription on
the front of Palazzo Tolomei at
Siena".[51] Later, found in Henry
Baerlein's introduction to his
translation of The Diwan of Abul
ʿAla by Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri (973–
1057);[52] also in Anton
Chekhov's Three Sisters, act 1. Also
in Alfonso Moreno
Espinosa, Compendio de Historia
Universal, 5. ed. (Cádiz 1888).
a formula used traditionally in the
author's signature by painters,
sculptors, artisans, scribes etc.;
compare pinxit
Verse 63 from the poem De reditu
suo by Rutilius Claudius
Namatianus praising
emperor Augustus.[53]
ritual acclamation delivered to late
Roman emperors
from the "Exsultet" of the Catholic
liturgy for the Easter Vigil
Virgil. "Rerum cognoscere causas"
is the motto of the London School
cognoscere causas causes of things of Economics, University of
Sheffield, and University of Guelph.

archaic legal term for one who

commits suicide, referring to early
felo de se felon from himself English common law punishments,
such as land seizure, inflicted on
those who killed themselves

People's beliefs are shaped largely

fere libenter homines id men generally believe what they
by their desires. Julius Caesar, The
quod volunt credunt want to
Gallic War 3.18

An oxymoronic motto of Augustus.

It encourages proceeding quickly,
but calmly and cautiously.
Equivalent to "more haste, less
speed". Motto of the Madeira
festina lente hurry slowly
School,
McLean, Virginia and Berkhamsted
School,
Berkhamsted, England, United
Kingdom

festinare nocet, nocet et it is bad to hurry, and delay is often

cunctatio saepe; tempore as bad; the wise person is the one
Ovid[54]
quaeque suo qui facit, ille who does everything in its proper
sapit. time.

fiat iustitia et pereat let justice be done, though the world motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman
mundus shall perish Emperor

let justice be done, should the sky attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso
fiat justitia ruat caelum
fall Caesoninus

from the Genesis, "dixitque Deus

fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God
fiat lux let there be light said, 'Let light be made', and light
was made."); frequently used as the
motto of schools.

fiat mihi secundum be it done to me according to thy Virgin Mary's response to

verbum tuum word the Annunciation

fiat panis
fiat voluntas Dei
fiat voluntas tua
ficta voluptatis causa sint
proxima veris
Fidei Defensor (Fid
Def) or (fd)
fidem scit
fides qua creditur
fides quae creditur
let there be bread
May God's will be done
Thy will be done
fictions meant to please should
approximate the truth
Defender of the Faith
he knows the faith
the faith by which it is believed
the faith which is believed
Motto of the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
motto of Robert May's School; see
the next phrase below
motto of Archbishop Richard Smith
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Edmonton; quotation of the third
petition of the Pater Noster (Our
Father) prayer dictated by Jesus
Christ and his response to the Father
during the Agony in the Garden of
Gethsemane
Horace, Ars Poetica (338); advice
presumably discounted by
the magical realists
A title given to King Henry VIII of
England by Pope Leo X on 17
October 1521, before Henry broke
from the Roman Church and
founded the Church of England.
British monarchs continue to use the
title, which is still inscribed on all
British coins, and usually
abbreviated.
sometimes mistranslated to "keep
the faith" when used in
contemporary English writings of all
kinds to convey a light-hearted wish
for the reader's well-being
Roman Catholic theological term for
the personal faith that apprehends
what is believed, contrasted
with fides quaecreditur, which is
what is believed; see next phrase
below
Roman Catholic theological term for
the content and truths of the Faith or
"the deposit of the Faith", contrasted
with fides qua creditur, which is the

fides quaerens intellectum
fidus Achates
filiae nostrae sicut anguli
incisi similitudine templi
finis coronat opus
finis vitae sed non amoris
flagellum dei
flatus vocis
flectere si nequeo if I can not reach Heaven I will raise
superos, Acherontamovebo Hell
floreat Etona
floreat nostra schola
faith seeking understanding
faithful Achates
may our daughters be as polished as
the corners of the temple
the end crowns the work
the end of life, but not of love
the scourge of God
[a or the] breath of voice
may Eton flourish
may our school flourish
personal faith by which the Faith is
believed; see previous phrase
motto of St. Anselm; Proslogion
refers to a faithful friend; from the
name of Aeneas's faithful
companion in Virgil's Aeneid
motto of Francis Holland School
A major part of a work is properly
finishing it. Motto of St. Mary's
Catholic High School
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; on
the Coat of Arms of Seychelles; and
of the Amin Investment Bank
unknown
title for Attila the Hun, the ruthless
invader of the Western Roman
Empire
a mere name, word, or sound
without a corresponding objective
reality; expression used by
the nominalists of universalsand
traditionally attributed to the
medieval philosopher Roscelin of
Compiègne
Virgil, Aeneid, Book VII.312
Motto of Eton College, England,
United Kingdom
a common scholastic motto
 indicates the period when a historic
person was most active or was
accomplishing that for which he is
floruit (fl.) one flourished
famous; may be used as a substitute
when the dates of his birth and/or
death are unknown.

fluctuat nec mergitur she wavers and is not immersed Motto of the City of Paris, France

also: "the fountainhead and

fons et origo the spring and source
beginning"

fons sapientiae, verbum the fount of knowledge is the word motto of Bishop Blanchet High
Dei of God School

motto of Chisipite Senior

fons vitae caritas love is the fountain of life
School and Chisipite Junior School

formosam resonare doces teach the woods to re-echo "fair

Virgil, Eclogues, 1:5
Amaryllida silvas Amaryllis"

forsan et haec olim perhaps even these things will be

Virgil, Aeneid, Book 1, Line 203
meminisse iuvabit good to remember one day

The motto of the United States

fortes fortuna adiuvat Fortune favours the bold
Marine Corps 3rd Marine Regiment

The motto of the Jutland Dragoon

fortes fortuna juvat Fortune favours the bold
Regiment of Denmark

fortes in fide strong in faith a common motto

motto on the Coat of Arms of the

fortis cadere, cedere non Fahnestock Family and of the
the brave may fall, but can not yield
potest Palmetto Guard of Charleston,
South Carolina

fortis est veritas truth is strong motto on the Coat of

Arms of Oxford, England, United
 Kingdom

fortis et liber strong and free motto of Alberta, Canada

motto of the Municipal Borough of

fortis in arduis strong in difficulties Middleton, from the Earl of
Middleton

fortiter et fideliter bravely and faithfully a common motto

fortiter in re, suaviter in resolute in execution, gentle in

a common motto
modo manner

fortunae meae, multorum artisan of my fate and that of several

motto of Gatineau
faber others

a legal principle: the occurrence or

fraus omnia vitiat taint of fraud in a (legal) transaction
entirely invalidates it

An epitaph that reminds the reader

of the inevitability of death, as if to
I once was what you are, you will be state: "Once I was alive like you are,
fui quod es, eris quod sum
what I am and you will be dead as I am now."
It was carved on the gravestones of
some Roman military officers.

fumus boni iuris presumption of sufficient legal basis a legal principle

fundamenta inconcussa unshakable foundation

G[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

according to Cassiodorus, an expression used

gaudia
the joys of battle by Attila in addressing his troops prior to the 451 Battle
certaminis
of Châlons
gaudeamus
let us rejoice today
hodie

gaudeamus First words of an academic anthem used, among other

therefore let us rejoice
igitur places, in The Student Prince.

gaudete in
rejoice in the Lord Motto of Bishop Allen Academy
domino

gaudium in
joy in truth Motto of Campion School
veritate

A principle of statutory interpretation: If a matter falls

general provisions enacted in
generalia later legislation do not
specialibus non detract from specific
derogant provisions enacted in earlier
legislation
under a specific provision in a statute enacted before a
general provision enacted in a later statute, it is to be
presumed that the legislature did not intend that the
earlier specific provision be repealed, and the matter is
governed by the earlier specific provision, not the more
recent general one.

The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a

place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales,
genius loci spirit of place and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally
the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually
depicted as a snake.

Learn each field of study

generatim
according to its kind. Motto of the University of Bath.
discite cultus
(Virgil, Georgics II.)

gens una Motto of FIDE. Can be traced back to Claudian's

we are one people
sumus poem De consulatu Stilichonis.

gesta non
deeds, not words Motto of James Ruse Agricultural High School.
verba

Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title and

Gloria in
Glory to God in the Highest beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the
excelsis Deo
Greater Doxology. See also ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Gloria By your fame you have
Sallust, Bellum Jugurthum ("Jugurthine War") 10:2.
invidiam vicisti conquered envy

gloria filiorum The glory of sons is their

Motto of Eltham College
patres fathers (Proverbs17:6)

Gloria Patri Glory to the Father The beginning of the Lesser Doxology.

gloriosus et
glorious and free Motto of Manitoba
liber

Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin,

gradatim
by degrees, ferociously which officially treats "Step by step, ferociously" as the
ferociter
English translation

gradibus
ascending by degrees Motto of Grey College, Durham
ascendimus

Graecia capta
Conquered Greece in turn
ferum victorem Horace Epistles 2.1
defeated its savage conqueror
cepit

Most commonly from Shakespeare's Julius

Caesar where Casca couldn't explain to Cassius what
Graecum est; It is Greek (and therefore) it
Cicero was saying because he was speaking Greek. The
non legitur cannot be read.
more common colloquialism would be: It's all Greek to
me.

grandescunt By hard work, all things

Motto of McGill University
aucta labore increase and grow

gratia et
grace and learning Motto of Arundel School
scientia

gratiae veritas Truth through mercy and

Motto of Uppsala University
naturae nature

graviora Virgil Aeneid 6:84; more severe things await, the worst
heavier things remain
manent is yet to come
Gravis Dulcis
serious sweet immutable Title of a poem by James Elroy Flecker [55]
Immutabilis

gutta cavat
a water drop hollows a stone
lapidem [non vi main phrase is from Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10,
[not by force, but by falling
sed saepe 5.;[56] expanded in the Middle Ages
often]
cadendo]

H[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of

legal writs to bring a person before a court or judge, most
commonly habeas corpus ad subiciendum (you may have the body to
You should
habeas corpus bring up). Commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal
have the body
right to challenge the legality of their detention. (Corpus here is used
in a similar sense to corpus delicti, referring to the substance of the
reason for detention rather than a physical human body.)

habemus Used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a

we have a pope
papam successful ballot to elect a new pope.

Books have
their destiny
Habent sua
[according to Terentianus Maurus, De Litteris, De Syllabis, De Metris, 1:1286.
fata libelli
the capabilities
of the reader]

hac lege with this law

haec olim one day, this Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look back on this
meminisse will be pleasing and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also, motto of Handsworth
iuvabit to remember Grammar School, and the Jefferson Society.

"These are my
haec Attributed to Cornelia Africana (talking about her children)
ornaments" or
ornamenta by Valerius Maximus in Factorum ac dictorum memorabilium libri
"These are my
mea [sunt] IX, IV, 4, incipit.[57][58]
jewels"

Found in Cicero's first Philippic and in Livy's Ab urbe condita

Hannibal ad Hannibal at the
Hannibal was a fierce enemy of Rome who almost brought them to
portas gates defeat.
Sometimes rendered "Hannibal ante portas", with verisimilar
meaning: "Hannibal before the gates"

haud ignota I speak not of

Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.91.
loquor unknown things

Hei mihi!
quod nullis Oh me! love can
amor est not be cured by From Ovid's Metamorphoses ("Transformations"), I, 523.
medicabilis herbs
herbis.

hic abundant here lions Written on uncharted territories of old maps; see also: here be
leones abound dragons.

The imperative motto for the satisfaction of desire. "I need it, Here
hic et nunc here and now
and Now"

Also rendered hic iacet. Written on gravestones or tombs, preceding

the name of the deceased. Equivalent to hic sepultus (here is buried),
hic jacet (HJ) here lies
and sometimes combined into hic jacet sepultus (HJS), "here lies
buried".
hic locus est
This is the place
ubi mors
where death
gaudet A motto of many morgues or wards of anatomical pathology.
delights in
succurrere
helping life
vitae
According to Titus Livius the phrase was pronounced by Marcus
hic Furius Camillus, addressing the senators who intended to abandon
here we'll stay
manebimus the city, invaded by Gauls, circa 390 BC. It is used today to express
excellently
optime the intent to keep one's position, even if the circumstances appear
adverse.
hic sunt here there are Written on a globe engraved on two conjoined halves of ostrich eggs,
dracones dragons dated to 1504.
here there are
hic sunt leones Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
lions
hinc et inde from both sides
From Terence, Andria, line 125. Originally literal, referring to the
hinc illae hence those tears shed by Pamphilus at the funeral of Chrysis, it came to be used
lacrimae tears proverbially in the works of later authors, such
as Horace (Epistula XIX, 41).
from here the
hinc itur ad Written on the wall of the old astronomical observatory of Vilnius
way leads to the
astra University, Lithuania, and the university's motto.
stars
herefore
hinc robur et
strength and Motto of the Central Bank of Sweden.
securitas
safety
historia vitae history, the
From Cicero's De Oratore, II, 9. Also "history is the mistress of life".
magistra teacher of life
hoc age do this Motto of Bradford Grammar School
hoc est bellum This is war
hoc est
Christum To know Christ
Famous dictum by the Reformer Melanchthon in his Loci
cognoscere, is to know his
Communes of 1521
beneficia eius benefits
cognoscere
The words of Jesus reiterated in Latin during the Roman Catholic
hoc est enim For this is my
Eucharist. Sometimes simply written as "Hoc est corpus meum" or
corpus meum Body
"This is my body".
From Horace's Satires, 1/2:2. Refers to the crowd at Tigellio's funeral
hoc genus All that
(c. 40–39 BC). Not to be confused with et hoc genus
omne crowd/people
omne (English: and all that sort of thing).
Today it's me,
hodie mihi, Inscription that can be seen on tombstones dating from the Middle
tomorrow it will
cras tibi Ages, meant to outline the ephemerality of life.
be you
hominem
It is of man that From Martial's Epigrams, Book 10, No. 4, Line 10; stating his
pagina nostra
my page smells purpose in writing.
sapit
hominem non Treat the Man,
Motto of the Far Eastern University – Institute of Nursing
morbum cura not the Disease
Varro (116 BC – 27 BC), in the opening line of the first book
of Rerum Rusticarum Libri Tres, wrote "quod, ut dicitur, si est homo
homo bulla man is a bubble bulla, eo magis senex" (for if, as they say, man is a bubble, all the
more so is an old man)[59] later reintroduced by Erasmus in
his Adagia, a collection of sayings published in 1572.
First attested in Plautus' Asinaria (lupus est homo homini). The
homo homini man [is a] wolf
sentence was drawn on by Hobbes in Leviathan as a concise
lupus to man
expression of his views on human nature.
Homo
Man, the servant
minister et
and interpreter Motto of the Lehigh University
interpres
of nature
naturae
homo
praesumitur One is innocent
bonus donec until proven See also: presumption of innocence.
probetur guilty
malus
From Terence's Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor) (163
BC). Originally "strange" or "foreign" (alienum) was used in the
homo sum I am a human
sense of "irrelevant", as this line was a response to the speaker being
humani a me being; nothing
told to mind his own business, but it is now commonly used to
nihil alienum human is
advocate respecting different cultures and being humane in
puto strange to me
general. Puto (I consider) is not translated because it is meaningless
outside of the line's context within the play.
homo unius a man of a Attributed to Thomas Aquinas: «Hominem unius libri timeo» “I fear
libri single book a man of a single book.”
honestas ante honesty before Motto of King George V School (Hong Kong)
honores glory
honor virtutis esteem is the
Motto of Arnold School, Blackpool, England
praemium reward of virtue
for the sake of
honoris causa Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science honoris causa"
honor
hora fugit the hour flees See tempus fugit
hora at the hour of
Medical shorthand for "at bedtime"
somni (h.s.) sleep
horas non I do not count
numero nisi the hours unless A common inscription on sundials.
serenas they are sunny
horresco I shudder as I From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.204, on the appearance of the sea-serpents
referens tell who kill the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons
horribile dictu horrible to say cf. mirabile dictu
A garden in the Motto of the Chicago Park District, a playful allusion to the city's
hortus in urbe
city motto, urbs in horto, q.v.
hortus siccus A dry garden A collection of dry, preserved plants
hostis humani enemy of the Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in
generis human race general.
humilitas
humility
occidit
conquers pride
superbiam
I do not
hypotheses From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert that any
fabricate
non fingo hypotheses are true".
hypotheses

I[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as

Go, oh Vitellius, at the
I, Vitelli, dei Romani
war sound of the Roman
sono belli
god
funny by modern Italians because the same exact
words, in Italian, mean "Romans' calves are
beautiful", which has a ridiculously different
meaning.

Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to

ibidem (ibid.) in the same place
the last source previously referenced.

"That is (to say)" in the sense of "that means" and

"which means", or "in other words", "namely", or
sometimes "in this case", depending on the context.
id est (i.e.) that is
The abbreviation may be followed by a comma or
not, depending on the style of the writer (or the
grammatical sense of what follows.[35]) The comma
is more apt to be dropped before a simple
 expression with no punctuation of its own, and is
more likely to be retained for multiple
items.[60] I.e. is often confused with e.g. (exempli
gratia, 'for example').[61] Some writing styles give
such abbreviations without punctuation,
as ie and eg.

id quod plerumque that which generally A phrase used in legal language to indicate the most
accidit happens probable outcome from an act, fact, event or cause.

Used to refer to something that has already been

idem (id.) the same
cited; ditto. See also ibidem.

idem quod (i.q.) the same as Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient.

In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March refers to

the 15th day of March. In modern times, the term is
Idus Martiae the Ides of March best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was
assassinated in 44 BC; the term has come to be used
as a metaphor for impending doom.

Used by Johann Sebastian Bach at the beginning of

Jesu juva (J.J.) Jesus, help! his compositions, which he ended with "S.D.G."
(Soli Deo gloria). Compare Besiyata Dishmaya.

From Vulgate; John 19:19. John 19:20 states that

Iesus Nazarenus Rex Jesus the Nazarene, this inscription was written in three languages—
Iudaeorum (INRI) King of the Jews Aramaic, Latin and Greek—at the top of
the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus.

igitur qui desiderat Therefore whoever Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari;
pacem, praeparet desires peace, let him similar to si vis pacem, para bellum and in pace ut
bellum prepare for war sapiens aptarit idonea bello.

igne natura renovatur through fire, nature is An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate
integra reborn whole meaning for the acronym INRI.

A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also

igni ferroque with fire and iron rendered as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and
other variations.

ignis aurum probat fire tests gold A phrase referring to the refining of character
through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto
 of the Prometheus Society.

ignis fatuus foolish fire Will-o'-the-wisp.

(or ignorantia legis non

excusat or ignorantia
ignorantia juris non A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does
legis neminem excusat)
excusat not allow one to escape liability.
ignorance of the law is
no excuse

The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making

an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't
prove or support the proposition it claims to.
ignoratio elenchi ignorance of the issue An ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt
to mislead or confuse the opposing party is known
as a red herring. Elenchiis from the
Greek elenchos.

An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be

unknown by means of
ignotum per ignotius explained. Synonymous with obscurum per
the more unknown
obscurius.

ignotus (ign.) unknown

In the Gospel of John 3:30, a phrase said by John

He must become
illum oportet crescere the Baptist after baptizing Jesus. Motto of Saint
greater; I must become
me autem minui John the Baptist Catholic School, San Juan, Metro
less
Manila.

From the religious concept that man was created in

imago Dei image of God
"God's image".

A principle, held by several religions, that believers

imitatio dei imitation of a god
should strive to resemble their god(s).

1. A group of people who owe utmost fealty to their

leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger
group to the authority of the internal group's
leader(s).
imperium in imperio an order within an order
2. A "fifth column" organization operating against
the organization within which they seemingly
reside.
3. "State within a state"
 In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found
an empire without an a city (Rome) from which would come an
imperium sine fine
end everlasting, never-ending empire, the endless (sine
fine) empire.

impossibilium nulla there is no obligation to

Publius Juventius Celsus, Digesta L 17, 185.
obligatio est do the impossible

An authorization to publish, granted by some

imprimatur let it be printed
censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).

Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial

in absentia in the absence
carried out in the absence of the accused.

in absentia lucis, in the absence of light,

tenebrae vincunt darkness prevails

in actu in act In the very act; in reality.

[Sunday in Setting
[Dominica] in
Aside the] White Latin name of the Octave of Easter.
albis[depositis]
Garments

in articulo mortis at the point of death

in bono veritas truth is in the good

in camera in the chamber In secret. See also camera obscura.

in casu (i.c.) in the event In this case.

Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said

of an account that proceeds gently, but turns vicious
in cauda venenum the poison is in the tail towards the end—or more generally waits till the
end to reveal an intention or statement that is
undesirable in the listener's ears.
 Eboracum was the Roman name for York and this
In the county of phrase is used in some Georgian and Victorian
in com. Ebor.
Yorkshire books on the genealogy of prominent Yorkshire
families.

in Christi lumine pro in the light of Christ for

Motto of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
mundi vita the life on the world

in Deo speramus in God we hope Motto of Brown University.

Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt

in doubt, on behalf of the decision must be in favor of the accused (in that
in dubio pro reo
the [alleged] culprit anyone is innocent until there is proof to the
contrary).

in duplo in double In duplicate

In (the form of) an image; in effigy (as opposed to

in effigie in the likeness
"in the flesh" or "in person").

in esse in existence In actual existence; as opposed to in posse.

in extenso in the extended In full; at full length; complete or unabridged

In extremity; in dire straits; also "at the point of

in extremis in the furthest reaches
death" (cf. in articulo mortis).

To our faith add

in fide scientiam Motto of Newington College.
knowledge

in fidem into faith To the verification of faith.

in fieri in becoming In progress; pending.

At the end. The footnote says "p. 157 in

in fine (i.f.) in the end
fine": "the end of page 157".
 in a blazing wrong, Caught in the act (esp. a crime or in a
in flagrante delicto while the crime is "compromising position"); equivalent to "caught
blazing red-handed" in English idiom.

in flore in blossom Blooming.

in foro in forum In court (legal term).

We enter the circle at

in girum imus nocte et A palindrome said to describe the behavior of
night and are consumed
consumimur igni moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.
by fire

Motto of Bandung Institute of Technology,

in harmonia progressio progress in harmony
Indonesia.

in hoc sensu or in sensu

in this sense Recent academic abbreviation for "in this sense".
hoc(s.h.)

by this sign you will Words Constantine the Great claimed to have seen
in hoc signo vinces
conquer in a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

Describes a meeting called for a particular stated

in hunc effectum for this purpose
purpose only.

in ictu oculi in the blink of an eye

Recent academic substitution for the spacious and

in illo ordine (i.o.) in that order
inconvenient "..., respectively."

At that time, found often in Gospel lectures during

in illo tempore in that time Masses, used to mark an undetermined time in the
past.

lit.: in the beginning is

in inceptum finis est or: the beginning foreshadows the end
the end

in limine at the outset/threshold Preliminary, in law, a motion in limine is

a motion that is made to the judge before or during
 trial, often about the admissibility of evidence
believed prejudicial.

That is, 'on site'. "The nearby labs were closed

in loco in the place, on the spot for the weekend, so the water samples were
analyzed in loco."

Assuming parental or custodial responsibility and

in loco parentis in the place of a parent authority (e.g., schoolteachers over students); a
legal term.

Motto of Valparaiso University. The phrase comes

in luce Tua videmus
in Thy light we see light from the book of Psalms 36:9 "For with you is the
lucem
fountain of life; in your light we see light."

Motto of Columbia University, Presbyterian Boys'

in lumine tuo in your light we will see Secondary School and Ohio Wesleyan University.
videbimus lumen the light Also, it is the motto of the South African University
of Fort Hare.

in manus tuas
into your hands I entrust According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on
commendo spiritum
my spirit the cross.
meum

From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of

beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late
point in, the story, after much action has already
in medias res into the middle of things
taken place. Examples include the Iliad,
the Odyssey, Os Lusíadas, Othello, and Paradise
Lost. Compare ab initio.

Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to

in memoriam into the memory
remembering or honoring a deceased person.

in natura

"Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical

in necessary things
in necessariis unitas, in sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of
unity, in doubtful things
dubiis libertas, in the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen
liberty, in all things
omnibus caritas Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed
charity
to Augustine of Hippo.[citation needed]
 I.e., "Tomorrow is a new day." Motto of Birkbeck
in nocte consilium advice comes over night
College, University of London.

in nomine diaboli in the name of the devil

Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name

in nomine Domini in the name of the Lord
of a 1050 papal bull

in the name of the

in nomine patris, et filii,
Father, and of the Son, invocation of the Holy Trinity
et spiritus sancti
and of the Holy Spirit

in a nutshell; briefly stated; potential; in the

in nuce in a nut
embryonic phase

in odium fidei in hatred of the faith Used in reference to the deaths of Christian martyrs

Motto of the United States Army's 18th Infantry

in omnia paratus Ready for anything.
Regiment

in omnibus amare et In everything, love and The motto of Ateneo de Iloilo, a school in the
servire Domino serve the Lord. Philippines

in omnibus requiem Everywhere I have

quaesivi, et nusquam searched for peace and
Quote by Thomas à Kempis
inveni nisi in angulo nowhere found it, except
cum libro in a corner with a book

An experiment or process performed in an egg or

in the egg or in the
in ovo embryo (e.g. in ovo electroporation of chicken
embryo
embryo).

in peace, like the wise Horace, Satires 2/2:111; similar to si vis pacem,
in pace ut sapiens
man, make preparations para bellum and igitur qui desiderat pacem,
aptarit idonea bello
for war praeparet bellum.

Alternate form of requiescat in pace ("let him rest

in pace requiescat in peace may he rest in peace"). Found in this form at the end of The
Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe.
 In statutory interpretation, when a statute is
upon the same matter or
in pari materia ambiguous, its meaning may be determined in light
subject
of other statutes on the same subject matter.

"In the land of the infidels"; used to refer to

in the parts of the bishoprics that remains as titular sees even after the
in partibus infidelium
infidels corresponding territory was conquered by Muslim
empires.

A cardinal named in secret by the pope. See also ab

in pectore in the heart
imo pectore.

in personam into a person Directed towards a particular person

in posse in potential In the state of being possible; as opposed to in esse.

For one's self, for the sake of one's "Personhood";

acting on one's own behalf, especially a person
in propria persona in one's own person representing themselves in a legal proceeding; see
also litigant in person, pro se legal representation in
the United States (abbreviated pro per).

in principio erat in the beginning was the

Beginning of the Gospel of John
Verbum Word (Logos)

A legal term used to indicate that a judicial

proceeding may not have formally designated
adverse parties or is otherwise uncontested. The
in re in the matter [of] term is commonly used in case citations
of probate proceedings, for example, In re Smith's
Estate; it is also used in juvenile courts, as, for
instance, In re Gault.

Primarily of philosophical use to discuss properties

and property exemplification. In philosophy of
in rebus in the thing [itself] mathematics, it is typically contrasted with "ante
rem" and, more recently, "post res" structuralism.
Sometimes in re is used in place of in rebus.

In the land of the blind, A quote of Desiderius Erasmus from Adagia (first
in regione caecorum
the one-eyed man is published 1500, with numerous expanded editions
rex est luscus
king. through 1536), III, IV, 96.
 Legal term indicating a court's jurisdiction over a
piece of property rather than a legal person; contrast
in rem to the thing
with personal (ad personam) jurisdiction. See In
rem jurisdiction; Quasi in rem jurisdiction

See also Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature

in rerum natura in the nature of things
of Things).

Used to describe documents kept separately from

in retentis among things held back
the regular records of a court for special reasons.

in saecula
roughly: down to the
(saeculorum), in forever (and ever), liturgical
times of the times
saeculum saeculi

In the secular world, esp. outside a monastery, or

in saeculo in the times
before death.

in salvo in safety

in scientia opportunitas In Knowledge, there is

Motto of Edge Hill University.
(Dog Latin) Opportunity

In Knowledge, and
in scientia et virtue Motto of St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Sri Lanka.
Virtue

great things collapse of

in se magna ruunt Lucan, Pharsalia 1:81.
their own weight

Coined in the late 1980s for scientific papers.

Refers to an experiment or process performed
virtually, as a computer simulation. The term
in silico in silicon is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in
(Dog Latin)
vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon
is silicium, so the correct Latinization of "in silicon"
would be in silicio, but this form has little usage.

In the original place, appropriate position, or natural

in situ in the place
arrangement.
in somnis veritas In dreams there is truth

"future" (My mother-in-law in spe", i.e., "My future

mother-in-law), or "in embryonic form", as in
in spe in hope "Locke's theory of government resembles, in
spe, Montesquieu's theory of the separation of
powers."

in specialibus generalia To seek the general in That is, to understand the most general rules
quaerimus the specifics through the most detailed analysis.

in statu nascendi in the state of being born Just as something is about to begin

in toto in all Totally; entirely; completely.

in triplo in triple In triplicate.

in umbra, igitur, Then we will fight in the

pugnabimus shade

in utero in the womb

prepared for either

in utrumque paratus
(event)

in vacuo in a void In a vacuum; isolated from other things.

The motto of the European Union and the Council

in varietate concordia united in diversity
of Europe

invidiae prudentia prudence conquers

victrix jealousy

That is, wine loosens the tongue (referring

in vino veritas in wine [there is] truth
to alcohol's disinhibitory effects).
 An experimental or process methodology
performed in a "non-natural" setting (e.g. in a
laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and
in vitro in glass
thus outside of a living organism or cell. Alternative
experimental or process methodologies include in
vitro, in silico, ex vivo and in vivo.

An experiment or process performed on a living

in vivo in life/in a living thing
specimen.

An expression used by biologists to express the fact

in a living thing [there that laboratory findings from testing an organism in
in vivo veritas
is] truth vitro are not always reflected when applied to an
organism in vivo. A pun on in vino veritas.

Westville Boys' High School and Westville Girls'

High School's motto is taken directly from Virgil.
These words, found in Aeneid, Book 1, are used by
Juno, queen of heaven who hated the Trojans led by
May I not shrink from
incepto ne desistam Aeneas. When she saw the fleet of Aeneas on its
my purpose!
way to Italy, after the sack of Troy by the Greeks,
she planned to scatter it by means of strong winds.
In her determination to accomplish her task she
cried out "Incepto Ne Desistam!"

of uncertain position A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its

incertae sedis
(seat) broader relationships are unknown or undefined.

incredibile dictu incredible to say A variant on mirabile dictu.

Inwardly, under the skin

intus et in cute [intimately, without Persius, Satire 3:30.
reservation]

Index Librorum Index of Prohibited (or, A list of books considered heretical by the Roman
Prohibitorum Forbidden) Books Catholic Church.

From Augustine, De Civitate Dei XII,

being-in-need-of-God, 1.3: beatitudinem consequatur nec expleat
indigens Deo
beggar before God indigentiam suam, "since it is not satisfied unless it
be perfectly blessed."
indignor quandoque I too am annoyed
bonus dormitat whenever good Homer Horace, Ars Poetica 358
Homerus nods off

indivisibiliter ac indivisible and Motto of Austria-Hungary before it was divided and

inseparabiliter inseparable separated into independent states in 1918.

Infinitus est numerus Infinite is the number of

stultorum. fools.

The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the

infirma mundi elegit God chooses the weak
bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which is now
Deus of the world
the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton

infra dignitatem (infra beneath one's dignity

dig)

ingenio stat sine morte The honors of genius are

Propertius, Elegies Book III, 2
decus eternal

iniuriae qui addideris You who have added

Phaedrus, Fables 5/3:5.
contumeliam insult to injury

To poverty many things

inopiae desunt multa,
are lacking; to avarice, Publilius Syrus.
avaritiae omnia
everything

insita hominibus Men have an innate

Titus Livius, (XXVII, XXIV); Michel de
libidine alendi de desire to propagate
Montaigne, (Essays).
industria rumores rumors or reports

Used in formal correspondence to refer to the

current month, sometimes abbreviated as inst; e.g.:
instante mense (inst.) in the present month
"Thank you for your letter of the 17th inst."—ult.
mense = last month, prox. mense = next month.

Used to express the exploitation

instrument of of religion by State or ecclesiastical polity as a
Instrumentum regni
government means of controlling the masses, or in particular to
achieve political and mundane ends.
 So Varro in his De re rustica (On Agriculture)
Instrumentum vocale instrument with voice defines the slave: an instrument (as a simple plow,
or etc.) with voice.

intaminatis fulget Untarnished, she shines From Horace's Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford
honoribus with honor College.

integer vitae scelerisque unimpaired by life and

From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.
purus clean of wickedness

Few words suffice for

intelligenti pauca
he who understands

A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate

that the minute quoted has been taken from a fuller
inter alia (i.a.) among other things
record of other matters, or when alluding to the
parent group after quoting a particular example.

Often used to compress lists of parties to legal

inter alios among others
documents

Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against

unchecked political mobs that had virtually seized
control of Rome in the 60s and 50s BC. Famously
inter arma enim silent in a time of war, the law quoted in the essay Civil Disobedience by Henry
leges falls silent David Thoreau as "The clatter of arms drowns out
the voice of the law". This phrase has also been
jokingly translated as "In a time of arms, the legs
are silent."

inter caetera among others Title of a papal bull

Motto for Rockwell College in Ireland and Francis

inter mutanda Steadfast in the midst of
Libermann Catholic High
constantia change
School in Ontario, Canada

inter spem et metum between hope and fear

inter faeces et urinam we are born between

Attributed to Saint Augustine
nascimur feces and urine
 Refers to property transfers between living persons,
inter vivos between the living as opposed to a testamentary transfer upon death
such as an inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.

Not public; source of the word intramural. See

intra muros within the walls
also Intramuros, Manila.

intra vires within the powers Within one's authority

You would still

invenias etiam disiecti Horace, Satires, I, 4, 62, in reference to the earlier
recognize the scattered
membra poetae Roman poet Ennius
fragments of a poet

Attributed to Petronius[62] or Prudentius. Motto

of Nature in Cambridgeshire:[63]
Inveniet quod quisque velit; non omnibus
inveniet quod quisque Each shall find what he unum est, quod placet; hic spinas colligit,
velit desires ille rosas.
("Each shall find what he desires; no one
thing pleases all; one gathers thorns,
another roses.")
Motto of the English county of Kent and
invicta Unconquered
the city of Oporto
I remain
invictus maneo Motto of the Armstrong Clan
unvanquished
Iohannes est John is his Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of
nomen eius name Puerto Rico
ipsa scientia knowledge Famous phrase written by Sir Francis
potestas est itself is power Bacon in 1597
Commonly said in Medieval debates and
referring to Aristotle. Used in general to
emphasize that some assertion comes from
some authority, i.e., as an argument from
authority, and the term ipse-dixitism has
he himself said come to mean any unsupported rhetorical
ipse dixit
it assertion that lacks a logical argument. A
literal translation by Cicero (in his De
Natura Deorum 1.10) of the Greek «αὐτὸς
ἔφα», an invocation by Pythagoreans when
appealing to the pronouncements of the
master.
"Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim).
Often used in Biblical Studies to describe
the very words
ipsissima verba the record of Jesus' teaching found in the
themselves
New Testament (specifically, the four
Gospels).
ipsissima voce in the very To approximate the main thrust or
 'voice' itself message without using the exact words
by the fact
ipso facto By that very fact
itself
Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the
ancient world, the ancient
Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing
wrath of the
ira deorum it important to achieve a state of pax
gods
deorum (peace of the gods) instead of ira
deorum (wrath of the gods): earthquakes,
floods, famine, etc.
Wrath (anger)
ira furor brevis
is but a brief
est
madness
A useful phrase, as the Romans had no
word for "yes", preferring to respond to
questions with the affirmative or negative
ita vero thus indeed
of the question (e.g., "Are you hungry?"
was answered by "I am hungry" or "I am
not hungry", not "Yes" or "No).
Loosely: "You have been dismissed".
Go, it is the
ite, missa est Concluding words addressed to the people
dismissal
in the Mass of the Roman Rite.[64]
The path of the The path a law takes from its conception
iter legis
law to its implementation
iucunda
Pleasant is the
memoria est Cicero, De finibus bonorum et malorum 2,
memory of past
praeteritorum 32, 105
troubles
malorum
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536)
[better known as Erasmus] collection of
annotated Adagia (1508). It can mean
iugulare to cut the throat
attacking the work or personality of
mortuos of corpses
deceased person. Alternatively, it can be
used to describe criticism of an individual
already heavily criticised by others.
also spelled juncta juvant; from the legal
together they principle quae non valeant singula, iuncta
iuncta iuvant
strive iuvant ("What is without value on its own,
helps when joined")
A legal principle in civil law countries of
the Roman-German tradition that says that
iura novit the court lawyers need not to argue the law, as that
curia knows the law is the office of the court. Sometimes
miswritten as iura novat curia (the court
renews the laws).
in right of his Indicates a right exercised by a son on
iure matris
mother behalf of his mother
in right of his Indicates a right exercised by a husband on
iure uxoris
wife behalf of his wife
iuris it is ignorance
ignorantia est of the law
 cum ius when we do
nostrum not know our
ignoramus own rights
Commonly referred to as "right of
survivorship": a rule in property law that
ius accrescendi right of accrual
surviving joint tenants have rights in equal
shares to a decedent's property
Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons
law towards for going to war. Typically, this would
ius ad bellum
war address issues of self-defense or
preemptive strikes.
Refers to a fundamental principle of
international law considered to have
acceptance among the international
community of states as a whole. Typically,
this would address issues not listed or
ius cogens compelling law defined by any authoritative body, but
arise out of case law and changing social
and political attitudes. Generally included
are prohibitions on waging aggressive war,
crimes against humanity, war crimes,
piracy, genocide, slavery, and torture.
Refers to the "laws" that regulate the
conduct of combatants during a conflict.
Typically, this would address issues of
ius in bello law in war who or what is a valid target, how to treat
prisoners, and what sorts of weapons can
be used. The word jus is also commonly
spelled ius.
ius primae law of the first
The droit de seigneur
noctis night
iustitia justice is the
Motto of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's
fundamentum foundation of a
Office of the Czech Republic
regni reign
iustitia
justice for all The motto of Washington, D.C.
omnibus
to the young
iuventuti nil
nothing is Motto of Canberra Girls Grammar School
arduum
difficult
I bear the
iuventutis veho
fortunes of Motto of Dollar Academy
fortunas
youth

L[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

labor ipse The pleasure is in the work

Motto of Leopold von Ranke (Manilius IV 155)
voluptas itself.
 Popular as a motto; derived from a phrase
labor omnia in Virgil's Eclogue (X.69: omnia vincit Amor – "Love
Hard work conquers all.
vincit conquers all"); a similar phrase also occurs in
his Georgics I.145.

laborare
To work, (or) to fight; we are
pugnare parati Motto of the California Maritime Academy
ready
sumus

labore et
By labour and honour
honore

laboremus pro Let us work for the

Motto of the Carlsberg breweries
patria fatherland

laboris gloria Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall,

Games are the glory of work,
Ludi UK

lacrimae rerum The poignancy of things. Virgil, Aeneid 1:462

lapse, slip, error; involuntary

lapsus mistake made while writing
or speaking

inadvertent typographical
lapsus calami
error, slip of the pen

inadvertent speech error, slip

lapsus linguae
of the tongue

lapsus
slip of memory source of the term memory lapse
memoriae

latius est
impunitum It is better to let the crime of
relinqui facinus the guilty go unpunished
Ulpian, Digest 5:6.
nocentis (quam (than to condemn the
innocentem innocent)
damnari)
lauda finem praise to the end Motto of Nottingham High School

Laudatio Ejus
Manet In His Praise Remains unto
Motto of Galway
Secula Ages of Ages
Seculorum

One who is discontent with the present and instead

laudator prefers things of the past ("the good old days").
praiser of time past
temporis acti In Horace's Ars Poetica, line 173. The motto
of HMS Veteran

laudetur Jesus Often used as a salutation, but also used after prayers or
Praise (Be) Jesus Christ
Christus the reading of the gospel

Inscription on the east side at the peak of

the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.; motto
laus Deo praise be to God
of the Viscount of Arbuthnott and Sydney Grammar
School

lectio brevior The shorter reading is the A maxim in text criticism. Codified, but simultaneously
potior better refuted, by Marxist educators.[citation needed]

Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a

lectori salutem greetings reader
letter

Denotes that a certain intervention is performed in a

according to the law of the
lege artis correct way. Used especially in a medical context. The
art
'art' referred to in the phrase is medicine.

legem terrae the law of the land

leges humanae
nascuntur, laws of man are born, live
vivunt, et and die
moriuntur

leges sine laws without morals [are] From Horace's Odes; motto of the University of
moribus vanae vain Pennsylvania
legio patria
The Legion is our fatherland Motto of the French Foreign Legion
nostra

legi, intellexi, et I read, understood, and

condemnavi condemned.

legis plenitudo charity (love) is the Motto of Ratcliffe College, UK and of the Rosmini
charitas fulfilment of the law College, NZ

In Roman and civil law, a forced share in an estate; the

portion of the decedent's estate from which the
legitime lawfully
immediate family cannot be disinherited. From
the French héritier legitime (rightful heir).

lex artis law of the skill The rules that regulate a professional duty.

lex dei vitae the law of God is the lamp of

Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
lampas life

lex ferenda the law that should be borne The law as it ought to be.

The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos

or bequeath by testament to his or her second spouse
lex hac edictali the law here proclaims
more than the amount of the smallest portion given or
bequeathed to any child.

A law that only concerns one particular case. See law

lex in casu law in the event
of the case.

lex lata the law that has been borne The law as it is.

lex loci law of the place

lex non scripta law that has not been written Unwritten law, or common law

lex orandi, lex the law of prayer is the law

credendi of faith
lex paciferat the law shall bring peace Motto of the European Gendarmerie Force

lex parsimoniae law of succinctness also known as Occam's Razor

A principle of government advocating a rule by

law rather than by men. The phrase originated as
lex rex the law [is] king a double entendre in the title of Samuel Rutherford's
controversial book Lex, Rex (1644), which espoused a
theory of limited government and constitutionalism.

lex scripta written law Statutory law; contrasted with lex non scripta

lex talionis the law of retaliation Retributive justice (i.e., eye for an eye)

Used in the movie Event Horizon (1997), where it is

translated as "save yourself (from hell)". It is initially
libera te misheard as liberate me(free me), but is later
tutemet (ex Free yourself (from hell) corrected. Libera te is often mistakenly merged
inferis) into liberate, which would necessitate a plural pronoun
instead of the singular tutemet (which is an emphatic
form of tu, you).

Libertas Motto of the Korea University and Freie Universität

Liberty Justice Truth
Justitia Veritas Berlin

Libertas
Freedom will flood all things Motto of the University of Barcelona and
perfundet
with light the Complutense University of Madrid
omnia luce

Libertas quae freedom which [is] however Liberty even when it comes late; motto of Minas
sera tamen late Gerais, Brazil

Libertas
Securitas Liberty Security Justice Motto of the Frontex
Justitia

Its abbreviation lb is used as a unit of weight,

libra (lb) balance; scales
the pound.
lignum crucis The wood of the cross is the
School motto of Denstone College
arbor scientiae tree of knowledge

littera scripta
The written word endures Attributed to Horace
manet

loco citato (lc) in the place cited More fully written in loco citato; see also opere citato

A worker who temporarily takes the place of another

locum tenens place holder with similar qualifications, for example as a doctor or a
member of the clergy; usually shortened to locum.

The most typical or classic case of something;

locus classicus a classic place
quotation which most typifies its use.

A medical term to describe a location on or in a body

locus minoris that offers little resistance to infection, damage, or
place of less resistance
resistentiae injury. For example, a weakened place that tends to be
reinjured.

A legal term, it is the opportunity of withdrawing from

locus a projected contract, before the parties are finally
a place of repentance
poenitentiae bound; or of abandoning the intention of committing a
crime, before it has been completed.

locus standi A right to stand Standing in law (the right to have one's case in court)

longissimus dies even the longest day soon

Pliny the Younger, Epistulae 9/36:4
cito conditur ends

A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus

Bonorum et Malorum (On the Limits of Good and Evil,
sorrow itself; pain for its
lorem ipsum 45 BC), used as typographer's filler to
own sake
show fonts (a.k.a. greeking). (The first syllable
of lorem is cut off; the original was dolorem ipsum').

luceat lux
Let your light shine From Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16; popular as a school motto
vestra
lucem sequimur We follow the light Motto of the University of Exeter

luceo non uro I shine, not burn Motto of the Highland Scots Clan Mackenzie

lucida sidera The shining stars Horace, Carmina 1/3:2

Motto of the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its

luctor et
I struggle and emerge battle against the sea, and the Athol Murray College of
emergo
Notre Dame

Luctor, non 'I struggle, but am not

Motto of the Glass Family (Sauchie, Scotland)[65]
mergor overwhelmed

From late 4th-century grammarian Honoratus Maurus,

who sought to mock implausible word origins such as
those proposed by Priscian. A pun based on the
word lucus (dark grove) having a similar appearance to
lucus a non [it is] a grove by not being the verb lucere (to shine), arguing that the former word
lucendo light is derived from the latter word because of a lack of
light in wooded groves. Often used as an example of
absurd etymology, it derives from parum luceat (it does
not shine [being darkened by shade])
by Quintilian in Institutio Oratoria.

ludemus bene in
We play well in groups Motto of the Barony of Marinus
compania

Plautus' adaptation of an old Roman proverb: homo

homini lupus est ("man is a wolf to [his fellow] man").
lupus est homo In Asinaria, act II, scene IV, verse 89 [495 overall].
A man to a man is a wolf
homini Lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non
novit ("a man to a man is a wolf, not a man, when the
other doesn't know of what character he is.")[66]

With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will

lupus in fabula the wolf in the story
come"; from Terence's play Adelphoe.

lupus non
a wolf does not bite a wolf
mordet lupum

lupus non timet a wolf is not afraid of a

canem barking dog
latrantem

lux aeterna eternal light epitaph

Motto of the Franklin & Marshall College and

lux et lex light and law
the University of North Dakota

A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim.

lux et veritas light and truth Motto of several institutions, including Yale
University.

lux ex tenebris light from darkness Motto of the 67th Network Warfare Wing

lux hominum
light the life of man Motto of the University of New Mexico
vita

lux in Domino light in the Lord Motto of the Ateneo de Manila University

lux in tenebris The light that shines in the Motto of Columbia University School of General
lucet darkness Studies[67] Also: John 1:5.

Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel

lux libertas light and liberty
Hill

Lux mentis Lux Light of the mind, Light of

Motto of Sonoma State University
orbis the world

A more literal Latinization of the phrase; the most

common translation is fiat lux, from
Latin Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line
lux sit let there be light
"‫אֹור‬-‫ יְהִ י אֹור; וַיְהִ י‬,‫( "וַי ֹּאמֶ ר אֱ ֹלהִ ים‬And God said: 'Let there
be light.' And there was light). Motto of the University
of Washington.

lux tua nos

Your light guides us
ducat
lux, veritas,
light, truth, courage Motto of Northeastern University
virtus

M[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Young, cheer up!

Macte animo! Generose Motto of Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force
This is the way
puer sic itur ad astra Academy) of the Brazilian Air Force
to the skies.

those who excel,

or "excellence is the way to the stars"; frequent
macte virtutesic itur adastra thus reach the
motto; from Virgil's Aeneid IX.641 (English, Dryden)
stars

the teacher has Canonical medieval reference to Aristotle, precluding

magister dixit
said it further discussion

common Catholic edict and motto of a Catholic

Christ is my
magister meus Christus private school, Andrean High School in Merrillville,
teacher
Indiana

Set of documents from 1215 between Pope Innocent

Magna Carta Great Charter
III, King John of England, and English barons.

Common Latin honor, above cum laude and

magna cum laude with great praise
below summa cum laude

The gods care

about great
magna di curant, parva
matters, but they Cicero, De Natura Deorum 2:167
neglegunt
neglect small
ones

great is the
magna est vis consuetudinis
power of habit

Magna Europa est patria Greater Europe is

Political motto of pan-Europeanists
nostra Our Fatherland
magno cum gaudio
magnum opus
magnum vectigal est
parsimonia
maior e longinquo
reverentia
maiora premunt
mala fide
Mala Ipsa Nova
mala tempora currunt
male captus bene detentus
Malo mori quam foedari
malo periculosam libertatem
quam quietum servitium
with great joy
great work Said of someone's masterpiece
Cicero, Paradoxa 6/3:49. Sometimes translated into
English as "thrift (or frugality) is a great revenue (or
income)", edited from its original subordinate clause:
Economy is a
"O di immortales! non intellegunt homines,
great revenue
quam magnum vectigal sit parsimonia." (English: O
immortal gods! Men do not understand what a great
revenue is thrift.)
greater reverence When viewed from a distance, everything is
from afar beautiful. Tacitus, Annales 1.47
greater things are Used to indicate that it is the moment to address more
pressing important, urgent, issues.
Said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality,
in bad faith or with intention to defraud or mislead someone.
Opposite of bona fide.
Motto of the inactive 495th Fighter Squadron, US Air
Bad News Itself
Force
Also used ironically, e.g.: New teachers know all
bad times are
tricks used by pupils to copy from classmates? Oh,
upon us
mala tempora currunt!.
wrongly
An illegal arrest will not prejudice the subsequent
captured,
detention/trial.
properly detained
Death rather than Motto of the inactive 34th Battalion (Australia),
dishonour the Drimnagh Castle Secondary School
I prefer liberty
Attributed to the Count Palatine of Posen before
with danger to
the Polish Diet, cited in The Social Contract by Jean-
peace with
Jacques Rousseau
slavery
 Alludes to the apple of Eris in the Judgement of Paris,
the mythological cause of the Trojan War. It is also
a pun based on the near-
malum discordiae apple of discord homonymous word malum (evil). The word for
"apple" has a long ā vowel in Latin and the word for
"evil" a short a vowel, but they are normally written
the same.

A legal term meaning that something is inherently

malum in se wrong in itself
wrong (cf. malum prohibitum).

wrong due to A legal term meaning that something is only wrong

malum prohibitum
being prohibited because it is against the law.

the more
malum quo communius eo
common an evil
peius
is, the worse it is

literally
translated means
'with a strong
manu forte Motto of the Clan McKay
hand', often
quoted as 'by
strength of hand'

A phrase from Virgil's Aeneid, VI.883, mourning the

give lilies with death of Marcellus, Augustus' nephew. Quoted
manibus date lilia plenis
full hands by Dante as he leaves Virgil in Purgatory, XXX.21,
echoed by Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass III, 6.

with a military
manu militari Using armed forces in order to achieve a goal
hand

With the implication of "signed by one's hand". Its

abbreviated form is sometimes used at the end of
with one's own typewritten or printed documents or official notices,
manu propria(m.p.)
hand directly following the name of the person(s) who
"signed" the document exactly in those cases where
there isn't an actual handwritten signature.

famous quote from The Pumpkinification of Claudius,

one hand washes
manus manum lavat ascribed to Seneca the Younger.[68] It implies that one
the other
situation helps the other.
 many hands, one
manus multae cor unum Motto of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
heart

manus nigra black hand

Seneca the Younger, De Providentia 2:4. Also,

translated into English as "[their] strength and
courage droop without an antagonist" ("Of
valor becomes
marcet sine adversario Providence" (1900) by Seneca, translated by Aubrey
feeble without an
virtus Stewart),[69] "without an adversary, prowess shrivels"
opponent
(Moral Essays (1928) by Seneca, translated by John
W, Basore)[70] and "prowess withers without
opposition".

In law, a sea under the jurisdiction of one nation and

mare clausum closed sea
closed to all others.

The sea enriches,

Mare Ditat, Rosa Decorat Motto of Montrose, Angus and HMS Montrose
the rose adorns

In law, a sea open to international shipping

mare liberum free sea
navigation.

A nickname given to the Mediterranean during the

mare nostrum our sea height of the Roman Empire, as it encompassed the
entire coastal basin.

A name given to describe Mary, who gave birth

Mater Dei Mother of God
to Jesus, who is also called the Son of God.

the mother of the

mater familias The female head of a family. See pater familias.
family

a Roman-law principle which has the power

of praesumptio iuris et de iure, meaning that no
the mother is counter-evidence can be made against this principle
Mater semper certa est
always certain (literally: Presumed there is no counter evidence and
by the law). Its meaning is that the mother of the
child is always known.
 Branch of medical science concerned with the study
materia medica medical matter of drugs used in the treatment of disease. Also, the
drugs themselves.

greatest
maxima debetur puero
deference is from Juvenal's Satires XIV:47
reverentia
owed to the child

Less literally, "my foot itches". Refers to a trivial

situation or person that is being a bother, possibly in
it annoys me at
me vexat pede the sense of wishing to kick that thing away or, such
the foot
as the commonly used expressions, a "pebble in one's
shoe" or "nipping at one's heels".

Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote

the inherently flawed nature of mankind; can also be
mea culpa through my fault
extended to mea maxima culpa(through my greatest
fault).

A relatively common recent Latinization inspired by

mea navis aëricumbens My hovercraft is
the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch by Monty
anguillis abundat full of eels
Python.

A well-known sequence, falsely attributed

to Notker during the Middle Ages. It was translated
In the midst of
media vita in morte sumus by Cranmer and became a part of the burial service in
our lives we die
the funeral rites of the Anglican Book of Common
Prayer.

Used erroneously as Mediolanum Capta Est by the

Milan has been black metal band Mayhem as an album
Mediolanum captum est
captured title. Mediolanum was an ancient city in present-
day Milan, Italy.

Melius abundare quam Better too much

Also used in elliptical form as melius abundare.
deficere than not enough.

Carrying the connotation of "always better". The

meliora better things
motto of the University of Rochester.

Meliorare legem meliorare The motto of the Salem/Roanoke County,

To improve the
vitam est Virginia Bar Association.
law is to improve
 life.

He has planted
The motto of the Belmont County, Ohio, and the
Meliorem lapsa locavit one better than
motto in the seal of the Northwest Territory
the one fallen.

A relatively common recent Latinization from the

Honey, I'm joke phrasebook Latin for All Occasions.
Melita, domi adsum
home! Grammatically correct, but the phrase would
be anachronistic in ancient Rome.

remember that
memento mori remember your mortality
[you will] die

memento vivere remember to live

lovers remember
meminerunt omnia amantes
all

mindful of things Thus, both remembering the past and foreseeing the
memores acti prudentes
done, aware of future. From the North Hertfordshire District Council
futuri
things to come coat of arms.

A common first line on 17th century English church

monuments. The Latinized name of the deceased
Sacred to the follows, in the genitive case. Alternatively it may be
Memoriae Sacrum (M.S.)
used as a heading, the inscription following being in
Memory (of ...) English, for example: "Memoriae Sacrum. Here lies
the body of ..."
the mind moves
mens agitat molem From Virgil; motto of several educational institutions
the mass
Motto of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and
mens et manus mind and hand also of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine.
Also "culprit mind". A term used in discussing the
mens rea guilty mind
mindset of an accused criminal.
a sound mind in Or "a sensible mind in a healthy body". Satire X of
mens sana in corpore sano
a sound body the Roman poet Juvenal (10.356)
for the sake of
metri causa Excusing flaws in poetry "for the sake of the metre"
the metre
Or "Boastful Soldier". Miles Gloriosus is the title of a
play of Plautus. A stock character in comedy, the
Miles Gloriosus Glorious Soldier braggart soldier. (It is said that at Salamanca, there is
a wall, on which graduates inscribe their names,
where Francisco Franco had a plaque installed

miles praesidii libertatis
mictus cruentus
minatur innocentibus qui
parcit nocentibus
mirabile dictu
mirabile visu
mirum videtur quod sit
factum iam diu
miscerique probat populos
et foedera jungi
misera est servitus ubi jus
est aut incognitum aut
vagum
miserabile visu
miserere nobis
Missio Dei
missit me Dominus
mittimus
mobilis in mobili
modus morons
(Dog Latin)
reading "Franciscus Francus Miles Gloriosus".)
Soldier of the A phrase on the plaque in commemoration of
Bastion of Prof. Benjamin Marius Telders [nl], Academiegebouw
Freedom Leiden [nl] (Netherlands).
bloody urine see hematuria
he threatens the
innocent who
spares the guilty
wonderful to tell Virgil
A Roman phrase used to describe a wonderful
wonderful to see
event/happening.
Does it seem
wonderful
[merely] because
Livius Andronicus, Aiax Mastigophorus.
it was done a
long time/so long
ago?
He approves of Latin Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV, line 112, "he"
the mingling of referring to the great Roman god, who approved of
the peoples and the settlement of Romans in Africa. Old Motto
their bonds of of Trinidad and Tobago, and used in the novel A Bend
union in the River by V. S. Naipaul.
miserable is that
state of slavery
Quoted by Samuel Johnson in his paper for James
in which the law
Boswell on Vicious intromission.
is unknown or
uncertain
terrible to see A terrible happening or event.
A phrase within the Gloria in Excelsis Deo and
have mercy upon
the Agnus Dei, to be used at certain points in
us
Christian religious ceremonies.
the Mission of
A theological phrase in the Christian religion.
God
the Lord has sent
A phrase used by Jesus.
me
A warrant of commitment to prison, or an instruction
we send
for a jailer to hold someone in prison.
"moving in a
moving thing"
or, poetically,
The motto of the Nautilus from the Jules Verne
"changing
novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
through the
changing
medium"
Dog Latin based on wordplay with modus
ponens and modus tollens, referring to the
— common logical fallacy that if P then Q and not P,
then one can conclude not Q (cf. denying the
antecedent and contraposition).

modus operandi (M.O.)
modus ponens
modus tollens
modus vivendi
Monasterium sine libris est
sicut civitas sine opibus
montani semper liberi
Montis Insignia Calpe
more ferarum
more suo
morior invictus
morituri nolumus mori
morituri te salutant
mors certa, hora incerta
mors mihi lucrum
mors omnibus
mors tua, vita mea
method of
Usually used to describe a criminal's methods.
operating
Loosely "method of affirming", a logical rule of
method of
inference stating that from propositions if P then
placing
Q and P, then one can conclude Q.
Loosely "method of denying", a logical rule of
method of
inference stating that from propositions if P then
removing
Q and not Q, then one can conclude not P.
An accommodation between disagreeing parties to
method of living
allow life to go on. A practical compromise.
Used in the Umberto Eco novel The Name of the
Rose. Part of a much larger phrase: Monasterium sine
libris, est sicut civitas sine opibus, castrum sine
A monastery numeris, coquina sine suppellectili, mensa sine cibis,
without books is hortus sine herbis, pratum sine floribus, arbor sine
like a city foliis. Translation: A monastery without books is like
without wealth a city without wealth, a fortress without soldiers, a
kitchen without utensils, a table without food, a
garden without plants, a meadow without flowers, a
tree without leaves.
mountaineers
State motto of West Virginia, adopted in 1872.
[are] always free
Badge of the
Rock of Gibraltar
used to describe any sexual act in the manner of
like beasts
beasts
in
his/her/its/their
usual way
I die
sometimes also translated as "death before defeat"[71]
unvanquished[71]
we who are
about to die don't From Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero
want to
Used once in Suetonius' De Vita Caesarum 5,
(Divus Claudius), chapter 21,[72] by the condemned
those who are prisoners manning galleys about to take part in a
about to die mock naval battle on Lake Fucinus in AD 52. Popular
salute you misconception ascribes it as a gladiator's salute. See
also: Ave Imperator, morituri te
salutant and Naumachia.
death is certain,
its hour is
uncertain
A common epitaph, from St Paul's Epistle to the
death to me is Philippians, 1:21 (Mihi enim vivere Christus est et
reward mori lucrum, translated in the King James Bible as:
"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain")
death to all Signifies anger and depression.
your death, my From medieval Latin, it indicates that battle for

mors vincit omnia
morte magis metuenda
senectus
mortui vivos docent
mortuum flagellas
mos maiorum
motu proprio
mulgere hircum
mulier est hominis confusio
multa paucis
multis e gentibus vires
a multitude of
multitudo sapientium sanitas the wise is the
orbis health of the
world
multum in parvo
mundus senescit
mundus vult decipi
mundus vult decipi, ergo
decipiatur
life survival, where your defeat is necessary for my
victory, survival.
"death conquers
all" or "death An axiom often found on headstones.
always wins"
old age should
rather be feared from Juvenal in his Satires
than death
The dead teach Used to justify dissections of human cadavers in
the living order to understand the cause of death.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known
you are flogging as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
a dead Criticising one who will not be affected in any way
by the criticism.
an unwritten code of laws and conduct, of the
the custom of our Romans. It institutionalized cultural traditions,
ancestors societal mores, and general policies, as distinct from
written laws.
on his own Or "by his own accord." Identifies a class of papal
initiative documents, administrative papal bulls.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known
to milk a male
as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
goat
Attempting the impossible.
"Part of a comic definition of woman" from the
woman is man's Altercatio Hadriani Augusti et Secundi.[73] Famously
ruin quoted by Chauntecleer in Geoffrey
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Say much in few
words
from many
Motto of Saskatchewan
peoples, strength
From the Vulgate, Wisdom of Solomon
6:24. Motto of the University of Victoria.
Conciseness. The term "mipmap" is formed using the
phrase's abbreviation "MIP"; motto of Rutland, a
much in little county in central England.
Latin phrases are often multum in parvo, conveying much in
few words.
the world grows
old
Ascribed to Roman satirist Petronius. Also
in Augustine of Hippo's De Civitate Dei contra
the world wants Paganos (5th century AD), Sebastian
to be deceived Franck's Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta (1542), and
in James Branch Cabell's 1921 novel Figures of
Earth.[74][75][76][77]
the world wants Ascribed to Roman satirist Petronius. Also
to be deceived, in Augustine of Hippo's De Civitate Dei contra

munit haec et altera vincit
mutatis mutandis
mutato nomine de te fabula
narratur
so let it be Paganos (5th century AD) as "si mundus vult decipi,
deceived decipiatur" ("if the world will be gulled, let it be
gulled"), and only the first part, "mundus vult decipi"
("the world wants to be deceived"), in Sebastian
Franck's Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta (1542) and
in James Branch Cabell's Figures of
Earth(1921).[74][75][76][77]
this one defends
and the other one Motto of Nova Scotia.
conquers
after changing
what needed to "with the appropriate changes"
be changed
change but the
name, and the Horace, Satires, I. 1. 69. Preceded by Quid
story is told of rides? ("Why do you laugh?"; see Quid rides).
yourself

N[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

First recorded by John of Salisbury in the twelfth

century and attributed to Bernard of Chartres. Also
nanos gigantum Dwarfs standing on the
commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton:
humeris insidentes shoulders of giants
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the
shoulders of giants".

nascentes morimur When we are born we die, our

finisque ab origine end is but the pendant of our
pendet beginning

nasciturus pro iam

The unborn is deemed to have
nato habetur,
been born to the extent that Refers to a situation where an unborn child is
quotiens de
his own inheritance is deemed to be entitled to certain inheritance rights.
commodis eius
concerned
agitur

Pseudo-explanation for why a liquid will climb up

natura abhorret a
nature abhors vacuum a tube to fill a vacuum, often given before the
vacuo
discovery of atmospheric pressure.

natura artis The name of the zoo in the centre of Amsterdam;

Nature is the teacher of art
magistra short: "Artis".
 Cf. Aristotle: "οὐθὲν γάρ, ὡς φαμέν, μάτην ἡ φύσις
natura nihil frustra ποιεῖ" (Politics I 2, 1253a9) and Leucippus:
nature does nothing in vain
facit "Everything that happens does so for a reason and
of necessity."

That is, the natural world is not sentimental or

natura non
nature is not saddened compassionate. Derived by Arthur
contristatur
Schopenhauer from an earlier source.

Shortened form of "sicut natura nil facit per

natura non facit nature does not make a leap, saltum ita nec lex" (just as nature does nothing by
saltum ita nec lex thus neither does the law a leap, so neither does the law), referring to both
nature and the legal system moving gradually.

A famous aphorism of Carl Linnaeus stating that

natura non facit all organisms bear relationships on all sides, their
nature makes no leaps
saltus forms changing gradually from one species to the
next. From Philosophia Botanica (1751).

Sir Isaac Newton's famous quote, defining

foundation of all modern sciences. Can be found in
natura valde
Nature is exceedingly simple his Unpublished Scientific Papers of Isaac
simplex est et sibi
and harmonious with itself Newton: A selection from the Portsmouth
consona
Collection in the University Library, Cambridge,
1978 edition[78]

Based on Servius' commentary

naturalia non sunt
What is natural is not dirty on Virgil's Georgics (3:96): "turpis non est quia
turpia
per naturam venit."

naturam expellas You may drive out Nature You must take the basic nature of something into
furca, tamen usque with a pitchfork, yet she still account.
recurret. will hurry back – Horace, Epistles, Book I, epistle X, line 24.

Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius

navigare necesse Magnus, who, during a severe storm, commanded
to sail is necessary; to live is
est, vivere non est sailors to bring food from Africa to Rome.
not necessary
necesse Translated from Plutarch's Greek "πλεῖν ἀνάγκη,
ζῆν οὐκ ἀνάγκη".

Also nec plus ultra or non plus ultra. A descriptive

ne plus ultra nothing more beyond phrase meaning the best or most extreme example
of something. The Pillars of Hercules, for example,
were literally the nec plus ultra of the ancient
 Mediterranean world. Holy Roman
Emperor Charles V's heraldic emblem reversed
this idea, using a depiction of this phrase inscribed
on the Pillars – as plus ultra, without the negation.
The Boston Musical Instrument
Company engraved ne plus ultra on its instruments
from 1869 to 1928 to signify that none were
better. Non... is the motto of the Spanish
exclave Melilla.

Never give dangerous tools to someone who is

ne puero gladium do not give a sword to a boy untrained to use them or too immature to
understand the damage they can do.

ne supra crepidam a shoemaker should not judge

see Sutor, ne ultra crepidam
sutor iudicaret beyond the shoe

line from the Roman satirist Persius inscribed on

the boulder to the right of Sir John Suckling in the
ne te quaesiveris painting of the aforementioned subject by Sir
do not seek outside yourself
extra Anthony Van Dyck (ca. 1638) and invoked
by Ralph Waldo Emerson at the opening of his
essay Self-Reliance (1841)

They are not afraid of difficulties. Less literally

They are not terrified of the
Nec aspera terrent
rough things
"Difficulties be damned." Motto for 27th Infantry
Regiment (United States) and the Duke of
Lancaster's Regiment. Nec = not; aspera = rough
ones/things; terrent = they terrify / do terrify / are
terrifying.

"When the miraculous power of God is necessary,

Nec deus intersit, That a god not intervene,
let it be resorted to: when it is not necessary, let the
nisi dignus vindice unless a knot show up that be
ordinary means be used." From Horace's Ars
nodus (inciderit) worthy of such an untangler
Poetica as a caution against deus ex machina.

Do not get distracted. Motto for Bishop Cotton

nec dextrorsum, Neither to the right nor to the
Boys' School and the Bishop Cotton Girls' School,
nec sinistrorsum left
both located in Bangalore, India.

nec spe, nec metu without hope, without fear

nec tamen
and yet it was not consumed Refers to the Burning Bush of Exodus 3:2. Motto
consumebatur
of many Presbyterian churches throughout the
 world.

nec temere nec Motto of the Dutch 11th Air Manoeuvre

neither reckless nor timid
timide Brigade and the city of Gdańsk, Poland

nec vi, nec clam, Without permission, without

The law of adverse possession
nec precario secrecy, without interruption

neca eos omnes, kill them all, God will know alternate rendition of Caedite eos. Novit enim
Deus suos agnoscet his own Dominus qui sunt eius. by Arnaud Amalric

necesse est aut you must either imitate or Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad
imiteris aut oderis loathe the world Lucilium, 7:7

necessitas etiam need makes even the timid

Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline, 58:19
timidos fortes facit brave

nemine Less literally, "without dissent". Used especially in

contradicente (nem. with no one speaking against committees, where a matter may be passed nem.
con., N.C.D.) con., or unanimously, or with unanimous consent.

nemo contra Deum No one against God except From Goethe's autobiography From my Life:
nisi Deus ipse God himself Poetry and Truth, p. 598

nemo dat quod non no one gives what he does not

Thus, "none can pass better title than they have"
habet have

nobody is above the law;

nemo est supra
or nemo est supra leges,
legem
nobody is above the laws

Nemo igitur vir

No great man ever existed
magnus sine aliquo From Cicero's De Natura Deorum, Book 2, chapter
who did not enjoy some
adflatu divino LXVI, 167[79]
portion of divine inspiration
umquam fuit

Legal principle that no individual can preside over

nemo iudex in no man shall be a judge in his
a hearing in which he holds a specific interest or
causa sua own cause
bias
 Also translated to "no rest for the wicked." Refers
peace visits not the guilty
nemo malus felix to the inherent psychological issues that plague
mind
bad/guilty people.

Motto of the Order of the Thistle, and

consequently of Scotland, found stamped on the
milled edge of certain British pound sterling coins.
nemo me impune No one provokes me with
It is the motto of the Montressors in the Edgar
lacessit impunity
Allan Poe short story "The Cask of Amontillado".
Motto of the San Beda College Beta Sigma
Fraternity.

nemo mortalium
No mortal is wise at all times The wisest may make mistakes.
omnibus horis sapit

nemo nisi per

No one learns except by Used to imply that one must like a subject in order
amicitiam
friendship to study it.
cognoscitur

nemo propheta in no man is a prophet in his Concept present in all four Gospels (Matthew
patria (sua) own land 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44).

The short and more common form of Nemo enim

fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit, "Nobody
nemo saltat sobrius Nobody dances sober
dances sober, unless he happens to be insane," a
quote from Cicero (from the speech Pro Murena).

A maxim banning mandatory self-incrimination.

Near-synonymous with accusare nemo se debet
nisi coram Deo. Similar phrases include: nemo
tenetur armare adversarium contra se (no one is
bound to arm an opponent against himself),
meaning that a defendant is not obligated to in any
way assist the prosecutor to his own
detriment; nemo tenetur edere instrumenta contra
nemo tenetur se no one is bound to accuse
se (no one is bound to produce documents against
ipsum accusare himself (the right to silence)
himself, meaning that a defendant is not obligated
to provide materials to be used against himself
(this is true in Roman law and has survived in
modern criminal law, but no longer applies in
modern civil law); and nemo tenere prodere se
ipsum (no one is bound to betray himself),
meaning that a defendant is not obligated to testify
against himself.

neque semper nor does Apollo always keep Horace, Carmina 2/10:19-20. The same image
arcum tendit his bow drawn appears in a fable of Phaedrus.
Apollo

Ne quid nimis Nothing in excess

In war, it is essential to be able to purchase

nervos belli, Endless money forms the
supplies and to pay troops (as Napoleon put it, "An
pecuniam infinitam sinews of war
army marches on its stomach").

nihil ad rem nothing to do with the point That is, in law, irrelevant and/or inconsequential.

nihil boni sine nothing achieved without

Motto of Palmerston North Boys' High School
labore hard work

In law, a declination by a defendant to answer

nihil dicit he says nothing
charges or put in a plea.

nihil enim lacrima nothing dries sooner than a

Pseudo-Cicero, Ad Herrenium, 2/31:50
citius arescit tear

Adapted from Terence's Heauton

Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor), homo sum
nihil humanum
nothing human is alien to me humani a me nihil alienum puto ("I am a human
mihi alienum
being; nothing human is strange to me").
Sometimes ending in est.

The guiding principle of empiricism, and accepted

in some form
nihil in intellectu nothing in the intellect unless
by Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Berkeley,
nisi prius in sensu first in sense
and Hume. Leibniz, however, added nisi intellectus
ipse (except the intellect itself).

Or nothing to excess. Latin translation of the

nihil nimis nothing too
inscription of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Or just "nothing new". The phrase exists in two

versions: as nihil novi sub sole (nothing new under
nihil novi nothing of the new the sun), from the Vulgate, and as nihil novi nisi
commune consensu (nothing new unless by the
common consensus), a 1505 law of the Polish–
Lithuanian Commonwealth and one of the
 cornerstones of its Golden Liberty.

A notation, usually on a title page, indicating that

a Roman Catholic censor has reviewed the book
nihil obstat nothing prevents
and found nothing objectionable to faith or morals
in its content. See also imprimatur.

Motto of the Kingdom of Romania, while ruled by

nihil sine Deo nothing without God the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty (1878–
1947).

nihil ultra nothing beyond Motto of St. Xavier's College, Calcutta

Or "nihil admirari". Cicero, Tusculanae

Disputationes (3,30), Horace, Epistulae (1,6,1),
nil admirari be surprised at nothing and Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, (8,5).
Motto of the Fitzgibbon family. See John
FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare

nil desperandum nothing must be despaired at That is, "never despair".

nil igitur fieri de nothing, therefore, we must

From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature
nilo posse confess, can be made from
of Things), I.205
fatendumst nothing

Nil igitur mors est Death, therefore, is nothing to From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature
ad nos us of Things), III.831

nil mortalibus nothing is impossible for From Horace's Odes. Motto of Rathkeale College,
ardui est humankind New Zealand and Brunts School, England.

Short for nil nisi bonum de mortuis dicere. That

(about the dead say) nothing
nil nisi bonum
unless (it is) good
is, "Don't speak ill of anyone who has died". Also
"Nil magnum nisi bonum" (nothing is great unless
good), motto of St Catherine's School,
Toorak, Pennant Hills High School and Petit
Seminaire Higher Secondary School.

nil nisi malis

no terror, except to the bad Motto of The King's School, Macclesfield
terrori
nil per os,
Medical shorthand indicating that oral foods and
rarely non per nothing through the mouth
fluids should be withheld from the patient.
os (n.p.o.)

nil satis nisi nothing [is] enough unless [it Motto of Everton F.C., residents of Goodison
optimum is] the best Park, Liverpool.

nil sine labore nothing without labour Motto of many schools

Or "nothing without providence". State

motto of Colorado, adopted in 1861. Probably
nothing without the divine derived from Virgil's Aeneid Book II, line 777,
nil sine numine
will "non haec sine numine divum eveniunt" (these
things do not come to pass without the will of
Heaven). See also numen.

nil volentibus Nothing [is] arduous for the

Nothing is impossible for the willing
arduum willing

That is, "everything is in vain without God".

Summarized from Psalm 127 (126 Vulgate), nisi
Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum
laboraverunt qui aedificant eam nisi Dominus
nisi Dominus
if not the Lord, [it is] in vain custodierit civitatem frustra vigilavit qui
frustra
custodit (unless the Lord builds the house, they
work on a useless thing who build it; unless the
Lord guards the community, he keeps watch in
vain who guards it); widely used motto.

Irascetur aliquis: tu contra beneficiis prouoca; cadit

statim simultas ab altera parte deserta; nisi paria
non pugnant. (If any one is angry with you, meet
nisi paria non his anger by returning benefits for it: a quarrel
it takes two to make a fight
pugnant which is only taken up on one side falls to the
ground: it takes two men to fight.) Seneca the
Younger, De Ira (On Anger): Book 2, cap. 34, line
5.

In England, a direction that a case be brought up

to Westminster for trial before a single judge and
nisi prius unless previously jury. In the United States, a court where civil
actions are tried by a single judge sitting with a
jury, as distinguished from an appellate court.
 From Ovid's Amores, III.4:17. It means that when
we are denied of something, we will eagerly
pursue the denied thing. Used by Friedrich
nitimur in vetitum We strive for the forbidden
Nietzsche in his Ecce Homo to indicate that his
philosophy pursues what is forbidden to
other philosophers.

nobis bene, nemini Inscription on the old Nobistor [de] gatepost that
Good for us, Bad for no one
male divided Altona and St. Pauli

That is, "whether unwillingly or willingly".

Sometimes rendered volens nolens, aut nolens aut
volens or nolentis volentis. Similar to willy-nilly,
nolens volens unwilling, willing
though that word is derived from Old English will-
he nil-he ([whether] he will or [whether] he will
not).

Commonly translated "touch me not". According

noli me tangere do not touch me to the Gospel of John, this was said
by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection.

That is, "Don't upset my calculations!" Said

noli turbare by Archimedes to a Roman soldier who, despite
Do not disturb my circles!
circulos meos having been given orders not to, killed Archimedes
at the conquest of Syracuse, Sicily.

From The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood –

nolite te bastardes Don't let the bastards grind the protagonist (Offred) finds the phrase inscribed
carborundorum you down on the inside of her wardrobe. One of many
(Dog Latin)
variants of Illegitimi non carborundum.

A legal motion by a prosecutor or other plaintiff to

nolle prosequi to be unwilling to prosecute drop legal charges, usually in exchange for
a diversion program or out-of-court settlement.

That is, "no contest". A plea that can be entered on

behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the
nolo contendere I do not wish to contend accused doesn't admit guilt, but will accept
punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas
cannot be used as evidence in another trial.

the name of friendship lasts

nomen amicitiae Petronius, Satyricon, 80.
just so long as it is profitable
sic, quatenus
expedit, haeret

A scientific name of unknown or doubtful

nomen dubium doubtful name
application.

nomen est omen the name is a sign Thus, "true to its name".

nomen nescio (N.N.) I do not know the name Thus, the name or person in question is unknown.

A purported scientific name that does not fulfill the

nomen nudum naked name proper formal criteria and therefore cannot be used
unless it is subsequently proposed correctly.

According to some roman this sentence was said

non auro, sed
Not gold, but iron redeems by Marcus Furius Camillus to Brennus, the chief of
ferro, recuperanda
the native land the Gauls, after he demanded more gold from the
est patria
citizens of the recently sacked Rome in 390 BC.

Motto of Republic of Ragusa, inscribed over the

non bene pro toto
liberty is not well sold for all gates of St. Lawrence Fortress. From Gualterus
libertas venditur
the gold Anglicus's version of Aesop's fable "The Dog and
auro
the Wolf".

non bis in idem not twice in the same thing A legal principle forbidding double jeopardy.

non canimus
we sing not to the deaf; the
surdis, respondent Virgil, Eclogues 10:8
trees echo every word
omnia silvae

Also known as the "questionable cause" or "false

non causa pro
not the cause for the cause cause". Refers to any logical fallacy where a cause
causa
is incorrectly identified.

See compos mentis. Also rendered non compos

sui (not in control of himself). Samuel Johnson,
non compos mentis not in control of the mind
author of the first English dictionary, theorized that
the word nincompoop may derive from this phrase.

Used to explain scientific phenomena and religious

non constat it is not certain
advocations, for example in medieval history, for
rulers to issue a 'Non Constat' decree, banning the
 worship of a holy figure. In legal context,
occasionally a backing for nulling information that
was presented by an attorney. Without any tangible
proof, Non constat information is difficult to argue
for.

Motto of São Paulo city, Brazil. See also pro

non ducor, duco I am not led; I lead
Brasilia fiant eximia.

a doctrine in contract law that allows a signing

party to escape performance of the agreement. A
claim of "non est factum" means that the signature
non est factum it is not [my] deed on the contract was signed by mistake, without
knowledge of its meaning, but was not done so
negligently. A successful plea would make the
contract void ab initio.

non est princeps

the prince is not above the
super leges, sed
laws, but the law is above the Pliny the Younger, Panegyricus 65:1.
leges supra
prince.
principem

Motto of the Society of Antiquaries of

non extinguetur shall not be extinguished London accompanying their Lamp of knowledge
emblem

you should not make evil in
non facias malum
order that good may be made
ut inde fiat bonum
from it
More simply, "don't do wrong to do right". The
direct opposite of the phrase "the ends justify the
means".

Virgil, Aeneid, 4:647, of the sword with which

Dido will commit suicide. "Not for so dire an
enterprise design’d." (Dryden trans.; 1697)[80] "A
gift asked for no use like this." (Mackail trans.;
non hos quaesitum A gift sought for no such
1885).[81] "Ne'er given for an end so dire." (Taylor
munus in usus purpose
trans.; 1907)[82] "A gift not asked for use like this!"
(Williams trans.; 1910).[83] Quoted by Francis
Bacon of the civil law, "not made for the countries
it governeth".

non impediti unencumbered by the thought

motto of radio show Car Talk
ratione cogitationis process

non in legendo sed

the laws depend not on being
in intelligendo leges
consistunt read, but on being understood

Also "it is not clear" or "it is not evident". A

non liquet it is not proven sometimes controversial decision handed down by
a judge when they feel that the law is not complete.

non loqui sed Motto of the University of Western Australia's

not talk but action
facere Engineering faculty student society.

non mihi solum not for myself alone Motto of Anderson Junior College, Singapore.

non ministrari sed Motto of Wellesley College and Shimer

not to be served, but to serve
ministrare College (from Matthew 20:28 in the Vulgate).

non multa sed

not quantity but quality Motto of the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School.
multum

Non nobis Domine Not to us (oh) Lord Christian hymn based on Psalm 115.

non nobis nati 'Born not for ourselves' Motto of St Albans School (Hertfordshire)

Appears in Cicero's De Officiis Book 1:22 in the

form non nobis solum nati sumus (we are not born
non nobis solum not for ourselves alone for ourselves alone). Motto of Lower Canada
College, Montreal and University College, Durham
University, and Willamette University.

non numerantur, they are not counted, but Old saying. Paul Erdős (1913–1996), in The Man
sed ponderantur weighed Who Loved Only Numbers by Paul Hoffman [84]

A judgment notwithstanding verdict, a legal

non obstante not standing in the way of motion asking the court to reverse the jury's verdict
veredicto a verdict on the grounds that the jury could not have reached
such a verdict reasonably.

non olet it doesn't smell See pecunia non olet.

Virgil, Eclogues 8:63 (and others).

non omnia not everyone can do
possumus omnest everything

Horace, Carmina 3/30:6. "Not all of me will die", a

non omnis moriar I shall not all die phrase expressing the belief that a part of the
speaker will survive beyond death.

non plus ultra nothing further beyond the ultimate. See also 'ne plus ultra'

non possumus not possible

non possunt primi

not everyone can occupy the (It is impossible always to excel) Decimus
esse omnes omni in
first rank forever Laberius.
tempore

non progredi est to not go forward is to go

regredi backward

A judgment in favor of a defendant when the

non prosequitur he does not proceed plaintiff failed to take the necessary steps in an
action within the time allowed.

non scholae sed [We learn] An inversion of non vitae sed scholae now used as
vitae not for school but for life a school motto

non qui parum It is not he who has little, but

Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad
habet, set qui plus he who wants more, who is
Lucilium, 2:6.
cupit, pauper est the pauper.

Used in the sense "what matters is not who says it

but what he says" – a warning against ad
non quis sed quid not who but what
hominem arguments; frequently used as motto,
including that of Southwestern University.

In general, a comment which is absurd due to not

making sense in its context (rather than due to
being inherently nonsensical or internally
non sequitur it does not follow
inconsistent), often used in humor. As a logical
fallacy, a conclusion that does not follow from a
premise.
 Possibly derived from a Vulgate mistranslation of
the Book of Jeremiah. Commonly used in literature
non serviam I will not serve as Satan's statement of disobedience to God,
though in the original context the quote is
attributed to Israel, not Satan.

non sibi Not for self A slogan used by many schools and universities.

Engraved on the doors of the United States Naval

non sibi, sed
Not for self, but for country Academy chapel; motto of
patriae
the USS Halyburton (FFG-40).

Not for one's self but for one's

non sibi, sed suis A slogan used by many schools and universities.
own

non sibi, sed

Not for one's self but for all A slogan used by many schools and universities.
omnibus

non sic dormit, sed

Sleeps not but is awake Martin Luther on mortality of the soul.
vigilat

non silba, sed

Not for self, but for others;
anthar; Deo A slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan
God will vindicate
vindice

Or "I am not the kind of person I once was".

non sum qualis
I am not such as I was Expresses a change in the
eram
speaker. Horace, Odes 4/1:3.

non teneas aurum

Do not hold as gold all that Also, "All that glitters is not
totum quod
shines as gold gold." Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice.
splendet ut aurum

It is possibly a reference to Psalm 23. Printed on

non timebomala I will fear no evil
the Colt in Supernatural.

non vestra sed vos Not yours but you Motto of St Chad's College, Durham.

From a passage of occupatio in Seneca the

non vitae sed [We learn]
Younger's moral letters to Lucilius,[85] wherein
scholae not for life but for schooltime Lucilius is given the argument that too much
literature fails to prepare students for life

From Martin Luther's "Invocavit Sermons"

Not by force, but by the word
non vi, sed verbo
[of God]
preached in March, 1522, against the Zwickau
prophets unrest in Wittenberg;[86] later echoed in
the Augsburg Confession as ...sine vi humana, sed
Verbo: bishops should act "without human force,
but through the Word".[87]

From Cicero, based on the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν

(gnothi seauton), inscribed on the pronaos of
the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, according to the
nosce te ipsum know thyself Greek periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1). A
non-traditional Latin rendering, temet nosce (thine
own self know), is translated in The Matrix as
"know thyself".

In statutory interpretation, when a word is

a word is known by the
noscitur a sociis ambiguous, its meaning may be determined by
company it keeps
reference to the rest of the statute.

noster nostri Literally "Our ours" Approximately "Our hearts beat as one."

Nota bene (NB, n.b.

mark well That is, "please note" or "note it well".
or )

From Virgil. Motto on the Great Seal of the United

novus ordo
new order of the ages States. Similar to Novus Ordo Mundi (New World
seclorum
Order).

Not a day without a line Pliny the Elder attributes this maxim to Apelles, an
nulla dies sine linea
drawn ancient Greek artist.

nulla dies umquam

No day shall erase you from From Virgil's Aeneid, Book IX, line 447, on the
memori vos eximet
the memory of time episode of Nisus and Euryalus.
aevo

Refers to the legal principle that one cannot be

nulla poena sine punished for doing something that is not prohibited
no penalty without a law
lege by law, and is related to Nullum crimen, nulla
poena sine praevia lege poenali.
 there is no question, there is
nulla quaestio
no issue

nulla tenaci invia For the tenacious, no road is

Motto of the Dutch car builder Spyker.
est via impassable

That is, "nothing". It has been theorized that this

expression is the origin
nullam rem natam no thing born of Italian nulla, French rien,
and Spanish and Portuguesenada, all with the same
meaning.

Motto of the Coldstream Guards and Nine

nulli secundus second to none Squadron Royal Australian Corps of Transport and
the Pretoria Regiment.

nullius in verba On the word of no man Motto of the Royal Society.

nullum crimen, Legal principle meaning that one cannot be

nulla poena sine no crime, no punishment penalised for doing something that is not
praevia lege without a previous penal law prohibited by law; penal law cannot be enacted
poenali retroactively.

nullum magnum
There has been no great
ingenium sine
wisdom without an element
mixtura dementiae
of madness
fuit

nullum funus sine

No Funeral Without a Fiddle Motto of the Guild of Funerary Violinists.
fidula

The motto of the University of Wisconsin-

numen lumen God our light
Madison. The motto of Elon University.

A method to limit the number of students who may

numerus clausus closed number
study at a university.

Motto of the Korps Commandotroepen, Dutch elite

nunc aut nunquam now or never
special forces.
 beginning of the Song of Simeon, from the Gospel
nunc dimittis now you send
of Luke.

Carpe-Diem-type phrase from the Odes of

Horace, Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero
nunc est bibendum now is the time to drink
pulsanda tellus (Now is the time to drink, now the
time to dance footloose upon the earth).

Something that has retroactive effect, is effective

nunc pro tunc now for then
from an earlier date.

nunc scio quid sit

now I know what love is From Virgil, Eclogues VIII.
amor

nunquam minus
never less alone than when
solus quam cum
alone
solus

nunquam non never unprepared, ever ready,

frequently used as motto
paratus always ready

nunquam
never forget
obliviscar

O[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

O Deus ego amo te O God I Love You attributed to Saint Francis Xavier

The farmers would

O fortunatos count themselves
nimium sua si bona lucky, if only they from Virgil in Georgics, 458
norint, agricolas knew how good
they had it

o homines ad Men ready to be attributed (in Tacitus, Annales, III, 65) to the Roman
servitutem paratos slaves! Emperor Tiberius, in disgust at the servile attitude
of Roman senators; said of those who should be leaders but
 instead slavishly follow the lead of others

O tempora, o Oh, the times! Oh, also translated "What times! What customs!";
mores! the morals! from Cicero, Catilina I, 2

The obedience of
Obedientia civium
the citizens makes Motto of Dublin
urbis felicitas
us a happy city

"He/she died", inscription on gravestones; ob. also

obiit (ob.) one died
sometimes stands for obiter (in passing or incidentally)

The old woman

obit anus, abit onus dies, the burden is Arthur Schopenhauer
lifted

in law, an observation by a judge on some point of law not

directly relevant to the case before him, and thus neither
a thing said in
obiter dictum requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but
passing
nevertheless of persuasive authority. In general, any
comment, remark or observation made in passing

Forget private Roman political saying which reminds that common good
obliti privatorum,
affairs, take care of should be given priority over private matters for any person
publica curate
public ones having a responsibility in the State

the truth being

obscuris vera
enveloped by from Virgil
involvens
obscure things

the obscure by
obscurum per An explanation that is less clear than what it tries to
means of the more
obscurius explain; synonymous with ignotum per ignotius
obscure

obtorto collo with a twisted neck unwillingly

oculus dexter (O.D.) right eye Ophthalmologist shorthand

oculus sinister (O.S.) left eye

oderint dum let them hate, so favorite saying of Caligula, attributed originally to Lucius
metuant long as they fear Accius, Roman tragic poet (170 BC)

opening of Catullus 85; the entire poem reads, "odi et amo

quare id faciam fortasse requiris / nescio sed fieri sentio et
odi et amo I hate and I love excrucior" (I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you perhaps
ask. / I do not know, but I feel it happening to me and I am
burning up.)

I hate the unholy

odi profanum
rabble and keep Horace, Carmina III, 1
vulgus et arceo
them away

name for the special hatred generated

odium theologicum theological hatred
in theological disputes

oleum camino (pour) oil on the fire from Erasmus' (1466–1536) collection of annotated Adagia

or "everything unknown appears magnificent" The source

every unknown is Tacitus: Agricola, Book 1, 30 where the sentence ends
omne ignotum pro
thing [is taken] for with 'est'. The quotation is found in Arthur Conan
magnifico
great Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short story "The Red-Headed
League" (1891) where the 'est' is missing.

omne initium every beginning is

difficile est difficult

every living thing is foundational concept of modern biology, opposing the

omne vivum ex ovo
from an egg theory of spontaneous generation

Omnes homines All men are

sunt asini vel donkeys or men and a sophismata proposed and solved by Albert of Saxony
homines et asini donkeys are (philosopher)
sunt asini donkeys

omnes vulnerant,
all [the hours]
postuma
wound, last one usual in clocks, reminding the reader of death
necat or omnes
kills
feriunt, ultima necat
 motto for Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale,
omnia cum deo all with God
Victoria, Australia

or "everything sounds more impressive when said in Latin";

everything said [is]
omnia dicta fortiora a more common phrase with the same meaning is quidquid
stronger if said in
si dicta Latina Latine dictum sit altum videtur (whatever said in Latin,
Latin
seems profound)

Thou hast ordered

omnia in mensura et all things in
numero et pondere measure, and Book of Wisdom, 11:21
disposuisti number, and
weight.

Omnia mea mecum All that is mine I

is a quote that Cicero ascribes to Bias of Priene
porto carry with me

omnia mutantur, everything changes,

Ovid (43 BC – 17 AD), Metamorphoses, book XV, line 165
nihil interit nothing perishes

omnia omnibus all things to all men 1 Corinthians 9:22

if all (the words of Ovid, Metamorphoses, book XIII, lines 733–4: "si non
si omnia ficta
poets) is fiction omnia vates ficta"

omnia vincit amor love conquers all Virgil (70 BC – 19 BC), Eclogue X, line 69

omnia munda everything [is] pure

from The New Testament
mundis to the pure [men]

omnia all things are

praesumuntur presumed to be
legitime facta donec lawfully done, until in other words, "innocent until proven guilty"
probetur in it is shown [to be]
contrarium in the reverse

Every man for

omnis vir enim sui
himself!
 motto of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, usually accompanied
omnibus idem the same to all
by a sun, which shines for (almost) everyone

There is slaughter
omnibus locis fit
everywhere (in Julius Caesar's The Gallic War, 7.67
caedes
every place)

omnis traductor every translator is a every translation is a corruption of the original; the reader
traditor traitor should take heed of unavoidable imperfections

omnis vir tigris everyone a tiger motto of the 102nd Intelligence Wing

miscellaneous collection or assortment; "gatherum" is

omnium gatherum gathering of all
English, and the term is used often used facetiously

onus probandi burden of proof

burden of a party to adduce evidence that a case is an

onus procedendi burden of procedure
exception to the rule

opera omnia all works collected works of an author

opera posthuma posthumous works works published after the author's death

act of doing scholastic phrase, used to explain that there is no possible

operari sequitur
something follows act if there is not being: being is absolutely necessary for
esse
the act of being any other act

in the work that was used in academic works when referring again to the last
opere citato (op. cit.)
cited source mentioned or used

doing what you believe is morally right through everyday

opere et veritate in action and truth
actions

opere laudato (op. See opere citato

laud.)
 leading the way
operibus anteire to speak with actions instead of words
with deeds

ophidia in herba a snake in the grass any hidden danger or unknown risk

opinio juris sive an opinion of law or a belief that an action was undertaken because it was a legal
necessitatis necessity necessity; source of customary law

fine embroidery, especially used to describe church

opus anglicanum English work
vestments

Opus Dei The Work of God Catholic organisation

This principle of the Benedictine monasteries reads in full:

"Ora et labora (et lege), Deus adest sine mora." "Pray and
ora et labora pray and work
work (and read), God is there without delay" (or to keep the
rhyme: "Work and pray, and God is there without delay")

"Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis pecatoribus";

ora pro nobis pray for us
Brazilian name for Pereskia aculeata

by praying, by
orando laborando motto of the Rugby School
working

oratio recta direct speech

expressions from Latin grammar
oratio obliqua indirect speech

from Satires of Juvenal (Book IV/10), referring

to Alexander the Great; James Bond's adopted family motto
the world does not
in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service; it made a
orbis non sufficit suffice orthe world
brief appearance in the film adaptation of the same
is not enough
name and was later used as the title of the nineteenth James
Bond film, The World Is Not Enough.

orbis unum one world seen in The Legend of Zorro

 out of chaos, comes
ordo ab chao one of the oldest mottos of Craft Freemasonry.[88]
order

(Let us pray), one Popular salutation for Roman Catholic clergy at the
(oremus) pro
for the other; let us beginning or ending of a letter or note. Usually abbreviated
invicem
pray for each other OPI. ("Oremus" used alone is just "let us pray").

orta recens quam newly risen, how

Motto of New South Wales
pura nites brightly you shine

P[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

"With all due respect to", "with due deference to", "by
leave of", "no offence to", or "despite (with respect)".
Ablative form of
pace Used to politely acknowledge someone with whom the
peace
speaker or writer disagrees or finds irrelevant to the
main argument.

pace tua with your peace Thus, "with your permission".

Pacem in terris Peace on Earth

agreements must be Also "contracts must be honoured". Indicates the

pacta sunt servanda
kept binding power of treaties.

no reward without
palma non sine pulvere Also "dare to try"; motto of numerous schools.
effort

He who has earned Loosely, "achievement should be rewarded" (or, "let the
palmam qui meruit
the palm, let him symbol of victory go to him who has deserved it");
ferat
bear it. frequently used motto

From Juvenal, Satire X, line 81. Originally described all

that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman
panem et circenses bread and circuses
mob. Today used to describe any entertainment used to
distract public attention from more important matters.
 The petty thief is
parvus pendetur fur,
hanged, the big
magnus abire videtur
thief gets away.

From "Si vis pacem para bellum": if you want peace,

prepare for war—if a country is ready for war, its
enemies are less likely to attack. Usually used to support
a policy of peace through strength (deterrence). In
para bellum prepare for war
antiquity, however, the Romans viewed peace as the
aftermath of successful conquest through war, so in this
sense the proverb identifies war as the means through
which peace will be achieved.

parare Domino plebem to prepare for God

motto of the St. Jean Baptiste High School
perfectam a perfect people

it is ungenerous to hold resentment toward the dead.

parce sepulto forgive the interred
Quote from the Aeneid, III 13-68.

A public policy requiring courts to protect the best

parens patriae parent of the nation interests of any child involved in a lawsuit. See
also Pater Patriae.

pari passu with equal step Thus, "moving together", "simultaneously", etc.

The mountains are

said of works that promise much at the outset but yield
parturiunt montes, in labour, a
little in the end (Horace, Ars poetica 137) – see also The
nascetur ridiculus mus ridiculous mouse
Mountain in Labour
will be born.

It does not shine

Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, 1/6:34 – see also lucus a
parum luceat [being darkened by
nonlucendo
shade].

Implies that the weak are under the protection of the

the small under the
parva sub ingenti strong, rather than that they are inferior. Motto of Prince
huge
Edward Island.

When you are Motto of Barnard Castle School, sometimes translated

parvis imbutus tentabis
steeped in little as "Once you have accomplished small things, you may
grandia tutus
things, you shall attempt great ones safely".
safely attempt great
 things.

Less literally, "throughout" or "frequently". Said of a

here and there, word, fact or notion that occurs several times in a cited
passim
everywhere text. Also used in proofreading, where it refers to a
change that is to be repeated everywhere needed.

Or "master of the house". The eldest male in a family,

who held patria potestas ("paternal power"). In Roman
law, a father had enormous power over his children,
pater familias father of the family wife, and slaves, though these rights dwindled over
time. Derived from the phrase pater familias, an Old
Latin expression preserving the archaic -as ending for
the genitive case.

Pater Omnipotens Father Almighty A more direct translation would be "omnipotent father".

Also rendered with the gender-neutral parens

Pater Patriae father of the nation
patriae ("parent of the nation").

Father, I have The traditional beginning of a Roman

pater peccavi
sinned Catholic confession.

Similar to "quality over quantity"; though there may be

pauca sed bona few, but good
few of something, at least they are of good quality.

Said to be one of Carl Gauss's favorite quotations. Used

pauca sed matura few, but ripe
in The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

slowly therefore Former motto of Latymer Upper School in London (the

paulatim ergo certe
surely text latim er is concealed in the words)

pax aeterna eternal peace A common epitaph

A euphemism for the United States of America and its

Pax Americana American Peace
sphere of influence. Adapted from Pax Romana.

A euphemism for the British Empire. Adapted from Pax

Pax Britannica British Peace
Romana
 Used as a wish before the Holy Communion in the
Pax Christi Peace of Christ Catholic Mass, also the name of the peace
movement Pax Christi

Used in the Peace and Truce of God movement in 10th-

pax Dei peace of God
century France

Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient

world, the Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it
Pax Deorum Peace of the gods important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum (The Peace
of the gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the
gods).

lord or master; used as a form of address when speaking

Pax, Domine peace, lord
to clergy or educated professionals

Motto of St. Francis of Assisi and, consequently, of his

monastery in Assisi; understood by Catholics to mean
pax et bonum peace and the good
'Peace and Goodness be with you,' as is similar in the
Mass; translated in Italian as pace e bene.

pax et justitia peace and justice Motto of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

pax et lux peace and light Motto of Tufts University and various schools

Pax Europaea European Peace euphemism for Europe after World War II

Euphemism for the Spanish Empire; specifically can

mean the twenty-three years of supreme Spanish
Pax Hispanica Spanish Peace
dominance in Europe (approximately 1598–1621).
Adapted from Pax Romana.

pax in terra peace on earth Used to exemplify the desired state of peace on earth

Used as an inscription over the entrance of buildings

Peace to those who
Pax intrantibus, salus (especially homes, monasteries, inns). Often benedicto
enter, health to
exeuntibus habitantibus(Blessings on those who abide here) is
those who depart.
added.

pax matrum, ergo pax peace of mothers, If the mother is peaceful, then the family is peaceful.
familiarum therefore peace of The inverse of the Southern United States saying, "If
families mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

period of peace and prosperity in Asia during

Pax Mongolica Mongolian Peace
the Mongol Empire

peace is the Silius Italicus, Punica (11,595); motto of the university

pax optima rerum
greatest good of Kiel

period of relative prosperity and lack of conflict in the

Pax Romana Roman Peace
early Roman Empire

period of peace in East Asia during times of

Pax Sinica Chinese Peace
strong Chinese hegemony

peace be with you

pax tecum
(singular)

Legend states that when the

evangelist went to the lagoon
where Venice would later be
Peace to you, founded, an angel came and said
Pax tibi, Marce,
Mark, my this.[89] The first part is depicted
Evangelista meus. Hic
Evangelist. Here as the note in the book shown
requiescet corpus tuum.
will rest your body. opened by the lion of St Mark's
Basilica, Venice; registered
trademark of the Assicurazioni
Generali, Trieste.[90]

A common farewell. The "you" is plural ("you all"), so

the phrase must be used when speaking to more than
pax vobiscum peace [be] with you
one person; pax tecum is the form used when speaking
to only one person.

Telegraph message and pun from Charles Napier,

British general, upon completely subjugating the Indian
peccavi I have sinned province of Sindh in 1842. This is, arguably, the most
terse military despatch ever sent. The story is
apocryphal.

According to Suetonius' De vita Caesarum, when

money doesn't Emperor Vespasian was challenged by his son Titus for
pecunia non olet
smell taxing the public lavatories, the emperor held up a coin
before his son and asked whether it smelled or simply
said non olet ("it doesn't smell"). From this, the phrase
 was expanded to pecunia non olet, or rarely aes non
olet ("copper doesn't smell").

if you know how to

pecunia, si uti scis, use money, money
Written on an old Latin tablet in downtown Verona
ancilla est; si nescis, is your slave; if you
(Italy).
domina don't, money is
your master

punishment comes That is, retribution comes slowly but surely.

pede poena claudo
limping From Horace, Odes, 3, 2, 32.

pendent opera the work hangs

From the Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV
interrupta interrupted

By, through, by
per See specific phrases below
means of

Joining sentence of the conspirators in the

through difficulties
per angusta ad augusta drama Hernani by Victor Hugo (1830). The motto of
to greatness
numerous educational establishments.

per annum (pa.) each year Thus, "yearly"—occurring every year

per ardua through adversity Motto of the British RAF Regiment

through difficulty Through hardship, great heights are reached; frequently

per ardua ad alta
to heights used motto

Motto of the Royal, Royal Australian and Royal New

Zealand Air Forces, the U. S. State of Kansas and of
through adversity
per ardua ad astra several schools. The phrase is used by Latin Poet Virgil
to the stars
in the Aeneid; also used in H. Rider Haggard's
novel The People of the Mist.

From Seneca the Younger; frequently used motto,

through hardships
per aspera ad astra sometimes as ad astra per aspera ("to the stars through
to the stars
hardships")

per capita by heads

"Per head", i.e., "per person", a ratio by the number of
 persons. The singular is per caput.

through the small

per capsulam That is, "by letter"
box

through the
per contra Or "on the contrary" (cf. a contrario)
contrary

through the cross Motto of St John Fisher Catholic High School,

per crucem vincemus
we shall conquer Dewsbury

through the cross,

Per Crucem Crescens Motto of Lambda Chi Alpha
growth

Legal term meaning "by the court", as in a per

per curiam through the senate
curiam decision

through the
per definitionem Thus, "by definition"
definition

Thus, "per day". A specific amount of money an

per diem (pd.) by day organization allows an individual to spend per day,
typically for travel expenses.

through right or
per fas et nefas By fair means or foul
wrong

fearless through
per fidem intrepidus
faith

per literas regias

per lit. reg. by letters patent;
per regias literas by royal letters of academic degrees: awarded by letters patent from the
per reg. lit. King/Queen, rather than by a University[91][92]
&c.

Motto of the Royal Marines and (with small difference)

per mare per terram by sea and by land of Clan Donald and the Compagnies Franches de la
Marine
per mensem (pm.) by month Thus, "per month", or "monthly"

what can be done

per multum cras, cras,
today should not be
crebro dilabitur aetas
delayed

per os (p.o.) through the mouth Medical shorthand for "by mouth"

Used of a certain place that can be traversed or reached

per pedes by feet by foot, or to indicate that one is travelling by foot as
opposed to by a vehicle

Also rendered per procurationem. Used to indicate that

a person is signing a document on behalf of another
person. Correctly placed before the name of the person
per procura (p.p.)or (per through the agency signing, but often placed before the name of the person
pro)
on whose behalf the document is signed, sometimes
through incorrect translation of the alternative
abbreviation per pro. as "for and on behalf of".

In a UK legal context: "by reason of which" (as opposed

to per se which requires no reasoning). In American
per quod by reason of which
jurisprudence often refers to a spouse's claim for loss of
consortium.

per rectum (pr) through the rectum Medical shorthand; see also per os

a modern parody of per aspera ad astra, originating and

most commonly used in Russia, meaning that the path to
via rectum to the
per rectum ad astra success took you through most undesirable and
stars
objectionable places or environments; or that a found
solution to a complex problem is extremely convoluted.

per risum multum by excessive

poteris cognoscere laughter one can
stultum recognise the fool

Also "by itself" or "in itself". Without referring to

anything else, intrinsically, taken without qualifications
per se through itself
etc. A common example is negligence per se. See
also malum in se.
 Used in wills to indicate that each "branch" of
per stirpes through the roots the testator's family should inherit equally. Contrasted
with per capita.

through unity,
per unitatem vis Motto of Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets
strength

through truth,
per veritatem vis Motto of Washington University in St. Louis
strength

Frequently used motto; not from Latin but from

per volar sunata[sic] born to soar Dante's Purgatorio, Canto XII, 95, the Italian phrase
"per volar sù nata".

Be patient and
Perfer et obdura; dolor tough; some day
From Ovid, Amores, Book III, Elegy XI
hic tibi proderit olim this pain will be
useful to you.

periculum in mora danger in delay

perinde [well-disciplined] Phrase written by St. Ignatius of Loyola in

ac [si] cadaver [essent] like a corpse his Constitutiones Societatis Iesu (1954)

perita manus mens skilled hand,

Motto of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia
exculta cultivated mind

from Virgil's Aeneid IV 114; in Vergil's context:

perge sequar advance, I follow
"proceed with your plan, I will do my part."

Danger is my
Pericula ludus Motto of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte
pleasure

thing in perpetual A musical term; also used to refer to hypothetical

perpetuum mobile
motion perpetual motion machines

Perseverantia et Fide in Perseverance and

Motto of Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, India
Deo Faith in God
 An unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person.
In diplomatic contexts, a person rejected by the host
government. The reverse, persona grata ("pleasing
persona non grata person not pleasing
person"), is less common, and refers to a diplomat
acceptable to the government of the country to which he
is sent.

Begging the question, a logical fallacy in which a

request of the
petitio principii proposition to be proved is implicitly or explicitly
beginning
assumed in one of the premises

pia desideria pious longings Or "dutiful desires"

Or "dutiful deceit". Expression from Ovid; used to

pia fraus pious fraud
describe deception which serves Church purposes

Or "tender mother". Translated into Latin from Arabic.

pia mater pious mother The delicate innermost of the three membranes that
cover the brain and spinal cord.

Freedom is made
Pietate et doctrina tuta safe through
Motto of Dickinson College
libertas character and
learning

Thus, "he painted this" or "she painted this". Formerly

pinxit one painted
used on works of art, next to the artist's name.

Latin proverb, attributed by Erasmus in his Adagia to

[you] teach a fish to Greek origin (Diogenianus, Ἰχθὺν νήχεσθαι διδάσκεις);
piscem natare doces
swim
corollary Chinese idiom (班門弄斧)

placet it pleases expression of assent

I.e., it is difficult to concentrate on mental tasks after a

plenus venter non A full belly does heavy meal. The following variant is also
studet libenter not like studying attested: plenus si venter renuit studere libenter (the
belly, when full, refuses to study willingly).

Hieronymus, Epistulæ 58,2

plenus venter facile de A full belly readily
ieiuniis disputat discusses fasting.

The first-person plural pronoun when used by an

pluralis majestatis plural of majesty important personage to refer to himself or herself; also
known as the "royal we"

pluralis modestiae plural of modesty

Frequently found on Roman funerary inscriptions to

plus minusve (p.m.v.) more or less
denote that the age of a decedent is approximate

National motto of Spain and a number of other

plus ultra further beyond
institutions

goodwill decided Life was spared with a thumb tucked inside a closed
pollice compresso favor
by compressed fist, simulating a sheathed weapon. Conversely, a thumb
iudicabatur
thumb up meant to unsheath your sword.

Used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated

with a turned gladiator. The type of gesture used is uncertain. Also the
pollice verso
thumb name of a famous painting depicting gladiators by Jean-
Léon Gérôme.

Polonia Restituta Rebirth of Poland

Any obstacle that stupid people find hard to cross.

pons asinorum bridge of asses Originally used of Euclid's Fifth Proposition
in geometry.

Or "Supreme Pontiff". Originally an office in

the Roman Republic, later a title held by Roman
Emperors, and later a traditional epithet of the pope.
The pontifices were the most important priestly college
Greatest High
Pontifex Maximus of the religion in ancient Rome; their name is usually
Priest
thought to derive from pons facere ("to make a bridge"),
which in turn is usually linked to their religious
authority over the bridges of Rome, especially the Pons
Sublicius.

force of the
posse comitatus Thus, to be able to be made into part of a retinue or
county[93]
force. In common law, a sheriff's right to compel people
 to assist law enforcement in unusual situations.

Inscription on the back of Putney medals, awarded

possunt quia posse They can because
to boat race winning Oxford blues. From Virgil's
videntur they think they can
Aeneid Book V line 231.

after it or by means Causality between two phenomena is not established

post aut propter
of it (cf. post hoc, ergo propter hoc)

post cibum (p.c.) after food Medical shorthand for "after meals" (cf. ante cibum)

post coitum After sex After sexual intercourse

After sexual
intercourse every
post coitum omne Or: triste est omne animal post coitum, praeter
animal is sad,
animal triste est sive mulierem gallumque. Attributed to Galen of
except the cock
gallus et mulier Pergamum.[94]
(rooster) and the
woman

Refers to an action or occurrence that takes place after

the event that is being discussed (similar in meaning
to post factum). More specifically, it may refer to a
post eventum after the event person who is recounting an event long after it took
place, implying that details of the story may have
changed over time. (Some sources attribute this
expression to George Eliot.)

post factum after the fact Not to be confused with ex post facto.

post festum after the feast Too late, or after the fact

A logical fallacy where one assumes that one thing

post hoc ergo propter after this, therefore
happening after another thing means that the first thing
hoc because of this
caused the second.

post meridiem (p.m.) after midday The period from noon to midnight (cf. ante meridiem)

Usually rendered postmortem. Not to be confused

post mortem (pm) after death
with post meridiem
 The phrase is used in legal terminology in the context
Post mortem after the author's of intellectual property rights, especially copyright,
auctoris (p.m.a.) death which commonly lasts until a certain number of years
after the author's death.

after the clouds, the Motto of the University of Zulia, Venezuela, as well
post nubila phoebus
sun as Hartford, Connecticut

out of darkness,
post nubes lux Motto of Cranfield University
light

after “late Refers to the time after any meal. Usually

post prandial
breakfast” rendered postprandial.

A postscript. Used to mark additions to a letter, after the

after what has been
post scriptum (p.s.) signature. Can be extended to post post scriptum (p.p.s.),
written
etc.

post tenebras lux,

after darkness, [I
or post tenebras spero from Vulgata, Job 17:12; frequently used motto
hope for] light
lucem

we grow in the
postera crescam laude esteem of future Motto of the University of Melbourne
generations

There can be only

potest solum unum Highlander
one

praemia virtutis honours are the

honores rewards of virtue

praemonitus forewarned is Common catch phrase of the fictional character

praemunitus forearmed "Captain Blood" from the novel Captain Blood (novel)

Lead in order to
praesis ut prosis ne ut
serve, not in order Motto of Lancaster Royal Grammar School
imperes
to rule.
praeter legem after the law Legal terminology, international law

Prague, Head of the

Praga Caput Regni Motto of Prague from Middle Ages
Kingdom

Praga Caput Rei Prague, Head of the

Motto of Prague from 1991
publicae Republic

Prague, Mother of
Praga mater urbium Motto of Prague from 1927
Cities

Prague, the
Praga totius Bohemiae
mistress of the Former motto of Prague
domina
whole of Bohemia

Pretium Laborum Non No mean reward

Motto of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Vile for labour

Motto of Burnley Football Club;

from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 4.739 (Latin)/English):
pretiumque et causa The prize and the "The Tale of Perseus and Andromeda": resoluta catenis
laboris cause of our labour incedit virgo, pretiumque et causa laboris. ("freed of
her chains the virgin approaches, cause and reward of
the enterprise.")

Used to designate evidence in a trial which is

prima facie at first sight suggestive, but not conclusive, of something (e.g., a
person's guilt)

prima luce at dawn Literally "at first light"

I am a primate;
A sentence by the American anthropologist Earnest
primas sum: primatum nothing about
Hooton and the slogan of primatologists and lovers of
nil a me alienum puto primates is outside
the primates.
of my bailiwick

primum mobile first moving thing Or "first thing able to be moved"; see primum movens

primum movens prime mover Or "first moving one". A common theological term,
such as in the cosmological argument, based on the
 assumption that God was the first entity to "move" or
"cause" anything. Aristotle was one of the first
philosophers to discuss the "uncaused cause", a
hypothetical originator—and violator—of causality.

A medical precept. Often falsely attributed to

the Hippocratic Oath, though its true source is probably
a paraphrase from Hippocrates' Epidemics, where he
primum non nocere first, to not harm
wrote, "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell
the future; practice these acts. As to diseases, make a
habit of two things: to help, or at least to do no harm."

Position of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Eastern

Orthodox Church, position of the President of the Swiss
primus inter pares first among equals Confederation among the members of the Federal
Council, and a title of the Roman
Emperors (cf. princeps).

principia probant non principles prove; Fundamental principles require no proof; they are
probantur they are not proved assumed a priori.

resist the
principiis obsta (et
beginnings (and Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 91
respice finem)
consider the end)

principium psychological term: the self-formation of the personality

Individuation
individuationis into a coherent whole

A legal principle that older laws take precedence over

prior tempore potior earlier in time,
newer ones. The inverse principle is known as lex
iure stronger in law
posterior.

For altars and The motto of the Royal Queensland Regiment, and
pro aris et focis
hearths many other regiments.

Often abbreviated pro bono. Work undertaken

pro bono publico for the public good voluntarily at no expense, such as public services. Often
used of a lawyer's work that is not charged for.

let exceptional
pro Brasilia fiant eximia things be made for Motto of São Paulo state, Brazil.
Brazil
 For God, home and
pro Deo Domo Patria Motto of the University of Mary Washington
country

For God and

pro Deo et Patria Frequently used motto
Country

for (one’s own) serving the interests of a given perspective or for the
pro domo (sua)
home or house benefit of a given group.

pro Ecclesia, pro For Church, For Motto of Baylor University, a private Christian Baptist
Texana Texas university in Waco, Texas.

Motto of the originally Irish Muldoon family and of

for faith and several schools, such as the Diocesan College (Bishops)
pro fide et patria
fatherland in Cape Town, South Africa, and All Hallows High
School in the Bronx, New York.

Or "as a matter of form". Prescribing a set form or

pro forma for form
procedure, or performed in a set manner.

for glory and

pro gloria et patria Motto of Prussia
fatherland

Request of a state court to allow an out-of-state lawyer

pro hac vice for this occasion
to represent a client.

It is part of the Rite of Consecration of

pro multis for many the wine in Western Christianity tradition, as part of
the Mass.

pro parte in part Frequently used in taxonomy to refer to part of a group.

Pro Patria Medal: for operational service (minimum 55

days) in defence of the Republic South Africa or in the
prevention or suppression of terrorism; issued for the
Border War (counter-insurgency operations in South
pro patria for country
West Africa 1966–89) and for campaigns in Angola
(1975–76 and 1987–88). Motto of The Royal Canadian
Regiment, Royal South Australia Regiment, Hurlstone
Agricultural High School.
 watchful for the
pro patria vigilans Motto of the United States Army Signal Corps.
country

for the people and

pro populo et gloria Motto of HMS Westminster
glory

to defend oneself in court without counsel; abbreviation

pro per for self
of propria persona. See also: pro se.

pro rata for the rate i.e., proportionately.

Medical shorthand for "as the occasion arises" or "as

needed". Also "concerning a matter having come into
for a thing that has being". Used to describe a meeting of a
pro re nata (PRN, prn)
been born special Presbytery or Assembly called to discuss
something new, and which was previously unforeseen
(literally: "concerning a matter having been born").

for king and the

pro rege et lege Found on the Leeds coat of arms.
law

for king, the law

pro rege, lege et grege Found on the coat of arms of Perth, Scotland.
and the people

to defend oneself in court without counsel. Some

pro se for oneself
jurisdictions prefer, "pro per".

pro scientia atque for knowledge and

motto of Stuyvesant High School in New York City
sapientia wisdom

for science and

pro scientia et patria motto of the National University of La Plata
nation

pro studio et labore for study and work

Denotes something that has only been partially fulfilled.

pro tanto for so much A philosophical term indicating the acceptance of a
theory or idea without fully accepting the explanation.
 what shall we give
pro tanto quid The motto of the city of Belfast; taken from
in return for so
retribuemus the Vulgate translation of Psalm 116.
much

Denotes a temporary current situation; abbreviated pro

pro tempore for the time (being)
tem.

probatio pennae testing of the pen Medieval Latin term for breaking in a new pen

I am open for Traditionally inscribed above a city gate or above the

probis pateo
honest people front entrance of a dwelling or place of learning.

To Accomplish
prodesse quam conspici Rather Than To Be motto of Miami University
Conspicuous

"by one's own

propria manu (p.m.)
hand"

to destroy the That is, to squander life's purpose just in order to stay
propter vitam vivendi
reasons for living alive, and live a meaningless life.
perdere causas
for the sake of life From Juvenal, Satyricon VIII, verses 83–84.

Protection draws
protectio trahit
allegiance, and Legal maxim, indicating that reciprocity of fealty with
subjectionem, et
allegiance draws protection
subjectio protectionem
protection

launch forward into

provehito in altum motto of Memorial University of Newfoundland
the deep

proxime accessit he came next the runner-up

Used in formal correspondence to refer to the next

in the following
proximo mense (prox.) month. Used with ult. ("last month") and inst. ("this
month
month").

pulchrum est paucorum Beauty is for the from Friedrich Nietzsche's 1889 book Twilight of the
hominum few Idols
 we are dust and
pulvis et umbra sumus From Horace, Carmina book IV, 7, 16.
shadow

Thus, the essential or most notable point. The salient

punctum saliens leaping point
point.

purificatus non purified, not

consumptus consumed

Q[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Thus: "by definition"; variant of per definitionem;

qua definitione by virtue of definition sometimes used in German-speaking countries.
Occasionally misrendered as "qua definitionem".

as far as the world

qua patet orbis Motto of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps
extends

do not take away what

quae non posuisti, ne
you did not put in Plato, Laws
tollas
place

what alone is not

quae non prosunt singula
useful helps when Ovid, Remedia amoris
multa iuvant
accumulated

frequently used as motto; taken

quaecumque sunt vera whatsoever is true
from Philippians 4:8 of the Bible

quaecumque vera doce teach me whatsoever motto of St. Joseph's College, Edmonton at
me is true the University of Alberta

Or "you might ask..." Used to suggest doubt or to

quaere to seek ask one to consider whether something is correct.
Often introduces rhetorical or tangential questions.

quaerite primum regnum seek ye first the Also quaerite primo regnum dei; frequently used as
Dei kingdom of God motto

As what kind of artist Or "What a craftsman dies in me!" Attributed

qualis artifex pereo
do I perish? to Nero in Suetonius' De vita Caesarum

Qualitas potentia nostra Quality is our might motto of Finnish Air Force

how well, not how

quam bene non quantum motto of Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada
much

quam bene vivas it is how well you live

referre (or refert), non that matters, not how Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium CI (101)
quam diu long

I.e., "[while on] good behavior." So for example

the Act of Settlement 1701 stipulated that judges'
commissions are valid quamdiu se bene
as long as he shall
quamdiu (se) bene gesserint (during good behaviour). (Notice the
have behaved
gesserit different singular, "gesserit", and plural,
well (legal Latin)
"gesserint", forms.) It was from this phrase
that Frank Herbert extracted the name for the Bene
Gesserit sisterhood in the Dune novels.

quantociusquantotius the sooner, the better or, as quickly as possible

quantum libet (q.l.) as much as pleases medical shorthand for "as much as you wish"

medical shorthand for "as much as needed" or "as

quantum sufficit (qs) as much as is enough
much as will suffice"

medical shorthand; also quaque die (qd), "every

quaque hora (qh) every hour day", quaque mane (qm), "every morning",
and quaque nocte (qn), "every night"

An action of trespass; thus called, by reason the

wherefore he broke the writ demands the person summoned to answer
quare clausum fregit
close to wherefore he broke the close (quare clausum
fregit), i.e. why he committed such a trespass.

quater in die (qid) four times a day medical shorthand

 Whom the gods would
quem deus vult perdere,
destroy, they first
dementat prius
make insane

Other translations of diligunt include "prize

especially" or "esteem". From Plautus, Bacchides,
quem di diligunt he whom the gods love IV, 7, 18. In this comic play, a sarcastic servant
adulescens moritur dies young says this to his aging master. The rest of the
sentence reads: dum valet sentit sapit ("while he is
healthy, perceptive and wise").

from the Summoner's section of Chaucer's General

questio quid iuris I ask what law?
Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, line 648

qui audet adipiscitur Who Dares Wins The motto of the SAS, of the British Army

from St. Augustine of Hippo's commentary on

Psalm 73, verse 1: Qui enim cantat laudem, non
he who sings well
qui bene cantat bis orat solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat ("He who
praises twice
sings praises, not only praises, but praises
joyfully")

common misspelling of the Latin phrase cui

qui bono who with good
bono ("who benefits?")

Motto of the University of Chester. A less literal

he that teacheth, on
qui docet in doctrina translation is "Let those who teach, teach" or "Let
teaching
the teacher teach".

qui habet aures audiendi he who has ears to "He that hath ears to hear, let him
audiat hear shall hear hear"; Mark Mark 4:9

qui me tangit, vocem who touches me, hears

common inscription on bells
meam audit my voice

Thus, silence gives consent. Sometimes

qui tacet consentire he who is silent is accompanied by the proviso "ubi loqui debuit ac
videtur taken to agree potuit", that is, "when he ought to have spoken and
was able to".

qui prior est tempore Who is first in point of As set forth in the "Property Law" casebook written
potior est jure time is stronger in by Jesse Dukeminier, which is generally used to
right teach first year law students.

Generally known as 'qui tam,' it is the technical

legal term for the unique mechanism in the federal
qui tam pro domino rege he who brings an
False Claims Act that allows persons and entities
quam pro se ipso in hac action for the king as
with evidence of fraud against federal programs or
parte sequitur well as for himself
contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the
Government.

he who wants
qui totum vult totum
everything loses Attributed to Publilius Syrus
perdit
everything

Or "he who brought us across still supports us",

he who transplanted
qui transtulit sustinet meaning God. State motto of Connecticut.
still sustains
Originally written as sustinet qui transtulit in 1639.

Attributed to Julius Caesar by Plutarch, Caesar 10.

Translated loosely as "because even the wife of
Caesar may not be suspected". At the feast of Bona
Dea, a sacred festival for females only, which was
being held at the Domus Publica, the home of
the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar, and hosted by his
second wife, Pompeia, the notorious
because he should
quia suam uxorem etiam politician Clodius arrived in disguise. Caught by
wish even his wife to
suspicione vacare vellet the outraged noblewomen, Clodius fled before they
be free from suspicion
could kill him on the spot for sacrilege. In the
ensuing trial, allegations arose that Pompeia and
Clodius were having an affair, and while Caesar
asserted that this was not the case and no
substantial evidence arose suggesting otherwise, he
nevertheless divorced, with this quotation as
explanation.

What's happening? What's going on? What's the

quid agis What are you doing?
news? What's up?

In the Vulgate translation of John 18:38, Pilate's

question to Jesus (Greek: Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια;). A
quid est veritas What is truth?
possible answer is an anagram of the phrase: est vir
qui adest, "it is the man who is here."

What of the new out of less literally, "What's new from Africa?"; derived
quid novi ex Africa
Africa? from an Aristotle quotation
 Commonly shortened to quidnunc. As a noun,
a quidnunc is a busybody or a gossip. Patrick
quid nunc What now?
Campbell worked for The Irish Times under
the pseudonym "Quidnunc".

Commonly used in English, it is also translated as

"this for that" or "a thing for a thing". Signifies a
quid pro quo what for what favor exchanged for a favor. The traditional Latin
expression for this meaning was do ut des ("I give,
so that you may give").

Why do you laugh?

Quid rides?
Change but the name,
Mutato nomine de te Horace, Satires, I. 1. 69.
and the story is told of
fabula narratur.
yourself.

Or "anything said in Latin sounds profound". A

recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people
quidquid Latine dictum whatever has been said who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only
sit altum videtur in Latin seems deep to make themselves sound more important or
"educated". Similar to the less common omnia
dicta fortiora si dicta Latina.

don't move settled

quieta non movere
things

Commonly associated with Plato who in

the Republic poses this question; and
from Juvenal's On Women, referring to the practice
of having eunuchs guard women and beginning
Quis custodiet ipsos Who will guard the
with the word sed ("but"). Usually translated less
custodes? guards themselves?
literally, as "Who watches the watchmen?" This
translation is a common epigraph, such as of
the Tower Commission and Alan
Moore's Watchmen comic book series.

quis leget haec? Who will read this?

motto of Northern Ireland and of the Order of St

quis separabit? Who will separate us?
Patrick

Usually translated "Who is like unto God?"

quis ut Deus Who [is] as God?
Questions who would have the audacity to compare
himself to a Supreme Being. It is a translation of
 the Hebrew name 'Michael' = Mi cha El Who like
God ‫ אל‬/‫כ‬/‫ מי‬Hebrew: ‫( ִמיכָאֵ ל‬right to left).

quo errat demonstrator where the prover errs A pun on "quod erat demonstrandum"

where the fates bear us

quo fata ferunt motto of Bermuda
to

Quod verum tutum what is true is right motto of Spier's School

From Cicero's first speech In Catilinam to

the Roman Senate regarding the conspiracy
quousque tandem? For how much longer? of Catiline: Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina,
patientia nostra? ("For how much longer, Catiline,
will you abuse our patience?").

Title of the series finale of Aaron Sorkin's

Quo Vadimus? Where are we going?
TV dramedy Sports Night

According to Vulgate translation

of John 13:36, Saint Peter asked Jesus Domine, quo
quo vadis? Where are you going? vadis? ("Lord, where are you going?"). The King
James Version has the translation "Lord, whither
goest thou?"

whithersoever you
quocunque jeceris stabit motto of the Isle of Man
throw it, it will stand

what is abundant
quod abundat non obstat It is no problem to have too much of something.
doesn't hinder

what is done quickly, Things done in a hurry are more likely to fail and
quod cito fit, cito perit
perishes quickly fail quicker than those done with care.

The abbreviation is often written at the bottom of

quod erat what was to be a mathematical proof. Sometimes translated loosely
demonstrandum (Q.E.D.) demonstrated into English as "The Five Ws", W.W.W.W.W., which
stands for "Which Was What We Wanted".

which was to be done Or "which was to be constructed". Used in

quod erat
translations of Euclid's Elements when there was
faciendum (Q.E.F.) nothing to prove, but there was something being
constructed, for example a triangle with the same
size as a given line.

quod est (q.e.) which is

quod est necessarium est what is necessary is

licitum lawful

what is asserted
quod gratis asseritur, If no grounds have been given for an assertion,
without reason may be
gratis negatur then there are no grounds needed to reject it.
denied without reason

If an important person does something, it does not

necessarily mean that everyone can do it
what is permitted
quod licet Iovi, non licet (cf. double standard). Iovi (also commonly
to Jupiter is not
bovi rendered Jovi) is the dative form
permitted to an ox
of Iuppiter ("Jupiter" or "Jove"), the chief god of
the Romans.

Thought to have originated with Elizabethan

playwright Christopher Marlowe. Generally
quod me nutrit me what nourishes me interpreted to mean that that which motivates or
destruit destroys me drives a person can consume him or her from
within. This phrase has become a popular slogan or
motto for pro-ana websites, anorexics and bulimics.

what nature does not Refers to the Spanish University of Salamanca,

quod natura non dat
give, Salamancadoes meaning that education cannot substitute the lack
Salmantica non praestat
not provide of brains.

quod non fecerunt What the barbarians A well-known satirical lampoon left attached to the
barbari, fecerunt did not do, the ancient "speaking" statue of Pasquino on a corner
Barberini Barberini did of the Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy.[95]

What has happened has happened and it cannot be

quod periit, periit What is gone is gone changed, thus we should look forward into the
future instead of being pulled by the past.

What I have written I

quod scripsi, scripsi Pilate to the chief priests (John 19:22)
have written.
 i.e. "You must thoroughly understand that which
Whatever you hope to
quod supplantandum, you hope to supplant". A caution against following
supplant, you will first
prius bene sciendum a doctrine of Naive Analogy when attempting to
know thoroughly
formulate a scientific hypothesis.

Used after a term, phrase, or topic that should be

looked up elsewhere in the current document, book,
quod vide (q.v.) which see
etc. For more than one term or phrase, the plural
is quae vide (qq.v.).

More colloquially: "Do whatever He [Jesus] tells

Quodcumque dixerit Whatever He tells you, you to do." Instructions of Mary to the servants at
vobis, facite. that you shall do. the Wedding at Cana. (John 2:5). Also the motto
of East Catholic High School.

quomodo vales How are you?

the number of members whose presence is required

quorum of whom under the rules to make any given meeting
constitutional

Those whom true love

quos amor verus tenuit
has held, it will go on Seneca
tenebit
holding

as many heads, so "There are as many opinions as there are heads" –

quot capita tot sensus
many perceptions Terence

quot homines tot as many men, so many Or "there are as many opinions as there are
sententiae opinions people", "how many people, so many opinions"

R[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

radix malorum est the root of evils is Or "greed is the root of all evil". Theme of "The
cupiditas desire Pardoner's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales.

rara avis(rarissima avis) An extraordinary or unusual thing.

rare bird (very rare
From Juvenal's Satires: rara avis in terris nigroque
 bird) simillima cygno ("a rare bird in the lands, and very
like a black swan").

rari nantes in gurgite Rare survivors in the

Virgil, Aeneid, I, 118
vasto immense sea

reasoning for the The legal, moral, political, and social principles
ratio decidendi
decision used by a court to compose a judgment's rationale.

ratio legis reasoning of law A law's foundation or basis.

by reason of his/her Also "Jurisdiction Ratione Personae" the personal

ratione personae
person reach of the courts jurisdiction.[96]

Or "according to the soil". Assigning property

by account of the
ratione soli rights to a thing based on its presence on a
ground
landowner's property.

confirmed and
ratum et consummatum in Canon law, a consummated marriage
completed

in Canon law, a confirmed but unconsummated

ratum tantum confirmed only
marriage (which can be dissolved super rato)

More literally, "by the thing". From

the ablative of res ("thing" or "circumstance"). It is
a common misconception that the "Re:" in
correspondence is an abbreviation
for regarding or reply; this is not the case for
re [in] the matter of
traditional letters. However, when used in an e-
mail subject, there is evidence that it functions as
an abbreviation of regarding rather than the Latin
word for thing. The use of Latin re, in the sense of
"about", "concerning", is English usage.

The doctrine that treaty obligations hold only as

with matters standing long as the fundamental conditions and
rebus sic stantibus
thus expectations that existed at the time of their
creation hold.

recte et fortiter Upright and Strong Motto of Homebush Boys High School
 Also "just and faithful" and "accurately and
recte et fideliter Upright and Faithful
faithfully". Motto of Ruyton Girls' School

A common debate technique, and a method of

proof in mathematics and philosophy, that proves
the thesis by showing that its opposite is absurd or
logically untenable. In general usage outside
leading back to the mathematics and philosophy, a reductio ad
reductio ad absurdum
absurd absurdum is a tactic in which the logic of an
argument is challenged by reducing the concept to
its most absurd extreme. Translated
from Aristotle's "ἡ εις άτοπον απαγωγη" (hi eis
atopon apagogi, "reduction to the impossible").

A term coined by German-American political

philosopher Leo Strauss to humorously describe a
reductio ad Hitlerum leading back to Hitler fallacious argument that compares an opponent's
views to those held by Adolf Hitler or the Nazi
Party. Derived from reductio ad absurdum.

An argument that creates an infinite series of

causes that does not seem to have a beginning. As
a fallacy, it rests upon Aristotle's notion that all
things must have a cause, but that all series of
leading back to the causes must have a sufficient cause, that is, an
reductio ad infinitum
infinite unmoved mover. An argument which does not
seem to have such a beginning becomes difficult to
imagine. If it can be established, separately, that
the chain must have a start, then a reductio ad
infinitum is a valid refutation technique.

A decision from a court of appeal is amended to a

worse one. With certain exceptions, this
reformatio in peius change to worse
is prohibited at the Boards of Appeal of the
European Patent Office by case law.

Regem ego comitem me you made me a Count,

Motto of the Forbin family [fr]
comes regem I will make you a King

From "Reginam
occidere nolite timere Written by John of Merania, bishop of Esztergom,
bonum est si omnes to Hungarian nobles planning the assassination
Reginam occidere consentiunt ego non of Gertrude of Merania. The queen was
contradico", a sentence assassinated as the plotters saw the bishop's
whose meaning is message as an encouragement.
highly dependent on
punctuation: either the
 speaker wishes a
queen killed or not.[97]

State motto of Arkansas, adopted in 1907.

Originally rendered in 1864 in the plural, regnant
regnat populus the people rule
populi ("the peoples rule"), but subsequently
changed to the singular.

Regnum Mariae Patrona Kingdom of Mary, the

Former motto of Hungary.
Hungariae Patron of Hungary

Concept used in psychoanalysis by Sándor

regressus ad uterum return to the womb
Ferenczi and the Budapest School.

You have touched the

rem acu tetigisti i.e., "You have hit the nail on the head"
point with a needle

Lit: "Repeated things help". Usually said as a

jocular remark to defend the speaker's (or writer's)
repetita iuvant repeating does good
choice to repeat some important piece of
information to ensure reception by the audience.

repetitio est mater repetition is the mother

studiorum of study/learning

requiem aeternam eternal rest

Or "may he/she rest in peace". A benediction for

the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other
let him/her rest in
requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) grave markers. "RIP" is commonly mistranslated as
peace
"Rest In Peace", though the two mean essentially
the same thing.

Motto of the University of Sheffield,

to learn the causes of
rerum cognoscere causas the University of Guelph, and London School of
things
Economics.

Used in the 1985 film American Flyers where it is

a firm resolve does not
res firma mitescere nescit colloquially translated as "once you got it up, keep
know how to weaken
it up".
 A phrase used in law representing the belief that
certain statements are made naturally,
spontaneously and without deliberation during the
course of an event, they leave little room for
res gestae things done misunderstanding/misinterpretation upon hearing
by someone else ( i.e. by the witness who will later
repeat the statement to the court) and thus the
courts believe that such statements carry a high
degree of credibility.

A phrase from the common law of torts meaning

the thing speaks for that negligence can be inferred from the fact that
res ipsa loquitur
itself such an accident happened, without proof of
exactly how.

A matter which has been decided by a court. Often

refers to the legal concept that once a matter has
res judicata judged thing been finally decided by the courts, it cannot be
litigated again (cf. non bis in idem and double
jeopardy).

From rēs ("things, facts") the plural of rēs ("a

"actions speak louder thing, a fact") + nōn ("not") + verba ("words") the
res, non verba than words", or plural of verbum ("a word"). Literally meaning
"deeds, not words" "things, not words" or "facts instead of words" but
referring to that "actions be used instead of words".

Goods without an owner. Used for things or beings

which belong to nobody and are up for grabs, e.g.,
res nullius nobody's property uninhabited and uncolonized lands, wandering
wild animals, etc. (cf. terra nullius, "no man's
land").

Pertaining to the state

res publica source of the word republic
or public

look behind, look here, i.e., "examine the past, the present and future".
respice adspice prospice
look ahead Motto of CCNY.

i.e., "have regard for the end" or "consider the

end". Generally a memento mori, a warning to
respice finem look back at the end remember one's death. Motto of Homerton
College, Cambridge, Trinity College,
Kandy, Georgetown
College in Kentucky , Turnbull High
 School, Glasgow, and the London Oratory School.

Regarded as a legal maxim in agency law,

referring to the legal liability of the principal with
respect to an employee. Whereas a hired
let the superior independent contractor acting tortiously may not
respondeat superior
respond cause the principal to be legally liable, a hired
employee acting tortiously will cause the principal
(the employer) to be legally liable, even if the
employer did nothing wrong.

restitutio ad (or in) restoration to original Principle behind the awarding of damages in
integrum condition common law negligence claims

‘I shall rise again’, expressing Christian faith in

resurrection at the Last Day. It appears, inter alia,
in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, as the epitaph
written on Helen Burns's grave; in a poem
of Emily Dickinson: Poems (1955) I. 56
("Arcturus" is his other name), I slew a worm the
other day — A ‘Savant’ passing by Murmured
resurgam I shall arise
‘Resurgam’ — ‘Centipede’! ‘Oh Lord—how frail
are we’!; and in a letter of Vincent van
Gogh.[98] The OED gives "1662 J. Trapp
Annotations Old & New Testament I. 142 Howbeit
he had hope in his death, and might write
Resurgam on his grave" as its earliest attribution in
the English corpus.

An utterance by the Delphic oracle recorded

by Eusebius of Caesarea in Praeparatio
Restrain your strength,
retine vim istam, falsa evangelica, VI-5, translated from the Greek
for if you compel me I
enim dicam, si coges of Porphyry (c.f. E. H. Gifford's translation)[99] and
will tell lies
used by William Wordsworth as a subtitle for his
ballad "Anecdote for Fathers".

king even of faithful Latin motto that appears on the crest of the Trinity
rex regum fidelum et
kings Broadcasting Network of Paul and Jan Crouch.

The rigidity of corpses when chemical reactions

cause the limbs to stiffen about 3–4 hours after
death. Other signs of death include drop in body
rigor mortis stiffness of death
temperature (algor mortis, "cold of death") and
discoloration (livor mortis, "bluish color of
death").
 Can you help An ironic or rueful commentary, appended
risum teneatis, amici?
laughing, friends? following a fanciful or unbelievable tale.

risus abundat in ore laughter is abundant in excessive and inappropriate laughter signifies
stultorum the mouth of fools stupidity.

Inspirational motto inscribed on the Statue of

Roma invicta Unconquered Rome
Rome.

Rome has spoken, the In Roman Catholic ecclesiology, doctrinal matters

Roma locuta, causa finita
case is closed are ultimately decided by the Vatican.

An intentionally garbled Latin phrase from Monty

People called Romans
Romanes eunt domus Python's Life of Brian. Its intended meaning is
they go the house
"Romans, go home!", in Latin Romani ite domum.

rorate coeli drop down ye heavens a.k.a. The Advent Prose.

rosa rubicundior, lilio redder than the rose,

candidior, omnibus whiter than the lilies,
From Veni, veni, venias (Carmina Burana).
formosior, semper in te fairer than all things, I
glorior do ever glory in thee

She who has earned

Rosam quae meruit ferat Motto from Sweet Briar College
the rose may bear it

Generally used to refer to a haven of peace and

A countryside in the
rus in urbe quiet within an urban setting, often a garden, but
city
can refer to interior decoration.

S[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

saltus in leap in a leap in logic, by which a necessary part of an equation is

demonstrando explaining omitted.

salus in arduis a stronghold (or

a Roman Silver Age maxim. Also the school motto
refuge) in
 difficulties of Wellingborough School.

From Cicero's De Legibus, book III, part III, sub. VIII. Quoted
the welfare of the
salus populi by John Locke in his Second Treatise, On Civil Government, to
people is to be
suprema lex esto describe the proper organization of government. Also the state
the highest law
motto of Missouri.

Refers to two expressions that can be interchanged without

salva veritate with truth intact
changing the truth value of the statements in which they occur.

Savior of the Christian epithet, usually referring to Jesus. The title of

Salvator Mundi
World paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci.

Used as a reservation on statements of financial accounts. Often

salvo errore et save for error and
now given in English "errors and omissions excluded" or
omissione (s.e.e.o.) omission
"e&oe".

Addressing
salvo honoris oneself to
titulo (SHT) someone whose
title is unknown.|

Sancta Sedes Holy Chair literally, "holy seat". Refers to the Papacy or the Holy See.

sancta simplicitas holy innocence Or "sacred simplicity".

in a holy and Also sancte sapienter (holiness, wisdom), motto of several

sancte et sapienter
wise way institutions, notably King's College London

sanctum referring to a more sacred and/or guarded place, within a lesser

Holy of Holies
sanctorum guarded, yet also holy location.

From Horace's Epistularum liber primus, Epistle II, line 40.

Made popular in Kant's essay Answering the Question: What Is
sapere aude dare to know
Enlightenment? defining the Age of Enlightenment. The phrase
is common usage as a university motto.

sapiens qui wise is he who

Motto of Malvern College, England
prospicit looks ahead
 From Plautus. Indicates that something can be understood
without any need for explanation, as long as the listener has
enough for the
sapienti sat enough wisdom or common sense. Often extended to dictum
wise
sapienti sat est ("enough has been said for the wise", commonly
translated as "a word to the wise is enough").

sapientia et wisdom and Motto of Fordham University, New York. Motto of Hill House
doctrina learning School Doncaster, England.

One of the mottos of the Ateneo schools in the Philippines.[100]

sapientia et wisdom and
eloquentia eloquence
Motto of the Minerva Society

sapientia et veritas wisdom and truth Motto of Christchurch Girls' High School, New Zealand.
wisdom and
sapientia et virtus Motto of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
virtue
sapientia ianua wisdom is the Motto of the Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington,
vitae gateway to life England.
sapientia melior wisdom is better
Motto of University of Deusto, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Spain.
auro than gold
sapientia, pax, Wisdom, Peace, Motto of Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Cholula,
fraternitas Fraternity Mexico.
sapientia potentia Motto of the House of Akeleye, Sweden, Denmark,
wisdom is power
est Czechoslovakia.
That which has
sat celeriter fieri
been done well One of the two favorite saying of Augustus. The other is
quidquid fiat satis
has been done "festina lente".[101]
bene
quickly enough
By/From/With
scientia ac labore knowledge and Motto of several institutions
labour
knowledge, more
scientia, aere unknown origin, probably adapted from Horace's ode III (Exegi
lasting than
perennius monumentum aere perennius).
bronze
religion and
scientia cum
knowledge Motto of St Vincent's College, Potts Point
religione
united
scientiae cedit The sea yields to
Motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy.
mare knowledge
For science and
scientiae et patriae Motto of University of Latvia
fatherland
knowledge and
scientia et labor motto of Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería
work
scientia et knowledge and
motto of Illinois Wesleyan University
sapientia wisdom
scientia imperii knowledge is the Motto of Imperial College London
decus et tutamen adornment and
protection of the
Empire
Stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon in Meditationes
scientia ipsa knowledge itself Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased
potentia est is power as scientia est potestas or scientia potentia est (knowledge is
power).
scientia, labor, science, labour,
Motto of the Free University of Tbilisi.
libertas liberty
conquering
scientia vincere Motto of several institutions, such as the Free University of
darkness by
tenebras Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel).
science
it is permitted to that is to say; to wit; namely; in a legal caption, it provides a
scilicet (sc. or ss.)
know statement of venue or refers to a location.
scio I know
I know that I
scio me nihil scire
know nothing
scire quod knowledge which
motto of now defunct publisher Small, Maynard & Company
sciendum is worth having
scribimus indocti Each desperate as translated by Philip Francis. From Horace, Epistularum liber
doctique poemata blockhead dares secundus (1, 117)[102] and quoted in Fielding's Tom Jones; lit:
passim to write "Learned or not, we shall write poems without distinction."
by the shield of
scuto amoris divini The motto of Skidmore College
God's love
seculo seculorum forever and ever
But the same
sed ipse spiritus Spirit intercedes
postulat pro nobis, incessantly for
Romans 8:26
gemitibus us, with
inenarrabilibus inexpressible
groans
But on earth,
sed terrae graviora
worse things Virgil, Aeneid 6:84.
manent
await
with the seat The "seat" refers to the Holy See; the vacancy refers to
sede vacante
being vacant the interregnum between two popes.
sedes apostolica apostolic chair Synonymous with Sancta Sedes.
seat (i.e. Used in biological classification to indicate that there is no
sedes incertae location) agreement as to which higher order grouping a taxon should be
uncertain placed into. Abbreviated sed. incert.
sedet,
seat, be seated
aeternumque a Virgi's verse, means when you stop trying, then you lose
forever
sedebit
once in a year Concept expressed by various authors, such as Seneca, Saint
semel in anno licet
one is allowed to Augustine and Horace. It became proverbial during the Middle
insanire
go crazy Ages.
always towards
semper ad meliora Motto of several institutions
better things
 Motto of the 45th Infantry Division (United States) and its
semper anticus always forward successor, the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United
States)
semper apertus always open Motto of University of Heidelberg
Motto of Carl Jacobsen and name of a line of beers
semper ardens always burning
by Danish brewery Carlsberg.
personal motto of Elizabeth I, appears above her royal coat of
arms. Used as motto of Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Channel
semper eadem ever the same Islands, which was founded by Elizabeth I, and of Ipswich
School, to whom Elizabeth granted a royal charter. Also the
motto of the City of Leicester and Prince George's County.
Motto of the K.A.V. Lovania Leuven and the House of
semper excelsius always higher
Wrigley-Pimley-McKerr[103]
semper fidelis always faithful Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Marine Corps
semper fortis always brave Unofficial motto of the United States Navy
semper idem always the same Motto of Underberg
semper in excretia We're always in
sumus solim the manure; only Lord de Ramsey, House of Lords, 21 January 1998[104]
profundum variat the depth varies.
always
semper instans Motto of 846 NAS Royal Navy
threatening
semper invicta always invincible Motto of Warsaw
the necessity of
semper necessitas
proof always lies
probandi incumbit Latin maxim often associated with the burden of proof
with the person
ei qui agit
who lays charges
semper liber always free Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia
semper paratus always prepared Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Coast Guard
semper primus always first Motto of several US military units
Motto of the island of Sint Maarten, of King City Secondary
semper always
School in King City, Ontario, Canada and of Fairfax High
progrediens progressing
School (Fairfax, Virginia)
A phrase deriving from the Nadere Reformatie movement in the
seventeenth century Dutch Reformed Church and widely but
informally used in Reformed and Presbyterian churches today.
It refers to the conviction of certain
semper always in need of
Reformed Protestant theologians that the church must
reformanda being reformed
continually re-examine itself in order to maintain its purity
of doctrine and practice. The term first appeared in print in
Jodocus van Lodenstein, Beschouwinge van
Zion (Contemplation of Zion), Amsterdam, 1674.[105]
Motto of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Motto of St. Stephen
School, Chandigarh, India. Motto of St. Joseph's College,
Allahabad, India. Motto of Palmerston North Girls' High
semper sursum always aim high School, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Motto of Vancouver
Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada. Motto of 865 Dartmouth Kiwanis Royal Canadian Air
Cadet Squadron, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
semper vigilans always vigilant Motto of several institutions including the US Air Force
 Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol), the city of San Diego, California,
and the Providence, Rhode Island Police Department.
semper vigilo always vigilant The motto of the Scottish Police Forces, Scotland.
The official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried
Senatus The Senate and
on battle standards by the Roman legions. In addition to being
Populusque the People of
an ancient Roman motto, it remains the motto of the modern
Romanus (SPQR) Rome
city of Rome.
with the broad, or
sensu lato Less literally, "in the wide sense".
general, meaning
sensu stricto cf. "with the tight
Less literally, "in the strict sense".
stricto sensu meaning"
in the fuller In biblical exegesis, the deeper meaning intended by God, not
sensus plenior
meaning intended by the human author.
In an effort to understand why things may be happening
contrary to expectations, or even in alignment with them, this
idiom suggests that keeping track of where money is going may
sequere pecuniam follow the money
show the basis for the observed behavior. Similar in spirit to the
phrase cui bono (who gains?) or cui prodest (who advances?),
but outside those phrases' historically legal context.
Sermo Tuus Thy Word Is motto of the General Theological Seminary, Cornelius Fontem
Veritas Est Truth Esua
those who are
sero venientes
late are poorly
male sedentes
seated
sero venientibus those who are
ossa late get bones
Keeper of the
servabo fidem I will keep the faith.
faith
The answer of St. Michael the Archangel to the non serviam, "I
will not serve" of Satan, when the angels were tested by God on
serviam I will serve
whether they will serve an inferior being, a man, Jesus, as their
Lord.
servus servorum servant of the
A title for the Pope.
Dei servants of God
From Horace's Ars Poetica, "proicit ampullas et sesquipedalia
sesquipedalia words a foot and verba" ("he throws down his high-flown language and his foot-
verba a half long and-a-half-long words"). A self-referential jab at long
words and needlessly elaborate language in general.
If I sleep, I may
si dormiam capiar Motto of HMS Wakeful (H88)
be caught
Si monumentum If you seek (his)
from the epitaph on Christopher Wren's tomb in St Paul's
requiris monument, look
Cathedral.
circumspice around you
Si non oscillas, noli If you can't Inscribed on a plaque above the front door of the Playboy
tintinnare swing, don't ring mansion in Chicago.
si omnes... ego non if all ones... not I
si peccasse if we deny From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor
negamus fallimur having made a Faustus, where the phrase is translated "if we say that we have
et nulla est in nobis mistake, we are no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us." (cf. 1
veritas deceived, and John 1:8 in the New Testament)
there's no truth in
us
si quaeris if you seek a Said to have been based on the tribute to architect Christopher
peninsulam delightful Wren in St Paul's Cathedral, London: si monumentum requiris,
amoenam peninsula, look circumspice (see above). State motto of Michigan, adopted in
circumspice around 1835.
si quid novisti if you can better
rectius istis, these principles,
candidus imperti; tell me; if not, Horace, Epistles I :6, 67–68
si nil, his utere join me in
mecum. following them
This quote is often attributed to the Latin philosopher Boethius
of the late fifth and early sixth centuries. It translates literally
If you had kept
as, "If you had been silent, you would have remained a
si tacuisses, your silence, you
philosopher." The phrase illustrates a common use of the
philosophus would have
subjunctive verb mood. Among other functions it expresses
mansisses stayed a
actions contrary to fact. Sir Humphrey Appleby translated it to
philosopher
the PM as: "If you'd kept your mouth shut we might have
thought you were clever."
A common beginning for ancient Roman letters. An
if you are well, I abbreviation of si vales bene est ego valeo, alternatively written
si vales valeo (SVV)
am well (abbr) as SVBEEV. The practice fell out of fashion and into obscurity
with the decline in Latin literacy.
If you want to be This is often attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca, found
si vis amari ama
loved, love in the sixth of his letters to Lucilius.
From Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari. Origin
if you want of the name parabellum for some ammunition and firearms,
si vis pacem, para
peace, prepare such as the Luger Parabellum. (Similar to igitur qui desiderat
bellum
for war pacem, praeparet bellum and in pace ut sapiens aptarit idonea
bello.)
Or "just so". States that the preceding quoted material appears
exactly that way in the source, despite any errors of spelling,
sic thus grammar, usage, or fact that may be present. Used only for
previous quoted text; ita or similar must be used to mean "thus"
when referring to something about to be stated.
sic currite ut More specifically, So run, that ye may obtain, 1 Corinthians 24.
Run to win
comprehendatis Motto of Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea.
sic et non thus and not More simply, "yes and no".
we gladly feast
sic gorgiamus allos
on those who Mock-Latin motto of The Addams Family.
subjectatos nunc
would subdue us
sic infit so it begins
From Virgil, Aeneid book IX, line 641. Possibly the source of
thus you shall go
sic itur ad astra the ad astra phrases. Motto of several institutions, including
to the stars
the Royal Canadian Air Force.
greatness from
sic parvis magna Motto of Sir Francis Drake
small beginnings
Thus here and
sic passim Used when referencing books; see passim.
there
 Thus has it
sic semper erat, et always been, and
sic semper erit thus shall it ever
be
Attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar's assassination
sic semper thus and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln's
tyrannis always totyrants assassination; whether it was actually said at either of these
events is disputed. State motto of Virginia, adopted in 1776.
A reminder that all things are fleeting. During Papal
coronations, a monk reminds the Pope of his mortality by
thus passes the saying this phrase, preceded by pater sancte ("holy father")
sic transit gloria
glory of the while holding before his eyes a burning paper illustrating the
mundi
world passing nature of earthly glories. This is similar to the tradition
of a slave in a Roman triumphs whispering memento mori in the
ear of the celebrant.
use [what is]
Or "use your property in such a way that you do not damage
sic utere tuo ut yours so as not to
others'". A legal maxim related to property ownership laws,
alienum non laedas harm [what is] of
often shortened to simply sic utere ("use it thus").
others
Or "such is life". Indicates that a circumstance, whether good or
sic vita est thus is life
bad, is an inherent aspect of living.
Though the
sidere mens eadem constellations
Latin motto of the University of Sydney.
mutato change, the mind
is universal
signetur (sig) or(S/) let it be labeled Medical shorthand
signum fidei Sign of the Faith Motto of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
silentium est Latinization of the English expression "silence is golden". Also
silence is golden
aureum Latinized as silentium est aurum ("silence is gold").
similar things are
"like cures like" and "let like be cured by like"; the first form
similia similibus taken care of by
("curantur") is indicative, while the second form ("curentur") is
curantur similar things
subjunctive. The indicative form is found in Paracelsus (16th
century), while the subjunctive form is said by Samuel
similia similibus let similar things
Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy, and is known as the law
curentur be taken care of
of similars.
by similar things
similar
Used as a general rule in chemistry; "like dissolves like" refers
similia similibus substances will
to the ability of polar or non polar solvents to dissolve polar or
solvuntur dissolve similar
non polar solutes respectively.[106]
substances
simplex sigillum simplicity is the
expresses a sentiment akin to Keep It Simple, Stupid
veri sign of truth
sincere et sincere and
Motto of the Order of the Red Eagle
constanter constant
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of
sine anno (s.a.) without a year
a document is unknown.
Originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a
final, dispositive order has been made in the case. In modern
sine die without a day
legal context, it means there is nothing left for the court to do,
so no date for further proceedings is set, resulting in an
 "adjournment sine die".
without anger
sine ira et studio Thus, impartially. From Tacitus, Annals 1.1.
and fondness
without honorary
sine honoris titulo Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown.
title
without labour
sine labore non erit
there will be no
panis in ore
bread in mouth
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication
sine loco (s.l.) without a place
of a document is unknown.
sine metu "without fear" Motto of Jameson Irish Whiskey
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a
sine nomine (s.n.) "without a name"
document is unknown.
sine poena nulla Without penalty, Refers to the ineffectiveness of a law without the means of
lex there is no law enforcement
Without Frequently abbreviated to "s.p." or "d.s.p." (decessit sine prole –
sine prole
offspring "died without offspring") in genealogical works.
Without
sine prole
surviving Without surviving offspring (even in abstract terms)
superstite
children
sine timore aut Without Fear or St.George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
favore Favor motto
without which Used to denote something that is an essential part of the whole.
sine qua non
not See also condicio sine qua non.
sine remediis without remedies
Inscription on a stained glass in the conference hall of a
medicina debilis medicine is
pharmaceutical mill in Kaunas, Lithuania.
est powerless
without
sine scientia ars Motto of The International Diving Society, and motto of Oxford
knowledge, skill
nihil est University Medical Students' Society
is nothing
I cease the Phrase, used to cease the activities of the Sejm upon the liberum
sisto activitatem
activity veto principle
may it be worthy
sit nomine digna Motto of Rhodesia
of the name
let honour
sit sine labe decus Motto of the Brisbane Boys' College (Brisbane, Australia).
stainless be
may the earth be Commonly used on gravestones, often contracted as S.T.T.L.,
sit tibi terra levis
light to you the same way as today's R.I.P.
may there be
sit venia verbo forgiveness for Similar to the English idiom "pardon my French".
the word
sol iustitiae illustra sun of justice,
Motto of Utrecht University.
nos shine upon us
the sun shines on
sol lucet omnibus Petronius, Satyricon Lybri 100.
everyone
the sun rules over
sol omnia regit Inscription near the entrance to Frombork Museum
everything
 The material principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of
the five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that
sola fide by faith alone
the Bible teaches that men are saved by faith even without
works.
It is credited to Paracelsus who expressed the classic toxicology
sola dosis facit the dose makes
maxim "All things are poison and nothing is without poison;
venemum the poison
only the dose makes a thing not a poison."
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas,
sola gratia by grace alone referring to the Protestant claim that salvation is an unearned
gift (cf. ex gratia), not a direct result of merit.
the only good
sola lingua bona
language is a Example of dog Latin humor.
est lingua mortua
dead language
The formal principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of
by scripture the five solas, referring to the Protestant idea that
sola scriptura
alone the Bible alone is the ultimate authority, not the Pope or
tradition.
sola nobilitat virtue alone
virtus ennobles
solamen miseris
misery loves From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor
socios habuisse
company Faustus.
doloris
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas,
referring to the idea that God is the creator of all good things
and deserves all the praise for them. Johann Sebastian
soli Deo glory to God Bach often signed his manuscripts with the
gloria (S.D.G.) alone abbreviation S.D.G. to invoke this phrase, as well as
with AMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam). The motto of
the MasterWorks Festival, an annual Christian performing arts
festival.
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas,
referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches
solus Christus Christ alone
that Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind. Also
rendered solo Christo ("by Christ alone").
solus ipse I alone
solvitur it is solved by The problem is solved by taking a walk, or by simple
ambulando walking experiment.
your lot is cast in
Spartam nactus es;
Sparta, be a from Euripides's Telephus, Agamemnon to Menelaus.[107]
hanc exorna
credit to it
specialia
special departs
generalibus
from general
derogant
species nova new species Used in biological taxonomy
speculum
mirror of mirrors
speculorum
the hope of the
spem gregis from Virgil's Eclogues
flock
spem reduxit he has restored Motto of New Brunswick.
 hope
I hope for better
spero meliora
things
spes bona good hope Motto of University of Cape Town.
Refers to Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant
hope conquers
spes vincit to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
(overcomes) the
thronum down with my Father in his throne." On the John
throne
Winthrop family tombstone, Boston, Massachusetts.
From The Second Coming (poem) by William Butler Yeats.
Refers to Yeats' belief that each human mind is linked to a
spirit of the
spiritus mundi single vast intelligence, and that this intelligence causes certain
world
universal symbols to appear in individual minds. The idea is
similar to Carl Jung's concept of the collective unconscious.
Refers to The Gospel of Saint John 3:8, where he mentions how
Jesus told Nicodemus "The wind blows wherever it wants, and
spiritus ubi vult the spirit spreads even though you can hear its noise, you don't know where it
spirat wherever it wants comes from or where it goes. The same thing happens to
whomever has been born of the Spirit." It is the motto
of Cayetano Heredia University[108]
splendor sine brightness Loosely "splendour without diminishment" or "magnificence
occasu without setting without ruin". Motto of British Columbia.
The motto of the Jungle Patrol in The Phantom. The phrase
actually violates Latin grammar because of a mistranslation
stamus contra we stand against
from English, as the preposition contra takes the accusative
malo by evil
case. The correct Latin rendering of "we stand against evil"
would be "stamus contra malum".
with a standing
stante pede "Immediately".
foot
to stand by the
stare decisis To uphold previous rulings, recognize precedent.
decided things
There is a day
stat sua cuique dies [turn] for Virgil, Aeneid, X 467
everybody
statim (stat) "immediately" Medical shorthand used following an urgent request.[109]
Motto of Cork City, Ireland. Adapted from Virgil's Aeneid (II,
statio bene fide A safe harbour
23: statio male fida carinis, "an unsafe harbour") but corrupted
carinis for ships
for unknown reasons to "fide".
The current condition or situation. Also status quo ante ("the
the situation in situation in which [things were] before"), referring to the state
status quo
which of affairs prior to some upsetting event (cf. reset button
technique).
status quo ante the state before
A common term in peace treaties.
bellum the war
Marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that something
stet let it stand
previously deleted or marked for deletion should be retained.
First part of the motto of Harrow School, England, and
let the fortune of
stet fortuna domus inscribed upon Ricketts House, at the California Institute of
the house stand
Technology.
stipendium peccati the reward of sin From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor
mors est is death Faustus. (See Rom 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
strenuis ardua the heights yield
Motto of the University of Southampton.
cedunt to endeavour
stricto sensu cf. with the tight
Less literally, "in the strict sense".
sensu stricto meaning
A title given to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. More
the wonder of the
stupor mundi literally translated "the bewilderment of the world", or, in its
world
original, pre-Medieval sense, "the stupidity of the world".
Legal term when a court takes up a motion on its own initiative,
not because any of the parties to the case has made the motion.
sua sponte by its own accord
The regimental motto of the 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S.
Army.
Commonly abbreviated sa, it is used in citing annals, which
sub anno under the year
record events by year.
Motto of the University of Adelaide, Australia. Refers to the
The Light Under
sub cruce lumen figurative "light of learning" and the Southern Cross
the Cross
constellation, Crux.
Also, "under the sky", "in the open air", "out in the open" or
under the wide
sub divo "outdoors". Ablative "divo" does not distinguish divus, divi, a
open sky
god, from divum, divi, the sky.
Used in citations to refer to the end of a book, page, etc., and
sub finem toward the end abbreviated 's.f.' Used after the page number or title. E.g.,
'p. 20 s.f. '
under cold
sub Iove frigido At night; from Horace's Odes 1.1:25
Jupiter
Said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed until it is
sub judice under a judge
finished. Also sub iudice.
Commonly rendered subpoena. Said of a request, usually by a
court, that must be complied with on pain of punishment.
Examples include subpoena duces tecum ("take with you under
sub poena under penalty
penalty"), a court summons to appear and produce tangible
evidence, and subpoena ad testificandum ("under penalty to
testify"), a summons to appear and give oral testimony.
"In secret", "privately", "confidentially", or "covertly". In
the Middle Ages, a rose was suspended from the ceiling of a
council chamber to indicate that what was said in the "under the
rose" was not to be repeated outside. This practice originates
sub rosa under the rose
in Greek mythology, where Aphrodite gave a rose to her
son Eros, and he, in turn, gave it to Harpocrates, the god of
silence, to ensure that his mother's indiscretions—or those of
the gods in general, in other accounts—were kept under wraps.
sub nomine (sub "in the name of", "under the title of"; used in legal citations to
under the name
nom.) indicate the name under which the litigation continued.
sub silentio under silence implied but not expressly stated.
sub specie under the sight of
Thus, "from eternity's point of view". From Spinoza, Ethics.
aeternitatis eternity
under the sight of
sub specie Dei "from God's point of view or perspective".
God
 Name of the oldest extant hymn to the Theotokos (Blessed
sub tuum Beneath thy
Virgin Mary). Also "under your protection". A popular school
praesidium compassion
motto.
Under the shade I National Motto of Belize, referring to the shade of
Sub umbra floreo
flourish the mahogany tree.
sub verbo; sub
Under the word or heading, as in a dictionary; abbreviated s.v.
voce
Raised from the
sublimis ab unda Motto of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham
waves
subsiste sermonem stop speaking
statim immediately
Cut down, we
Succisa virescit grow back Motto of Delbarton School
stronger
One doesn't sing
Sudetia non cantat on the Sudeten Saying from Hanakia
Mountains
sui generis Of its own kind In a class of its own.
Of one's own Capable of responsibility. Has both legal and ecclesiastical use.
sui iuris
right Commonly rendered sui juris.
A gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the
I am what you inevitability of death (cf. memento mori). Also rendered fui
sum quod eris
will be quod sis ("I have been what you are") and tu fui ego eris ("I
have been you, you will be I").
sum quod sum I am what I am from Augustine's Sermon No. 76.[110]
with highest
summa cum laude
praise
sum or totality of It refers to the final authority of power in government. For
summa potestas
power example, power of the Sovereign.
summa Literally "sum of sums". When a short conclusion is rounded up
all in all
summarum at the end of some elaboration.
Literally "highest good". Also summum malum ("the supreme
summum bonum the supreme good
evil").
From Cicero (De officiis, I, 10, 33). An acritical application of
law, without understanding and respect of laws's purposes and
without considering the overall circumstances, is often a means
summum ius, supreme law,
of supreme injustice. A similar sentence appears
summa iniuria supreme injustice
in Terence(Heautontimorumenos, IV, 5): Ius summum saepe
summa est malitia ("supreme justice is often out of supreme
malice (or wickedness)").
published [cost Found in self-published academic books of the 17th to 19th
sumptibus auctoris of printing paid] century. Often preceded by Latin name of city in which the
by author work is published.
From Virgil, Aeneid. Followed by et mentem mortalia
sunt lacrimae there are tears for tangunt ("and mortal things touch my mind"). Aeneas cries as
rerum things he sees Carthaginian temple murals depicting the deaths of
the Trojan War. See also hinc illae lacrimae.
sunt omnes unum they are all one
 Children are
sunt pueri pueri,
children, and
pueri puerilia anonymous proverb
children do
tractant
childish things
Used in the context of titles of nobility, for instance where a
in one's own
suo jure wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her
right
marriage.
Also rendered suo moto. Usually used when a court of law,
upon one's own upon its own initiative, (i.e., no petition has been filed)
suo motu proceeds against a person or authority that it deems has
initiative
committed an illegal act. It is used chiefly in South Asia.[citation
needed]

Knowledge
suos cultores
crowns those The motto of Syracuse University, New York.
scientia coronat
who seek her
On the firm
super firmum
foundation of The motto of Ursinus College, Pennsylvania.
fundamentum dei
God
Where Thomas More accused the reformer, Martin Luther, of
super fornicam on the lavatory
going to celebrate Mass.
superbia in proelia pride in battle Motto of Manchester City F.C.
I surpass
supero omnia A declaration that one succeeds above all others.
everything
to belch before From Erasmus' collection of annotated Adagia (1508): a useless
surdo oppedere
the deaf action.
surgam I shall rise Motto of Columbia University's Philolexian Society.
Lift up your
sursum corda
hearts
Thus, don't offer your opinion on things that are outside your
competence. It is said that the Greek painter Apelles once asked
Cobbler, no the advice of a cobbler on how to render the sandals of a soldier
sutor, ne ultra
further than the he was painting. When the cobbler started offering advice on
crepidam
sandal! other parts of the painting, Apelles rebuked him with this phrase
in Greek, and it subsequently became a popular Latin
expression.
suum cuique to render to every One of Justinian I's three basic precepts of law. Also shortened
tribuere man his due to suum cuique ("to each his own").
s.v. Abbreviation for sub verbo or sub voce (see above).

T[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

tabula
congratulatory tablet A list of congratulations.
gratulatoria
 Thus, "blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-covered
wooden tablets, which were erased by scraping with the flat
tabula rasa scraped tablet
end of the stylus. John Locke used the term to describe the
human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge.

talis qualis just as such "Such as it is" or "as such".

taliter qualiter somewhat

from St Mark's gospel 10:14 "talium (parvuli) est enim

for of such (little
talium Dei regnum Dei"; similar in St Matthew's gospel 19:14 "talium est
children) is the
regnum enim regnum caelorum" ("for of such is the kingdom of
kingdom of God
heaven"); motto of the Cathedral School, Townsville.

Said in 1697 by Johann Bernoulli about Isaac Newton's

tanquam ex we know the lion by
anonymously submitted solution to
ungue leonem his claw
Bernoulli's challenge regarding the Brachistochrone curve.

tarde venientibus To the late are left

ossa the bones

Te occidere They can kill you, The motto of the fictional Enfield Tennis Academy in
possunt sed te but they cannot eat the David Foster Wallace novel Infinite Jest. Translated in the
edere non you, it is against the novel as "They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are
possunt nefas est law. quite a bit dicier".

technica impendi Technology

Motto of Technical University of Madrid
nationi impulses nations

A reference to the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton),

inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi,
according to the Greek periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1).
temet nosce know thyself
Rendered also with nosce te ipsum, temet nosce ("thine own
self know") appears in The Matrix translated as "know
thyself".

Literally "Heroic Times"; refers to the period between the

tempora heroica Heroic Age mythological Titanomachy and the (relatively)
historical Trojan War.

tempora the times are 16th century variant of two classical lines of Ovid: tempora
mutantur et nos changing, and we labuntur ("time labors", Fasti) and omnia
mutamur in illis change in them mutantur ("everything changes", Metamorphoses).
See entry for details.

Also "time, that devours all things", literally: "time, gluttonous

tempus edax time, devourer of all
of things", edax: adjectival form of the verb edo to eat.
rerum things
From Ovid, Metamorphoses, 15, 234-236.

From Virgil's Georgics (Book III, line 284), where it appears

Time flees.
tempus fugit as fugit inreparabile tempus. A common sundial motto. See
Time flies.
also tempus volat, hora fugit below.

"Tempus Rerum Imperator" has been adopted by the Google

tempus rerum time, commander of
Web Accelerator project. It is shown in the "About Google
imperator all things
Web Accelerator" page.

tempus vernum spring time Name of song by popular Irish singer Enya

tempus volat, time flies, the hour

hora fugit flees

tendit in ardua virtue strives for

Appears in Ovid's Epistulae ex Ponto
virtus what is difficult

Suetonius attributes this to Julius Caesar, from when Caesar

teneo te Africa I hold you, Africa!
was on the African coast.

The way must be

tentanda via motto for York University
tried

ter in die (t.i.d.) thrice in a day Medical shorthand for "three times a day".

terminat hora The hour finishes

Phrase concluding Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor
diem; terminat the day; the author
Faustus.[111]
auctor opus. finishes his work.

In archaeology or history, refers to the date before which an

terminus ante artefact or feature must have been deposited. Used
limit before which
quem with terminus post quem (limit after which).
Similarly, terminus ad quem (limit to which) may also refer to
the latest possible date of a non-punctual event (period, era,
 etc.), while terminus a quo (limit from which) may refer to the
earliest such date.

terra australis unknown southern

First name used to refer to the Australian continent
incognita land

terra firma solid earth Often used to refer to the ground

terra incognita unknown land

Latin name of Newfoundland (island portion of Canadian

terra nova new land province of Newfoundland and Labrador, capital- St. John's),
also root of French name of same, Terre-Neuve

That is, no man's land. A neutral or uninhabited area, or a land

terra nullius land of none
not under the sovereignty of any recognized political entity.

Or "let them give light to the world". An allusion

to Isaiah 6.3: plena est omnis terra gloria eius ("the whole
earth is full of his glory"). Sometimes mistranslated as "they
let them illuminate will illuminate the lands" based on mistaking irradiare for
terras irradient
the lands a future indicative third-conjugationverb, whereas it is actually
a present subjunctive first-conjugation verb. Motto of Amherst
College; the college's original mission was to educate young
men to serve God.

tertium non no third (possibility) A logical axiom that a claim is either true or false, with no
datur is given third option.

1. Something that cannot be classified into either of two

tertium quid a third something groups considered exhaustive; an intermediate thing or factor.
2. A third person or thing of indeterminate character.

testis unus, testis one witness is not a A law principle expressing that a single witness is not enough
nullus witness to corroborate a story.

We consecrate to
Tibi cordi
your immaculate The inscription found on top of the central door of the Minor
immaculato
heart and entrust to Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, otherwise known as
concredimus nos
you (Mary) for the Manila Cathedral in the Philippines
ac consecramus
safekeeping
 Danaos being a term for the Greeks. In Virgil's Aeneid, II, 49,
the phrase is said by Laocoön when warning his fellow
Trojans against accepting the Trojan Horse. The full original
timeo Danaos et I fear Greeks even if
quote is quidquid id est timeo Danaos et dona
dona ferentes they bring gifts
ferentis, quidquid id est meaning "whatever it is"
and ferentis being an archaic form of ferentes. Commonly
mistranslated "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts".

timidi mater non A coward's mother

proverb
flet does not weep

Refrain originating in the response to the seventh lesson in

timor mortis the fear of death the Office of the Dead. In the Middle Ages, this service was
conturbat me confounds me read each day by clerics. As a refrain, it appears also in other
poems and can frequently be found inscribed on tombs.

toto cælo by whole heaven as far apart as possible; utterly.

Offering one's life in total commitment to another. The motto

totus tuus totally yours was adopted by Pope John Paul II to signify his love and
servitude to Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Literally "beneficial passage." Mentioned in "The Seamy Side

transire to travel along while of History" (L'envers de l'histoire contemporaine, 1848), part
benefaciendo doing good of La Comédie humaine, by Honoré de Balzac, and Around the
World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

Used to express the belief in the transfer of imperial authority

translatio imperii transfer of rule from the Roman Empire of antiquity to the Medieval Holy
Roman Empire.

tres faciunt three makes It takes three to have a valid group; three is the minimum
collegium company number of members for an organization or a corporation.

A decree by the medieval Church that all feuds should be

cancelled during the Sabbath—effectively from Wednesday or
treuga Dei Truce of God
Thursday night until Monday. See also Peace and Truce of
God.

tria juncta in uno Three joined in one Motto of the Order of the Bath
Triste est omne
Every animal is sad
animal post
after coitus except
coitum, præter
the human female
mulierem
and the rooster
gallumque

Phrase said at the end of biblical readings in the liturgy of the

tu autem Domine But Thou, O Lord,
medieval church. Also used in brief, "tu autem", as a memento
miserere nobis have mercy upon us
moriepitaph.

tuitio fidei et Defence of the faith

Motto of the Association of Canadian Knights of the
obsequium and assistance to the
Sovereign and Military Order of Malta.[112]
pauperum poor

Thus, "what you are, I was; what I am, you will be.".
I was you; you will
tu fui ego eris A memento mori gravestone inscription to remind the reader
be me
that death is unavoidable (cf. sum quod eris).

you should not give

tu ne cede malis,
in to evils, but From Virgil, Aeneid, 6, 95. "Ne cede malis" is the motto
sed contra
proceed ever more of The Bronx.
audentior ito
boldly against them

The logical fallacy of attempting to defend one's position

tu quoque you too
merely by pointing out the same weakness in one's opponent.

tu stultus es you are stupid Motto for the satirical news organization, The Onion

tuebor I will protect Found on the Great Seal on the flag of the state of Michigan.

tunica propior A tunic is closer to

est pallio the body than a cape

turris fortis mihi God is my strong

Motto of the Kelly Clan
Deus tower

tutum te robore I will give you

Motto of the Clan Crawford
reddam safety by strength
tuum est It's up to you Motto of the University of British Columbia

U[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Or "utmost good faith" (cf. bona fide). A legal maxim

uberrima fides most abundant faith
of insurance contracts requiring all parties to deal in good faith.

ubertas et fertility and

Motto of Tasmania.
fidelitas faithfulness

ubi amor, ibi where [there is]

dolor love, there [is] pain

where [it is] well,

ubi bene, ibi
there [is] the Or "Home is where it's good"; see also ubi panis ibi patria.
patria
fatherland

ubi caritas et where there is

amor, Deus ibi charity and love,
est God is there

where [there is]

ubi dubium,
doubt, there [is] Anonymous proverb.
ibi libertas
freedom

Where [there is] a

ubi jus, ibi
right, there [is] a
remedium
remedy

where [there is]

ubi mel, ibi Similar to "you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar"—
honey, there [are]
apes treat people nicely and they will treat you nicely in return.
bees

where [there is]

ubi libertas. ibi
liberty, there [is] Or "where there is liberty, there is my country". Patriotic motto.
patria
the fatherland
 where you are
From the writings of the Flemish philosopher Arnold Geulincx;
ubi nihil vales, worth nothing,
also quoted by Samuel Beckett in his first published
ibi nihil velis there you will wish
novel, Murphy.
for nothing

ubi non where [there is] no Thus, there can be no judgment or case if no one charges a
accusator, ibi accuser, there [is] defendant with a crime. The phrase is sometimes parodied as
non iudex no judge "where there are no police, there is no speed limit".

where there is
ubi panis ibi
bread, there is my
patria
country

ubi pus, ibi where there is pus,

evacua there evacuate it

when, in a true Or "whereas, in reality..." Also rendered ubi, revera ("when, in

ubi, re vera
thing fact" or "when, actually").

ubi societas, ibi if there's a society,

By Aristotle.
ius law will be there

ubi
solitudinem They make a desert from a speech by Calgacus reported/constructed
faciunt pacem and call it peace by Tacitus, Agricola, ch. 30.
appellant

Nostalgic theme of poems yearning for days gone by. From the
ubi sunt? where are they? line ubi sunt, qui ante nos fuerunt? ("Where are they, those who
have gone before us?").

Motto of the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery and most other

Engineer or Artillery corps within the armies of the British
Commonwealth (for example, the Royal Australian
Engineers, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal New Zealand
ubique, quo fas everywhere, where Engineers, Royal Canadian Artillery, Royal Australian
et gloria right and glory Artillery, Royal New Zealand Artillery). Interunit rivalry often
ducunt leads leads to the sarcastic translation of ubique to mean all over the
place in a derogative sense.

Motto of the American Council on Foreign Relations, where the

translation of ubique is often given as omnipresent, with the
implication of pervasive hidden influence.[113]
 The last resort. Short form for the
metaphor "The Last Resort of Kings and
Common Men" referring to the act of
declaring war; used in the names the
French sniper rifle PGM Ultima Ratio and
the fictional Reason weapon system. Louis
last method XIV of France had Ultima Ratio
the final argument Regum ("last argument of kings") cast on
ultima ratio
the last resort (as the cannons of his armies; motto of the
force) American 1st Battalion 11th Marines;
motto of the French Fourth Artillery
Regiment; motto of
Swedish Artilleriregementet. Also, the
Third Battery of the French Third Marine
Artillery Regiment has the motto Ultima
Ratio Tribuni.
ultimo Used in formal correspondence to refer to the previous month.
in the last month
mense (ult.) Used with inst. ("this month") and prox. ("next month").
"Without authority". Used to describe an action done without
ultra vires beyond powers proper authority, or acting without the rules. The term will most
often be used in connection with appeals and petitions.
No one is
ultra posse obligated beyond
nemo obligatur what he is able to
do.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus]
collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Latin translation of a
(to send) owls to
ululas Athenas classical Greek proverb. Generally means putting large effort in a
Athens
necessarily fruitless enterprise. Compare "selling coal to
Newcastle".
A single example of something positive does not necessarily
una hirundo one swallow does
mean that all subsequent similar instances will have the same
non facit ver not make summer
outcome.
Less literally, "the only safe bet for the vanquished is to expect no
safety". Preceded by moriamur et in media arma ruamus ("let us
una salus victis the only safety for die even as we rush into the midst of battle") in Virgil's Aeneid,
nullam sperare the conquered is to book 2, lines 353–354. Used in Tom Clancy's novel Without
salutem hope for no safety Remorse, where character John Clark translates it as "the one
hope of the doomed is not to hope for safety". It was said several
times in "Andromeda" as the motto of the SOF units.
unitas, iustitia,
unity, justice, hope Motto of Vilnius.
spes
unitas per unity through
Motto for the St. Xavier's Institution Board of Librarians.
servitiam service
uniti
united we build Motto of the Mississippi Makerspace Community
aedificamus
Used in criticism of inconsistent pleadings, i.e. "one cannot
uno flatu in one breath argue uno flatu both that the company does not exist and that it is
also responsible for the wrong."
uno sumus
we are one of soul Motto of Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden
animo
unus
one of many An average person.
multorum
Unus papa
Romae, unus
One pope in Rome,
portus
one port in Ancona,
Anconae, una
one tower in Motto of the Czech Brewery in Rakovník.[114]
turris
Cremona, one beer
Cremonae,
in Rakovník
una ceres
Raconae
to the city and the Meaning "To Rome and the World". A standard opening of
Urbi et Orbi
circle [of the lands] Roman proclamations. Also a traditional blessing by the pope.
urbs in horto city in a garden Motto of the City of Chicago.
Often used in reference to battle, implying a willingness to keep
usque ad finem to the very end
fighting until you die.
usus est
practice is the best In other words, practice makes perfect. Also sometimes translated
magister
teacher. "use makes master."
optimus
ut aquila As an eagle towards
Motto of the Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
versus coelum the sky
Also rendered with quando ("when") in place of quoniam. From a
book by Suetonius (Vit. Tib., 2.2) and Cicero (De Natura
Deorum, 2.3). The phrase was said by Roman admiral Publius
ut biberent so that they might
Claudius Pulcher right before the battle of Drepana, as he threw
quoniam esse drink, since they
overboard the sacred chickens which had refused to eat the grain
nollent refused to eat
offered them—an unwelcome omen of bad luck. Thus, the sense
is, "if they do not perform as expected, they must suffer the
consequences". He lost the battle disastrously.
ut cognoscant so that they may
Motto of Boston College High School.
te know You.
ut desint vires, though the power
tamen est be lacking, the will
From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto (III, 4, 79).
laudanda is to be praised all
voluntas the same
as has been said; as
ut dicitur
above
ut incepit
as she began loyal, Poetically, "Loyal she began, loyal she remains." Motto
fidelis sic
so she persists of Ontario.
permanet
ut infra as below
ut in omnibus that in all things,
glorificetur God may be Motto of the Order of Saint Benedict
Deus. glorified
ut mare quod
to sea and into wind Motto of USNS Washington Chambers
ut ventus
ut omnes te that all may know
Motto of Niagara University
cognoscant you
ut omnes That they all may
Motto of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
unum sint be one
ut prosim that I may serve Motto of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
ut proverbium
you know what
loquitur Lit: As the old proverb says...
they say...
vetus...
ut res magis that the matter may
valeat quam have effect rather
pereat than fail[115]
Or "as on the back side"; thus, "as on the previous page" (cf. ut
ut retro as backwards
supra).
as Rome falls, so
ut Roma cadit,
[falls] the whole
sic omnis terra
world
A traditional brocard. The full form is Interest reipublicae ut sit
ut sit finis so there might be an
finis litium, "it is in the government's interest that there be an end
litium end of litigation
to litigation." Often quoted in the context of statutes of limitation.
ut supra as above
Robert Hooke's expression of his discovery of his law of linear
as the extension, so
ut tensio sic vis elasticity. Also: Motto of École Polytechnique de Montréal.
the force
Motto of the British Watch and Clockmaker's Guild.
utilis in usefulness in Comes from 2 Timothy 4:11. Motto of Camberwell Girls
ministerium service Grammar School.
Also translated as "that the two may be one." Motto found in 18th
century Spanish dollar coins. Motto of Georgetown
utraque unum both into one University.From the Vulgate, Eph. 2:14, Ipse enim est pax nostra,
qui fecit utraque unum, "For he is our peace, who hath made both
one."
utrinque Motto of The British Parachute Regiment. Motto of the Belize
ready for anything
paratus National Coast Guard.

V[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

vacate et scire Be still and know. Motto of the University of Sussex

From the Vulgate, Proverbs 6:6. The full quotation

vade ad formicam go to the ant translates as "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its
ways and be wise!"[Pro 6:6]

A vade-mecum or vademecum is an item one carries

vade mecum go with me
around, especially a handbook.

An exhortation to Satan to be gone, often a Roman

vade retro Satana go back, Satan
Catholic response to temptation. From a popular
Medieval Roman Catholic exorcism formula, derived
 from the rebuke of Jesus Christ to St. Peter, as quoted in
the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro me Satana ("get
behind Me, Satan").[Mark 8:33] The phrase "vade retro" ("go
back") is also in Terence's Formio, I, 4, 203.

valenter volenter strongly and willingly Motto of HMS Valorous (L00)

Attributed by Livy to Brennus, the chief of the Gauls,

vae victis woe to the conquered stated with his demand for more gold from the citizens of
the sacked city of Rome in 390 BC.

vanitas vanitatum vanity of vanities; Or more simply: "vanity, vanity, everything vanity".
omnia vanitas everything [is] vanity From the Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:2;12:8.

vaticinium ex prophecy from the A purported prediction stated as if it was made before the
eventu event event it describes, while in fact being made thereafter.

Summary of alternatives, e. g., "this action turns upon

vel non or not whether the claimant was the deceased's grandson vel
non."

Non-literally, "where there is a will, there is a way". It is

to be willing is to be
velle est posse the motto of Hillfield, one of the founding schools
able
of Hillfield Strathallan College.

Rendered by Robert Graves in I, Claudius as "as quick as

boiled asparagus". Ascribed
faster
velocius quam to Augustus by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars, Book
than asparagus can be
asparagi coquantur 2 (Augustus), para. 87. It refers to anything done very
cooked
quickly. A very common variant is celerius quam
asparagi cocuntur ("faster than asparagus [is] cooked").

as a tree with the

velut arbor aevo Motto of the University of Toronto, Canada
passage of time

The message supposedly sent by Julius Caesar to

I came, I saw, I
veni, vidi, vici the Roman Senate to describe his battle against King
conquered
Pharnaces II of Pontus near Zela in 47 BC.

venturis ventis to the coming winds Motto of Brasília, the capital of Brazil
vera causa true cause

verba docent words instruct, This refers to the relevance of illustrations, for example
exempla trahunt illustrations lead in preaching.

Taking the words out of someone’s mouth, speaking

verba ex ore words from mouth
exactly what the other colloquist wanted to say.

words are to be
verba ita sunt
understood such that
intelligenda ut res I. e., when explaining a subject, it is important to clarify
the subject matter may
magis valeat quam rather than confuse.
be more effective than
pereat
wasted

verba vana aut risui not to speak words in A Roman Catholic religious precept, being Rule 56 of
non loqui vain or to start laughter the Rule of Saint Benedict.

verba volant, words fly away, Quotation from a famous speech of Caius Titus in the
scripta manent writings remain ancient Roman Senate.

verbatim word for word The phrase refers to perfect transcription or quotation.

verbatim et word for word and

literatim letter by letter

Verbi Divini servant of the Divine

A phrase denoting a priest. Cf. "Verbum Dei" infra.
minister Word

verbi gratia for example Literally, "for the sake of a word".

(v. gr. or v. g.)

Verbum Dei Word of God See religious text.

verbum Domini
The word of the Lord
lucerna pedibus Motto of the University of Groningen
[is] a light for our feet
nostris

verbum Domini Motto of the Lutheran Reformation

the word of the Lord
manet in
aeternum (VDMA) endures forever

A phrase denoting that the listener can fill in the omitted

verb. sap. a word to the wise [is
remainder, or enough is said. It is the truncation of
verbum sap. sufficient]
"verbum sapienti sat[is] est".

A word that floats in the air, on which everyone is

verbum volitans flying word
thinking and is just about to be imposed.[citation needed]

veritas truth Motto many educational institutions

veritas aequitas truth [and] justice

veritas, bonitas,
truth, goodness,
pulchritudo, Motto of Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
beauty, [and] sanctity
sanctitas

The de iure motto of Harvard University, United States,

veritas Christo et truth for Christ and
which dates to its foundation; it is often shortened
ecclesiae church
to veritas to remove its original religious meaning.

veritas cum
truth with liberty Motto of Winthrop University
libertate

Motto of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical

veritas curat truth cures
Education and Research

the truth of God

veritas Dei vincit Motto of the Hussites
conquers

veritas Domini the truth of the Lord

manet in aeternum remains for eternity

One of the mottos of the Lyceum of the Philippines

veritas et fortitudo truth and fortitude
University

Motto of the University of Pittsburgh, Methodist

veritas et virtus truth and virtue
University, and Mississippi College
veritas, fides, truth, faith, [and]
Motto of Dowling Catholic High School
sapientia wisdom

Motto of Bishop Wordsworth's School and St Munchin's

veritas in caritate truth in charity
College

veritas, iustitia, truth, justice, [and]

Motto of the Free University of Berlin
libertas liberty

veritas liberabit vos truth shall liberate you Motto of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan

A common, non-literal translation is "truth enlightens

veritas lux mea truth [is] my light
me"; motto of Seoul National University, South Korea

veritas numquam
truth never expires by Seneca the Younger
perit

veritas odit moras truth hates delay by Seneca the Younger

A quotation from a letter of Jan Hus; frequently used as a

veritas omnia vincit truth conquers all
motto

veritas, unitas,
truth, unity, [and] love Motto of Villanova University, United States
caritas

Cf. "veritas omnia vincit" supra. Motto on

veritas vincit truth conquers the standard of the presidents of Czechoslovakia and
the Czech Republic, and of the Scottish Clan Keith

Veritas. Virtus.
Truth. Virtue. Liberty. Motto of the University of Szeged, Hungary
Libertas.

Another plausible translation is "truth is the mistress of

veritas vitæ truth is the teacher of
life". It is the unofficial motto of the University of Puerto
magistra life
Rico, Río Piedrasand is inscribed in its tower.

veritas vos liberabit Motto of Johns Hopkins University, United States

truth will liberate you
 [all]

veritate duce advancing with truth

Motto of the University of Arkansas, United States
progredi leading

[in] veritate et Motto of Catholic Junior College, Singapore; St. Xavier's

in truth and charity
caritate School, and Hazaribagh, India

Motto of Sydney Boys High School. It is alternatively

rendered "virtute et veritate" ("with virtue and truth"),
veritate et virtute with truth and virtue
which is the motto of Walford Anglican School for
Girls and Pocklington School.

Alternatively, "I loved truth"; motto of Bryn Mawr

veritatem dilexi I esteemed truth
College

veritatem fratribus to bear witness to truth

Motto of Xaverian Brothers High School
testari in fraternity

veritatem Motto of the Clandestine Service of the United

to know truth
cognoscere States Central Intelligence Agency

nothing [is] truer than

vero nihil verius Motto of Mentone Girls' Grammar School
truth

A variation of the campaign slogan of then-

Senator Barack Obama, which was superimposed on a
vero possumus yes, we can
variation of the Great Seal of the United States during
the US presidential campaign of 2008.[116]

Literally, "in the direction [of]". It is erroneously used in

English for "against", probably as the truncation of
versus (vs) or (v.) towards
"adversus", especially in reference to two opponents, e.
g., the parties to litigation or a sports match.

vestigia nulla
Never a backward step Motto of Wanganui Collegiate School
retrorsum

veto I forbid The word denotes the right to unilaterally forbid or void
a specific proposal, especially legislation. It is derived
 from ancient Roman voting procedures.

Latin legal phrase denoting a question that is often

vexata quaestio vexed question debated or considered, but is not generally settled, such
that contrary answers may be held by different persons.

Authored by Dante Alighieri in Canto XXXIV of

the Inferno, the phrase is an allusion to and play upon the
vexilla regis forth go the banners of
Latin Easter hymn Vexilla Regis. The phrase is
prodeunt inferni the king of Hell
repeatedly referenced in the works of Walter M. Miller,
Jr..

A legal phrase regarding contracts that indicates

vi coactus under constraint
agreement made under duress.

Alternatively, "strength and courage"; motto of

vi et animo with heart and soul
the Ascham School

by the power of truth,

vi veri universum
I, while living, have Magickal motto of Aleister Crowley.
vivus vici
conquered the universe

The word denotes "by way of" or "by means of", e. g., "I
via by the road/way
will contact you via email".

This phrase describes a compromise between two

via media middle road/way
extremes or the radical center political position.

the Way, the Truth, Words of Jesus Christ in John 14:6; motto of many
via, veritas, vita
[and] the Life institutions

viam sapientiae I will show you the

Motto of DePaul University
monstrabo tibi way of wisdom

The word refers to one who acts in the place of another.

vice in place of It is used as a separate word or as a hyphenated prefix, e.
g., "Vice President" and "Vice-Chancellor".

vice versa For other uses, see Vice Versa (disambiguation).

with position turned
versa vice
Thus, "the other way around", "conversely", et cetera.
 Historically and in British English, vice is pronounced as
two syllables, but in American English the singular
syllable pronunciation is almost universal. Classical
Latin pronunciation dictates that the letter "c" is only a
hard sound, like "k". Moreover, the letter "v", when
consonantal, represents /w/; hence WEE-keh WEHR-
sah.[117]

victoria aut mors victory or death Similar to "aut vincere aut mori".

victoria concordia victory comes from

Motto of Arsenal F.C.
crescit harmony

the victorious cause Authored by Lucan in Pharsalia, 1, 128. The dedicatory

victrix causa diis
pleased the gods, but inscription on the south face of the Confederate
placuit sed victa
the conquered cause Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia,
Catoni
pleased Cato United States.

vide "see" or "refer to" The word is used in scholarly citations.

vide infra (v. i.) see below The word is used in scholarly works.

The word is used in scholarly works to refer to previous

vide supra (v. s.) see above text in the same document. It is sometimes truncated to
"supra".

"namely", "that is to A contraction of "videre licet" ("it is permitted to

videlicet (viz.)
say", or "as follows" see"), vide infra.

video et taceo I see and keep silent Motto of Queen Elizabeth I of England

video meliora I see and approve of

From the Metamorphoses Book 7, 20-1 of Ovid, being a
proboque deteriora the better, but I follow
summary of the experience of akrasia.
sequor the worse

I see it, but I do not The statement of Caspar Hofmann [de] after being shown
video sed non credo
believe it proof of the circulatory system by William Harvey.

"it is permitted to see"

videre licet The phrase is used in scholarship.
or "one may see"
vim promovet promotes one's innate Motto of the University of Bristol, derived
insitam power from Horace, Ode 4, 4.

overcome evil with A partial quotation of Romans 12:21; motto of Old

vince malum bono
good Swinford Hospital and Bishop Cotton School in Shimla

vincere est vivere to conquer is to live Motto of Captain John Smith

you know [how] to According to Livy, a colonel in the cavalry stated this
vincere scis
win, Hannibal; you do to Hannibal after victory in the Battle of Cannae in 216
Hannibal victoria
not know [how] to use BC, meaning that Hannibal should have marched
uti nescis
victory on Rome immediately.

vincit omnia veritas truth conquers all University of Mindanao

he conquers who First attributed to the Roman scholar and satirst Persius;
vincit qui patitur
endures frequently used as a motto.

Motto of many educational institutions, including

the Philadelphia High School for Girls and North Sydney
Boys High School. It is alternatively rendered as bis
he (she) conquers who
vincit qui se vincit ("he (she) who prevails over himself
vincit qui se vincit conquers himself
(herself) is twice victorious"). It is also the motto of
(herself)
the Beast in Disney's film Beauty and the Beast, as seen
inscribed in the castle's stained glass window near the
beginning of the film.

The phrase denotes that a thing is legally binding. "A

civil obligation is one which has a binding operation in
vinculum juris the chain of the law
law, vinculum juris." (Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1856),
"Obligation")

vinum et musica wine and music Asterix and Caesar's Gift; it is a variation of "vinum
laetificant cor gladden the heart bonum laetificat cor hominis".

vinum regum, rex the wine of kings, the The phrase describes Hungarian Tokaji wine, and is
vinorum king of wines attributed to King Louis XIV of France.

viperam sub ala a viper nursed at the

A caveat regarding trusting someone against his inherent
nutricare bosom
nature; the moral of Aesop's fable The Farmer and the
 Viper.

vir prudens non [a] wise man does not

contra ventum urinate [up] against the
mingit wind

vir quisque vir every man a man Motto of the US collegiate fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha.

A quotation from Vergil's Aeneid, Book 4, 175, which in

Vires acquirit she gathers strength as
the original context refers to Pheme. Motto on the Coat
eundo she goes
of arms of Melbourne

Viribus Unitis with united forces Motto of the house of Habsburg-Lorraine

the manly thing is

virile agitur Motto of Knox Grammar School
being done

"act manfully" or "act

viriliter age Motto of Marist College Ashgrove and other institutions
courageously"

Motto of St Muredach's College and the PAREF

viriliter agite act in a manly way
Southridge School for Boys

viriliter agite estote

act manfully, be strong Motto of Culford School
fortes

virtus et labor virtue and [hard] work

virtus et scientia virtue and knowledge Common motto

A principle derived from the ethical theory of Aristotle.

virtue stands in the Idiomatically, "good practice lies in the middle path"
virtus in media stat
middle between two extremes. It is disputed
whether media or medio is correct.

that which virtue

virtus junxit mors
unites, let not death
non separabit
separate
virtus laudata greatness increases
Motto of the Berkhamsted School
crescit with praise

Motto of the Duke of Westminster, inscribed at his

virtus non stemma valor, not garland residence in Eaton, and the motto of Grosvenor Rowing
Club and Harrow County School for Boys

virtus sola nobilitas virtue alone [is] noble Motto of Christian Brothers College, St Kilda

virtus tentamine strength rejoices in the

Motto of Hillsdale College, Michigan, United States
gaudet challenge

virtue united [is]

virtus unita fortior State motto of Andorra
stronger

virtute duce led by virtue

led by virtue,
virtute duce comite
accompanied by
fortuna
[good] fortune

Alternatively, "by manliness and weapons". The State

motto of Mississippi, United States. The phrase was
virtute et armis by virtue and arms possibly derived from the motto of Lord Gray de
Wilton, virtute non armis fido ("I trust in virtue, not in
arms").

virtute et industria by virtue and industry Motto of Bristol, United Kingdom

virtute et veritate by virtue and truth Motto of Pocklington School

vis legis the power of the law

force majeure, superior

vis major
force

visio dei vision of a god

 The phrase denotes a previous life, generally believed to
vita ante acta a life done before
be the result of reincarnation.

Motto of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United

Mary, [our] life,
vita, dulcedo, spes States, which is derived from the Roman Catholic hymn
sweetness, [and] hope
to the Blessed Virgin Mary titled Salve Regina.

vita incerta, mors life is uncertain, death

More simply, "the most certain thing in life is death".
certissima is most certain

vita mutatur, non life is changed, not The phrase is a quotation from the preface of the
tollitur taken away first Roman Catholic rite of the Mass for the Dead.

Hence the term "decessit vita patris" (d. v. p) or "died v.

during the life of the
vita patris p.", which is seen in genealogical works such as Burke's
father
Peerage.

the shortness of life

vita summa brevis This is a wistful refrain that is sometimes used ironically.
prevents us from
spem nos vetat It is derived from the first line of Horace's Ode 1. It was
entertaining far-off
incohare longam later used as the title of a short poem of Ernest Dowson.
hopes

A quotation from the poem of Lucretius, De rerum

natura, Book 2, 77-9. The ordinary spelling "vitae" in
vitai lampada they hand on the torch two syllables had to be changed to "vitaï" in three
tradunt of life syllables to satisfy the requirements of the
poem's dactylic hexameters. Motto of the Sydney Church
of England Grammar School and others.

vitam amplificare
mankind [who]
hominibus Motto of East Los Angeles College, California, United
extends the life of the
hominesque States
community
societati

The phrase denotes an oral, as opposed to written,

viva voce living voice
examination of a candidate.

may it live, grow,

vivat crescat floreat
[and] flourish
 The acclamation is ordinary translated as "long live the
vivat rex may the king live king!". In the case of a queen, "vivat regina" ("long live
the queen").

long live the king, A curious translation of the pun on "vivat rex", found
vivat rex, curat lex
guardian of the law in Westerham parish church in Kent, England.

live remembering
vive memor leti Authored by Persius. Cf. "memento mori".
death

live so that you may The phrase suggests that one should live life to the fullest
vive ut vivas
live and without fear of the possible consequences.

vivere est cogitare to live is to think Authored by Cicero. Cf. "cogito ergo sum".

Authored by Seneca the Younger in Epistle 96, 5. Cf. the

vivere militare est to live is to fight allegory of Miles Christianus based on "militia est vita
hominis" from the Vulgate, Book of Job 7:1.

Alternatively, "called and even not called, God

vocatus atque non called and not called,
approaches". Attributed to the Oracle at Delphi. Motto
vocatus Deus aderit God will be present
of Carl Jung, and inscribed in his home and grave.

Alternatively, "to him who consents, no harm is done".

volenti non fit to one willing, no harm The principle is used in the law of torts and denotes that
injuria is done one can not be held liable for injuries inflicted on another
who consented to the act that injured him.

volo non fugia I fly but do not flee Motto of HMS Venetia[118]

you are the salt of the

vos estis sal terrae A famous biblical sentence proclaimed by Jesus Christ.
earth

votum separatum separate vow The phrase denotes an independent, minority voice.

Or traditionally, "the voice of one crying in the

vox clamantis in the voice of one
wilderness". A quotation of the Vulgate, Isaiah 40:3, and
deserto clamoring in the desert
quoted by St. John the
Baptist in Mark 1:3 and John 1:23). Motto of Dartmouth
 College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.

vox nihili voice of nothing The phrase denotes a useless or ambiguous statement.

The phrase denotes a brief interview of a common person

vox populi voice of the people that is not previously arranged, e. g., an interview on a
street. It is sometimes truncated to "vox pop."

the voice of the people

vox populi, vox Dei In the opinion of the majority of the people.
[is] the voice of God

By extension, and in common morality, humanity can

change their attitudes, but they will hardly change their
vulpes pilum mutat, the fox changes his fur,
objectives or what they have set themselves to achieve.
non mores not his habits
Ascribed to Titus by Suetonius in the eighth book
(chapter 16) of The Twelve Caesars.

Footnotes[edit]
1. ^ Assertions, such as those by Bryan A. Garner in Garner's
Modern English Usage,[33] that "eg" and "ie" style versus "e.g.," and
"i.e.," style are two poles of British versus American usage are not
borne out by major style guides and usage dictionaries, which
demonstrate wide variation. To the extent anything approaching a
consistent general conflict can be identified, it is between
American and British news companies' different approaches to the
balance between clarity and expediency, without complete
agreement on either side of the Atlantic, and with little evidence of
effects outside journalism circles, e.g. in book publishing or
academic journals.
There is no consistent British style. For example, The Oxford
Dictionary for Writers and Editors has "e.g." and "i.e." with points
(periods);[34] Fowler's Modern English Usage takes the same
approach,[35] and its newest edition is especially emphatic about
the points being retained.[36] The Oxford Guide to Style (also
republished in Oxford Style Manual and separately as New Hart's
Rules) also has "e.g." and "i.e.";[37] the examples it provides are of
the short and simple variety that often see the comma dropped in
American usage as well. None of those works prescribe
specifically for or against a comma following these abbreviations,
leaving it to writers' own judgment.
Some specific publishers, primarily in news journalism, drop one or
both forms of punctuation as a matter of house style. They seem
more frequently to be British than American (perhaps owing to
the AP Stylebook being treated as a de facto standard across
most American newspapers, without a UK counterpart). For
example, The Guardian uses "eg" and "ie" with no
punctuation,[38]while The Economist uses "eg," and "ie," with
commas and without points,[39] as does The Times of London.[40] A
2014 revision to New Hart's Rules states that it is now "Oxford
style" to not use a comma after e.g. and i.e. (which retain the
 points), "to avoid double punctuation".[41] This is a rationale it does
not apply to anything else, and Oxford University Press has not
consistently imposed this style on its publications that post-date
2014, including Garner's Modern English Usage.
By way of US comparison, The New York Times uses "e.g." and
"i.e.", without a rule about a following comma – like Oxford usage
in actual practice.[42] The Chicago Manual of Style prefers "e.g.,"
and "i.e.,". However, it says of this entire class of expressions,
including long phrases like "in other words" and "for example", that
they are "traditionally" or "usually" followed by a comma, not that
they must be, nor does it draw any dialectal distinctions on the
matter[43] (despite usually making American versus British
assertions throughout). The AP Stylebook preserves both types of
punctuation for these abbreviations.[44]
"British" and "American" are not accurate as stand-ins
for Commonwealth and North American English more broadly;
actual practice varies even among national publishers. The
Australian government's Style Manual for Authors, Editors and
Printers preserves the points in the abbreviations, but eschews the
comma after them (it similarly drops the title's serial comma before
"and", which most UK and many US publishers would
retain).[45] Editing Canadian English by the Editors' Association of
Canada uses the periods and the comma;[46] so does A Canadian
Writer's Reference.[47] The government publication The Canadian
Style uses the periods but not the comma.[48]
Style guides are generally in agreement that both abbreviations
are preceded by a comma or used inside a parenthetical
construction, and are best confined to the latter and to footnotes
and tables, rather than used in running prose.

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Potter, David S. (2014). The Roman Empire at
Bay, AD 180–395. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 9781134694778.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b James T. Bretzke, Consecrated Phrases: a Latin
Theological Dictionary: Latin Expressions Commonly Found in
Theological Writings (Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 10. ISBN 0-8146-
5880-6, ISBN 978-0-8146-5880-2.
3. ^ William Blackstone, Commentary on the Laws of England, Book
3, Chapter 10: Of Injuries to Real Property, and First of
Dispossession, or Ouster, of the Freehold, Footnote 47.
4. ^ "annus horribilis". Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Merriam-
Webster, Inc. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
5. ^ "Definition of APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA". www.merriam-
webster.com.
6. ^ Peter Jones (2006). Reading Ovid: Stories from the
Metamorphoses. Cambridge University Press. p. 223. ISBN 0-521-
84901-2.
7. ^ C. Barlaeus, Rerum per octennium in Brasilia et alibi nuper
gestarum
8. ^ "Quando i politici si rifugiano nel latino", La Repubblica, 7 July
2004.
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Additional references

 Adeleye, Gabriel G. (1999). Thomas J. Sienkewicz; James T.

McDonough, Jr. (eds.). World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions.
Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0865164223.
 Stone, Jon R. (1996). Latin for the Illiterati. London & New York City:
Routledge. ISBN 0415917751.

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