A

Latin Translation Notes

Or "at will", "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and its
from one who has Italian (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplácito)
a bene placito
been pleased well derivatives, are synonymous with the more common
ad libitum (at pleasure).
Or "from heaven all the way to the center of the
earth". In law, can refer to the obsolete cuius est
a caelo usque ad from the sky to the
solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos maxim
centrum center
of property ownership ("for whoever owns the soil, it
is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths").
From top to bottom; all the way through. Equally a
a capite ad calcem from head to heel
pedibus usque ad caput.
Equivalent to "on the contrary" or "au contraire". An
argumentum a contrario is an "argument from the
a contrario from the opposite
contrary", an argument or proof by contrast or direct
opposite.
A long time ago. From Gaius Lucilius (Satires, 6,
a Deucalione since Deucalion
284)
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.
From Psalm 72:8, "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad
mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae" (KJV:
a mari usque ad
from sea to sea "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and
mare
from the river unto the ends of the earth"). National
motto of Canada.
Completely. Similar to the English expressions "from
a pedibus usque ad
from feet to head tip to toe" or "from top to toe". Equally a capite ad
caput
calcem. See also ab ovo usque ad mala.
from being able to "From possibility to actuality" or "from being possible
a posse ad esse
being to being actual"
Based on observation (i.e., empirical knowledge), 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
that can be known from empirical experience.
Presupposed, the reverse of a posteriori. Used in
mathematics and logic to denote something that is
a priori from the former known or postulated before a proof has been carried
out. In philosophy, used to denote something that can
be known without empirical experience. In everyday
 speech, it denotes something occurring or being
known before the event.
Said of an argument that seeks to prove a statement's
validity by pointing out the absurdity of an opponent's
position (cf. appeal to ridicule) or that an assertion is
ab absurdo from the absurd
false because of its absurdity. Not to be confused with
a reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid
logical argument.
ab abusu ad usum a consequence Inferences regarding something's use from its misuse
non valet from an abuse to a are invalid. Rights abused are still rights (cf. abusus
consequentia use is not valid non tollit usum).
Literally, "from the everlasting" or "from eternity".
Thus, "from time immemorial", "since the beginning
ab aeterno from the eternal of time" or "from an infinitely remote time in the
past". In theology, often indicates something, such as
the universe, that was created outside of time.
ab antiquo from the ancient From ancient times.
ab epistulis from the letter Or, having to do with correspondence.
A legal term meaning "from without". From external
ab extra from beyond sources, rather than from the self or the mind (ab
intra).
Often rendered abhinc (which in Latin means simply
ab hinc from here on
"since" or "ago").
More literally, "from the deepest chest". Attributed to
from the bottom of
ab imo pectore Julius Caesar. Can mean "with deepest affection" or
my heart
"sincerely".
New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from
inconvenience" or "from hardship". An argumentum
ab inconvenienti is one based on the difficulties
from an
ab inconvenienti involved in pursuing a line of reasoning, and is thus a
inconvenient thing
form of appeal to consequences; it refers to a rule in
law that an argument from inconvenience has great
weight.
Thus, "from the beginning" or "from infancy".
Incunabula is commonly used in English to refer to
ab incunabulis from the cradle the earliest stage or origin of something, and
especially to copies of books that predate the spread
of the printing press around AD 1500.
"At the outset", referring to an inquiry or
investigation. In literature, refers to a story told from
the beginning rather than in medias res (from the
ab initio from the beginning
middle). In law, refers to something being the case
from the start or from the instant of the act, rather than
from when the court declared it so. A judicial
 declaration of the invalidity of a marriage ab initio is a
nullity. In science, refers to the first principles. In
other contexts, often refers to beginner or training
courses. Ab initio mundi means "from the beginning
of the world".
From someone who dies with no legal will (cf. ex
ab intestato from an intestate
testamento).
ab intra from within From the inside. The opposite of ab extra.
By a person who is angry. Used in law to describe a
decision or action that is detrimental to those it affects
and was made based on hatred or anger, rather than on
ab irato from an angry man reason. The form irato is masculine; however, this
does not mean it applies only to men, rather 'person' is
meant, as the phrase probably elides "homo," not
"vir."
From the origin, beginning, source, or
ab origine from the source commencement—i.e., "originally". 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 beginning with an egg dish and ending with fruit (cf.
mala apples the English phrase soup to nuts). Thus, ab ovo means
"from the beginning", and can also connote
thoroughness.
From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a
single example or observation indicates a general or
ab uno disce omnes from one, learn all
universal truth. Visible in the court of King Silas in
the TV series Kings.
Refers to the founding of Rome, which occurred in
753 BC according to Livy's count. Used as a reference
from the city
ab urbe condita point in ancient Rome for establishing dates, before
having been
(a.u.c.) being supplanted by other systems. Also anno urbis
founded
conditae (a.u.c.) (literally "in the year of the founded
city").
ab utili from utility Used of an argument.
absens haeres non an absent person In law, refers to the principle that someone who is not
erit will not be an heir present is unlikely to inherit.
with the defendant
absente reo (abs. re.) In the absence of the accused.
being absent
Expresses the wish that no insult or wrong be
let injury by words conveyed by the speaker's words, i.e., "no offense".
absit iniuria verbis
be absent Also rendered absit injuria verbis; see also absit
invidia.
absit invidia let ill will be Although similar to the English expression "no
 absent offense", absit invidia is not a mere social gesture to
avoid causing offense, but also a way to ward off the
harm that some people superstitiously believe
animosity can cause others. Also extended to absit
invidia verbo, meaning "may ill will be absent from
the word" (cf. absit iniuria verbis).
In other words, "let there not be an omen here".
let an omen be Expresses the wish that something seemingly ill-
absit omen
absent boding does not turn out to be an omen for future
events, and calls on divine protection against evil.
absolutum
absolute dominion Total power or sovereignty.
dominium
A legal term said by a judge acquitting a defendant
following a trial. Te absolvo or absolvo te, translated,
absolvo I acquit "I forgive you," said by Roman Catholic priests
during the Sacrament of Confession prior to Vatican
II.
abundans cautela abundant caution Thus, one can never be too careful; even excessive
non nocet does no harm precautions don't hurt anyone.
An axiom stating that just because something can be,
abusus non tollit misuse does not or has been, abused, does not mean that it must be, or
usum remove use always is. Abuse does not, in itself, justify denial of
use
abyssus abyssum deep calleth unto From Psalms 42:7; some translations have 'Sea calls
invocat deep to sea'.
A legal maxim denoting that any accused person is
no one ought to
accusare nemo se entitled to make a plea of not guilty, and also that a
accuse himself
debet nisi coram witness is not obliged to give a response or submit a
except in the
Deo document that will incriminate himself. A very similar
Presence of God
phrase is nemo tenetur seipsum accusare.
Accipe Hoc Take this Motto of 848 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy.
A common ending to ancient Roman comedies, also
claimed by Suetonius in Lives of the Twelve Caesars
The play has been
acta est fabula to have been Caesar Augustus' last words. Applied by
performed;
plaudite Sibelius to the third movement of his String Quartet
applaud!
no. 2 so that his audience would realize it was the last
one, as a fourth would normally be expected.
Motto of the United States Merchant Marine
acta non verba actions, not words
Academy.
Also used in the singular, Acta Sancti (Deeds of the
Acta Sanctorum Deeds of the Saints Saint), preceding a specific Saint's name. A common
title of works in hagiography.
actus non facit The act is not A legal term outlining the presumption of mens rea in
reum nisi mens sit guilty unless the a crime.
rea mind is also guilty.
The actual crime that is committed, rather than the
intent or thought process leading up to the crime.
actus reus guilty act
Thus, the external elements of a crime, as contrasted
with mens rea, the internal elements.
In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See
ad absurdum to the absurd also reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused with
ab absurdo (from the absurd).
adaequatio
conformity of our A phrase used in Epistemology regarding the nature of
intellectûs nostri
minds to the fact understanding.
cum re
In legal language, used when providing additional
evidence to an already sufficient collection. Also used
ad abundantiam to abundance
commonly, as an equivalent of "as if this wasn't
enough".
ad arbitrium at will, at pleasure
Name or motto (in full or part) of many
ad astra to the stars
organizations/publications/etc.
Motto of Kansas, and other organisations. The phrase
to the stars through is also translated as "A rough road leads to the stars",
ad astra per aspera
difficulty as on the Launch Complex 34 memorial plaque for the
astronauts of Apollo 1.
A favorite saying of John Steinbeck. A professor told
ad astra per alia to the stars on the
him that he would be an author when pigs flew. Every
porci wings of a pig
book he wrote is printed with this insignia.
To do something to appeal to the masses. Often used
of politicians who make false or insincere promises to
ad captandum in order to court
appeal to popular interest. An argumentum ad
vulgus the crowd
captandum is an argument designed to please the
crowd.
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 one university or
ad eundem to the same
college to an alumnus of another. It is not an honorary
degree, but a recognition of the formal learning that
earned the degree at another college.
A motto of Renaissance humanism. Also used in the
ad fontes to the sources
Protestant Reformation.
Said during a generic toast, equivalent to "bottoms
ad fundum to the bottom up!" In other contexts, generally means "back to the
basics".
Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised
ad hoc to this
on the spot or designed for only a specific, immediate
 purpose.

Rather than relying on ad hoc decisions, we

should form a consistent plan for dealing
with emergency situations.
Connotations of "against the man". Typically used in
argumentum ad hominem, a logical fallacy consisting
of criticizing a person when the subject of debate is
ad hominem to the man
the person's ideas or argument, on the mistaken
assumption that the validity of an argument is to some
degree dependent on the qualities of the proponent.
Generally means "for the honor", not seeking any
ad honorem to the honor
material reward.
Going on forever. Used to designate a property which
ad infinitum to infinity
repeats in all cases in mathematical proof.
As in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim" for a
ad interim (ad int) for the meantime
diplomatic officer who acts in place of an ambassador.
Attributed by Suetonius in Lives of the Twelve
Caesars to Caesar Augustus. The phrase means
ad Kalendas to the Greek "never" and is similar to phrases like "when pigs fly".
Graecas Kalends The Kalends (also written Calends) were specific days
of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, and so the
"Greek Kalends" would never occur.
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
ad libitum (ad lib) toward pleasure
theatrical scripts that the performer has the liberty to
change or omit something. Ad lib is specifically often
used when someone improvises or ignores limitations.
A legal term 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.
Motto of Oxford High School (Oxford), the
ad lucem to the light University of Lisbon, Withington Girls' School and St.
Bartholomew's School, Newbury, UK
Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Edward Elgar
ad maiorem Dei To the greater
dedicated his oratorio The Dream of Gerontius
gloriam (AMDG) glory of God
"A.M.D.G." Often rendered ad majorem Dei gloriam.
Towards better
ad meliora motto of St. Patrick's College, Cavan, Ireland
things
ad mortem To death used in medical contexts as a synonym for death
ad multos annos To many years! Expresses a wish for a long life. Similar to the English
 expression "Many happy returns!"
Literally, "to the point of nausea". Sometimes used as
a humorous alternative to ad infinitum. An
to the point of argumentum ad nauseam is a logical fallacy involving
ad nauseam
disgust basing one's argument on prolonged repetition, i.e.,
repeating something so much that people are "sick of
it".
With your own Meaning "obvious on sight" or "obvious to anyone
ad oculos
eyes. that sees it".
to the foot of the Thus, "exactly as it is written". Similar to the English
ad pedem litterae
letter idiom "to the letter", meaning "to the last detail".
Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is
ad perpetuam to the perpetual
used to wish for someone to be remembered long after
memoriam memory
death.
More loosely, "considering everything's weight". The
abbreviation was historically used by physicians and
ad pondus omnium to the weight of all others to signify that the last prescribed ingredient is
(ad pond om) things
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 what damage of damages inflicted, implying that a remedy, if one
exists, ought to correspond specifically and only to the
damage suffered (cf. damnum absque injuria).
Loosely "subject to reference", meaning that
ad referendum to that which must something has been approved provisionally, but must
(ad ref) be brought back still receive official approval. Not necessarily related
to a referendum.
Thus, "to the point". Without digression.
ad rem to the matter
Thank you for your concise, ad rem
response.
ad terminum qui for the term which A legal term for a writ of entry ad terminum qui
praeteriit has passed praeteriit [for the term which has passed].[1]
ad undas to the waves Equivalent to "to hell".
Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive
or improper parts. The phrase originates from editions
for the use of the
ad usum Delphini of Greek and Roman classics which Louis XIV had
Dauphin
censored for his heir apparent, the Dauphin. Also
rarely in usum Delphini (into the use of the Dauphin).
ad usum proprium for one's own use
(ad us. propr.)
ad utrumque prepared for either Also the motto of Lund University, with the implied
paratus alternative alternatives being the book (study) and the sword
 (defending the country in war).
According to an object's value. Used in commerce to
ad valorem to the value refer to ad valorem taxes, taxes based on the assessed
value of real estate or personal property.
More commonly translated into "for victory" this is a
ad victoriam to victory
battlecry of the Romans.
ad vitam aeternam to eternal life Also "to life everlasting". A common Biblical phrase.
ad vitam aut for life or until
Usually used of a term of office.
culpam fault
An item to be added, especially a supplement to a
addendum thing to be added
book. The plural is addenda.
correspondence of One of the definitions of the truth. When the mind has
adequatio
the mind and the same form as reality, we think truth. Also found as
intellectus et rei
reality adequatio rei et intellectus.
Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite of
adsum I am here
absum (I am absent).
adversus solem ne Don't speak
I.e., don't argue the obvious
loquitor against the sun
a sick man's From Horace, Ars Poetica, 7. Loosely, "troubled
aegri somnia
dreams dreams".
aequitas Justice or equality
of age" / "aged" (in Abbreviation of "aetatis"; even more abbreviated (and
aetat the sense of: "age: more common): "aet." — e.g.: "aetat 36" = "36 years
...) old"/ "aet. 34" = "34 years old"
Thus, "at the age of". Appeared on portraits,
gravestones, etc. Sometimes extended to anno aetatis
suae (AAS), "in the year of his age". Sometimes
aetatis suae of his own age shortened to just aetatis or aetat (aet.).

The tomb reads Anno 1629 Aetatis Suae 46

because she died in 1629 at age 46.
A legal term from Medieval Latin referring to a sworn
affidavit he asserted
statement. From fides, "faith".
More often translated as "Do well whatever you do",
this phrase is used as the motto of several Catholic
Do what you are schools, including Jesuit High School in Portland,
age quod agis
doing. Oregon. According to the Catholic Culture dictionary,
this phrase is used to remind people to concentrate on
the task at hand, rather than scattering their attention.
Originally comparable to a to-do list, an ordered list of
things to be done. Now generalized to include any
agenda things to be done
planned course of action. The singular, agendum
(thing that must be done), is rarely used.
 Latin translation from John 1:36, where John the
Baptist exclaims "Ecce Agnus Dei!" (Behold the
Agnus Dei Lamb of God Lamb of God!) upon seeing Jesus, referring both to a
lamb's connotations of innocence and to a sacrificial
lamb.
Said by Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon in 49
BC, according to Suetonius. The original meaning
was roughly equivalent to the English phrase "the
the die has been game is afoot", but its modern meaning, like that of
alea iacta est
cast 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.
Let learning be
alenda lux ubi orta
cherished where The motto of Davidson College.
libertas
liberty has arisen.
An assumed name or pseudonym. Similar to alter ego,
alias otherwise but more specifically referring to a name, not to a
"second self".
A legal defense where a defendant attempts to show
that he was elsewhere at the time a crime was
committed.
alibi elsewhere
His alibi is sound; he gave evidence that
he was in another city on the night of the
murder.
taken from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. "But those
who wait for the Lord shall find their strength
alis aquilae on an eagle's wings renewed, they shall mount up on wings like eagles,
they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk
and not grow faint."
nothing is heavy to motto of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de
alis grave nil those who have Janeiro (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de
wings Janeiro — PUC-RIO).
she flies with her State motto of Oregon. Can also be rendered alis volat
alis volat propris
own wings propriis.
aliquantus Rather big
aliquantulus Not that big
something that
aliquid stat pro
stands for A foundational definition for semiotics
aliquo
something else
Term used for the university one attends or has
alma mater nourishing mother attended. Another university term, matriculation, is
also derived from mater. The term suggests that the
 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 other 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 King" as
Let no man belong
alterius non sit qui appears in the collection commonly known as the
to another that can
suus esse potest "Anonymus Neveleti" (fable XXIb. De ranis a Iove
belong to himself
querentibus regem). Motto of Paracelsus. Usually
attributed to Cicero.
alterum non to not wound
One of Justinian I's three basic legal precepts.
laedere another
Sometimes rendered with the gender-neutral alumn or
alum in English. A graduate or former student of a
school, college or university. Alumna (pl. alumnae) is
alumna or a female pupil, and alumnus (pl. alumni) is a male
pupil
alumnus pupil—alumni is generally used for a group of both
males and females. The word derives from alere, "to
nourish", a graduate being someone who was raised
and taken care of at the school (cf. alma mater).
An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access
to the favour of powerful group, like a Roman Curia.
amicus curiae friend of the court In current U.S. legal usage, an amicus curiae is a third
party allowed to submit a legal opinion (in the form of
an amicus brief) to the court.
An obsolete legal term signifying the forfeiture of the
amittere legem to lose the law of
right of swearing in any court or cause, or to become
terrae the land
infamous.
amor est vitae love is the essence
As said by Robert B. Mackay, Australian Analyst.
essentia of life
amor et melle et love is rich with
felle est both honey and
fecundissmismus venom
Nietzscheian alternative world view to memento mori
amor fati love of fate [remember you must die]. Nietzsche believed amor
fati to be more life affirming.
amor omnibus love is the same
from Virgil's Georgics III.
idem for all
love of one's
amor patriae Patriotism.
country
 Written on bracelet worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's
amor vincit omnia love conquers all The Canterbury Tales. See also veritas omnia vincit
and labor omnia vincit.
Used before the anglicized version of a word or name.
anglice in English
For example "Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland".
Also used in such phrases as anno urbis conditae (see
anno (an.) in the year
ab urbe condita), Anno Domini, and anno regni.
Short for Anno Domini Nostri Iesus 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
in the Year of the perceived year of the birth of Jesus Christ. The years
Anno Domini (A.D.) before Jesus' birth were once marked with a.C.n (Ante
Lord
Christum Natum, Before Christ was Born), but now
use the English abbreviation BC (Before Christ).

Augustus Caesar was born in the year 63 BC,

and died AD 14.
In the year of the
anno regni Precedes "of" and the current ruler.
reign
Motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United
States and on the back of the U.S. one dollar bill. "He"
He Has Approved
Annuit Cœptis refers to God, and so the official translation given by
the Undertakings
the U.S. State Department is "He [God] has favored
our undertakings".
A recent pun on annus mirabilis, first used by Queen
Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year 1992 had
been for her, and subsequently occasionally used to
annus horribilis horrible year
refer to many other years perceived as "horrible". In
Classical Latin, this phrase would actually mean
"terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.
Used particularly to refer to the years 1665–1666,
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 and the special theory of
relativity. (See Annus Mirabilis Papers)
Used to describe 1348, the year the Black Death
annus terribilis dreadful year
began to afflict Europe.
As in "status quo ante bellum", "as it was before the
ante bellum before the war
war". Commonly used in the Southern United States
 as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the
American Civil War.
ante cibum (a.c.) before food Medical shorthand for "before meals".
Said of an expression or term that describes something
which existed before the phrase itself was introduced
or became common.
ante litteram before the letter
Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante
litteram, since the field of "computer
science" was not yet recognized in Turing's
day.
ante meridiem before midday The period from midnight to noon (cf. post meridiem).
(a.m.)
ante mortem before death See post mortem (after death).
Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote
ante prandium (a.p.) before lunch "before a meal". Less common is post prandium,
"after lunch".
Textual notes. A list of other readings relating to a
apparatus criticus critical apparatus
document, especially in a scholarly edition of a text.
aqua (aq.) water
aqua fortis strong water Refers to nitric acid.
aqua pura pure water Or "clear water", "clean water".
refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric
aqua regia royal water
acid.
"Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer
to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky
aqua vitae water of life
in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, brandy (eau
de vie) in France, and akvavit in Scandinavia.
aquila non capit an eagle doesn't A noble or important person doesn't deal with
muscam catch flies insignificant issues.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known
to plough the
arare litus as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
seashore
Wasted labour.
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. Also sometimes found in the singular,
arbiter elegantiae (judge of taste).
An opaque circle around the cornea of the eye, often
arcus senilis senile bow
seen in elderly people.
Also "silver coin". Mentioned in Domesday, signifies
Argentum album white money
bullion, or silver uncoined.
For the sake of argument. Said when something is
arguendo for arguing
done purely in order to discuss a matter or illustrate a
 point.

Let us assume, arguendo, that your claim is

correct.
Or "reasoning", "inference", "appeal", "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),
argumentum argument ad ignorantiam (to ignorance), ad 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),
and in terrorem (into terror).
An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural
ars [est] celare art [is] to conceal
rather than contrived. Of medieval origin, but often
artem art
incorrectly attributed to Ovid.[2]
Translated into Latin from Baudelaire's "L'art pour
l'art". Motto of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This phrasing
ars gratia artis art for art's sake is a direct transliteration of 'art for the sake of art.'
While very symmetrical for the MGM logo, the better
Latin word order is 'Ars artis gratia.'
The Latin translation by Seneca (De Brevitate Vitae,
1.1) of a phrase from Hippocrates, often used out of
ars longa vita art is long, life is
context. The "art" referred to in the original aphorism
brevis short
was the craft of medicine, which took a lifetime to
acquire.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known
asinus ad lyram an ass to the lyre as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
An awkward or incompetent individual.
asinus asinum the jackass rubs Used to describe two people lavishing excessive
fricat the jackass praise on one another.
the assured does
assecuratus non
not seek profit but Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity
quaerit lucrum sed
just indemnity for cannot be larger than the loss.
agit ne in damno sit
the loss
audacter slander boldly, from Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum
calumniare, semper something always (1623)
aliquid haeret sticks
Referred to the general level of prestige a person had
auctoritas authority
in Ancient Roman society.
audax at fidelis bold but faithful Motto of Queensland.
Motto of Otago University Students' Association, a
audeamus let us dare direct response to the university's motto of sapere
aude (dare to be wise).
State motto of Alabama, adopted in 1923. Translated
into Latin from a paraphrase of the stanza "Men who
audemus jura we dare to defend their duties know / But know their rights, and
nostra defendere our rights knowing, dare maintain" from the poem "What
Constitutes a State?" by 18th-century author William
Jones.
From Virgil, Aeneid X, 284 (where the first word is in
the archaic form audentis). Allegedly the last words of
Pliny the Elder before he left the docks at Pompeii to
audentes fortuna fortune favors the
rescue people from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79.
iuvat bold
Often quoted as audaces fortuna iuvat. Also the motto
of the Portuguese Army Commandos, and the USS
Montpelier (SSN-765) in the latter form.
The motto of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, the
audere est facere to dare is to do professional Association Football (soccer) team based
in London, England.
audi alteram A legal principle of fairness. Also worded as audiatur
hear the other side
partem et altera pars (let the other side be heard too).
audio hostem I hear the enemy Motto of 845 NACS Royal Navy
From Horace's Odes II, 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 3,57. Later quoted by Seneca as
accursed hunger "quod non mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames":
auri sacra fames
for gold "What aren't you able to bring men to do, miserable
hunger for gold!"
A common ancient proverb, this version from
auribus teneo I hold a wolf by Terence. Indicates that one is in a dangerous situation
lupum the ears where 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 the
aurora australis southern dawn Northern Lights, or aurorea borealis. The Aurora
Australis is also the name of an Antarctic icebreaker
ship.
 The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in the
aurora borealis northern dawn
Northern Hemisphere.
Motto of the fictional Fowl family in the Artemis
aurum potestas est gold is power
Fowl series, written by Eoin Colfer
auspicium melioris hope of a better Motto of Raffles Institution, a secondary school in
aevi age Singapore.
Indicates that the only valid possibility is to be
either Caesar or emperor, or a similarly prominent position. More
aut Caesar aut nihil
nothing generally, "all or nothing". Adopted by Cesare Borgia
as a personal motto.
Thus, either through reasoned discussion or through
aut concilio aut either by meeting
war. A former motto of Chile, replaced by post
ense or by the sword
tenebras lux.
aut pax aut bellum either peace or war The motto of the Gunn Clan.
Either I shall find a
aut viam inveniam
way, or I shall Hannibal.
aut faciam
make one
aut vincere aut either to conquer A general pledge of "victory or death" (cf. victoria aut
mori or to die mors).
From Catullus, carmen 101, addressed to his deceased
ave atque vale Hail and farewell!
brother.
From Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars,
Claudius 21. The traditional greeting of gladiators
Hail, Caesar! The prior to battle. morituri is also translated as "we who
ave Caesar
ones who are about are about to die" based on the context in which it was
morituri te salutant
to die salute you! spoken, and this translation is sometimes aided by
changing the Latin to nos morituri te salutamus. Also
rendered with imperator instead of Caesar.
ave Europa nostra Hail, Europe, our
Anthem of Pan-Europeanists.
vera Patria true Fatherland!
A Roman Catholic prayer to Mary, the mother of
Ave Maria Hail, Mary
Jesus.

[edit] B
Latin Translation Notes
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as
barba tenus wise as far as the
Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). In
sapientes beard
appearance wise, but not necessarily so.
Beata Virgo Blessed Virgin A common name in the Roman Catholic Church for
Maria (BVM) Mary Mary, the mother of Jesus. The genitive, Beatae Mariae
 Virginis (BMV), occurs often as well, appearing with
such words as horae (hours), litaniae (litany) and
officium (office).
of blessed
beatae memoriae See in memoriam.
memory
Vulgate, Matthew 5:3. The full quote is "beati pauperes
beati pauperes Blessed in spirit spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum"
spiritu [are] the poor. ("Blessed in spirit [are] the poor, for theirs is the
kingdom of the heavens" - one of the Beatitudes).
blessed [are] those
beati possidentes Translated from Euripides.
who possess
beatus homo qui
blessed is the man from Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the
invenit
who finds wisdom same name by Orlando di Lasso.
sapientiam
Originally from Ovid, Heroides 13.84,[3] where
Laodamia is writing to her husband Protesilaus who is at
let others wage the Trojan War. She begs him to stay out of danger, but
bella gerant alii war he was in fact the first Greek to die at Troy. Also used of
Protesilaus amet! Protesilaus should the Habsburg marriages of 1477 and 1496, written as
love! bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube (let others wage
war; you, fortunate Austria, marry). Said by King
Matthias
bellum omnium war of all against A phrase used by Thomas Hobbes to describe the state of
contra omnes all nature.
I drink, therefore I
bibo ergo sum
am
he gives twice,
bis dat qui cito Thus a gift that is given quickly without hesitation is
who gives
dat worth twice as much.
promptly
bis in die (bid) twice in a day Medical shorthand for "twice a day".
In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly". In modern
contexts, often has connotations of "genuinely" or
bona fide in good faith "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 the diocese where he dies,
bona notabilia —
amounting to a certain minimum value, he is said to have
bona notabilia; in which case, the probat of his will
belongs to the archbishop of that province.
A nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other
bona officia good services
nations.
bona patria — A jury or assize of countrymen, or good neighbors.
United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that
bona vacantia vacant goods
passes to The Crown.
It is of a good
boni pastoris est
shepherd to shear Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders,
tondere pecus
his flock, not to as a warning against taxing the populace excessively.
non deglubere
flay them.
Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society,
bonum commune common good of
as opposed to bonum commune hominis, which refers to
communitatis the community
what is good for an individual.
Refers to an individual's happiness, which is not
bonum commune common good of a "common" in that it serves everyone, but in that
hominis man individuals tend to be able to find happiness in similar
things.
Pseudo-Latin meaning "baffling puzzle" or "difficult
point". John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a
scribe what the word meant. It turns out that the original
busillis — text said in diebus illis magnis plenæ (in those days there
were plenty of great things), which the scribe misread as
indie busillis magnis plenæ (in India there were plenty of
large busillis).

[edit] C
Latin Translation Notes
From Satires of Juvenal. An insatiable urge to
cacoethes scribendi bad habit of writing
write. Hypergraphia
Supposed statement by Abbot Arnaud Amalric
Caedite eos. Novit Kill them. For the Lord
before the massacre of Béziers during the
enim Dominus qui knows those who are
Albigensian Crusade, recorded 30 years later,
sunt eius. his.
according to Caesar of Heisterbach.
cadavera vero Used by the Romans to describe the aftermath of
truly countless bodies
innumera the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.
caetera desunt the rest is wanting
calix meus my cup makes me
inebrians drunk
An optical device used in drawing, and an
camera obscura dark chamber ancestor of modern photography. The source of
the word camera.
war dogs or fighting
canes pugnaces
dogs
Refers to a situation where nobody is safe from
canis canem edit dog eats dog
anybody, each man for himself.
 a term referring (at least) to some Christian
doctrines of the incarnation of the Son of God
when it asserts that humanity is capable of
capax infiniti capable of the infinite housing full divinity within its finite frame.
Related to the Docetic heresy and sometimes a
counterpoint to the Reformed
'extracalvinisticum.'
So aggrandized as to be beyond practical
caput inter nubila (earthly) reach or understanding (from Virgil's
head in the clouds
(condit) Aeneid and the shorter form appears in John
Locke's Two Treatises of Government)
It implies a command to love as Christ loved.
Caritas Christi The love of Christ Motto of St. Franicis Xavier High School located
in West Meadowlark Park, Edmonton.
An exhortation to live for today. From Horace,
Odes I, 11.8. By far the most common translation
is "seize the day", though carpere normally
carpe diem seize the day
means something more like "pluck", and the
allusion here is to picking flowers. The phrase
collige virgo rosas has a similar sense.
An exhortation to make good use of the night,
often used when carpe diem, q.v., would seem
carpe noctem seize the night
absurd, e.g., when observing a deep sky object or
conducting a Messier marathon.
From Roman senator Cato the Elder, who ended
every speech of his between the second and third
Punic Wars with ceterum censeo Carthaginem
Carthago delenda Carthage must be esse delendam, literally "For the rest, I am of the
est destroyed opinion that Carthage is to be destroyed." Other
translations include "In conclusion, I declare that
Carthage must be destroyed." and "Furthermore,
I move for Carthage to be destroyed."
Refers to an incident that is the justification or
casus belli event of war
case for war.
causa mortis cause of death
especially used by Doctors of Medicine, when
they want to warn each other (e.g.: "cave
nephrolithiases" in order to warn about side
cave beware!
effects of an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in some
British public schools by pupils to warn each
other of impending authority.
cave canem beware of the dog
Pompeii mosaic
Found written on floor mosaics depicting a dog,
at the entrance of Roman houses excavated at
Pompeii.
cave laborem beware of work
beware of running out
cave nil vino
of wine
The purchaser is responsible for checking
caveat emptor let the buyer beware
whether the goods suit his need.
Used when the writer does not vouch for the
caveat lector let the reader beware accuracy of a text. Probably a recent alteration of
caveat emptor.
The person signing a document is responsible for
caveat subscriptor let the signer beware reading the information about what the document
entails before entering into an agreement.
The person selling goods is responsible for
caveat venditor let the seller beware providing information about the goods to the
purchaser.
The user is responsible for checking whether the
caveat utilitor let the user beware
goods suit his need.
"Let military power yield to civilian power",
let arms yield to the
cedant arma togae Cicero, De Officiis. See Toga, it:Cedant arma
gown
togae
Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". A
celerius quam more swiftly than variant of the Roman phrase velocius quam
asparagi cocuntur asparagus is cooked asparagi coquantur, using a different adverb and
an alternate mood and spelling of coquere.
In law, it is a return made by the sheriff, upon a
capias, or other process to the like purpose;
cepi corpus I got the body
signifying, that he has taken the body of the
party. See also habeas corpus.
Often used in law when something is not known,
It is certain if it is
certum est quod but can be ascertained (e.g. the purchase price on
capable of being
certum reddi potest a sale which is to be determined by a third-party
rendered certain
valuer)
When the reason for the A rule of law becomes ineffective when the
cessante ratione
law ceases, the law reason for its application has ceased to exist or
legis cessat ipsa lex
itself ceases. does not correspond to the reality anymore.
cetera desunt the rest are missing Also spelled "caetera desunt".
Idiomatically translated as "all other things being
ceteris paribus with other things equal equal" - that is, disregarding or eliminating the
possibility of other factors in a situation.
charta a paper of pardon to
The form of a pardon for killing another man in
pardonationis se him who defended
self-defence. (see manslaughter)
defendendo himself
charta
a paper of pardon to the The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed.
pardonationis
outlaw Also called perdonatio utlagariae.
utlagariae
Christianos ad [Throw the] Christians
leones to the lions!
Christo et
For Christ and Learning The motto of Furman University.
Doctrinae
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".
circa (c.) or (ca.) around
Usually used of a date.
circulus in Circle made in testing Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus
probando (a premise) vitiosus.
In logic, begging the question, a fallacy
involving the presupposition of a proposition in
circulus vitiosus vicious circle 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.
A writ whereby the king of England could
clamea admittenda
command the justice to admit one's claim by an
in itinere per
attorney, who being employed in the king's
atturnatum
service, cannot come in person.
An action of tresspass; thus called, by reason the
writ demands the person summoned to answer to
clausum fregit
wherefore he broke the close (quare clausum
fregit), i.e. why he committed such a trespass.
claves Sancti Petri the keys of Saint Peter A symbol of the Papacy.
The means of discovering hidden or mysterious
clavis aurea Golden key meanings in texts, particularly applied in
theology and alchemy.
In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the
about to be made a admitting a clerk to a benefice upon a ne
clerico admittendo
clerk 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
statutum prison, who is imprisoned upon the breach of
mercatorum statute merchant.
clerico convicto In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his
commisso gaolae in ordinary, that was formerly convicted of felony;
defectu ordinarii by reason that his ordinary did not challenge him
deliberando according to the privilege of clerks.
clerico intra sacros
In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc, that
ordines constituto
have thrust a bailiwick or beadleship upon one in
non eligendo in
holy orders; charging them to release him.
officium
Codex Iuris The official code of canon law in the Roman
Book of Canon Law
Canonici Catholic Church (cf. Corpus Iuris Canonici).
Hexameter by Horace (Epistulae I, 11 v.27).
Those who hurry cross
Coelum non Seneca shortens it to Animum debes mutare,
the sea change the sky
animum mutant qui non caelum (You must change [your]
[upon them], not their
trans mare currunt disposition, not [your] sky) in his Letter to
souls or state of mind
Lucilium XXVIII, 1
A rationalistic argument used by French
cogito ergo sum I think, therefore I am. philosopher René Descartes to attempt to prove
his own existence.
Aborting sexual intercourse prior to
coitus interruptus interrupted congress ejaculation—the only permitted form of birth
control in some religions.
coitus more congress in the way of A medical euphemism for the doggy-style sexual
ferarum beasts position.

collige virgo rosas pick, girl, the roses

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may", 1909, by
John William Waterhouse.
Exhortation to enjoy fully the youth, similar to
Carpe diem, from De rosis nascentibus (also
titled Idyllium de rosis) attributed to Ausonius or
Virgil.
It is frequently abbreviated comb. nov.. It is used
in the life sciences literature when a new name is
combinatio nova new combination
introduced, e.g. Klebsiella granulomatis comb.
nov..
communibus annis "in common years" One year with another; on an average.
 "Common" here 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 several places; one place with
communibus locis "in common places"
another; on a medium. "Common" here does not
mean "ordinary", but "common to every
situation"
communis opinio generally accepted view
Describes someone of sound mind. Sometimes
used ironically. Also a legal principle, non
compos mentis in control of the mind
compos mentis (not in control of one's faculties),
used to describe an insane person.
concordia cum
in harmony with truth Motto of the University of Waterloo.
veritate
salvation through Motto of Montreal. It is also the Bank of
concordia salus
harmony Montreal coat of arms and motto.
They condemn what
they do not understand
condemnant quod or They condemn
non intellegunt because they do not
understand (the quod is
ambiguous)
A required, indispensable condition. Commonly
condicio sine qua condition without mistakenly rendered with conditio ("seasoning"
non which not or "preserving") in place of condicio
("arrangement" or "condition").
Thus, "compare". Used as an abbreviation in text
confer (cf.) bring together to recommend a comparison with another thing
(cf. citation signal).
The official name of Switzerland, hence the use
of "CH" for its ISO country code, ".ch" for its
Confoederatio Helvetian
Internet domain, and "CHF" for the ISO three-
Helvetica (C.H.) Confederation
letter abbreviation of its currency, the Swiss
franc.
Or "with united powers". Sometimes rendered
coniunctis viribus with connected strength
conjunctis viribus.
An inconsistently applied maxim. See also
consuetudo pro lege Custom is kept before consuetudo est altera lex (custom is another law)
servatur the law and consuetudo vincit communem legem (custom
overrules the common law)
The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latin
consummatum est It is completed.
translation of John 19:30.
 Despising the secular world. The monk or
contemptus saeculi scorn for the times philosopher's rejection of a mundane life and
worldly values.
contra spem spero hope against hope Title of a poem by Lesya Ukrainka
contradictio in
contradiction in terms A word that makes itself impossible
terminis
First formulated by Hippocrates to suggest that
contraria contrariis the opposite is cured the diseases are cured with contrary remedies.
curantur with the opposite Antonym of similia similibus curantur (the
diseases are recovered with similar remedies. )
Offensive to the conscience and to a sense of
contra bonos mores against good morals
justice.
contra legem against the law
From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a
prescribed method of prayer: having a "heart to
cor ad cor loquitur heart speaks to heart heart" with God. 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, Loyalty) or Death (to stop exist, to
cor aut mors Heart or Death
no longer matter, to no longer be respected as
person of integrity.)
cor meum tibi my heart I offer to you
offero domine Lord promptly and motto of Calvin College
prompte et sincere sincerely
A popular school motto. Often used as names for
cor unum one heart religious and other organisations such as the
Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
A phrase from Christian theology which
summarizes the idea of Christians living in the
coram Deo in the Presence of God
Presence of, under the authority of, and to the
honor and glory of God.
in the presence of the
coram populo Thus, openly.
people
coram nobis, coram in our presence, in your
Two kinds of writs of error.
vobis presence
The name of a feast in the Roman Catholic
Church commemorating the Eucharist. It is also
Corpus Christi Body of Christ
the name of a city in Texas, Corpus Christi,
Texas, and a controversial play.
The fact that a crime has been committed, a
corpus delicti body of the offence necessary factor in convicting someone of having
committed that crime; if there was no crime,
 there can not have been a criminal.
The official compilation of canon law in the
Corpus Iuris
Body of Canon Law Roman Catholic Church (cf. Codex Iuris
Canonici
Canonici).
Corpus Iuris Civilis Body of Civil Law The body of Roman or civil law.
A person or thing fit only to be the object of an
corpus vile worthless body
experiment.
corrigenda things to be corrected
corruptio optimi the corruption of the
pessima best is the worst
corruptus in Motto of the fictional Springfield Mayor Office
corrupt to the extreme
extremis in The Simpsons TV-Show
corruptissima re When the republic is at
publica plurimae its most corrupt the Tacitus
leges laws are most numerous
It's the refrain from the 'Pervigilium Veneris', a
May he love tomorrow poem which describes a three day holiday in the
cras amet qui
who has never loved cult of Venus, located somewhere in Sicily,
nunquam amavit;
before; And may he involving the whole town in religious festivities
quique amavit, cras
who has loved, love joined with a deep sense of nature and Venus as
amet
tomorrow as well the "procreatrix", the life-giving force behind the
natural world.
Credo in Unum The first words of the Nicene Creed and the
I Believe in One God
Deum Apostles' 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, rather than
credo quia I believe it because it is reason. The misquoted phrase, however, is
absurdum est 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.
crescamus in Illo May we grow in Him
Motto of Cheverus High School.
per omina through all things
crescat scientia vita let knowledge grow, let
Motto of the University of Chicago.
excolatur life be enriched
crescit eundo it grows as it goes State motto of New Mexico, adopted in 1887 as
 the territory's motto, and kept in 1912 when New
Mexico received statehood. Originally 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.
while I live, I trust in
cruci dum spiro Motto of the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) and its
the cross, Whilst I trust
fido associated schools.
in the Cross I have life
cucullus non facit The hood does not William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Scene I,
monachum make the monk Act V 48–50
"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 that event
cui bono Good for whom?
(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
cui prodest for whom it advances
Medea. Thus, the murderer is often the one who
gains by the murder (cf. cui bono).
First coined by Accursius of Bologna in the 13th
century. A Roman legal principle of property law
cuius est solum eius Whose the land is, all
that is no longer observed in most situations
est usque ad coelum the way to the sky and
today. Less literally, "For whosoever owns the
et ad inferos to the underworld is his.
soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to the
depths."
The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of
cuius regio, eius whose region, his his subjects. A regional prince's ability to choose
religio religion his people's religion was established at the Peace
of Augsburg in 1555.
cuiusvis hominis est
Anyone can err, but
errare, nullius nisi
only the fool persists in — Marcus Tullius Cicero, Philippica XII, ii, 5.
insipientis in errore
his fault
perseverare.
Also "blame" or "guilt". In law, an act of neglect.
culpa fault In general, guilt, sin, or a fault. See also mea
culpa.
cum gladiis et From the Bible. Occurs in Matthew 26:47 and
with swords and clubs
fustibus Luke 22:52.
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
Correlation does not imply causation.
propter hoc account of this
The standard formula for academic Latin honors
cum laude with praise in the 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
lingua mortua language Modest Mussorgsky
cuncti adsint
let all come who by
meritaeque
merit deserve the most Motto of University College London.
expectent praemia
reward
palmae
care for the whole
cura personalis
person
An exhortation to physicians, or experts in
take care of your own
cura te ipsum general, to deal with their own problems before
self
addressing those of others.
The question attributed to Anselm in his work of
by this name, wherein he reflects on why the
cur Deus Homo Why the God/Man Christ of Christianity must be both fully Divine
and fully Human. Often translated "why did God
become Man?"
An overview of a person's life and qualifications,
curriculum vitae course of life
similar to a résumé.
custos morum keeper of morals A censor.
distinguished by its
cygnis insignis Motto of Western Australia.
swans
cygnus inter anates swan among ducks

[edit] D
Latin Translation Notes
also: Da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius; legal principle based
Give me the fact(s),
Da mihi factum, on Roman law; parties should present the facts of a case
I'll give you the
dabo tibi ius while the judge rules on the law. Related to iura novit
law
curia (the court knows the law).
A Roman custom in which disgraced Romans
damnatio damnation of
(particularly former Emperors) were pretended to have
memoriae memory
never existed.
damnum absque damage without A loss that results from no one's wrongdoing. In Roman
injuria injury law, a man is not responsible for unintended,
consequential injury to another resulting from a lawful
act. This protection does not necessarily apply to
unintended damage by negligence or folly.
"with due respect"
data venia or "given the Used before disagreeing with someone.
excuse"
dat deus God grants the Motto of Westminster School, a leading British
incrementum increase independent school.
datum Mission given, Motto of Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais
perficiemus mission (BOPE), the elite special forces unit of the military
munus accomplished police of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
de bonis carrying goods Trespass de bonis asportatis was the traditional name for
asportatis away larceny (wrongful taking of chattels).
Inscription on British one-pound coins. Originally on
Decus Et An ornament and a 17th-century coins, it refers to the inscribed edge as a
Tutamen safeguard protection against the clipping of precious metal. The
phrase originally comes from Virgil's Aeneid.
The descent into
descensus in Down the Rabbit Hole (see: Alice's Adventures in
the cave of the
cuniculi cavum Wonderland#Famous lines and expressions.
rabbit
Used in the context of "As we agreed in the meeting
de dato of the date
d.d.26th Mai 2006.
Said of something that is the actual state of affairs, in
contrast to something's legal or official standing, which
de facto in fact is described as de jure. De facto refers to the "way
things really are" rather than what is "officially"
presented as the fact.
A clerk makes the declaration De fideli on when
de fideli with faithfulness appointed, promising to do his or her tasks faithfully as
a servant of the court.
de futuro regarding the future Usually used in the context of "at a future time"
there is no
de gustibus non Less literally "there's no accounting for taste". Likely of
disputing about
est disputandum Scholastic origin (see Wiktionary).
tastes
again, a second
de integro
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, can mean "according to law", "by right" or
"legally". Also commonly written de iure, the classical
form.
de lege ferenda from law to be
 passed
"from law passed"
de lege lata
or "by law in force"
The law does not The court does not want to bother with small, trivial
de minimis non
bother with the things. A case must have importance for the court to
curat lex
smallest things. hear it. See "de minimis not curat praetor".
Also "The chief magistrate does not concern himself
The commander with trifles." Trivial matters are no concern of a high
de minimis non does not bother official (cf. aquila non capit muscas, the eagle does not
curat praetor with the smallest catch flies). Sometimes rex (the king) or lex (the law) is
things. used in place of praetor, and de minimis is a legal term
referring to things unworthy of the law's attention.
about the dead,
de mortuis aut Less literally, "speak well of the dead or not at all" (cf.
either well or
bene aut nihil de mortuis nil nisi bonum).
nothing
From de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est, "nothing
must be said about the dead except the good", attributed
about the dead, by Diogenes Laertius to Chilon. In legal contexts, this
de mortuis nil
nothing unless a quotation is used with the opposite meaning, as
nisi bonum
good thing defaming 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 referred to the
de nobis fabula about us is the end of Rome's dominance. Now often used when
narratur story told comparing any current situation to a past story or
historical 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
de novo from the new possessed 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.
be suspicious of Karl Marx's favorite motto. He used this to explain his
de omnibus
everything, doubt standpoint: "Critique everything in a capitalist
dubitandum
everything economy".
about every
de omni re scibili
knowable thing, A 15th-century Italian scholar wrote the De omni re
et quibusdam
and even certain scibili portion, and a wag added et quibusdam aliis.
aliis
other things
Commonly mistranslated as "To Liberate the
De Oppresso Free From Having
Oppressed". The motto of the United States Army
Liber Been Oppressed
Special Forces.
de profundis from the depths Out of the depths of misery or dejection. From the Latin
 translation of Psalm 130.
In logic, de dicto statements (about the truth of a
de re about the matter proposition) are distinguished from de re statements
(about the properties of a thing itself).
Also Dei Gratia Rex (By the Grace of God, King).
Dei Gratia By the Grace of
Abbreviated as D G REG preceding Fidei Defensor (F D)
Regina God, Queen
on British pounds, and as D G Regina on Canadian coins.
Dei sub numine under God's Spirit
Motto of Princeton University.
viget she flourishes
In Catholic theology, a pleasure taken in sinful thought
or imagination, such as brooding on sexual images. It is
delectatio morosa peevish delight distinct from actual sexual desire, and involves
voluntary and complacent erotic fantasizing, without
any attempt to suppress such thoughts.
A translation into Latin from René Goscinny's ils sont
deliriant isti They are mad,
fous, ces romains!, frequently issued by Obelix in the
Romani those Romans!
Asterix comics.
Deo ac veritati God and Truth Motto of Colgate University.
for God and for
Deo domuique Motto of Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne.
home
for God and
Deo et Patriae Motto of Regis High School (New York City).
Country
The semi-Hispanicized form Deogracias is a Philippine
Deo gratias thanks [be] to God
first name.
Deo juvente with God's help
Derived from the Pagan Iupiter Optimo Maximo (To the
Deo Optimo To the Best and
best and greatest Jupiter). Printed on bottles of
Maximo (DOM) Greatest God
Bénédictine liqueur.
with God as Motto of the Confederate States of America. An
Deo vindice
protector alternate translation is "With an avenging God".
This was often used in conjunction with a signature at
the end of letters. It was used in order to signify that
Deo volente God willing "God willing" this letter will get to you safely, "God
willing" the contents of this letter come true. See also:
Insha'Allah.
deus caritas est God is Love The first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI.
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
a god from a
deus ex machina lowering by machine an actor playing a god or goddess,
machine
typically either Athena or (as in Euripides) the Dioscuri
onto the stage to resolve an insuperable conflict in the
plot.
Deus vult God wills it! The principal slogan of the Crusades.
deus otiosus God at leisure
I.e. "From a rule without exception." Short for A dicto
simpliciter, the a often being dropped by confusion with
the indefinite article. A dicto simpliciter occurs when an
acceptable exception is ignored or eliminated. For
[From] a maxim, instance, the appropriateness of using opiates is
Dicto simpliciter
simply dependent on the presence of extreme pain. To justify
the recreational use of opiates by referring to a cancer
patient or to justify arresting said cancer patient by
comparing him to the recreational user would be a dicto
simpliciter.
dictum meum my word [is] my
Motto of the London Stock Exchange
pactum bond
From the Roman Emperor Titus. Passed down in
diem perdidi I have lost the day Suetonius's biography of him in Lives of the Twelve
Caesars (8)
Diem Ex Dei Day of God
Refers to the Judgment Day in Christian eschatology.
The name of a famous 13th-century Medieval Latin
Dies Irae Day of Wrath
hymn by Tommaso da Celano, used in the Mass for the
dead.
Days under common law (traditionally Sunday) in
Dies non Day without which no legal process can be served and any judgment
juridicum judiciary is void. This concept was first codified by the English
Parliament in the reign of Charles II.
differentia
specific differences
specifica
In Classical Latin, "I arrange". State motto of Maine.
dirigo I direct Based on a comparison of the state of Maine to the star
Polaris.
In other words, the gods have different plans than
it seemed otherwise
dis aliter visum mortals, and so events do not always play out as people
to the gods
wish them to.
Refers to the Manes, Roman spirits of the dead. Loosely
"To the memory of". A conventional inscription
dis manibus Sacred to the preceding the name of the deceased on pagan grave
sacrum (D.M.S.) ghost-gods markings, 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".
Disce aut Discede Learn or Depart Motto of Royal College, Colombo.
disce quasi Learn as if always
Attributed to St Edmund of Abingdon.
semper victurus going to live; live
vive quasi cras as if tomorrow
moriturus going to die.
discipuli nostri Our students are
bardissimi sunt the stupidest
That is, "scattered remains". Paraphrased from Horace,
Satires, I, 4, 62, where it was written "disiecti membra
disjecta membra scattered limbs
poetae" (limbs of a scattered poet). Also written as
disiecta membra.
State motto of Arizona, adopted in 1911. Probably
ditat Deus God enriches
derived from the Vulgate's translation of Genesis 14:23.
A Roman maxim adopted by Julius Caesar, Louis XI
divide et impera divide and rule and Machiavelli. Commonly rendered "divide and
conquer".
A popular eloquent expression, usually used in the end
dixi I have spoken of a speech. The implied meaning is: "I have said all
that I had to say and thus the argument is settled".
Used to attribute a statement or opinion to its author,
["...", ...] dixit ["...", ...] said
rather than the speaker.
I give that you may Often said or written for sacrifices, when one "gives"
do ut des
give and expects something back from the gods.
It is learned by Also translated "One learns by teaching." Attributed to
Docendo discitur
teaching Seneca the Younger.
Docendo disco, I learn by teaching,
scribendo cogito think by writing.
"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
dolus specialis special intent
‘specific intent,’ a notion used in the common law
almost exclusively within the context of the defense of
voluntary intoxication."—Genocide scholar William
Schabas[4]
Domine dirige
Lord guide us Motto of the City of London.
nos
Dominus
the Lord is my light Motto of the University of Oxford.
Illuminatio Mea
Phrase used during and at the end of Catholic sermons,
Dominus and a general greeting form among and towards
Lord be with you
vobiscum members of Catholic organizations, such as priests and
nuns. See also pax vobiscum.
Often set to music, either by itself or as part of the
dona nobis pacem give us peace Agnus Dei prayer of the Mass (see above). Also an
ending in the video game Haunting Ground.
 giving in A legal concept where a person in imminent mortal
donatio mortis
expectation of danger need not meet the requisite consideration to
causa
death create or modify a will.
draco dormiens a sleeping dragon 'Motto of the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry
nunquam is never to be Potter series; translated more loosely in the books as
titillandus tickled "never tickle a sleeping dragon".
More literally, "the masks of the drama"; more
dramatis
the parts of the play figuratively, "cast of characters". The characters
personae
represented in a dramatic work.
Duae tabulae Two blank slates
Stan Laurel, inscription for the fanclub logo Sons of the
rasae in quibus with nothing
Desert.
nihil scriptum est written upon them
Ducunt volentem The fates lead the
fata, nolentem willing and drag Attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
trahunt the unwilling
This is the motto for the United States Marine Corps'
Leadership by
Ductus exemplo Officer Candidates School located at Marine Corps
Example
Base Quantico; Quantico, Virginia.
War may seem pleasant to those who have never been
dulce bellum war is sweet to the
involved in it, though the more experienced know
inexpertis inexperienced
better. A phrase from Erasmus in the 16th century.
dulce et decorum It is sweet and From Horace, Odes III, 2, 13. Used by Wilfred Owen
est pro patria honorable to die for for the title of a poem about World War I, Dulce et
mori the fatherland. Decorum Est.
Horace wrote in his Ars Poetica that poetry must be
a sweet and useful
dulce et utile dulce et utile (pleasant and profitable), both enjoyable
thing
and instructive.
Horace, Odes III, 25, 16. Motto of the Scottish clan
dulce periculum danger is sweet
MacAulay.
sweeter after
Dulcius ex asperis Motto of the Scottish clan Fergusson.[5]
difficulties
while I breathe, I
dum spiro spero State motto of South Carolina. From Cicero.
hope
dum Roma while Rome Used when someone has been asked for urgent help, but
deliberat debates, Saguntum responds with no immediate action. Similar to Hannibal
Saguntum perit is in danger ante portas, but referring to a less personal danger.
dum vivimus While we live, we
motto of Presbyterian College.
servimus serve
the law [is] harsh,
dura lex sed lex
but [it is] the law
dura mater tough mother Outer covering of the brain.
dum vita est, spes while there is life,
est there is hope
dux bellorum War leader

[edit] E
Latin Translation Notes
Usually translated 'Out of many, (is) One.' Motto of
'From many, the United States of America. Used on many U.S.
e pluribus unum
(comes) One.' coins and inscribed on the Capitol. Also used as the
motto of S.L. Benfica.
From the Latin Vulgate Gospel according to St. John
(XIX.v) (19.5, Douay-Rheims), where Pilate speaks
these words as he presents Christ, crowned with
thorns, to the crowd. It is also the title of Nietzsche's
Ecce Homo 'Behold the Man'
autobiography and of the theme music by Howard
Goodall for the BBC comedy Mr. Bean. Oscar Wilde
opened his defense with this phrase when on trial for
pederasty.
editio princeps 'first edition' The first printed edition of a work.
"for example"; abbreviation for exempli gratia,
'for the sake of
e.g. below. Often confused with id est (i.e.)[1]. e.g. is used
example'
to introduce one or more examples.
Ego non 'not I'
Part of the absolution-formula spoken by a priest as
ego te absolvo 'I absolve you'
part of the sacrament of Penance (cf. absolvo).
ego te provoco 'I dare you'
Also 'worn-out'. Retired from office. Often used to
denote a position held at the point of retirement, as an
emeritus 'veteran' honor, such as professor emeritus or provost
emeritus. This does not necessarily mean that the
honoree is no longer active.
Or 'being one's own cause'. Traditionally, a being that
'existing because of
ens causa sui owes its existence to no other being, hence God or a
oneself'
Supreme Being (cf. Primum Mobile).
ense petit placidam 'by the sword she
sub libertate seeks gentle peace State motto of Massachusetts, adopted in 1775.
quietem under liberty'
entitas ipsa involvit
'reality involves a
aptitudinem ad A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the
power to compel
extorquendum nature of truth.
sure assent'
certum assensum
eo ipso 'by that very act' Technical term used in philosophy and the law. It
 means 'by that very act'; similar to ipso facto.
Example: "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean
that I think." From Latin eo ipso, ablative form of id
ipsum, "that (thing) itself".
eo nomine 'by that name'
'do not trust the
equo ne credite Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48-49 (Latin)
horse'
'in relation to
erga omnes
everyone'
ergo 'therefore' Denotes a logical conclusion (cf. cogito ergo sum).
From Seneca the Younger. The full quote is errare
errare humanum est 'to err is human' humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum: 'to err
is human, but to persist is diabolical.'
Or 'mistake'. Lists of errors in a previous edition of a
erratum 'error' work are often marked with the plural, errata
('errors').
George Berkeley's motto for his idealist philosophical
'to be is to be
esse est percipi position that nothing exists independently of its
perceived'
perception by a mind except minds themselves.
Truly being something, rather than merely seeming to
be something. State motto of North Carolina and
academic motto of several schools, including North
Carolina State University, Berklee College of Music,
and Columbia College Chicago as well as Connell's
Point Public School and Cranbrook High School in
Sydney, Australia. From chapter 26 of Cicero's De
'to be, rather than
esse quam videri amicitia ('On Friendship'). Earlier than Cicero, the
to seem'
phrase had been used by Sallust in his Bellum
Catilinae (54.6), where he wrote that Cato esse quam
videri bonus malebat ('he 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 ('his resolve is
not to seem the best, but in fact to be the best').
Said of Venice by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo
'may it be Sarpi shortly before his death. Also the state motto of
esto perpetua
perpetual' Idaho, adopted in 1867, and of S. Thomas' College,
Sri Lanka.
A less common variant on et cetera used at the end of
et alibi (et al.) 'and elsewhere'
a list of locations to denote unlisted places.
Used similarly to et cetera ('and the rest'), to stand for
a list of names. Alii is actually masculine, so it can be
et alii (et al.) 'and others'
used for men, or groups of men and women; the
feminine, et aliae (or et aliæ), is appropriate when the
 'others' are all female. Et alia is neuter plural and thus
properly used only for inanimate, genderless objects,
but some use it as a gender-neutral alternative.[6]
APA style uses et al. if the work cited was written by
more than six authors; MLA style uses et al. for more
than three authors.
et cetera (etc.) or In modern usages, also used to mean 'and so on' or
'And the rest'
(&c.) 'and more'.
'And light was
et facta est lux From Genesis 1:3 "and there was light".
made'
'And all that sort of
et hoc genus omne Abbreviated to e.h.g.o. or ehgo
thing'
'and in Arcadia In other words, 'I, too, am in Arcadia'. See memento
et in Arcadia ego
[am] I' mori.
'And now, O ye
et nunc reges kings, understand:
From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate), 2.10
intelligite erudimini receive instruction,
(Douay-Rheims).
qui judicati terram you that judge the
earth.'
Pluralized as et sequentia ('and the following things'),
et sequentes (et seq.) 'and the following'
abbreviations: et seqq., et seq.., or sqq.
et suppositio nil 'a supposition puts More typically translated as either (a) "Sayin' it don't
ponit in esse nothing in being' make it so", or (b) "Hypothetically..."
Also 'Even you, Brutus?' or 'You too, Brutus?' Used
to indicate a betrayal by someone close. From
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, based on the traditional
dying words of Julius Caesar. However, these were
almost certainly not Caesar's true last words; Plutarch
et tu, Brute? 'And you, Brutus?' quotes Caesar as saying, in Greek (which was the
language of Rome's elite at the time), καὶ σὺ τέκνον;
(Kaì sù téknon?), in English 'You as well, (my)
child?', quoting from Menander. Some have
speculated based on this that Brutus was Caesar's
child, though there is no substantial evidence of this.
et uxor (et ux.) 'and wife' A legal term.
et vir 'and husband' A legal term.
Etiamsi omnes, ego 'Even if all others...
Peter to Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:33)
non I will not'
ex abundanti 'from abundant
cautela caution'
'For out of the From the Gospel according to St. Matthew, XII.xxxiv
ex abundantia enim
abundance of the (Vulgate), 12.34 (Douay-Rheims) and the Gospel
cordis os loquitur
heart the mouth according to St. Luke, VI.xlv (Vulgate), 6.45
 speaketh.' (Douay-Rheims). Sometimes rendered without enim
('for').
ex aequo 'from the equal' 'On equal footing', i.e., 'in a tie'.
Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, VIII/42
ex Africa semper 'Always something
(verbatim: unde etiam vulgare Graeciae dictum
aliquid novi new from Africa'
semper aliquid novi Africam adferre)[7]
ex animo 'from the heart' Thus, 'sincerely'.
'Beforehand', 'before the event'. Based on prior
ex ante 'from before'
assumptions. A forecast.
The motto of the fictional Starfleet Academy on Star
'From the Stars,
Ex Astris Scientia Trek. Adapted from ex luna scientia, which in turn
Knowledge'
was modeled after ex scientia tridens.
A phrase applied to the declarations or promulgations
of the Pope when, in communion with the college of
cardinals, preserved from the possibility of error by
the action of the Holy Spirit (see Papal Infallibility),
he solemnly declares or promulgates ("from the
chair" that was the ancient symbol of the teacher and
ex cathedra 'from the chair'
of the governor, in this case of the church) a
dogmatic teaching 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.
ex Deo 'from God'
'From harmful deceit'; dolus malus is the Latin legal
term for 'fraud'. The full legal phrase is ex dolo malo
non oritur actio ('an action does not arise from
ex dolo malo 'from fraud' 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.
Idiomatically rendered 'on the face of it'. A legal term
ex facie 'from the face' typically used to note that a document's explicit terms
are defective without further investigation.
'from faith [comes]
ex fide fiducia A motto of St George's College, Harare.
confidence'
More literally 'from grace'. Refers to someone
voluntarily performing an act purely out of kindness,
ex gratia 'from kindness' as opposed to for personal gain or from being forced
to do it. In law, an ex gratia payment is one made
without recognizing any liability or legal obligation.
'from the
ex hypothesi Thus, 'by hypothesis'.
hypothesis'
ex lege 'from the law'
Precedes a person's name, with the meaning of 'from
ex libris 'from the books'
the library of...'; also a bookplate.
The motto of the Apollo 13 moon mission, derived
'from the moon,
ex luna scientia from ex scientia tridens, the motto of Jim Lovell's
knowledge'
Alma Mater, the United States Naval Academy.
From St. Augustine's "Sermon LXI" where he
contradicts Seneca's dictum in Epistulae 87:22:
ex malo bonum 'good out of evil' bonum ex malo non fit (good does not come from
evil). Also: the alias of the Anberlin song,
"Miserabile Visu" from their album New Surrender.
ex mea sententia 'in my opinion'
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' (cf. causality). It is
commonly applied to the conservation laws in
philosophy and modern science. Ex nihilo often used
'nothing may come
ex nihilo nihil fit in conjunction with the term creation, as in creatio ex
from nothing'
nihilo, meaning 'creation, out of nothing'. It is often
used in philosophy or 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.
ex novo 'from new' Said of something that has been built from scratch.
ex oblivione 'from oblivion' The title of a short story by H.P. Lovecraft.
By virtue of office or position; 'by right of office'.
Often used when someone holds one position by
ex officio 'from the office' virtue of holding another. A common misconception
is that ex officio members of a committee or congress
may not vote, but this is not guaranteed by that title.
A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere
'from the work of operato, referring to the notion that the validity or
ex opere operantis
the 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 literally
'from the work
ex opere operato cleansing one's sins. The Catholic Church affirms
worked'
that the source of grace is God, not just the actions or
disposition of the minister or the recipient of the
sacrament.
ex oriente lux 'from the East, the Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but
 light' alludes to culture coming from the Eastern world.
Motto of Viadrina European University and others.
A legal term meaning 'by one party' or 'for one party'.
ex parte 'from a part'
Thus, on behalf of one side or party only.
'from Hercules' From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall know
ex pede Herculem
foot' his size; from a part, the whole.
'Afterward', 'after the event'. Based on knowledge of
ex post 'from after'
the past. Measure of past performance.
'from a thing done
ex post facto Said of a law with retroactive effect.
afterward'
'with due Said of the person who perfectly knows his art or
ex professo
competence' science.
The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to
'from knowledge, knowledge bringing men power over the sea
ex scientia tridens
sea power.' comparable to that of the trident-bearing Greek god
Poseidon.
'from knowledge, The motto of the College of Graduate Studies at
ex scientia vera
truth.' 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
ex silentio 'from silence' an argument based on the assumption 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 opposite of 'in situ'
'This instant', 'right away' or 'immediately'. Also
ex tempore 'from time'
written extempore.
'from the force of
ex vi termini Thus, 'by definition'.
the term'
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.
'Ever upward!' The state motto of New York. Also a
excelsior 'higher'
catch phrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.
A juridical principle which means that exception, as
'The exception for example during a 'state of exception', does not put
exceptio firmat (or
confirms the rule in in danger the legitimacy of the rule in its globality. In
probat) regulam in
cases which are not other words, the exception is strictly limited to a
casibus non exceptis
excepted' particular sphere. See also exceptio strictissimi juris
est and exceptio probat regulam in casibus non
 exceptis; often mistranslated as "the exception that
proves the rule".
'an excuse that has
More loosely, 'he who excuses himself, accuses
excusatio non petita not been sought is
himself'—an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt. In
accusatio manifesta an obvious
French, qui s'excuse, s'accuse.
accusation'
exeat 'may he/she leave' A formal leave of absence.
Usually shortened in English to 'for example' (see
citation signal). Often confused with id est (i.e.).[8]
'for the sake of
exempli gratia (e.g.) Exempli gratia,'for example', is commonly
example'
abbreviated 'e.g.'; in this usage it is sometimes
followed by a comma, depending on style.[9]
exercitus sine duce 'an army without
On a plaque at the former military staff building of
corpus est sine leader is like a
the Swedish Armed Forces.
spiritu body without spirit'
Third-person plural present active indicative of the
exeunt 'they leave' Latin verb exire; also extended to exeunt omnes, 'all
leave'; singular: exit.
This term has been used in dermatopathology to
express that there is no substitute for experience in
experientia docet 'experience teaches' dealing with all the numerous variations that may
occur with skin conditions.[10] The term has also been
used in gastroenterology.[11]
experimentum Literally 'experiment of the cross'. A decisive test of a
'crucial experiment'
crucis scientific theory.
Literally 'believe one who has had experience'. An
experto crede 'trust the expert'
author's aside to the reader.
'Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing'. A
principle of legal statutory interpretation: the explicit
presence of a thing implies intention to exclude
'the expression of
others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief Act 1601
expressio unius est the one is the
to 'lands, houses, tithes and coal mines' was held to
exclusio alterius exclusion of the
exclude mines other than coal mines. Sometimes
other'
expressed as expressum facit cessare tacitum
(broadly, 'the expression of one thing excludes the
implication of something else').
adjective: extant law is still existing, in existence,
'still in existence;
extant existent, surviving, remaining, undestroyed. Usage,
surviving'
when a law is repealed the extant law governs.
Refers to a possible result of Catholic ecclesiastical
'(placed) outside of
extra domus legal proceedings when the culprit is removed from
the house'
being part of a group like a monastery.
Extra Ecclesiam 'Outside the This expression comes from the writings of Saint
nulla salus Church there is no Cyprian of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It
 salvation' is 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 spoken, all those
Extra omnes 'Out, all of you.'
who are not Cardinals, or those otherwise mandated
to be present at the Conclave, must leave the Sistine
Chapel.
'he who
administers justice
extra territorium
outside of his Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited in
jus dicenti impune
territory is law of the sea cases on the high seas.
non paretur
disobeyed with
impunity'

[edit] F
Latin Translation Notes
faber est suae Every man is the
Appius Claudius Caecus. Motto of Fort Street High
quisque artisan of his own
School in Petersham, Sydney , Australia.
fortunae fortune
fac fortia et do brave deeds
Motto of Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, Australia.
patere and endure
make a similar
fac simile Origin of the word facsimile, and, through it, of fax.
thing
Motto of United States Navy Destroyer Squadron 22 and
Joint Task Force 2, Star of the Sea College, Convent of
Holy Child Jesus School, Layton Hill, Blackpool, and
facta, non verba actions, not words Southwood Boys' Grammar School in Ringwood, Victoria,
Australia and Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley,
Greater Manchester, in England, and Bartley Secondary
School in Singapore.
A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness who
falsus in uno, willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter.
false in one thing,
falsus in The underlying motive for attorneys to impeach opposing
false in everything
omnibus witnesses in court: the principle discredits the rest of their
testimony if it is without corroboration.
felix qui potuit
happy is he who
rerum Virgil. "Rerum cognoscere causas" is the motto of the
can discover the
cognoscere University of Sheffield.
causes of things
causas
An archaic legal term for one who commits suicide,
felo de se felon from himself
referring to early English common law punishments, such
 as land seizure, inflicted on those who killed themselves.
fere libenter
men generally
homines id People's beliefs are shaped largely by their desires. Julius
believe what they
quod volunt Caesar, The Gallic War 3.18
want to
credunt
An oxymoronic motto of Augustus. It encourages
proceeding quickly, but with calm and caution. Equivalent
festina lente hurry slowly
to 'More haste, less speed'. Motto of The Madeira School,
McLean, Virginia.
let justice be done,
fiat iustitia et
though the world Motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
pereat mundus
shall perish
fiat justitia ruat let justice be done
Attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus.
caelum should the sky fall
Less literally, "let light arise" or "let there be light" (cf. lux
sit). From the Latin translation of Genesis, "dixitque Deus
fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God said, 'Let light be
made', and light was made.") The motto of Parkland
Composite High School, the University of California,
University of Washington, Clark University, Waynesburg
fiat lux let light be made University, Angelo State University, University of
Lethbridge, Rollins College, Hiram College, Alfred
University and Kitsilano Secondary School. It is also the
motto of the Conservatorium High School in Sydney,
Australia. It is incorporated into the logo of the University
of Liverpool and Emmanuel College at the University of
Queensland.
May God's will be
fiat voluntas Dei
done
The motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman
fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done
Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
A title given to Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on
Fidei Defensor Defender of the October 17, 1521 before Henry became a heresiarch. Still
(Fid Def) or (fd) Faith used by the British monarchs, it appears on all British
coins, usually abbreviated.
Sometimes mistranslated to "Keep the faith", when used in
contemporary English-language writings of all kinds to
"He knows the
fidem scit convey a light-hearted wish for the reader's well-being.
faith"
The humor comes from the phrase's similarity in
pronunciation to the words "Feed 'em shit".
fides qua the faith by which the personal faith which apprehends, contrasted with fides
creditur' it is believed quae creditur
fides quae the faith which is the content of "the faith," contrasted with fides qua
creditur believed creditur
fides quaerens "faith seeking
the motto of Saint Anselm, found in his Proslogion
intellectum understanding
A faithful friend. From the name of Aeneas's faithful
fidus Achates faithful Achates
companion in Virgil's Aeneid.
The end of Life is
finis vitae sed
not the end of
non amoris
Love
Let there be
omnibus locis fit
slaughter Julius Caesar's The Gallic War, 7.67
caedes
everywhere
Referred to Attila the Hun, when he led his armies to
flagellum dei scourge of god
invade the Western Roman Empire.
flectere si
If I cannot move
nequeo superos,
heaven I will raise Virgil's Aeneid - Book 7
Achaeronta
hell
movebo
floreat etona May Eton Flourish Motto of Eton College
Indicates the period when a historical figure whose birth
floruit (fl.) one flourished
and death dates are unknown was most active.
fluctuat nec she wavers and is
Motto of Paris.
mergitur not immersed
the spring and
fons et origo "The fountainhead and beginning". The source and origin.
source
the fount of
fons sapientiae,
knowledge is the The motto of Bishop Blanchet High School.
verbum Dei
word of God.
fortes fortuna Fortune favours
The motto of the 3rd Marine Regiment
adiuvat the bold
"Fortes in Fide" is the Motto of Ateneo de Davao
fortes in fide strong in faith University. Used "Fortiores in Fide"(Stronger in Faith)
during the 50th Anniversary in 1998]
fortis cadere, The brave may
cedere non fall, but cannot Motto of Fahnestock Family Arms.
potest' yield
fortis est veritas truth is strong Motto on the coat of arms of Oxford, England.
fortis et liber strong and free Motto of Alberta.
fortiter et bravely and Motto of The King's School, Parramatta, Australia, and
fideliter faithfully Pangbourne College, UK

[edit] G
Latin Translation Notes
gaudeamus hodie let us rejoice today
therefore let us First words of a famous academic anthem used,
gaudeamus igitur
rejoice among other places, in The Student Prince.
gaudium in
joy in truth
veritate
A principle of legal statutory interpretation: If a
generalia universal things do
matter falls under a specific provision and a general
specialibus non not detract from
provision, it shall be governed by the specific
derogant specific things
provision.
The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a
place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk
genius loci spirit of place tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was
literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature
usually depicted as a snake.
gesta non verba deeds, not words Motto of James Ruse Agricultural High School.
Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title
Gloria in Excelsis Glory to God in the and beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic
Deo Highest doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad
maiorem Dei gloriam.
Gloria Patri Glory to the Father The beginning of the Lesser Doxology.
gloriosus et liber glorious and free Motto of Manitoba
gradibus
ascending by degrees Motto of Grey College, Durham
ascendimus
by degrees,
gradatim ferociter Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin
ferociously
By hard work, all
Grandescunt
things increase and Motto of McGill University
Aucta Labore
grow
gratiae veritas truth through God's
Motto of Uppsala University
naturae mercy and nature
graviora manent heavier things remain more severe things await, the worst is yet to come
gutta cavat a water drop hollows
main phrase is from Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10,
lapidem [non vi a stone [not by force,
5.[12]; expanded in the Middle Ages
sed saepe cadendo] but by falling often]

[edit] H
Latin Translation Notes
You should have A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a
habeas corpus
the body number of legal writs to bring a person before a court or
 judge, most commonly habeas corpus ad subjiciendum
(you may have the body to bring up). Commonly used as
the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge
the legality of their detention.
Used after a Roman Catholic Church papal election to
habemus papam we have a pope
announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope.
Books have their
Habent sua fata destiny [according
libelli to the capabilities
of the reader]
hac lege with this law
haec olim one day, this will Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look
meminisse be pleasing to back on this and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also,
iuvabit remember motto of the Jefferson Society.
Hannibal ante Hannibal before Refers to wasting time while the enemy is already here.
portas the gates Attributed to Cicero.
Hannibal ad Hannibal is at the Roman parents would tell their misbehaving children this,
portas gates invoking their fear of Hannibal.
haud ignota I speak not of Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's
loquor unknown things Aeneid, 2.91.
hic abundant
here lions abound Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
leones
hic et nunc here and now
Also rendered hic iacet. Written on gravestones or tombs,
preceding the name of the deceased. Equivalent to hic
hic jacet (HJ) here lies
sepultus (here is buried), and sometimes combined into
hic jacet sepultus (HJS), "here lies buried".
According to Titus Livius the phrase was pronounced by
Marcus Furius Camillus, addressing the senators who
hic manebimus here we'll stay
intended to abandon the city, invaded by Gauls, in 390
optime excellently
BCE circa. It is used today to express the intent to keep
one's position even if the circumstances appear adverse.
hic sunt here there are
Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
dracones dragons
hic sunt leones here there are lions Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
From Terence, Andria, line 125. Originally literal,
hinc illae referring to the tears shed by Pamphilus at the funeral of
hence those tears
lacrimae Chrysis, it came to be used proverbally in the works of
later authors, such as Horace (Epistula XIX, 41).
historia vitae history, the teacher From Cicero, Tusculanas, 2, 16. Also "history is the
magistra of life mistress of life".
Motto of Bradford Grammar School, often purposefully
hoc age do this
mistranslated by pupils as "Just do it!".
hoc est bellum This is war
hoc est
Christum To know Christ is
Famous dictum by the Reformer Melanchthon in his Loci
cognoscere, to know his
Communes of 1521
beneficia eius benefits
cognoscere
The words of Jesus reiterated in Latin during the Roman
Hoc Est Enim
This is my Body Catholic Eucharist. "Hoc Est Corpus" May be the source
Corpus Meum
of the expression "hocus-pocus".[citation needed]
First attested in Plautus' Asinaria (lupus est homo homini).
homo homini man [is a] wolf to
The sentence was drawn on by Hobbes in Leviathan as a
lupus man
concise expression of his human nature view.
From Terence, Heautontimoroumenos. Originally
"strange" or "foreign" (alienum) was used in the sense of
homo sum I am a human "irrelevant", as this line was a response to the speaker
humani a me being; nothing being told to mind his own business, but it is now
nihil alienum human is strange commonly used to advocate respecting different cultures
puto to me and being humane in general. Puto (I consider) is not
translated because it is meaningless outside of the line's
context within the play.
homo unius libri (I fear) a man of
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas
(timeo) one book
hominem non Treat the Man, not
Motto of the Far Eastern University - Institute of Nursing
morbum cura the Disease
honor virtutis esteem is the
Motto of Arnold School, Blackpool, England
praemium reward of virtue
for the sake of Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science
honoris causa
honor honoris causa".
hora fugit the hour flees See tempus fugit.
at the hour of
hora somni (h.s.) Medical shorthand for "at bedtime".
sleep
horas non I do not count the
numero nisi hours unless they A common inscription on sundials.
serenas are sunny
A garden in the Motto of the Chicago Park District, a playful allusion to
hortus in urbe
city the city's motto, urbs in horto, q.v.
hortus siccus A dry garden A collection of dry, preserved plants.
That is, "a horrible thing to relate". A pun on mirabile
horribile dictu horrible to say
dictu.
hostis humani enemy of the Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of
generis human race humanity in general.
hypotheses non I do not fabricate From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert
fingo hypotheses that any hypotheses are true".
[edit] I
Latin Translation Notes
Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to
ibidem (ibid.) in the same place
the last source previously referenced.
Used to refer to something that has already been
idem (id.) the same
cited. See also ibidem.
idem quod (i.q.) the same as Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient.
"That is (to say)" in the sense of "that means" and
"which means", or "in other words", or sometimes
"in this case", depending on the context; may be
id est (i.e.) that is
followed by a comma, or not, depending on style
(American English and British English
respectively).
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.
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.
Direct quote from the Vulgate, John 19:19. The
Iesus Nazarenus Jesus of Nazareth, inscription was written in Latin, Greek and Aramaic
Rex Iudaeorum King of the Jews at the top of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
(INRI)
(John 19:20)
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.
bellum prepare for war
igne natura through fire, nature is An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate
renovatur 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.
A phrase referring to the refining of character
ignis aurum probat fire tests gold through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto
of the Prometheus Society
ignis fatuus foolish fire Will-o'-the-wisp.
ignorantia legis non ignorance of the law A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does
excusat is no excuse not allow one to escape liability.
The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making
ignoratio elenchi ignorance of the issue
an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't
 prove or support the proposition it claims to. An
ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt to
mislead or confuse the opposing party is known as a
red herring. Elenchi is from the Greek elenchos.
An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be
ignotum per unknown by means
explained. Synonymous with obscurum per
ignotius of the more unknown
obscurius.
ignotus (ign.) unknown
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
imperium in an order within an
leader(s).
imperio order
2. A "fifth column" organization operating against
the organization within which they seemingly
reside.
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, neverending empire, the endless (sine
fine) empire.
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 actu in act "In the very act/In reality".
in articulo mortis at the point of death
in camera in the chamber Figuratively, "in secret". See also camera obscura.
in casu 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
the poison is in the
in cauda venenum towards the end — or more generally waits till the
tail
end to reveal an intention or statement that is
undesirable in the listener's eyes.
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.
in Deo speramus in God we hope Motto of Brown University.
Index of Prohibited
Index Librorum A list of books considered heretical by the Roman
(or, Forbidden)
Prohibitorum Catholic Church.
Books
indivisibiliter ac indivisible and Motto of Austria-Hungary prior to its separation
inseparabiliter inseparable into independent states in 1918.
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
in effigie in the likeness
to "in the flesh" or "in person".
in esse in existence In actual existence; as opposed to in posse.
"In full", "at full length", "completely",
in extenso in the extended
"unabridged".
In extremity; in dire straits. Also "at the point of
in extremis in the furthest reaches
death" (cf. in articulo mortis).
in fidem into faith To the verification of faith.
in fieri in becoming Thus, "pending".
At the end.
in fine (i.f.) in the end
The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the
end of page 157".
Infinitus est Infinite is the number
numerus stultorum. of fools.
The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the
Infirma mundi God chooses the
bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which is now the
elegit Deus weak of the world
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Equivalent to the English idiom "caught red-
in a blazing wrong,
handed": caught in the act of committing a crime.
in flagrante delicto while the crime is
Sometimes carried the connotation of being caught
blazing
in a "compromising position".
in flore in blossom Blooming.
in foro in forum Legal term for "in court".
infra dignitatem beneath one's dignity
(infra dig)
We enter the circle at
in girum imus nocte A palindrome said to describe the behavior of
night and are
et consumimur igni moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.
consumed by fire
Words Constantine claimed to have seen in a vision
by this sign you will
in hoc signo vinces before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Motto of
conquer
Sigma Chi fraternity.
Describes a meeting called for a particular stated
in hunc effectum for this purpose
purpose only.
"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.
in inceptum finis lit.: in the beginning
or: the beginning foreshadows the end
est is the end
Preliminary, in law referring to a motion that is
in limine at the outset made to the judge before or during trial, often about
the admissibility of evidence believed prejudicial
That is, "at the place".

in loco in the place The nearby labs were closed for the
weekend, so the water samples were
analyzed in loco.
A legal term meaning "assuming parental (i.e.,
in the place of a custodial) responsibility and authority". Primary
in loco parentis
parent and secondary teachers are typically bound by law
to act in loco parentis.
in luce Tua in Thy light we see
Motto of Valparaiso University.
videmus lucem light
in lumine tuo in your light we will Motto of Columbia University and Ohio Wesleyan
videbimus lumen see the light University.
in manus tuas
into your hands I According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on
commendo
entrust my spirit the cross.
spiritum meum
From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of
beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late
into the middle of point in, the story, after much action has already
in medias res
things taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the
Odyssey, the Lusíadas 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.
"Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical
in necessariis in necessary things
sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the
unitas, in dubiis unity, in doubtful
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen
libertas, in omnibus things liberty, in all
Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed to
caritas things charity
Augustine of Hippo.
in the name of the Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name
in nomine domini
Lord of a 1050 papal bull.
I.e., "in potentiality." Comparable to "potential", "to
in nuce in a nut
be developed".
Motto of the so-called secret society of Yale in the
In omnia paratus Ready for anything.
television show Gilmore Girls.
in omnibus Everywhere I have
requiem quaesivi, searched for peace Quote by Thomas à Kempis
et nusquam inveni and nowhere found it,
nisi in angulo cum except in a corner
libro with a book
That is, "in the land of the infidels", infidels here
referring to non-Christians. After Islam conquered a
in partibus in the parts of the
large part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding
infidelium infidels
bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as titular
sees.
A Cardinal named in secret by the pope. See also ab
in pectore in the heart
imo pectore.
"Directed towards a particular person". In a lawsuit
in which the case is against a specific individual,
that person must be served with a summons and
complaint to give the court jurisdiction to try the
case. The court's judgment applies to that person
and is called an "in personam judgment." In
personam is distinguished from in rem, which
applies to property or "all the world" instead of a
in personam into a person
specific person. This technical distinction is
important to determine where to file a lawsuit and
how to serve a defendant. In personam means that a
judgment can be enforceable against the person,
wherever he or she is. On the other hand, if the
lawsuit is to determine title to property (in rem),
then the action must be filed where the property
exists and is only enforceable there.
in posse in potential In the state of being possible; as opposed to in esse.
in propria persona in one's own person "Personally", "in person".
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.
A legal term used to indicate a court's jurisdiction
over a "thing" rather than a "legal person". As
opposed to "ad personam jurisdiction". Example: in
tenant landlord disputes, the summons and
In rem to the thing
complaint may be nailed to the door of a rented
property. This is because the litigant seeks
jurisdiction over "the premises" rather than "the
occupant".
See also Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature
in rerum natura in the nature of things
of Things).
 among things held Used to describe documents kept separately from
in retentis
back the regular records of a court for special reasons.
"In the secular world", that is, outside a monastery,
in saeculo in the times
or before death.
in salvo in safety
Coined in the early 1990s for scientific papers.
Refers to an experiment or process performed
virtually, as a computer simulation. The term is
in silico in silicon Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and
(Dog Latin)
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 dreams there is
In somnis veritas
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
To seek the general in That is, to understand the most general rules
generalia
the specifics through the most detailed analysis.
quaerimus
Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to
the current month, sometimes abbreviated as
instante mense in the present month instant; e.g.: "Thank you for your letter of the 17th
(inst.)
inst." — ult. mense = last month, prox. mense =
next month.
in the state of being
in statu nascendi Just as something is about to begin.
born
intaminatis fulget Untarnished, she From Horace’s Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford
honoribus shines with honor College.
unimpaired by life
integer vitae
and clean of From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.
scelerisque purus
wickedness
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.
inter arma enim In the face of arms, Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against
silent leges the law falls mute, unchecked political mobs that had virtually seized
 more popularly control of Rome in the '60s and '50s BC. Famously
rendered as In a time quoted in the essay Civil Disobedience by Henry
of war, the law falls David Thoreau as "The clatter of arms drowns out
silent. the voice of the law."
inter caetera among others Title of a papal bull
inter spem et between hope and
metum fear
Said of property transfers between living persons,
inter vivos between the living as opposed to inheritance; often relevant to tax
laws.
in toto in all "Totally", "entirely", "completely".
Thus, "not public". Source of the word intramural.
intra muros within the walls
See also Intramuros, Manila.
intra vires within the powers That is, "within the authority".
in triplo in triple "In triplicate".
in utero in the womb
in utrumque Prepared for either
Motto of the McKenzie clan.
paratus (event)
in vacuo in a void "In a vacuum". In isolation from other things.
In varietate The motto of the European Union and the Council
united in diversity
concordia of Europe
That is, wine loosens the tongue.
in wine [there is]
in vino veritas
truth
(Referring 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
thus outside of a living organism or cell. The
reference to glass is merely an historic one, as the
in vitro in glass
current usage of this term is not specific to the
materials involved, but rather to the "non-natural"
setting employed. Alternative experimental or
process methodologies include in vitro, in silico, ex
vivo and in vivo.
in life" or "in a living An experiment or process performed on a living
in vivo
thing specimen.
An expression used by biologists to express the fact
that laboratory findings that do not include testing
in a living thing
in vivo veritas on an organism (in vitro) are not always reflected
[there is] truth
when applied to an organism (in vivo). A pun on in
vino veritas.
I remain
invictus maneo Motto of the Armstrong Clan.
unvanquished
Iohannes est nomen John is his name / Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Puerto
eius Juan es su Nombre Rico
ipsa scientia knowledge itself is Famous phrase written by Sir Francis Bacon in
potestas est power 1597.
Commonly said in Medieval debates referring to
Aristotle, who was considered the supreme
authority on matters of philosophy. Used in general
to emphasize that some assertion comes from some
authority, i.e., as an argument from authority, and
ipse dixit he himself said it
the term ipse-dixitism has come to mean any
unsupported rhetorical assertion that lacks a logical
argument. Originally coined by Cicero in his De
Natura Deorum (I, 10) to describe the behavior of
the students of Pythagoras.
"Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim). Often used
the very words in Biblical Studies to describe the record of Jesus'
ipsissima verba
themselves teaching found in the New Testament (specifically,
the four Gospels).
To approximate the main thrust or message without
ipsissima voce the very 'voice' itself
using the exact words.
ipso facto by the fact itself Or "by that very fact".
Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient
world, the ancient Romans practiced pagan rituals,
believing it important to achieve a state of Pax
Ira Deorum Wrath of the Gods
Deorum (Peace of the Gods) instead of Ira Deorum
(Wrath of the Gods): earthquakes, floods, famine,
etc.
Wrath (anger) is but a
ira furor brevis est
brief madness
A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for
"yes", preferring to respond to questions with the
ita vero thus indeed affirmative or negative of the question (i.e., "Are
you hungry?" was answered by "I am hungry" or "I
am not hungry", not "Yes" or "No).
Loosely: "You have been dismissed". Concluding
ite missa est Go, it is the dismissal words addressed to the people in the Mass of the
Roman Rite.[13]
The path a law takes from its conception to its
iter legis The path of the law
implementation.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known
as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
to cut the throat of
iugulare mortuos It can mean attacking the work or personality of
corpses
deceased person. Alternatively, it can be used to
describe criticism of an individual already heavily
 criticised by others.
A legal principle in civil law countries of the
Roman-German tradition (e.g., in Spain,Germany,
the court knows the Italy and Brazil) that says that lawyers need not to
iura novit curia
laws argue the law, as that is the office of the court.
Sometimes miswritten as iura novat curia (the court
renews the laws).
iuris ignorantia est it is ignorance of the
cum ius nostrum law when we do not
ignoramus know our own rights
Commonly referred to as "right of survivorship": a
ius accrescendi right of accrual rule in property law that surviving joint tenants
have rights in equal shares to a decedent's property.
Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons for
ius ad bellum law towards war going to war. Typically, this would 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
ius in bello law in war address issues of 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 noctis law of the first night The droit de seigneur.
iustitia omnibus justice for all Motto of the Washington, D.C.
iuventutis veho I bear the fortunes of
Motto of Dollar Academy.
fortunas youth
iuventuti nil to the young nothing
Motto of Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
arduum is difficult

[edit] L
Latin Translation Notes
Labor omnia Hard work State motto of Oklahoma and many other institutions.
vincit conquers all Derived from a phrase in Virgil's Eclogue X (10.59: omnia
vincit Amor — "Love conquers all").
Laborare To work, (or) to
pugnare parati fight; we are Motto of the California Maritime Academy
sumus ready
Labore et By labour and
Motto of several schools
honore honour
Laboremus pro Let us work for
Motto of the Carlsberg breweries
patria the fatherland
Laboris gloria Work hard, Play
Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK
Ludi hard
A "proglossis", "tip of the tongue" or "apex of the tongue".
Often used to mean "linguistic error" or "language
mistake". It and its written-word variant, lapsus calami (slip
slip of the of the pen) can sometimes refers to a typographical error as
lapsus linguae
tongue well.

Ex.: "I'm sorry for mispronouncing your name. It wasn't

intentional; it was a lapsus linguae".
lapsus memoriae slip of memory Source of the term memory lapse.
Laudator praiser of time One who is discontent with the present but instead prefers
Temporis Acti past things of the past. See "the Good old days".
Laudetur Jesus Praise (Be) Jesus Often used as a salutation, but also used after prayers or the
Christus Christ reading of the gospel.
This is written on the East side at the peak of the
laus Deo praise be to God
Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a
lectori salutem greetings reader
letter.
Describes something genuine, true, real, tested, proven, not
according to the
lege artis assumed, not placebo. Used especially in a medical context.
law of the art
The 'art' referred to in the phrase is medicine.
the law of the
legem terrae
land
leges humanae
laws of man are
nascuntur,
born, live and
vivunt, et
die
moriuntur
leges sine laws without From Horace's Odes: the official motto of the University of
moribus vanae morals [are] vain Pennsylvania.
A legal term describing a "forced share", the portion of a
deceased person's estate from which the immediate family
legitime lawfully
cannot be disinherited. From the French héritier legitime
(rightful heir).
lex artis law of the skill The rules that regulate a professional duty.
the law of prayer
lex orandi, lex
is the law of
credendi
faith
lex dei vitae the law of God is
Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
lampas the lamp of life
the law that
lex ferenda The law as it ought to be.
should be borne
The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos or
the law here bequeath by testament to his or her second spouse more
lex hac edictali
proclaims than the amount of the smallest portion given or bequeathed
to any child.
lex in casu law in the event A law that only concerns one particular case.
the law that has
lex lata The law as it is.
been borne
lex loci law of the place
law that has not
lex non scripta Unwritten law, or common law.
been written
law of
lex parsimoniae also known as Ockhams Razor.
succinctness
A principle of government advocating a rule by law rather
than by men. The phrase originated as a double entendre in
lex rex the law [is] king the title of Samuel Rutherford's controversial book Lex, Rex
(1644), which espoused a theory of limited government and
constitutionalism.
lex scripta written law Statute law. Contrasted with lex non scripta.
the law of
lex talionis Retributive justice (cf. an eye for an eye).
retaliation
Name of musical composition by popular Maltese
lex tempus time is the law
electronic music artist Ray Buttigieg
Used in the movie Event Horizon (1997), where it is
translated as "save yourself (from hell)". It is initially
libera te tutemet Free yourself misheard as liberate me (free me), but is later corrected.
(ex inferis) (from hell) Libera te is often mistakenly merged into liberate, which
would necessitate a plural pronoun instead of the singular
tutemet (which is an emphatic form of tu, you).
Libertas Justitia Liberty Justice
Motto of the Korea University.
Veritas Truth
Libertas Quae freedom which Thus, "liberty even when it comes late". Motto of Minas
Sera Tamen [is] however late Gerais, Brazil.
Literally "balance". Its abbreviation, lb, is used as a unit of
libra (lb) scales
weight, the pound.
loco citato (lc) in the place cited More fully written in loco citato. See also opere citato.
The most typical or classic case of something; quotation
locus classicus a classic place
which most typifies its use.
Used in philology to indicate that subsequent mistakes in
the tradition of the text have made a passage so corrupted as
place of
to discourage any attempt of correction. The passage is
locus deperditus (irremediable)
marked by a crux desperationis ("†"). Somehow close in
loss
meaning to the modern English expression lost in
translation.
A medical term to describe a location on or in a body that
locus minoris place of less
offers little resistance to infection, damage, or injury. For
resistentiae resistance
example, a weakened place that tends to be reinjured.
A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et
Malorum (On the Limits of Good and Evil, 45 BC), used as
sorrow itself, typographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a. greeking). An
lorem ipsum pain for its own approximate literal translation of lorem ipsum might be
sake "sorrow itself", as the term is from dolorum ipsum quia,
meaning "sorrow because of itself", or less literally, "pain
for its own sake".
Let your light May be found in Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16. Popular as a school
luceat lux vestra
shine motto.
We follow the
lucem sequimur Motto of the University of Exeter, United Kingdom
light
Motto of both the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its
I struggle and
luctor et emergo battle against the sea, and the Athol Murray College of
emerge
Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan.
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
lucus a non [it is] a grove by
grove) having a similar appearance to the verb lucere (to
lucendo not being light
shine), arguing that the former word is derived from the
latter word because of a lack of light in wooded groves.
Often used as an example of absurd etymology.
the wolf in the With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will come".
lupus in fabula
story Occurs in Terence's play Adelphoe.
lupus non a wolf does not
mordet lupum bite a wolf
Motto of the liberal arts school, Franklin & Marshall
College. Light in reference to Benjamin Franklin's many
lux et lex light and law innovations and discoveries. Law in reference to John
Marshall as one of the most notable Supreme Court
Justices.
A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim. Motto of
lux et veritas light and truth
Yale University and Indiana University. An expanded form,
 lux et veritas floreant (let light and truth flourish), is the
motto of the University of Winnipeg
light from Motto of the 67th Network Warfare Wing, a unit within the
lux ex tenebris
darkness United States Air Force.
lux hominum life the light of
Motto of the University of New Mexico
vita men
lux in Domino light in the Lord Motto of the Ateneo de Manila University
lux libertas light, liberty Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Light of the
lux mentis lux
mind, light of Motto of Sonoma State University
orbis
the world
A more literal Latinization of the phrase "let there be light",
the most common translation of fiat lux ("let light arise",
literally "let light be made"), which in turn is the Latin
lux sit let there be light Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line "‫וַיֹּאמֶר‬
‫אֱלֹהִים‬, ‫וַיְהִי ;אֹור יְהִי‬-‫( "אֹור‬And God said: 'Let there be light.'
And there was light). Motto of the University of
Washington.
lux tua nos Your Light
Motto of St. Julian's School, Carcavelos, Portugal[14]
ducat Guides Us

[edit] M
Latin Translation Notes
Canonical medieval reference to Aristotle, precluding
magister dixit the teacher has said it
further discussion
A set of documents between Pope Innocent III, King
Magna Carta Great Charter
John of England, and English barons. (1215 CE)
A common Latin honor, above cum laude and below
magna cum laude with great praise
summa cum laude.
Magna Europa Great Europe is Our Political motto of pan-Europeanists (cf. ave Europa
est Patria Nostra Fatherland nostra vera Patria)
magna est vis great is the power of
consuetudinis habit
magno cum
with great joy
gaudio
magnum opus great work Said of someone's masterpiece
greater things are Used to indicate that it is the moment to address more
maiora premunt
pressing important, urgent, issues.
Said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality,
mala fide in bad faith or with intention to defraud or mislead someone.
Opposite of bona fide.
 Also used ironically, e.g.: New teachers know all
mala tempora
bad times are upon us tricks used by pupils to copy from classmates? Oh,
currunt
mala tempora currunt!.
male captus bene wrongly captured, An illegal arrest will not prejudice the subsequent
detentus properly detained detention/trial.
malo periculosam I prefer liberty with
libertatem quam danger to peace with
quietum servitium 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-homonymous word malum
malum discordiae apple of discord
(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.
malum quo
the more common an
communius eo
evil is, the worse it is
peius
A legal term meaning that something is inherently
malum in se wrong in itself
wrong (cf. malum prohibitum).
malum wrong due to being A legal term meaning that something is only wrong
prohibitum prohibited because it is against the law.
manu militari with a military hand Using armed forces in order to achieve a goal
With the implication of "signed by one's hand". Its
abbreviated form is sometimes used at the end of
manu propria typewritten or printed documents or official notices,
with one's own hand
(m.p.) directly following the name of the person(s) who
"signed" the document exactly in those cases where
there isn't an actual handwritten signature.
Originally used as the name of a ship in the Marathon
game series, its usage has spread. In the PlayStation
game, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, the phrase was
written in blood on the walls of a vampire's feeding
room. It is assumed that one of the dying victims
manus celer Dei the swift hand of God
wrote it with his fingers. After the game's main
character surveys the bloody room, associative logic
dictates that the phrase was to deify both the
vampire's wrath on shackled, powerless humans and
the boundless slaughter of his victims.
famous quote from The Pumpkinification of Claudius,
manus manum one hand washes the
ascribed to Seneca the Younger.[15] It implies that one
lavat other
situation helps the other.
In law, a sea under the jurisdiction of one nation and
mare clausum closed sea
closed to all others.
mare liberum free sea In law, a sea open to international shipping
 navigation.
A nickname given to the Mediterranean Sea during
mare nostrum our sea the height of the Roman Empire, as it encompassed
the entire coastal basin.
A name given to describe the Virgin Mary, who gave
Mater Dei Mother of God
birth to Jesus, who is also called the "Son of God."
Used as a joke to say Mother Fuck It, though it really
mater facit Mother Does It
means "mother does it"
a Roman-law principle which has the power of
praesumptio iuris et de iure, meaning that no counter-
Mater semper The mother is always evidence can be made against this principle (literally:
certa est certain Presumed there is no counter evidence and by the
law). Its meaning is that the mother of the child is
always known.
the mother of the
mater familias The female head of a family. See pater familias.
family
The branch of medical science concerned with the
materia medica medical matter study of drugs used in the treatment of disease. Also,
the drugs themselves.
Less literally, "my foot itches". Refers to a trivial
it annoys me at the
me vexat pede situation or person that is being a bother, possibly in
foot
the sense of wishing to kick that thing away.
Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote
the inherently flawed nature of mankind. Can also be
mea culpa my fault extended to mea maxima culpa (my greatest fault).
Analogous to the nonstandard modern English slang
"my bad".
mea navis A relatively common recent Latinization inspired by
My hovercraft is full
aëricumbens the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch by Monty
of eels
anguillis abundat Python.
A well-known sequence, falsely attributed to Notker
media vita in In the midst of our during the Middle Ages. It was translated by Cranmer
morte sumus lives we die and became a part of the burial service in the funeral
rites of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.
Used erroneously as Mediolanum Capta Est by the
Mediolanum Milan has been black metal band Mayhem as an album title.
captum est captured Mediolanum was an ancient city in present-day
Milan, Italy.
Carrying the connotation of "always better". The
meliora better things
motto of the University of Rochester.
A relatively common recent Latinization from the
Melita, domi
Honey, I'm home! joke phrasebook Latin for All Occasions.
adsum
Grammatically correct, but the phrase would be
 anachronistic in ancient Rome.
Figuratively "be mindful of dying" or "remember
your mortality", and also more literally rendered as
"remember to die", though in English this ironically
remember that [you misses the original intent. An object (such as a skull)
memento mori
will] die or phrase intended to remind people of the
inevitability of death. A more common theme in
Christian than in Classical art. The motto of the
Trappist order.
Also, "remember that you have to live." Literally
memento vivere a reminder of life
rendered as "remember to live."
mindful of what has Thus, both remembering the past and foreseeing the
memores acti
been done, aware of future. From the North Hertfordshire District Council
prudentes futuri
what will be coat of arms.
From Virgil. Motto of Rossall School, the University
mens agitat the mind moves the
of Oregon, the University of Warwick and the
molem mass
Eindhoven University of Technology.
mens et manus mind and hand Motto of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Also "culprit mind". A term used in discussing the
mens rea guilty mind
mindset of an accused criminal.
mens sana in a sound mind in a
Or "a sensible mind in a healthy body".
corpore sano sound body
meminerunt
lovers remember all
omnia amantes
for the sake of the
metri causa Excusing flaws in poetry "for the sake of the meter"
meter
Or "Boastful Soldier". Miles Gloriosus is the title of a
play of Plautus. A stock character in comedy, the
braggart soldier. (It is said that at Salamanca, there is
Miles Gloriosus Glorious Soldier a wall, on which graduates inscribe their names,
where Francisco Franco had a plaque installed
reading FRANCISCUS FRANCUS MILES
GLORIOSUS.)
minatur he threatens the
innocentibus qui innocent who spares
parcit nocentibus the guilty
mirabile dictu wonderful to tell
wonderful by the A Roman phrase used to describe a wonderful
mirabile visu
sight event/happening.
He approves of the Latin Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV, line 112, "he"
miscerique probat
mingling of the referring to the great Roman god, who approved of
populos et foedera
peoples and their the settlement of Romans in Africa. Old Motto of
jungi
bonds of union Trinidad and Tobago, and used in the novel A Bend
 in the River by V. S. Naipaul.
miserabile visu terrible by the sight A terrible happening or event.
A phrase within the Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the
miserere nobis have mercy upon us Agnus Dei, to be used at certain points in Christian
religious ceremonies.
missit me
the Lord has sent me A phrase used by Jesus Christ.
Dominus
A warrant of commitment to prison, or an instruction
mittimus 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 novel
mobilis in mobili "changing through
20000 Leagues Under the Sea.
the changing
medium"
modus operandi method of operating Usually used to describe a criminal's methods.
(M.O.)
Loosely "method of affirming", a logical rule of
modus ponens method of placing inference stating that from propositions if P then Q
and P, then one can conclude Q.
Loosely "method of denying", a logical rule of
modus tollens method of removing inference stating that from propositions if P then Q
and not Q, then one can conclude not P.
Dog Latin based on wordplay with modus ponens and
modus tollens, referring to the common logical
modus morons — fallacy that if P then Q and not P, then one can
(Dog Latin)
conclude not Q (cf. denying the antecedent and
contraposition).
An accommodation between disagreeing parties to
modus vivendi method of living
allow life to go on. A practical compromise.
montaini semper mountaineers [are]
State motto of West Virginia, adopted in 1872.
liberi always free
Montis Insignia Badge of the Rock of
Calpe Gibraltar
mortui vivos (Let the) dead teach Used to justify dissections of human cadavers in
docent the living order to understand the cause of death.
used to describe any sexual act in the manner of
more ferarum like beasts
beasts
morituri nolumus we who are about to
From Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero
mori die don't want to
Used once in Suetonius' De Vita Caesarum 5, (Divus
morituri te those who are about Claudius), chapter 21[16], by the condemned prisoners
salutant to die salute you manning galleys about to take part in a mock naval
battle on Lake Fucinus in AD 52. Popular
 misconception ascribes it as a gladiator's salute. See
also: Ave Caesar morituri te salutant and Naumachia.
mors certa, hora death is certain, its
incerta hour is uncertain
From medieval Latin, it indicates that battle for
mors tua vita mea your death, my life survival, where your defeat is necessary for my
victory, survival.
death conquers all" or
mors vincit omnia An axiom often found on headstones.
"death always wins
morte magis
old age should rather
metuenda from Juvenal in his 'Satires'
be feared than death
senectus
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known
you are flogging a as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
mortuum flagellas
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,
mos maiorum
ancestors societal mores, and general policies, as distinct from
specific laws.
Or "by his own accord." Identifies a class of papal
motu proprio on his own initiative
documents, administrative papal bulls.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known
mulgere hircum to milk a male goat as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
Attempting the impossible.
Say much in few
multa paucis
words
multis e gentibus from many peoples,
Motto of Saskatchewan.
vires strength
Conciseness. The motto of Rutland, a county in
multum in parvo much in little central England.
Latin phrases are often multum in parvo,
conveying much in few words.
mundus vult the world wants to be
From James Branch Cabell.
decipi deceived
this one defends and
munit haec et
the other one Motto of Nova Scotia.
altera vincit
conquers
with those things
mutatis mutandis changed which Thus, "with the appropriate changes".
needed to be changed

[edit] N
 Latin Translation Notes
The unborn is deemed
nasciturus pro iam
to have been born to Refers to a situation where an unborn child is
nato habetur,
the extent that his own deemed to be entitled to certain inheritance
quotiens de
inheritance is rights.
commodis eius agitur
concerned
natura abhorret a nature abhors a
vacuo vacuum
natura non That is, the natural world is not sentimental or
nature is not saddened
contristatur compassionate.
Shortened form of "sicut natura nil facit per
nature does not make saltum ita nec lex" (just as nature does nothing
natura non facit
a leap, thus neither by a leap, so neither does the law), referring to
saltum ita nec lex
does the law 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).
Based on Servius' commentary on Virgil's
naturalia non sunt What is natural is not
Georgics (3:96): "turpis non est quia per naturam
turpia dirty.
venit."
You may drive out
naturam expellas You must take the basic nature of something into
Nature with a
furca, tamen usque account.
pitchfork, yet she still
recurret. - Horace, Epistles, Book I, epistle iv, line 24.
will hurry back.
navigare necesse est Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius, who,
to sail is necessary; to
vivere non est during a severe storm, commanded sailors to
live is not necessary
necesse bring food from Africa to Rome.
Also nec plus ultra or non plus ultra. A
descriptive 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
ne plus ultra nothing more beyond
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. This represented Spain's
expansion into the New World.
Thus, don't offer your opinion on things that are
outside your competence. It is said that the Greek
ne sutor ultra Cobbler, no further
painter Apelles once asked the advice of a
crepidam than the sandal!
cobbler on how to render the sandals of a soldier
he was painting. When the cobbler started
 offering advice on other parts of the painting,
Apelles rebuked him with this phrase in Greek,
and it subsequently became a popular Latin
expression.
Do not get distracted. This Latin phrase is also
nec dextrorsum, nec Neither to the right the motto for Bishop Cotton Boys' School and
sinistrorsum nor to the left the Bishop Cotton Girls High school, both
located in Bangalore, India.
without hope, without
nec spe, nec metu
fear
Refers to the Burning Bush of Exodus 3:2. Motto
nec tamen and yet it was not
of many Presbyterian churches throughout the
consumebatur consumed
world, including Australia.
nec temere nec neither reckless nor The motto of the Dutch 11th air manoeuvre
timide timid brigade 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade
neca eos omnes, deus kill them all, God will alternate rendition of Caedite eos. Novit enim
suos agnoscet know his own. Dominus qui sunt eius. by Arnaud Amalric.
Less literally, "without dissent". Used especially
nemine contradicente with no one speaking in committees, where a matter may be passed
(nem. con.) against
nem. con., or unanimously.
nemo dat quod non no one gives what he
Thus, "none can pass better title than they have".
habet does not have
nobody is above the
nemo est supra legis
law
Legal principle that no individual can preside
nemo iudex in sua no man shall be a
over a hearing in which he holds a specific
causa judge in his own cause
interest or bias.
Also translated to "no peace for the wicked."
peace visits not the
nemo malus felix Refers to the inherent psychological issues that
guilty mind
plague bad/guilty people.
Motto of the Order of the Thistle, and
consequently of Scotland, found stamped on the
nemo me impune no one provokes me milled edge of certain British pound sterling
lacessit with impunity coins. It is also the motto of the Montressors in
the Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Cask of
Amontillado"
nemo mortalium No mortal is wise at
The wisest may make mistakes.
omnibus horis sapit all times
nemo nisi per
No one learns except Used to imply that one must like a subject in
amicitiam
by friendship order to study it.
cognoscitur
The short and more common form of "Nemo
nemo saltat sobrius Nobody dances sober
enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit",
 "Nobody dances sober, unless he is completely
insane."
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
nemo tenetur no one is bound to
contra se (no one is bound to produce documents
seipsum accusare accuse himself
against 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 seipsum (no one is bound to betray
himself), meaning that a defendant is not
obligated to testify against himself.
Nemo igitur vir No great man ever
magnus sine aliquo existed who did not
From Cicero De Natura Deorum, book 2, 167
adflatu divino enjoy some portion of
umquam fuit divine inspiration
In war, it is essential to be able to purchase
nervos belli, Endless money forms
supplies and to pay troops (as Napoleon put it,
pecuniam infinitam the sinews of war
"An army marches on its stomach").
nothing to do with the That is, in law, irrelevant and / or
nihil ad rem
point inconsequential.
In law, a declination by a defendant to answer
nihil dicit he says nothing
charges or put in a plea.
Or just "nothing new". The phrase exists in two
versions: as nihil novi sub sole (nothing new
under the sun), from the Vulgate, and as nihil
nihil novi nothing of the new 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.
The motto of the Kingdom of Romania, while
Nihil sine Deo Nothing without God ruled by the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty
(1878–1947).
 Motto of the Fitzgibbon family. See John
nil admirari be surprised at nothing
FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare
nothing must be
nil desperandum That is, "never despair".
despaired at
Short for nil nisi bonum de mortuis dicere.
(about the dead say) That is, "Don't speak ill of anyone who has died".
nil nisi bonum nothing unless (it is) Also "Nil magnum nisi bonum" (nothing is great
good unless good), motto of St Catherine's School,
Toorak.
no terror, except to the
nil nisi malis terrori The motto of The King's School, Macclesfield.
bad
nothing through the Medical shorthand indicating that oral foods and
nil per os (n.p.o.)
mouth fluids should be withheld from the patient.
nothing [is] enough Motto of Everton F.C., residents of Goodison
nil satis nisi optimum
unless [it is] the bestPark, Liverpool.
Motto of Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane
nil sine labore nothing without labour
Girls Grammar School and Victoria School
Or "nothing without providence". State motto of
Colorado, adopted in 1861. Probably derived
nothing without the from Virgil's Aeneid Book II, line 777, "non haec
nil sine numine
divine will sine numine devum eveniunt" (these things do not
come to pass without the will of the gods). See
also numen.
nil volentibus Nothing [is] arduous
Nothing is impossible for the willing
arduum for the willing
That is, "everything is in vain without God".
Summarized from Psalm 127, "nisi Dominus
aedificaverit domum in vanum laboraverunt qui
aedificant eam nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem
if not the Lord, [it is]
nisi Dominus frustra frustra vigilavit qui custodit" (unless the Lord
in vain
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). The motto of Edinburgh.
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.
That is, "whether unwillingly or willingly".
Sometimes rendered volens nolens, aut nolens
nolens volens unwilling, willing aut volens or nolentis volentis. Similar to willy-
nilly, 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 by
Archimedes to a Roman soldier who, despite
noli turbare circulos Do not disturb my
having been given orders not to, killed
meos circles!
Archimedes at the conquest of Syracuse, Sicily.
The soldier was executed for his act.
From The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
nolite te bastardes "Don't let the bastards — the protagonist (Offred) finds the phrase
carborundorum grind you down inscribed on the inside of her wardrobe. One of
(Dog Latin)
many variants of Illegitimi non carborundum.
A legal motion by a prosecutor or other plaintiff
to be unwilling to
nolle prosequi to drop legal charges, usually in exchange for a
prosecute
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
I do not wish to
nolo contendere the accused doesn't admit guilt, but will accept
contend
punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas
cannot be used as evidence in another trial.
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".
I do not know the Thus, the name or person in question is
nomen nescio (N.N.)
name unknown.
A purported scientific name that does not fulfill
nomen nudum naked name the proper formal criteria and therefore cannot be
used unless it is subsequently proposed correctly.
not twice in the same
non bis in idem A legal principle forbidding double jeopardy.
thing
Also known as the "questionable cause" or "false
not the cause for the
non causa pro causa cause". Refers to any logical fallacy where a
cause
cause is incorrectly identified.
See compos mentis. Also rendered non compos
sui (not in control of himself). Samuel Johnson,
not in control of the
non compos mentis author of the first English dictionary, theorized
mind
that the word nincompoop may derive from this
phrase.
Motto of São Paulo city, Brazil. See also pro
non ducor, duco I am not led; I lead
Brasilia fiant eximia.
Used to explain scientific phenomena and
non constat it is not certain
religious 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.
you should not make More simply, "don't do wrong to do right". The
non facias malum ut
evil in order that good direct opposite of the phrase "the ends justify the
inde fiat bonum
may be made from it means".
non impediti ratione unencumbered by the
Motto of radio show Car Talk.
congitatonis thought process
non in legendo sed in the laws depend not
intelligendo legis on being read, but on
consistunt being understood
Also "it is not clear" or "it is not evident". A
sometimes controversial decision handed down
non liquet it is not proven
by a judge when they feel that the law is not
complete.
non mihi solum not for myself alone Motto of Anderson Junior College, Singapore.
Appears in Cicero's De Officiis Book 1:22 in the
form non nobis solum nati sumus (we are not
non nobis solum not for ourselves alone
born for ourselves alone). Motto of Lower
Canada College, Montreal.
A judgment notwithstanding verdict, a legal
non obstante not standing in the motion asking the court to reverse the jury's
veredicto way of a verdict 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.
"Not all of me will die", a phrase expressing the
non omnis moriar I shall not all die belief that a part of the speaker will survive
beyond death.
nothing further
non plus ultra the ultimate
beyond
non possumus not possible
non progredi est to not go forward is to
regredi go 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 vitae We learn not for from Seneca. Also, motto of the Istanbul Bilgi
discimus school, but for life. University.
Used in the sense "what matters is not who says
non quis sed quid not who but what
it but what he says" – a warning against ad
 hominem arguments. Also, motto 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
non serviam I will not serve literature 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.
Not for one's self but A slogan used by many schools and universities.
non sibi, sed suis
for one's own. Including Tulane University.
Not for self, but for
non sibi, sed patria Motto of the USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
Country.
Not for self, but for
non silba, sed
others; God will A slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan.
anthar; Deo vindice
vindicate.
Or "I am not the kind of person I once was".
non sum qualis eram I am not such as I was
Expresses a change in the speaker.
non teneas aurum Also, "All that glitters is not gold." Parabolae.
Do not hold as gold all
totum quod splendet Also used by Shakespeare in The Merchant of
that shines as gold.
ut aurum Venice.
This is the phrase printed on the Colt, in
non timebo mala I will fear no evil
Supernatural.
Not through violence,
Martin Luther on Catholic church reform. (see
non vi, sed verbo but through the word
Protestant Reformation)
alone
From Cicero, based on the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν
(gnothi seauton), inscribed on the Temple of
nosce te ipsum know thyself Apollo at Delphi. A non-traditional Latin
rendering, temet nosce (thine own self know), is
translated in The Matrix as "know thyself".
As translated in Amazing Grace (2006 film), "we
nosus decipio we cheat cheat." From verb decipere: to ensnare, trap,
beguile, deceive, cheat.
noster nostri Literally "Our ours" Approximately "Our hearts beat as one."
nota bene (n.b.) mark well That is, "please note" or "note it well".
From Virgil. Motto on the Great Seal of the
novus ordo seclorum new order of the ages
United States. Similar to Novus Ordo Mundi
 (New world order).
Not a day without a Pliny the Elder attributes this maxim to Apelles,
nulla dies sine linea
line drawn. an ancient Greek artist.
Refers to the legal principle that one cannot be
no penalty without a punished for doing something that is not
nulla poena sine lege
law prohibited by law, and is related to Nullum
crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali.
nulla tenaci invia est For the tenacious, no
Motto of the Dutch car builder Spyker.
via road is impassable.
That is, "nothing". It has been theorized that this
expression is the origin of Italian nulla, French
nullam rem natam no thing born
rien, and Spanish and Portuguese nada, all with
the same meaning.
Motto of the Coldstream Guardsand Nine
nulli secundus second to none
Squadron Royal Australian Corps of Transport.
On the word of no
nullius in verba Motto of the Royal Society.
man
Legal principle meaning that one cannot be
nullum crimen, nulla no crime, no
penalised for doing something that is not
poena sine praevia punishment without a
prohibited by law. It also means that penal law
lege poenali previous penal law
cannot be enacted retroactively.
nullum magnum
There has been no
ingenium sine
great wisdom without
mixtura dementiae
an element of madness
fuit
A method to limit the number of students who
numerus clausus closed number
may study at a university.
beginning of the Song of Simeon, from the
nunc dimittis now you send
Gospel of Luke.
Carpe-Diem-type phrase from the Odes of
now is the time to Horace, Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero
nunc est bibendum
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
From Virgil, Eclogues VIII.
amor is
nunquam minus
never less alone than
solus quam cum
when alone.
solus
nunquam non
never unprepared Motto of the Scottish clan Johnston
paratus
[edit] O
Latin Translation Notes
Attributed (in Tacitus, Annales, III, 65) to the
Emperor Tiberius, in disgust at the servile attitude of
O homines ad Men fit to be
Roman senators. Used of those who should be
servitutem paratos slaves!
leaders but instead slavishly follow the lead of
others.
Oh, the times! Oh, Also translated "What times! What customs!" From
O tempora O mores
the morals! Cicero, Catilina I, 1, 2.
"He died" or "she died", an inscription on
obiit (ob.) one died gravestones. ob. also 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
a thing said in thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a
obiter dictum
passing precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority.
In general, any comment, remark or observation
made in passing.
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
oculus dexter (O.D.) right eye Ophthalmologist shorthand.
oculus sinister (O.S.) left eye Ophthalmologist shorthand.
oderint dum let them hate, so Favorite saying of Caligula, attributed originally to
metuant long as they fear Lucius Accius, Roman tragic poet (170 BC).
The opening of Catullus 85. The entire poem reads,
"odi et amo quare id faciam fortasse requiris / nescio
odi et amo I hate and I love sed fieri sentio et excrucior" (I hate and I love. Why
do I do this, you perhaps ask. / I do not know, but I
feel it happening and am tormented.).
I hate the unholy
odi profanum
rabble and keep From Horace.
vulgus et arceo
them away
A name for the special hatred generated in
odium theologicum theological hatred
theological disputes.
oleum camino (To pour) oil on the From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known
 fire as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508).
omnes vulnerant,
All [the hours]
postuma necat or
wound, last one Usual in clocks, reminding the reader of death.
omnes feriunt,
kills
ultima necat
every unknown
omne ignotum pro
thing [is taken] for Or "everything unknown appears magnificent".
magnifico
great
everything said [is] Or "everything sounds more impressive when said in
omnia dicta fortiora
stronger if said in Latin". A more common phrase with the same
si dicta Latina
Latin meaning is quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur.
Or "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost"
omnia mutantur, Everything changes,
(Ovid (43 BC – 17 AD), Metamorphoses, book XV,
nihil interit nothing perishes
line 165)
All Things to All
omnia omnibus 1 Corinthians 9:22
Men
omnia vincit amor Love conquers all Virgil (70 BC - 19 BC), Eclogue X, line 69
Every living thing is A foundational concept of modern biology, opposing
omne vivum ex ovo
from an egg the theory of spontaneous generation.
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
The motto of P.C. Hooft, usually accompanied by a
omnibus idem the same to all
sun, which shines for (almost) everyone.
Every translation is a corruption of the original.
omnis traductor Every translator is a
Therefore, the reader should take heed of
traditor traitor
unavoidable imperfections.
Omnis Vir Tigris "Everyone A Tiger" Motto of the 102nd Intelligence Wing
A miscellaneous collection or assortment. Often used
omnium gatherum gathering of all
facetiously.
onus probandi burden of proof
Burden of a party to adduce evidence that a case is
onus procedendi burden of procedure
an exception to the rule
opera omnia all works The collected works of an author.
opera posthuma posthumous works Works published after the author's death.
the act of doing Scholastic phrase, used to explain that there is no
operari sequitur
something follows possible act if there is not being: being is absolutely
esse
the act of being necessary for any other act.
 in the work that was Used in academic works when referring again to the
opere citato (op. cit.)
cited last source mentioned or used.
Doing what you believe is morally right through
opere et viritate in action and truth
everyday 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.
Fine embroidery. Especially used to describe church
opus anglicanum English work
vestments.
Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint
Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to help people turn
Opus Dei The Work of God their work and daily activities into occasions for
growing closer to God, for serving others, and for
improving society.
The Motto of Order of Saint Benedict as well as the
motto for St. Joseph's Institution, Dalhousie Law
ora et labora pray and work School, Halifax Nova Scotia, and Infant Jesus
Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Tangasseri,
India, and other institutions.
ora pro nobis pray for us
An expression from Latin grammar. cf. "oratio
oratio directa direct speech
obliqua."
An expression from Latin grammar. cf. "oratio
oratio obliqua indirect speech
directa."
Originates from Juvenal's Tenth Satire, referring to
Alexander the Great. James Bond's adopted family
the world does not
motto in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
suffice"
orbis non sufficit It made a brief appearance in the film adaptation of
"the world is not
the same name and was later used as the title of the
enough
nineteenth James Bond film, The World Is Not
Enough.
orbis unum One world Seen in The Legend of Zorro.
Out of chaos, comes The phrase is one of the oldest mottos of Craft
ordo ab chao
order Freemasonry.[17][18]
orta recens quam newly risen, how
Motto of New South Wales.
pura nites brightly you shine

[edit] P
Latin Translation Notes
 "With all due respect to", "with due deference to", "by
leave of", or "no offense to". Used to politely
pace "in peace"
acknowledge someone who disagrees with the speaker
or writer.
pace tua "your peace" Thus, "with your permission".
pacta sunt "agreements must be Also "contracts must be honoured". Indicates the
servanda kept" binding power of treaties.
palma non sine "no reward without
Also "dare to try"; motto of numerous schools.
pulvere effort"
From Juvenal, Satire X, line 81. Originally described
panem et all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman
"bread and circuses"
circenses mob. Today used to describe any entertainment used to
distract public attention from more important matters.
From "Si vis pacem para bellum" if you want peace
prepare for war since if a country is ready for war its
para bellum "prepare for war"
enemies will not attack. Can be used to denote support
or approval for a war or conflict.
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.
Implies that the weak are under the protection of the
parva sub "the small under the
strong, rather than that they are inferior. Motto of
ingenti huge"
Prince Edward Island.
"When you are
parvis imbutus steeped in little Motto of Barnard Castle School, sometimes translated
tentabis grandia things, you shall as "Once you have accomplished small things, you
tutus safely attempt great may attempt great ones safely"
things"
Less literally, "throughout" or "frequently". Said of a
word that occurs several times in a cited text. Also
passim "here and there"
used in proof-reading, 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.
"Father of the Also rendered with the gender-neutral parens patriae
Pater Patriae
Nation" ("parent of the nation").
pater peccavi "father, I have The traditional beginning of a Roman Catholic
 sinned" confession.
Pater A more direct translation would be "omnipotent
"Father Almighty"
Omnipotens father".
"From differing
patriam fecisti
peoples you have
diversis de
made one native
gentibus unam
land"
pauca sed From The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
"few, but ripe"
matura Said to be one of Carl Gauss's favorite quotations.
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.
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 Britannica "British Peace"
Pax Romana.
Used as a wish before the H.Communion in the RC
Pax Christi "Peace of Christ" Mass, also the name of the peace movement Pax
Christi
Used in the Peace and Truce of God movement in
pax Dei "peace of God"
10th-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
Pax Domine "Peace, lord"
speaking to clergy or educated professionals.
Motto of St. Francis of Assisi and, consequently, of his
pax et bonum "peace and the good" monastery in Assisi, in the Umbria region of Italy.
Translated in Italian as pace e bene.
pax et lux "peace and light" Motto of Tufts University.
pax in terra "Peace on earth" Used to exemplify the desired state of peace on earth.
Pax Europaea "European peace" A euphemism for Europe after World War II
A 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 maternum, "peace of mothers, If the mother is peaceful, then the family is peaceful.
ergo pax therefore peace of The reverse of the Southern American saying, "If
familiarum families" mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
Pax Mongolica "Mongolian Peace" A period of peace and prosperity in Asia during the
 Mongol Empire.
A period of relative prosperity and lack of conflict in
Pax Romana "Roman Peace"
the early Roman Empire.
A period of peace in East Asia during times of strong
Pax Sinica "Chinese Peace"
Chinese hegemony.
Pax tecum "Peace be with you" (Singular)
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
Peccavi "I have sinned" Indian 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
Emperor Vespasian was challenged by his son Titus
for taxing the public lavatories, the emperor held up a
"the money doesn't
pecunia non olet coin before his son and asked whether it smelled or
smell"
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 use money, money is
Written on an old Latin tablet in downtown Verona
scis, ancilla est; your slave; if you
(Italy).
si nescis, domina don't, money is your
master"
pendent opera "the work hangs
From the Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV.
interrupta interrupted"
"By, through, by
per See specific phrases below.
means of"
per angusta ad "through difficulties
The motto of numerous educational establishments.
augusta to greatness"
per annum (pa.) "through a year" Thus, "yearly"—occurring every year.
per ardua "through adversity" Motto of the British RAF Regiment
"through hard work,
Motto of University of Birmingham, Methodist Ladies'
per ardua ad alta great heights are
College, Perth
achieved"
Motto of the air force of several nations (including the
Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom) and of
per ardua ad "through struggles to
several schools. The phrase is used by Latin Poet
astra the stars"
Virgil in the Aeneid; also used in Henry Rider
Haggard's novel The People of the Mist.
 From Seneca the Younger. Motto of NASA and the
South African Air Force. A common variant, ad astra
per aspera ("to the stars through hardships"), is the
per aspera ad "through hardships to state motto of Kansas. Ad Astra ("To the Stars") is the
astra the stars" title of a magazine published by the National Space
Society. De Profundis Ad Astra ("From the depths to
the stars.") is the motto of the Los Angeles Science
Fantasy Society.
"through the small
per capsulam That is, "by letter".
box"
"Per head", i.e., "per person". The singular is per caput
per capita "through the heads"
("through a head").
"through the
per contra Or "on the contrary" (cf. a contrario).
contrary"
Legal term meaning "by the court", as in a per curiam
per curiam "through the senate"
decision.
per crucem "through the cross we Motto of St John Fisher Catholic High School,
vincemus shall conquer" Dewsbury.
"through the
per definitionem Thus, "by definition".
definition"
Thus, "per day". A specific amount of money an
per diem (pd.) "through a day" organization allows an individual to spend per day,
typically for travel expenses.
per mare per "By Sea and by Motto of the Royal Marines and (with small
terram Land" difference) of Clan Donald.
per mensem (pm.) "through a month" Thus, "per month", or "monthly".
per os (p.o.) "through the mouth" Medical shorthand for "by mouth".
Used of a certain place can be traversed or reached by
per pedes "by feet" 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
per procura (p.p.) the person signing, but often placed before the name of
"through the agency"
or (per pro) the person 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
per quod "by reason of which"
American jurisprudence often refers to a spouse's
claim for loss of consortium.
per rectum (pr) "through the rectum" Medical shorthand. See also per os.
 Also "by itself" or "in itself". Without referring to
anything else, intrinsically, taken without
per se "through itself"
qualifications, etc. A common example is negligence
per se. See also malum in se.
Used in wills to indicate that each "branch" of the
per stirpes "through the roots" 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"
Motto of St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School and St
Margaret's Anglican Girls School *This is a historical
per volar "born to fly misconception. The phrase is not from latin but from
sunata[sic] upwards"* 'Dante Purgatorio XII 94-96'. "Per Volar Su Nata" -
Original meaning from the Sisters of the Sacred
Advent was "Born to Soar" .
from Virgil's Aeneid IV 114; in Vergil's context:
perge sequar "advance, I follow"
"proceed with your plan, I will do my part."
perpetuum "thing in perpetual A musical term. Also used to refer to hypothetical
mobile motion" perpetual motion machines.
An unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person. In
diplomatic contexts, a person rejected by the host
persona non government. The reverse, persona grata ("pleasing
"person not pleasing"
grata 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.
Thus, "he painted this" or "she painted this". Formerly
pinxit "one painted"
used on works of art, next to the artist's name.
The first-person plural pronoun when used by an
pluralis
"plural of majesty" important personage to refer to himself or herself; also
majestatis
known as the "royal we".
The national motto of Spain and a number of other
plus ultra "further beyond"
institutions. Motto of the Colombian National Armada.
pollice Life was spared with a thumb tucked inside a closed
"goodwill decided by
compresso favor fist, simulating a sheathed weapon. Conversely, a
compressed thumb"
iudicabatur thumb up meant to unsheath your sword.
Used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a
"with a turned defeated gladiator. The type of gesture used is
pollice verso
thumb" uncertain. Also the name of a famous painting
depicting gladiators by Jean-Léon Gérôme.
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
Pontifex "Greatest High
of the religion in ancient Rome; their name is usually
Maximus 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.
Thus, to be able to be made into part of a retinue or
posse comitatus "force of the county" force. In common law, a sheriff's right to compel
people to assist law enforcement in unusual situations.
"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 sexual
omne animal intercourse every
Attributed to Galen of Pergamum.
triste est sive animal is sad except
gallus et mulier the cock and the woman"
post coitus "After sex" After sexual intercourse.
A logical fallacy where one assumes that one thing
post hoc ergo "after this, therefore
happening after another thing means that the first thing
propter hoc because of this"
caused the second. The title of a West Wing episode.
post festum "after the feast" Too late, or after the fact.
post meridiem "after midday" The period from noon to midnight (cf. ante meridiem).
(p.m.)
Usually rendered postmortem. Not to be confused with
post mortem (pm) "after death"
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.
post prandial "after the time before Refers to the time after any meal. Usually rendered
 midday" postprandial.
A postscript. Used to mark additions to a letter, after
post scriptum "after what has been
the signature. Can be extended to post post scriptum
(p.s.) written"
(p.p.s.), etc.
post tenebras Motto of the Protestant Reformation inscribed on the
lux, or post "after darkness, [I Reformation Wall in Geneva from Vulgata, Job 17:12.
tenebras spero hope for] light" Former motto of Chile; motto of Robert College of
lucem Istanbul.
"we grow in the
postera crescam
esteem of future Motto of the University of Melbourne.
laude
generations"
praemonitus "forewarned is
praemunitus forearmed"
"Lead in order to
praesis ut prosis
serve, not in order to Motto of Lancaster Royal Grammar School.
ne ut imperes
rule"
praeter legem "after the law" Legal terminology, international law.
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;
primas sum: A sentence by the American anthropologist Earnest
nothing about
primatum nil a Hooton and the slogan of primatologists and lovers of
primates is outside of
me alienum puto the primates.
my bailiwick"
primum mobile "first moving thing" Or "first thing able to be moved". See primum movens.
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
primum movens "prime mover"
"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
primum non paraphrase from Hippocrates' Epidemics, where he
"first, to not harm"
nocere 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."
primus inter
"first among equals" A title of the Roman Emperors (cf. princeps).
pares
principia
"principles prove; Fundamental principles require no proof; they are
probant non
they are not proved" assumed a priori.
probantur
 A legal principle that older laws take precedent over
prior tempore "earlier in time,
newer ones. Another name for this principle is lex
potior iure stronger in law"
posterior.
Work undertaken voluntarily at no expense, such as
pro bono publico "for the public good" public services. Often used of a lawyer's work that is
not charged for.
"let exceptional
pro Brasilia fiant Motto of São Paulo state, Brazil. See also non ducor
things be made for
eximia duco.
Brazil"
Motto of St. John's High School, Chandigarh, India,
"For God and American University, Washington, DC, St Peter's
Pro deo et patria
Country" College, Adelaide, and Iona Presentation College,
Perth.
Or "as a matter of form". Prescribing a set form or
pro forma "for form"
procedure, or performed in a set manner.
pro gloria et "for gloria and
Motto of Prussia
patria 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 the wine in
pro multis "for many"
Western Christianity tradition, as part of the Mass.
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
pro patria "for country"
South West Africa 1966-89) and for campaigns in
Angola (1975-76 and 1987-88). Motto of the Royal
Canadian Regiment and Royal South Australia
Regiment
pro patria "watchful for the
Motto of the United States Army Signal Corps.
vigalans country"
pro rata "for the rate" i.e., proportionately.
"for king and the
pro rege et lege Found on the Leeds coat of arms
law"
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 special
pro re nata (prn)
been born" Presbytery or Assembly called to discuss something
new, and which was previously unforeseen (literally:
"concerning a matter having been born").
pro studio et
"for study and work"
labore
pro se "for oneself" to defend oneself in court without counsel ("pro per" -
 persona-in California)
Denotes something that has only been partially
fulfilled. A philosophical term indicating the
pro tanto "for so much"
acceptance of a theory or idea without fully accepting
the explanation
Equivalent to English phrase "for the time being".
pro tempore "for the time"
Denotes a temporary current situation.
probatio pennae "testing of the pen" A Medieval Latin term for breaking in a new pen.
propria manu "by one's own hand"
(p.m.)
propter vitam "to destroy the That is, to squander life's purpose just in order to stay
vivendi perdere reasons for living for alive, and live a meaningless life. From Juvenal,
causas the sake of life" Satyricon VIII, verses 83–84.
provehito in "launch forward into Motto of Memorial University of Newfoundland, as
altum the deep" well as of the band 30 Seconds to Mars..
proxime accessit "he came next" The runner-up.
Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the
proximo mense "in the following
next month. Used with ult. ("last month") and inst.
(prox.) month"
("this month").
pulvis et umbra "we are dust and
From Horace, Carmina book IV, 7, 16.
sumus shadow"
punctum saliens "leaping point" Thus, the essential or most notable point.

[edit] Q
Latin Translation Notes
"as far as the world
qua patet orbis Motto of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps
extends"
Motto of Northwestern University. Also motto of
quaecumque sunt "whatsoever is
the University of Alberta as quaecumque vera.
vera true"
Taken from Phillipians 4:8 of the Bible
quaecumque vera "Teach me Motto of St. Joseph's College, Edmonton at the
doce me whatsoever is true" University of Alberta.
"what alone is not
quae non prosunt
useful helps when Ovid, Remedia amoris
singula multa iuvant
accumulated"
Or "you might ask..." Used to suggest doubt or to
quaere "seek" ask one to consider whether something is correct.
Often introduces rhetorical or tangential questions.
Also quaerite primo regnum dei. Motto of
quaerite primum "seek ye first the
Newfoundland and Labrador. Motto of Shelford
regnum Dei kingdom of God"
Girls' Grammar, St Columb's College, and
 Philharmonic Academy of Bologna.
"As what kind of Or "What an artist dies in me!" Attributed to Nero
qualis artifex pereo
artist do I perish?" by Suetonius.
Legal Latin: "as I.e., "[while on] good behavior." From which Frank
quamdiu bene
long as he shall Herbert extracted the name for the Bene Gesserit
gesserit
have behaved well" sisterhood in the Dune novels.
quando omni "When all else Mock-Latin phrase said at the end of The Red
flunkus, mortati fails, play dead" Green Show.
"as much as
quantum libet (q.l.) Medical shorthand for "as much as you wish".
pleases"
"as much as is Medical shorthand for "as much as needed" or "as
quantum sufficit (qs)
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 writ
"wherefore he demands the person summoned to answer to
quare clausum fregit
broke the close" 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.
quem deus vult "Whom the gods
perdere, dementat would destroy, they
prius first make insane"
Other translations of diligunt include "prize
especially" or "esteem". From Plautus, Bacchides,
quem di diligunt "he whom the gods IV, 7, 18. In this comic play, a sarcastic servant
adulescens moritur love 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.
Common nonsensical Dog Latin misrendering of
qui bono "who with good"
the Latin phrase cui bono ("who benefits?").
literally qui instead Unused in English, but common in other modern
qui pro quo of quo (medieval languages (for instance Italian, Polish and French).
Latin) Used as a noun, indicates a misunderstanding.
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 tam pro domino "he who brings an Generally known as 'qui tam,' it is the technical
rege quam pro se action for the king legal term for the unique mechanism in the federal
ipso in hac parte as well as for False Claims Act that allows persons and entities
sequitur himself" with evidence of fraud against federal programs or
contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the
Government.
"he who wants
qui totum vult totum
everything loses Attributed to Seneca.
perdit
everything"
"he who Or "he who brought us across still supports us",
qui transtulit sustinet transplanted still meaning God. State motto of Connecticut.
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
"because he should
quia suam uxorem second wife, Pompeia, the notorious rhetorian
wish even his wife
etiam suspiciore Clodius arrived in disguise. Caught by the outraged
to be free from
vacare vellet noblewomen, Clodius fled before they could kill
suspicion"
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's going on?"
news? What's up?
In the Vulgate translation of John 18:38, Pilate's
question to Jesus. A possible answer is an anagram
quid est veritas "What is truth?"
of the phrase: est vir qui adest, "it is the man who is
here."
"What of the new Less literally, "What's new from Africa?" Derived
quid novi ex Africa
out of Africa?" from an Aristotle quotation.
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
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".
Or "anything said in Latin sounds profound". A
quidquid Latine "whatever has been
recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who
dictum sit altum said in Latin seems
seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to
videtur deep"
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
"Who will guard guard women and beginning with the word sed
quis custodiet ipsos
the guards ("but"). Usually translated less literally, as "Who
custodes?
themselves?" watches the watchmen?" This translation is a
common epigraph, such as of the Tower
Commission and Alan Moore's Watchmen comic
book series.
"Who will read
quis leget haec?
this?"
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.
quo amplius eo "Something more Apocryphally credited to Borges, House on Nob
amplius beyond plenty" Hill (unauthorized Morgenstern translation, c. 1962)
quo errat "where the prover
A pun on ''quod erat demonstrandum''.
demonstrator errs"
"where the fates
quo fata ferunt Motto of Bermuda.
bear us to"
From Cicero's Ad Catilinam speech to the Roman
Senate regarding the conspiracy of Catiline: quo
"For how much
quo usque tandem usque tandem abutere Catilina patientia nostra
longer?"
("For how much longer, Catiline, will you abuse our
patience?").
According to Vulgate translation of John 13:36,
"Where are you Saint Peter asked Jesus Domine, quo vadis ("Lord,
quo vadis
going?" where are you going?"). The King James Version
has the translation "Lord, whither goest thou?"
The abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a
quod erat "which was to be mathematical proof. Sometimes translated loosely
demonstrandum demonstrated" into English as "The Five Ws", W.W.W.W.W., which
(Q.E.D.)
stands for "Which Was What We Wanted".
Or "which was to be constructed". Used in
translations of Euclid's Elements when there was
quod erat faciendum "which was to be nothing to prove, but there was something be
(Q.E.F) done"
constructed, for example a triangle with the same
size as a given line.
quod est (q.e.) "which is"
 "what is asserted
If no grounds have been given for an assertion,
quod gratis asseritur, without reason may
there is no need to provide grounds for
gratis negatur be denied without
contradicting it.
reason"
If an important person does something, it does not
"what is permitted necessarily mean that everyone can do it (cf. double
quod licet Iovi non
to Jupiter is not standard). Iovi (also commonly rendered Jovi) is the
licet bovi
permitted to an ox" dative form of Iupiter ("Jupiter" or "Jove"), the
chief god of the Romans.
Thought to have originated with Elizabethan
playwright Christopher Marlowe. Generally
interpreted to mean that that which motivates or
quod me nutrit me "what nourishes me
drives a person can consume him or her from
destruit destroys me"
within. This phrase has become a popular slogan or
motto for pro-ana websites, anorexics and bulimics.
In this case the phrase is literally describing food.
"what nature does
quod natura non dat Refers to the Spanish University of Salamanca,
not give,
Salmantica non meaning that education cannot substitute the lack of
Salamanca does not
praestat brains.
provide"
"What I have
Quod scripsi, scripsi. written I have Pilate to the chief priests (John 19:22).
written."
Used after a term or phrase that should be looked up
elsewhere in the current document or book. For
quod vide (q.v.) "which see"
more than one term or phrase, the plural is quae
vide (qq.v.).
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
quos amor verus
love has held, it Seneca.
tenuit tenebit
will go on holding"
Quot capita tot "As many heads, so "There are as many opinions as there are heads." --
sensus many opinions" Terence.
quot homines tot "how many people,
Or "there are as many opinions as there are people".
sententiae so many opinions"

[edit] R
Latin Translation Notes
radix malorum "the root of evils is Or "greed is the root of all evil". Theme of the
est cupiditas desire" Pardoner's Tale from The Canterbury Tales.
An extraordinary or unusual thing. From Juvenal's
Rara avis "Rare bird" ("very
Satires: rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a
(Rarissima avis) rare bird")
rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan").
"reasoning for the The legal, moral, political, and social principles used by
ratio decidendi
decision" a court to compose a judgment's rationale.
ratio legis "reasoning of law" A law's foundation or basis.
"by account of the Or "according to the soil". Assigning property rights to a
ratione soli
ground" thing based on its presence on a landowner's property.
More literally, "by the thing". From the ablative of res
("thing" or "circumstance"). Often used in e-mail
replies. It is a common misconception that the "Re:" in
re "[in] the matter of"
correspondence is an abbreviation for regarding or
reply; this is not the case. The use of Latin re, in the
sense of "about, concerning", is English usage.
The doctrine that treaty obligations hold only as long as
rebus sic "with matters
the fundamental conditions and expectations that existed
stantibus standing thus"
at the time of their creation hold.
"Upright and Also "just and faithful" and "accurately and faithfully".
recte et fideliter
Faithful" 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 mathematics and
reductio ad "leading back to the
philosophy, a reductio ad absurdum is a tactic in which
absurdum absurd"
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").
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,
reductio ad "leading back to the
but that all series of causes must have a sufficient cause,
infinitum infinite"
that is, an unmoved mover. An argument which does not
seem to have such a beginning becomes difficult to
imagine.
State motto of Arkansas, adopted in 1907. Originally
regnat populus "the people rule" rendered in 1864 in the plural, regnant populi ("the
peoples rule"), but subsequently changed to the singular.
Regnum Mariae "Kingdom of Mary,
Patrona the Patron of Former motto of Hungary.
Hungariae Hungary"
That which is sent back - a question sent for report or
remit
reconsideration by a court to a lower court or to a
 committee.
Usually said as a jocular remark to defend the speaker's
"repeating does
repetita juvant (or writer's) choice to repeat some important piece of
good"
information to ensure reception by the audience.
repetitio est
"repetition is the
mater
mother of study"
studiorum
Or "may he rest in peace". A benediction for the dead.
requiescat in "let him rest in Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers.
pace (R.I.P.) peace" "RIP" is commonly mistranslated as "Rest In Peace",
though the two mean essentially the same thing.
rerum
"to learn the causes Motto of the University of Sheffield, the University of
cognoscere
of things" Guelph, and London School of Economics.
causas
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 misunderstanding/misinterpretation
res gestae "things done"
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 that
negligence can be inferred from the fact that such an
accident happened, without proof of exactly how. A
res ipsa "the thing speaks for clause sometimes (informally) added on to the end of
loquitur itself" this phrase is sed quid in infernos dicit ("but what the
hell does it say?"), which serves as a reminder that one
must still interpret the significance of events that "speak
for themselves".
A matter which has been decided by a court. Often
refers to the legal concept that once a matter has been
res judicata "judged thing"
finally decided by the courts, it cannot be litigated again
(cf. non bis in idem and double jeopardy).
respice adspice "look behind, look i.e., "examine the past, the present and future". Motto of
prospice here, look ahead" CCNY.
i.e., "have regard for the end" or "consider the end".
"look back at the
respice finem Generally a memento mori, a warning to remember one's
end"
death.
Regarded as a legal maxim in agency law, referring to
the legal liability of the principal with respect to an
respondeat "let the superior
employee. Whereas a hired independent contract acting
superior respond"
tortiously may not 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 in "restoration to Principle behind the awarding of damages in common
integrum original condition" law negligence claims
From rēs (“‘things, facts’”) the plural of rēs (“‘a thing, a
fact’”) + nōn (“‘not’”) + verba (“‘words’”) the plural of
"actions speak louder
res, non verba verbum (“‘a word’”). Literally meaning "things, not
than words"
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").
rex regum "king even of Latin motto that appears on the crest of the Trinity
fidelum et faithful 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
rigor mortis "stiffness of death" signs of death include drop in body temperature (algor
mortis, "cold of death") and discoloration (livor mortis,
"bluish color of death").
risum teneatis, "Can you help An ironic or rueful commentary, appended following a
amici? laughing, friends?" fanciful or unbelievable tale.
"Unconquerable
Roma invicta Inspirational motto inscribed on the Statue of Rome.
Rome"
An intentionally garbled Latin phrase from Monty
Python's Life of Brian. Its intended meaning is
"Romans, go home!", but is actually closer to "'People
called Romanes they go the house'", according to a
centurion in the movie. When Brian is caught
vandalizing the palace walls with this phrase, rather than
Romanes eunt "Romanes go the punish him, the centurion corrects his Latin grammar,
domus house" explaining that Romanus is a second declension noun
and has its plural in -i rather than -es; that ire or eo ("to
go") must be in the imperative mood to denote a
command; and that domus takes the accusative case
without a preposition as the object. The final result of
this lesson is the correct Latin phrase Romani ite
domum.
rosa
"redder than the rose,
rubicundior
whiter than the lilies,
lilio candidior From the Carmina Burana's song "Si puer cum
fairer than all things,
omnibus puellula".
I do ever glory in
formosior
thee"
semper in te
glorior
Generally used to refer to a haven of peace and quiet
"A countryside in the
rus in urbe within an urban setting, often a garden, but can refer to
city"
interior decoration.

[edit] S
Latin Translation Notes
saltus in a leap in logic, by which a necessary part of an
"leap in explaining"
demonstrando equation is omitted.
Silver Age maxim, also the school motto of
"a stronghold (or refuge)
salus in arduis Wellingborough School, an English public
in difficulties"
school.
From Cicero's De Legibus, book III, part III,
"the welfare of the sub. VIII. Quoted by John Locke in his Second
salus populi
people is to be the Treatise, On Civil Government, to describe the
suprema lex esto
highest law" proper organization of government. Also the
state motto of Missouri and of Harrow.
Refers to two expressions that can be
salva veritate "with truth intact" interchanged without changing the truth-value
of the statements in which they occur.
Christian epithet, usually referring to Jesus. The
Salvator Mundi "Savior of the World" title of paintings by Albrecht Dürer and
Leonardo da Vinci.
salvo errore et "save for error and
Appears on statements of "account currents".
omissione (s.e.e.o.) omission"
salvo honoris titulo "save for title of honor"
(SHT)
More literally, "Sacred Seat". Refers to the
Sancta Sedes "Holy Chair"
Papacy or the Holy See.
Sancta Simplicitas "Holy Innocence" Or "Sacred Simplicity".
Motto of King's College London. Also "Sancte
"With holiness and with Sapienter" ("holiness, wisdom"), motto of
Sancte Et Sapienter
wisdom" Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney and
Lauriston Girls' School.
referring to a more sacred and/or guarded place,
Sanctum Sanctorum "Holy of Holies"
within a lesser guarded, yet also holy location.
From Horace's Epistularum liber primus,
Epistle II, line 40. Popularized by its use in
Kant's What is Enlightenment? to define the
sapere aude "dare to be wise"
Enlightenment. Frequently used in mottos, such
as for the University of Otago, University of
New Brunswick, Phystech, Manchester
 Grammar School, town of Oldham, and the
University of New Zealand before its
dissolution. Crompton House School motto,
part of the emblem of the school which is worn
by all pupils on their uniform during school.
Also the name of an Australian Heavy Metal
band.
Sapientia et
"Wisdom and Learning" Motto of Fordham University, New York.
Doctrina
Sapienta et "Knowledge and
Eloquencia Eloquence"
From Plautus. Indicates that something can be
understood without any need for explanation, as
long as the listener has enough wisdom or
sapienti sat "enough for the wise" common sense. Often extended to dictum
sapienti sat est ("enough has been said for the
wise", commonly translated as "a word to the
wise is enough").
"Knowledge through
[hard] work" or "By
Motto of the University of Queensland,
means of knowledge and
Scientia ac Labore Brisbane, (1909); and the Merewether High
hard work" or "Through
School, Newcastle, New South Wales (1979).
knowledge and [hard]
work"
scientia, aere "Knowledge, more
Unknown origin.
perennius lasting than bronze"
scientia cum "Religion and
Motto of St Vincent's College, Potts Point.
religione knowledge united"
"Knowledge is the
Scientia imperii
adornment and safeguard Motto of Imperial College, London.
decus et tutamen
of the Empire"
Motto of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the
scientia vincere "Conquering darkness
Université Libre de Bruxelles, two universities
tenebras by science"
located in Brussels, Belgium.
Stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon in
scientia ipsa "For also knowledge Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern
potentia est itself is power" times is often paraphrased as "knowledge is
power."
scio "I know"
"knowledge which is The motto of now defunct publisher Small,
scire quod sciendum
worth having" Maynard & Company
scribimus indocti "Each desperate as translated by Philip Francis. From Horace,
doctique poemata blockhead dares to Epistularum liber secundus (1, 117)[19] and
passim write" quoted in Fielding's Tom Jones; lit: "Learned or
 not, we shall write poems without distinction"
"by the shield of God's
scuto amoris divini The motto of Skidmore College
love"
seculo seculorum "Forever and Ever" in seculo seculorum, amen. End of Pater Noster
Sed ipse Spiritus "But the same Spirit
postulat pro nobis, intercedes incessantly
Romans 8:26
gemitibus for us, with inexpressible
inenarrabilibus groans"
sedes apostolica "apostolic chair" Synonymous with Sancta Sedes.
Used in biological classification to indicate that
seat (i.e. location) there is no agreement as to which higher order
sedes incertae
uncertain grouping a taxon should be placed into.
Abbreviated sed. incert.
"with the seat being The "seat" is the Holy See, and the vacancy
sede vacante
vacant" refers to the interregnum between two popes.
"always towards better Motto of Ravenswood School for Girls and
Semper ad meliora
things" Etobicoke Collegiate Institute.
personal motto of Elizabeth I, appears above
semper eadem "always the same"
her royal coat of arms.
semper excelsius "always higher" Motto of the K.A.V. Lovania Leuven.
Motto of Exeter and several other cities; more
recently has become the motto of United States
Marine Corps and the Swiss Grenadiers. Also
semper fidelis "always faithful"
the motto of the Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and
Plymouth Argyle football clubs. The US
Marines often abbreviate it to Semper Fi.
Motto of the United States Navys' Submarine
semper fortis "always brave"
Service.
semper instans "always threatening" Motto of 846 NACS Royal Navy.
semper invicta "always invincible" Motto of Warsaw.
semper liber "always free" Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia.
Motto of the United States Coast Guard, the
United States Cavalry's 12th Regiment, The
semper paratus "always prepared" Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, and the
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth
Regiment)
Motto of Charlie Company VTCC and One
semper primus "always first"
Squadron Royal Australian Corps of Transport
A phrase deriving from the Nadere Reformatie
movement in the seventeenth century Dutch
semper reformanda "always being reformed" Reformed Church and widely but informally
used in Reformed and Presbyterian churches
today. It refers to the conviction of certain
 Reformed Protestant theologians that the church
must 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.[20]
A common English-New Latin translation joke.
"always where under The phrase is nonsensical in Latin, but the
semper ubi sub ubi
where" English translation is a pun on "always wear
underwear".
Motto of the Civil Air Patrol (United States Air
semper vigilans "always vigilant"
Force Auxiliary).
semper vigilo "always vigilant" The motto of Scottish Police Forces, Scotland.
The official name of the Roman Republic.
"SPQR" was carried on battle standards by the
Senatus Populusque "The Senate and the
Roman legions. In addition to being an ancient
Romanus (SPQR) People of Rome"
Roman motto, it remains the motto of the
modern city of Rome.
"with the broad, or
sensu lato Less literally, "in the wide sense".
general, meaning"
sensu stricto cf. stricto "with the tight meaning" Less literally, "in the strict sense".
sensu
The answer of St. Michael the Archangel to the
Non serviam, "I will not serve" of Satan, when
Serviam "I will serve" the angels were tested by God on whether they
will serve an inferior being, a man, Jesus, as
their Lord.
Meaning "After giving it everything you've got
Servo Permaneo "Save the Last Bullet for
against the enemy, save the last effort to save
Bovis Provestri Yourself"
yourself".
"servant of the servants
servus servorum Dei A title for the pope.
of God"
From Horace's Ars Poetica, "proicit ampullas et
sesquipedalia verba" ("he throws down his
"words a foot and a half high-flown language and his foot-and-a-half-
sesquipedalia verba
long" long words"). A self-referential jab at long
words and needlessly elaborate language in
general.
Si hoc legere scis "If you can read this,
nimium eruditionis you have too much
habes education."
si omnes... ego non "if all ones... not I"
si peccasse negamus "if we refuse to make a From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical
fallimur et nulla est mistake, we are History of Doctor Faustus, where the phrase is
in nobis veritas deceived, and there's no translated "if we say that we have no sin, we
truth in us" deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us".
si quid novisti
"if you can better these
rectius istis,
principles, tell me; if not,
candidus imperti; si Horace, Epistles I:6, 67–68
join me in following
nil, his utere
them"
mecum.
State motto of Michigan, adopted in 1835. Said
si quaeris to have been based on the tribute to architect
peninsulam "if you seek a delightful Christopher Wren in St Paul's Cathedral,
amoenam peninsula, look around" London, which reads si monumentum requiris
circumspice circumspice ("if you seek a memorial, look
around").
This quote is often attributed to the Latin
philosopher Boethius of the late fifth and early
sixth centuries. It translates literally as, "If you
had been silent, you would have remained a
si tacuisses, "If you had kept your
philosopher." The phrase illustrates a common
philosophus silence, you would have
use of the subjunctive verb mood. Among other
mansisses stayed a philosopher"
functions it expresses actions contrary to fact.
Sir Humphrey Appleby translated it to the PM
as: "If you'd kept your mouth shut we might
have thought you were clever".
A common beginning for ancient Roman
letters. Also extended to si vales bene est ego
"if you are well, I am valeo ("if you are well, that is good; I am
si vales valeo (SVV)
well" well"), abbreviated to SVBEEV. The practice fell
out of fashion and into obscurity with the
decline in Latin literacy.
"If you want to be loved, This quote is often attributed to the Roman
si vis amari ama
love" philosopher Seneca.
From Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus,
Epitoma rei militaris. Origin of the name
si vis pacem para "if you want peace, parabellum for some ammunition and firearms,
bellum prepare for war" such as the Luger parabellum. (See also in this
list Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet
bellum)
Or "just so". States that the preceding quoted
material appears exactly that way in the source,
despite any errors of spelling, grammar, usage,
sic "thus" 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 et non "thus and not" More simply, "yes and no".
sic gorgiamus allos "we gladly feast on those
Mock-Latin motto of The Addams Family.
subjectatos nunc who would subdue us"
sic infit "so it begins"
From Virgil, Aeneid book IX, line 641. Possibly
"thus you shall go to the the source of the ad astra phrases. Motto of
sic itur ad astra
stars" Lord Williams's School.Motto of the
Colombian Air Force.
sic passim "Thus here and there" Used when referencing books; see passim.
"Thus has it always
sic semper erat, et
been, and thus shall it
sic semper erit
ever be"
State motto of Virginia, adopted in 1776.
Attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius
Caesar's assassination, and to John Wilkes
Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln's
sic semper tyrannis "thus always to tyrants" assassination; whether it was actually said at
either of these events is disputed. Shorter
version from original sic semper evello mortem
tyrannis ("thus always death will come to
tyrants").
A reminder that all things are fleeting. During
Papal Coronations, a monk reminds the pope of
his mortality by saying this phrase, preceded by
sic transit gloria "thus passes the glory of pater sancte ("holy father") while holding
mundi the world" before his eyes a burning paper illustrating the
passing nature of earthly glories. This is similar
to the tradition of a slave in Roman triumphs
whispering "memento mori".
Or "use your property in such a way that you do
"use [what is] yours so
sic utere tuo ut not damage others'". A legal maxim related to
as not to harm [what is]
alienum non laedas property ownership laws, often shortened to
of others"
simply sic utere ("use it thus").
Or "such is life". Indicates that a circumstance,
sic vita est "thus is life" whether good or bad, is an inherent aspect of
living.
signetur (sig) or (S/) "let it be labeled" Medical shorthand
Motto of the Institute of the Brothers of the
Signum Fidei "Sign of the Faith" Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist
de la Salle.
Latinization of the English expression "silence
silentium est
"silence is golden" is golden". Also Latinized as silentium est
aureum
aurum ("silence is gold").
similia similibus "similar things take care Or "like cures like". Said by Samuel
curantur of similar things" Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy.
"simplicity is the sign of A more refined statement of Keep It Simple,
simplex sigillum veri
truth" Stupid
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the date
sine anno (s.a.) "without a year"
of publication of a document is unknown.
Originally from old common law texts, where it
indicates that a final, dispositive order has been
sine die "without a day" made in the case. In modern legal context, it
means there is nothing left for the court to do,
so no date for further proceedings is set.
"without anger and
sine ira et studio Thus, impartially. From Tacitus, Annals 1.1.
fondness"
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the place
sine loco (s.l.) "without a place"
of publication of a document is unknown.
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the
sine nomine (s.n.) "without a name"
publisher of a document is unknown.
Used to denote something that is an essential
sine qua non "without which not" part of the whole. See also condicio sine qua
non.
Inscription on the stained-glass in the
sine remediis "without remedies
conference hall of pharmaceutical mill in
medicina debilis est medicine is powerless"
Kaunas
sine scientia ars "without knowledge,
nihil est skill is nothing"
Phrase, used to cease the activities of Sejm
sisto activitatem "I cease the activity"
upon the liberum veto principle
Motto of the Brisbane Boys' College (Brisbane,
sit sine labe decus "let honour stainless be"
Australia).
Commonly used on gravestones, oftenly
"may the earth be light
sit tibi terra levis contracted as S.T.T.L., the same way as today's
to you"
R.I.P.
"may there be
Similar to the English idiom "pardon my
sit venia verbo forgiveness for the
French".
word"
Sol Iustitiae Illustra "Sun of Justice, shine
Motto of Utrecht University
Nos upon us"
"the sun shines on
sol lucet omnibus everyone", Petronius,
Satyricon Lybri 100
"the sun rules over Inscription near the entrance to Frombork
sol omnia regit
everything" Museum
sola fide "by faith alone" The material principle of the Protestant
 Reformation and one of the five solas, referring
to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches
that men are saved by faith even without works.
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one
of the five solas, referring to the Protestant
sola gratia "by grace alone"
claim that salvation is an unearned gift (cf. ex
gratia), not a direct result of merit.
Sola lingua bona est "the only good language
Example of dog Latin humor.
lingua mortua is a dead language"
The formal principle of the Protestant
Reformation and one of the five solas, referring
sola scriptura "by scripture alone"
to the Protestant idea that the Bible alone is the
ultimate authority, not the pope or tradition.
Waverley college high school motto, referring
Sola nobilitat virtus "Virtue alone ennobles" to the idea that it is not title nor wealth that
makes one noble but their virtue.
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
soli Deo gloria "glory to God alone" the praise for them. Johann Sebastian Bach
(S.D.G.)
often signed his manuscripts with the
abbreviation S.D.G. to invoke this phrase, as
well as with AMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam).
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one
of the five solas, referring to the Protestant
solus Christus "Christ alone" claim that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the
only mediator between God and mankind. Also
rendered solo Christo ("by Christ alone").
solus ipse "I alone"
The problem is solved by taking a walk, or by
solvitur ambulando "It is solved by walking"
simple experiment.
Spartam nactus es; "your lot is cast in from Euripides's Telephus, Agamemnon to
hanc exorna Sparta, be a credit to it" Menelaus.[21]
specialia generalibus "special departs from
derogant general"
speculum
"mirror of mirrors"
speculorum
spem reduxit "he has restored hope" Motto of New Brunswick.
From The Second Coming (poem) by William
Butler Yeats. Refers to Yeats' belief that each
spiritus mundi "spirit of the world" human mind is linked to a single vast
intelligence, and that this intelligence causes
certain 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 even though
spiritus ubi vult "the spirit spreads 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[22]
Loosely "splendour without diminishment" or
"brightness without
splendor sine occasu "magnificence without ruin". Motto of British
setting"
Columbia.
The motto of the Jungle Patrol in The Phantom.
The phrase actually violates Latin grammar
"we stand against by because of a mistranslation from English, as the
stamus contra malo
evil" preposition contra takes the accusative case.
The correct Latin rendering of "we stand
against evil" would be "stamus contra malum".
stante pede "with a standing foot" "Immediately".
"to stand by the decided To uphold previous rulings, recognize
stare decisis
things" precedent.
"There is a day [turn] for
stat sua cuique dies Virgil, Aeneid, X 467
everybody"
Medical shorthand used following an urgent
statim (stat) "immediately"
request.
The current condition or situation. Also status
quo ante ("the situation in which [things were]
status quo "the situation in which" before"), referring to the state of affairs prior to
some upsetting event (cf. reset button
technique).
status quo ante "the state before the
A common term in peace treaties.
bellum war"
stercus accidit "shit happens" Attributed to David Hume.
Marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that
stet "let it stand" something previously deleted or marked for
deletion should be retained.
"let the fortune of the First part of the motto of Harrow
stet fortuna domus
house stand" School,England.
From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical
stipendium peccati "the reward of sin is History of Doctor Faustus. (See Rom 6:23,
mors est death" "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
strenuis ardus "the heights yield to Motto on the coat of arms of the University of
cedunt endeavour" Southampton, England.
stricto sensucf. sensu "with the tight meaning" Less literally, "in the strict sense".
stricto
The title by which Frederick II, Holy Roman
Emperor, was known. More literally translated
"the wonder of the
stupor mundi "the bewilderment of the world", or, in its
world"
original, pre-Medieval sense, "the stupidity of
the world".
Motto of the U.S. Army Rangers. Also a legal
term when a court takes up a motion on its own
sua sponte "by its own accord"
initiative, not because any of the parties to the
case has made the motion.
Commonly abbreviated sa, it is used in citing
sub anno "under the year"
annals, which record events by year.
Motto of the University of Adelaide, Australia.
"The Light Under the
Sub Cruce Lumen Refers to the figurative "light of learning" and
Cross"
the Southern Cross constellation, Crux.
Also, "under the sky", "in the open air", "out in
"under the wide open
sub divo the open" or "outdoors". Divus, divi, means god
sky"
or sky.
Used in citations to refer to the end of a book,
sub finem "toward the end" page, etc., and abbreviated 's.f.' Used after the
page number or title. E.g., 'p. 20 s.f. '
Said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed
sub judice "under a judge"
until it is 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
sub poena "under penalty" with you under 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
sub rosa "under the rose" "under the rose" was not to be repeated outside.
This practice originates 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 specie "under the sight of Thus, "from eternity's point of view". From
aeternitatis eternity" Spinoza, Ethics.
Name of the oldest extant hymn to the
Sub tuum "Beneath thy
Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary). Also "under
praesidium compassion"
your protection". A popular school motto.
"Under the shade I National Motto of Belize, referring to the shade
Sub umbra floreo
flourish" of the mahogany tree.
Under the word or heading, as in a dictionary;
sub verbo; sub voce
abbreviated s.v.
Motto of King Edward VII and Queen Mary
sublimis ab unda "Raised from the waves"
School, Lytham
subsiste sermonem "stop speaking
statim immediately"
sui generis "Of its own kind" In a class of its own.
Capable of responsibility. Has both legal and
sui iuris "Of one's own right" ecclesiastical use. Commonly rendered sui
juris.
A gravestone inscription to remind the reader of
the inevitability of death (cf. memento mori).
sum quod eris "I am what you will be" Also rendered fui quod sis ("I have been what
you are") and tu fui ego eris ("I have been you,
you will be I").
from Augustine's Sermon No. 76[23]; also a 2-
sum quod sum "I am what I am"
part episode in the webcomic Heroes.
summa cum laude "with highest praise"
Literally "sum of sums". When a short
summa summarum "all in all" conclusion is rounded up at the end of some
elaboration.
Literally "highest good". Also summum malum
summum bonum "the supreme good"
("the supreme evil").
From Virgil, Aeneid. Followed by et mentem
mortalia tangunt ("and mortal things touch my
"there are tears for
sunt lacrimae rerum mind"). Aeneas cries as he sees Carthaginian
things"
temple murals depicting the deaths of the
Trojan War. See also hinc illae lacrimae.
sunt omnes unum "they are all one"
sunt pueri pueri, "Children are children,
pueri puerilia and children do childish anonymous proverb
tractant things"
Used in the context of titles of nobility, for
suo jure "in one's own right"
instance where a wife may hold a title in her
 own right rather than through her marriage.
Also rendered suo moto. Usually used when a
court of law, upon its own initiative, (i.e., no
"upon one's own
suo motu petition has been filed) proceeds against a
initiative"
person or authority that it deems has committed
an illegal act. It is used chiefly in South Asia.
suos cultores "Knowledge crowns
The motto of Syracuse University, New York.
scientia coronat those who seek Her"
Where Thomas More accused the reformer,
super fornicam "on the lavatory"
Martin Luther, of going to celebrate Mass.
A declaration that one succeeds above all
supero omnia "I surpass everything"
others.
"to belch before the From Erasmus' collection of annotated Adagia
surdo oppedere
deaf" (1508): a useless action.
Motto of Columbia University's Philolexian
surgam "I shall rise"
Society.
One of Justinian I's three basic precepts of law.
suum cuique "to render to every man
Also shortened to suum cuique ("to each his
tribuere his due"
own").
Abbreviation for sub voce or Sub verbo (see
s.v.
above).

[edit] T
Latin Translation Notes
Thus, "blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-
covered wooden tablets, which were erased by
tabula rasa "scraped tablet" scraping with the flat end of the stylus. John Locke
used the term to describe the human mind at birth,
before it had acquired any knowledge.
tabula
"congratulatory tablet" A list of congratulations.
gratulatoria
talis qualis "just as such" "Such as it is" or "as such".
taliter qualiter "somewhat"
technica "Technology impulses
Motto of Polytechnical University of Madrid
impendi nationi nations"
Recently used by a character, The Oracle, in the
temet nosce "know thyself"
Wachowski Brothers' 1999 film The Matrix.
Tempora Literally "Heroic Times". Refers to the period of time
"Heroic Age"
Heroica between the mythological Titanomachy and the
 (relatively) historical Trojan War.
tempora
"the times are
mutantur et nos Variant of omnia mutantur et nos mutamur in illis,
changing, and we
mutamur in attributed to Lothar I. See entry for details.
change in them"
illis
tempus edax "time, devourer of all Also "time, that devours all things", or more literally,
rerum things" "time, devouring of things". From Ovid.
Commonly mistranslated as "time flies" due to the
tempus fugit "time flees" similar phrase tempus volat hora fugit ("time flies, the
hour flees").
tempus rerum "time, commander of
imperator all things"
tempus vernum "spring time" Name of song by popular Irish singer Enya
tempus volat "time flies, the hour
Or "time speeds while the hour escapes".
hora fugit flees"
Tentanda Via The way must be tried motto for York University
Suetonius attributes this to Julius Caesar, from when
teneo te Africa "I hold you, Africa!"
Caesar was on the African coast.
ter in die (t.i.d.) "thrice in a day" Medical shorthand for "three times a day".
Terminat hora "The hour finishes the
A latin phrase concluding Christopher Marlowe's play
diem; terminat day; the author
Doctor Faustus.[24]
auctor opus. finishes his work"
In archaeology or history, refers to the date before
which an artifact or feature must have been deposited.
Used with terminus post quem ("limit after which").
terminus ante
"limit before which" Similarly, terminus ad quem ("limit to which") may
quem
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 land" Often used to refer to the ground.
terra incognita "unknown land"
Also Latin name of Newfoundland (island portion of
Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador,
terra nova "new land"
capital- St. John's), also root of French name of same,
Terre-Neuve
That is, no man's land. A neutral or uninhabited area,
terra nullius "land of none" or a land not under the sovereignty of any recognized
political entity.
Or "let them give light to the world". An allusion to
"let them illuminate
terras irradient Isaiah 6.3: plena est omnis terra gloria eius ("the
the lands"
whole earth is full of his glory"). Sometimes
 mistranslated as "they will illuminate the lands" based
on mistaking irradiare for a future indicative third-
conjugation verb, 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 A logical axiom that a claim is either true or false, with
"a third is not given"
datur no third option.
1. Something that cannot be classified into either of
two groups considered exhaustive; an intermediate
tertium quid "a third something"
thing or factor. 2. A third person or thing of
indeterminate character.
testis unus, "one witness is not a A law principle expressing that a single witness is not
testis nullus witness" enough to corroborate a story.
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
timeo Danaos et "I fear Greeks even if full original quote is quidquid id est timeo Danaos et
dona ferentes they bring gifts" dona 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 "A coward's mother A Latin proverb. Occasionally appears on loading
non flet does not weep" screens in the game Rome: Total War.
A Latin refrain originating in the response to the
seventh lesson in the Office of the Dead. In the Middle
timor mortis "the fear of death
Ages, this service was read each day by clerics. As a
conturbat me confounds me"
refrain, it appears also in other poems and can
frequently be found inscribed on tombs.
This Latin phrase represents the desire to offer ones
life in total commitment to another. The motto was
Totus Tuus "totally yours"
adopted by Pope John Paul II to signify his love and
servitude to Mary the Mother of Jesus.
Used to express the belief in the transfer of imperial
translatio
"transfer of rule" authority from the Roman Empire of antiquity to the
imperii
Medieval Holy Roman Empire.
A decree by the medieval Church that all feuds should
be cancelled during the Sabbath—effectively from
Treuga Dei "Truce of God"
Wednesday or Thursday night until Monday. See also
Peace and Truce of God.
Also "even you" or "yes, you", in response to a
tu autem "you indeed" person's belief that he will never die. A memento mori
epitaph.
tu autem "But Thou, O Lord, Phrase said at the end of biblical readings in the liturgy
domine have mercy upon us" of the medieval church.
miserere nobis
Thus, "what you are, I was; what I am, you will be.". A
"I was you; you will
tu fui ego eris memento mori gravestone inscription to remind the
be me"
reader that death is unavoidable (cf. sum quod eris).
tu ne cede "you should not give
malis, sed in to evils, but proceed
From Virgil, Aeneid, 6, 95.
contra ever more boldly
audentior ito against them"
The logical fallacy of attempting to defend one's
position merely by pointing out the same weakness in
one's opponent. If a politician is criticized for
advocating an inadequately-funded plan, and replies
that his or her opponent's plan is equally inadequately
funded, this is a 'tu quoque' argument: undermining the
counterproposal on the same basis does not make the
tu quoque "you too" original plan any more satisfactory. Tu quoque may
also refer to a "hypocrisy" argument, a form of ad
hominem where a claim is dismissed as untrue on the
basis that the claimant has contradicted his own
advice. While contradiction may make the claimant's
argument unsound, it does necessarily not make his
claims untrue. It comes from the supposed last words
of Julius Caesar
Found on the Great Seal on the flag of the state of
tuebor "I will protect"
Michigan.

[edit] U
Latin Translation Notes
Or "utmost good faith" (cf. bona fide). A legal maxim of
"most abundant
uberrima fides insurance contracts requiring all parties to deal in good
faith"
faith.
ubertas et "fertility and
Motto of Tasmania.
fidelitas faithfulness"
"where [it is] well,
ubi bene ibi
there [is] the Or "Home is where it's good". Patriotic motto.
patria
fatherland"
ubi caritas et "where there is
amor Deus ibi charity and love,
est God is there"
 "Where [there is] a
ubi jus ibi
right, there [is] a
remedium
remedy"
"where [there is]
ubi mel ibi
honey, there [are]
apes
bees"
"where [there is]
ubi dubium ibi
doubt, there [is] Anonymous proverb.
libertas
freedom"
"where [there is]
ubi libertas ibi Or "where there is liberty, there is my country". Patriotic
liberty, there [is]
patria motto.
the fatherland"
"Where you are
From the writings of the Flemish philosopher Arnold
Ubi nihil vales, worth nothing,
Geulincx; also quoted by Samuel Beckett in his first
ibi nihil velis there you will wish
published novel, Murphy.
for nothing"
Thus, there can be no judgement or case if no one charges
ubi non "where [there is]
a defendant with a crime. The phrase is sometimes
accusator ibi no accuser, there
parodied as "where there are no police, there is no speed
non iudex [is] no judge"
limit".
"where there is
ubi pus, ibi
pus, there evacuate
evacua
it"
Motto of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and most other
Ubique, quo "Everywhere, Artillery corps within the armies of the British
fas et gloria Where Right And Commonwealth (for example, the Royal Regiment of
ducunt Glory Leads" Australian Artillery and Royal Regiment of New Zealand
Artillery).
"when, in a true Or "whereas, in reality..." Also rendered ubi revera
ubi re vera
thing" ("when, in fact" or "when, actually").
"if there's a
ubi societas ibi
society, law will Invented by Cicero.
ius
be there"
ubi solitudinem "They make a
from a speech by Calgacus reported/constructed by
faciunt pacem desert and call it
Tacitus, Agricola, ch. 30.
appellant peace"
Nostalgic theme of poems yearning for days gone by. From
ubi sunt "where are they?" the line ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt ("Where are they,
those who have gone before us?").
 "last method"
"the final
ultima ratio argument" French cannon.
"the last resort (as The last resort. Short form for the metaphor "The Last
force)" Resort of Kings and Common Men" refering to the act of
declaring war. Louis XIV of France had Ultima Ratio
Regum ("last argument of kings") engraved on the cannons
of his armies. From here it names the French sniper rifle
PGM Ultima Ratio, the fictional Reason and is the motto of
the 1st Battalion 11th Marines (with the incorrect
Regnum).
Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the
ultimo mense "in the last month" previous month. Used with inst. ("this month") and prox.
(ult.)
("next month").
"Without authority". Used to describe an action done
without proper authority, or acting without the rules. The
ultra vires "beyond powers"
term will most often be used in connection with appeals
and petitions.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as
Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Latin
"(to send) owls to
ululas Athenas translation of a classical greek proverb. Generally means
Athens"
putting large effort in a necessarily fruitless enterprise.
Compare "selling coal to Newcastle".
"One Swallow A single example of something positive does not
una hirundo
does not make necessarily mean that all subsequent similar instances will
non facit ver
Summer" have the same outcome.
Less literally, "the only safe bet for the vanquished is to
expect no safety". Preceded by moriamur et in media arma
una salus victis "the only safety for ruamus ("let us die even as we rush into the midst of
nullam sperare the conquered is to battle") in Virgil's Aeneid, book 2, lines 353–354. Used in
salutem hope for no safety" Tom Clancy's novel Without Remorse, where character
Clark translates it as "the one hope of the doomed is not to
hope for safety".
unitas per "Unity Through
Motto for the St. Xavier's Institution Board of Librarians.
servitiam Service"
Used in criticism of inconsistent pleadings, ie. "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."
unus multorum "one of many" An average person.
 "To the City and Meaning "To Rome and the World". A standard opening of
Urbi et Orbi the Circle [of the Roman proclamations. Also a traditional blessing by the
lands]" pope.
Urbs in Horto "City in a garden" Motto of the City of Chicago.
Usus est
"Practice is the
magister In other words, practice makes perfect.
best teacher."
optimus
Also rendered with quando ("when") in place of quoniam.
From a story by Suetonius (Vit. Tib., 2.2) and Cicero (De
Natura Deorum, 2.3). The phrase was said by Roman
ut biberent "so that they might
admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher right before the battle of
quoniam esse drink, since they
Drepana, as he threw overboard the sacred chickens which
nollent refused to eat"
had refused to eat the grain offered them—an unwelcome
omen of bad luck. Thus, the sense is, "if they do not
perform as expected, they must suffer the consequences".
ut incepit "as she began
fidelis sic loyal, so she Thus, the state remains as loyal as ever. Motto of Ontario.
permanet persists"
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"
ut infra "as below"
Motto of Twynham School, Christchurch, Dorset, England,
King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny in Wales, Virginia
ut prosim "That I may serve" Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech),
Wenona School, Danebank School and Old Swinford
Hospital
Ut proverbium
"You know what
loguitur Lit: As the old proverb says...
they say..."
vetus...
ut res magis "That the matter
valeat quam may have effect
pereat rather than fail"
Or "as on the back side"; thus, "as on the previous page"
ut retro "as backwards"
(cf. ut supra).
"As Rome falls, so
Ut Roma cadit,
[falls] the whole
sic omnis terra.
world."
A traditional brocard. The full form is Interest reipublicae
"So there might be
ut sit finis ut sit finis litium, "it is in the government's interest that
an end of
litium there be an end to litigation." Often quoted in the context of
litigation"
statutes of limitation.
ut supra "as above"
"as the extension, Robert Hooke's expression of his discovery of his law of
ut tensio sic vis
so the force" linear elasticity.
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."[2] Motto of
utraque unum "both into one"
Georgetown University.

[edit] V
Latin Translation Notes
A Biblical phrase from the Book of Proverbs. The
vade ad
"go to the ant" full quotation translates as "go to the ant, O
formicam
sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom".
A vade-mecum or vademecum is an item one carries
vade mecum "go with me"
around, especially a handbook.
An exhortation for Satan to begone, often used in
response to temptation. From a popular Medieval
Catholic exorcism formula, based on a rebuke by
Jesus to Peter in the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro
vade retro Satana "Go back, Satan!" me Satana ("step back from me, Satan!"). The older
phrase vade retro ("go back!") can be found in
Terence's Formio I, 4, 203. The phrase has been
mocked by a Portuguese slogan, "Vai de metro,
Satanás" ("Go by the subway, Satan").
Attributed by Livy to Brennus, the chief of the
"Woe to the
vae victis Gauls, while he demanded more gold from the
conquered!"
citizens of the recently-sacked Rome in 390 BC.
vanitas
"vanity of vanities; More simply, "vanity, vanity, everything vanity".
vanitatum omnia
everything [is] vanity" From the Vulgate, Ecclesiastes, 1:2.
vanitas
A prophecy made to look as though it was written
vaticinium ex "prophecy from the
before the events it describes, while in fact being
eventu event"
written afterwards.
Summary of alternatives, ie. "this action turns upon
vel non "or not" whether the claimant was the deceased's grandson
vel non."
"To be willing is to be
velle est posse able." (non-literal: "Where Motto of Hillfield, one of the founding schools of
there's a will, there's a Hillfield Strathallan College.
way.")
velocius quam "more rapidly than Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". Ascribed
asparagi asparagus will be to Augustus by Suetonius (The Lives of the Twelve
coquantur cooked" Caesars, Book 2 (Augustus), para. 87). Can refer to
anything done very quickly. A very common variant
is celerius quam asparagi cocuntur ("more swiftly
than asparagus is cooked").
The message supposedly sent by Julius Caesar to the
"I came, I saw, I
veni, vidi, vici Roman Senate to describe his battle against King
conquered"
Pharnaces II near Zela in 47 BC.
veni, vidi et Said by Hannibal, according to Carthaginian history,
"I came, I saw and I
capiebar ad right after crossing the Alps where he was taken by
endured a rear assault"
anum surprise by the army of Fabius Maximus.
"From whence you
venisti remanebis
came, you shall The phrase that the wizard said to the Devil in the
donec denuo
remain, until you are film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
completus sis
complete again"
vera causa "true cause"
"words are to be
verba ita sunt An interpretation which gives effect is preferred to
understood such that
intelligenda ut one
the subject matter may
res magis valeat
be more effective than
quam pereat which makes void.
wasted"
verba volant, "words fly away, From a famous speech of Caio Titus at the Roman
scripta manent writings remain" senate.
verbatim "word for word" Refers to perfect transcription or quotation.
verbatim et "word for word and
litteratim letter by letter"
verbi divini "servant of the divine
A priest (cf. Verbum Dei).
minister Word"
verbi gratia "for example" literally: "thanks to the words"
(v.gr. or VG)
Verbum Dei "Word of God" See religious text.
verbum Domini
"The Word of the Lord
manet in Motto of the Lutheran Reformation.
Endures Forever"
aeternum (VDMA)
"A word to the wise is The hearer can fill in the rest; enough said. Short for
verbum sap
sufficient" Verbum sapienti sat[is] est.
Current motto of Harvard University, Providence
College, Drake University, Knox College, and the
veritas "truth" University of Santo Tomas (oldest university in the
Philippines). Also the name of a British political
party (Veritas).
veritas, bonitas,
"Truth, Goodness, Current motto of Fu Jen Catholic University,
pulchritudo,
Beauty, and Holiness" Taiwan.
sanctitas
 The original motto of Harvard University, dating to
veritas Christo et "Truth for Christ and
its foundation; it was shortened to Veritas to remove
ecclesiae Church"
the religious implications.
veritas, fides,
"Truth, Faith, Wisdom" Current motto of Dowling Catholic High School.
sapientia
Motto of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate
veritas curat "The Truth Cures."
Medical Education & Research.
veritas diaboli
"Devil's truth remain
manet in
eternally"
aeternum
veritate duce "Advancing (with)
Motto of University of Arkansas.
progredi Truth Leading."
"Truth Through Motto of John Wordsworth's Father. Motto of
veritas in caritate
Caring" Bishop Wordsworth's School.
A common non-literal translation is "Truth
veritas lux mea "Truth is my light." enlightens me." Motto of Seoul National University,
Seoul, South Korea.
veritas odit
"Truth hates delay" Seneca the Younger.
moras
veritas omnia "Truth defeats all Motto of Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario. See
vincit things" also national motto Satyameva Jayate of India
veritas unitas
"Truth, Unity, Love" Motto of Villanova University.
caritas
veritas vos "the truth will set you
Motto of Johns Hopkins University.
liberabit free"
[in] veritate et
"with truth and love" Motto of Catholic Junior College, Singapore.
caritate
Motto of Sydney Boys High School. Also "virtute et
"with truth and
veritate et virtute veritate", motto of Walford Anglican School for
courage"
Girls.
veritatem "to bear witness to the
Motto of Xaverian Brothers High School.
fratribus testari truth in brotherhood"
"nothing truer than
vero nihil verius Motto of Mentone Girls' Grammar School
truth"
Motto on the Great Seal of Barack Obama during
vero possumus "Yes, we can."
the 2008 US presidential campaign.[25]
Literally "in the direction". Mistakenly used in
English as "against" (probably from "adversus"),
versus (vs) or (v.) "towards"
particularly to denote two opposing parties, such as
in a legal dispute or a sports match.
The right to unilaterally stop a certain piece of
veto "I forbid" legislation. Derived from ancient Roman voting
practices.
 Or "Strength with Courage". Motto of Ascham
vi et animo "With heart and soul"
School and the McCulloch clan crest.
From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History
of Doctor Faustus. Note that v was originally the
consonantal u, and was written the same before the
two forms became distinct, and also after in many
"by the power of truth,
cases, when u and v were both capitalized as V: thus,
vi veri universum I, while living, have
Vniversum. Also, universum is sometimes quoted
vivus vici conquered the
with the form ueniversum (or Veniversum), which is
universe"
presumably a combination of universum and
oeniversum, two classically-attested spellings).
Recently quoted in the film, V For Vendetta, by the
main character, V.
"by way of" or "by means of"; e.g. "I'll contact you
via "by the road"
via e-mail."
"The Way, the Truth Motto of The University of Glasgow and Eastern
via, veritas, vita
and the Life" Nazarene College
via media "middle road" Can refer to the radical center political stance.
"one who acts in place of another"; can be used as a
vice "in place of" separate word, or as a hyphenated prefix: "Vice
President" and "Vice-Chancellor".
Thus, "the other way around", "conversely", etc.
Historically, vice is properly pronounced as two
syllables, but the one-syllable pronunciation is
vice versa
"with position turned" extremely common. Classical Latin pronunciation
versa vice
dictates that the letter C can only make a hard
sound, like K and a v is pronounced like a w; thus
wee-keh wehr-suh.[26]
victoria aut mors "Victory or death!" similar to aut vincere aut mori.
victoria "Victory comes from
The official club motto of Arsenal F.C.
concordia crescit harmony"
"the victorious cause
victrix causa diis Lucan, Pharsalia 1, 128. Dedication on the south
pleased the gods, but
placuit sed victa side of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington
the conquered cause
Catoni National Cemetery.
pleased Cato"
vide infra (v.i.) "see below"
Or "see earlier in this writing". Also shortened to
vide supra (v.s.) "see above"
just supra.
vincit omnia
"Truth conquers all"
veritas
"namely", "that is to
videlicet (viz.) Contraction of videre licet: "permitted to see".
say", "as follows"
video meliora "I see and approve of From the Metamorphoses VII. 20-21 of Ovid. A
proboque the better, but I follow summary of the experience of akrasia.
deteriora sequor the worse"
video et taceo "I see and keep silent" The motto of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
video sed non "I see it, but I don't Caspar Hofmann after being shown proof of the
credo believe it" circulatory system by William Harvey.
vim promovet "promotes one's innate Motto of University of Bristol taken from Horace
insitam power" Ode 4.4.
"it is permitted to see",
videre licet
"one may see"
Partial quotation of Romans 12:21 also used as a
vince malum "Overcome Evil with
motto for Old Swinford Hospital and Bishop Cotton
bono Good"
School, Shimla.
"you know [how] to According to Livy, a cavalry colonel told Hannibal
vincere scis
win, Hannibal; you do this after the victory at Cannae in 216 BC, meaning
Hannibal victoria
not know [how] to use that Hannibal should have marched on Rome
uti nescis
victory" directly.
Or "he who prevails over himself is victorious". Or
"She conquers who conquers herself" as used in
mottos of Philadelphia High School for Girls,
vincit qui se "he conquers who
Firbank Girls' Grammar School, Malvern Girls'
vincit conquers himself"
College, North Sydney Boys High School. Also "bis
vincit qui se vincit" ("he who prevails over himself
is twice victorious").
viriliter agite "Quit ye like men, be
As used in the motto of Culford School
estote fortes strong"
vir prudens non "[A] wise man does not
contra ventum urinate [up] against the
mingit wind"
University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines
virtus et scientia "virtue and science"
motto
virtus sola "virtue alone [is]
Christian Brothers College, St. Kilda's school motto
nobilitas noble"
virtus unita "virtue united [is]
State motto of Andorra.
fortior stronger"
Idiomatically: Good practice lies in the middle path.
virtus in media "Virtue stands in the
There is disagreement as to whether "media" or
stat middle. "
"medio" is correct.
virtus tentamine "Strength rejoices in
The motto of Hillsdale College.
gaudet the challenge."
Or "by manhood and weapons". State motto of
Mississippi. Possibly derived from the motto of
virtute et armis "by virtue and arms"
Lord Gray De Wilton, virtute non armis fido ("I
trust in virtue, not in arms"). Also virtute et labore,
 as by manhood and by work motto of Pretoria Boys
High School
vis legis "power of the law"
visio dei "Vision of a god"
vita ante acta "a life done before" Thus, a previous life, generally due to reincarnation.
vita, dulcedo, "[Mary our] life,
Motto of University of Notre Dame.
spes sweetness, hope"
vita incerta, mors "Life is uncertain, In simpler English, "The most certain thing in life is
certissima death is most certain" death".
vita summa "the shortness of life
A wistful refrain, sometimes used ironically. From
brevis spem nos prevents us from
the first line of Horace's Ode I; later used as the title
vetat incohare entertaining far-off
of a short poem by Ernest Dowson.
longam hopes"
An oral, as opposed to a written, examination of a
viva voce "living voice"
candidate.
vivat crescat "may it live, grow, and
floreat flourish!"
Usually translated "Long live the King!" Also Vivat
vivat rex "May the King live!"
Regina ("Long live the Queen!").
"I live remembering
vive memor leti Persius. Compare with "memento mori"
death"
vivere est
"To live is to think" Cicero. Compare with "cogito ergo sum".
cogitare
vivere est vincere "To live is to conquer" Captain John Smith's personal Motto.
vivere militare Seneca (Epist. 96,5). Compare with "militia est vita
"To live is to fight"
est hominis" Book of Job 7:1
"live so that you may The phrase suggests that one should live life to the
vive ut vivas
live" fullest and without fear of possible consequences.
"called and not called,
Attributed to the Oracle at Delphi. Used by Carl
vocatus atque God will be present",
Jung as a personal motto adorning his home and
non vocatus Deus or "called and even not
grave.
aderit called, God
"[Whether] invoked or not, God is present."
approaches"
"to one willing, no used in tort law to delineate the principle that one
volenti non fit harm is done" or "to cannot be held liable for injuries inflicted on an
injuria him who consents, no individual who has given his consent to the action
harm is done that gave rise to the injury.
votum separatum "separate vow" An independent, minority voice.
"the voice of one From Isaiah 40, and quoted by John the Baptist in
vox clamantis in shouting in the desert" the Gospels. Usually the "voice" is assumed to be
deserto (or, traditionally, "the shouting in vain, unheeded by the surrounding
voice of one crying in wilderness. However, in this phrase's use as the
 the wilderness") motto of Dartmouth College, it is taken to denote an
isolated beacon of education and culture in the
"wilderness" of New Hampshire.
Applied to a useless or ambiguous phrase or
vox nihili "voice of nothing"
statement.
vox populi "voice of the people"