| a posteriori | from the latter — knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence |
| a priori | from what comes before — knowledge or justification is independent of experience |
| faber est suae quisque fortunae | every man is the arquitect of his own fortune –quote by Appius Claudius Caecus |
| acta non verba | deeds, not words |
| ad calendas graecas | never — there is no greek calendas (Roman months) |
| ad hoc | to this — improvised or made up |
| ad hominem | to the man — below-the-belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument |
| ad honorem | for honor |
| ad infinitum | to infinity |
| ad nauseam | used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea |
| ad victoriam | to victory — more commonly translated into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans |
| alea iacta est | the die has been cast |
| alias | at another (time, place…) [Accusative of alius] — an assumed name or pseudonym |
| alibi | elsewhere |
| alma mater | nourishing mother — used to denote one’s college/university |
| amor patriae | love of one’s country |
| amor vincit omnia | love conquers all |
| annuit cœptis | He (God) nods at things being begun — or “he approves our undertakings,” motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill |
| ante bellum | before the war |
| ante meridiem | before noon — A.M., used in timekeeping |
| aqua vitae | water of life — used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in France |
| arte et marte | by skill and valour |
| astra inclinant, sed non obligant | the stars incline us, they do not bind us — refers to the strength of free will over astrological determinism |
| audemus jura nostra defendere | we dare to defend our rights — state motto of Alabama |
| audere est facere | to dare is to do |
| audio | I hear |
| aurea mediocritas | golden mean — refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes |
| auribus teneo lupum | I hold a wolf by the ears — a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version is, “to have a tiger by the tail” |
| aut cum scuto aut in scuto | either with shield or on shield — do or die, “no retreat”; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle |
| aut neca aut necare | either kill or be killed |
| aut viam inveniam aut faciam | I will either find a way or make one — said by Hannibal, the great ancient military commander |
| barba non facit philosophum | a beard doesn’t make one a philosopher |
| bellum omnium contra omnes | war of all against all |
| bis dat qui cito dat | he gives twice, who gives promptly — a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts |
| bona fide | good faith |
| bono malum superate | overcome evil with good |
| carpe diem | seize the day |
| caveat emptor | let the buyer beware — the purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need |
| circa | around, or approximately |
| citius altius fortius | faster, higher, stronger — modern Olympics motto |
| cogito ergo sum | “I think therefore I am” — famous quote by Rene Descartes |
| contemptus mundi/saeculi | scorn for the world/times — despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher’s rejection of a mundane life and worldly values |
| corpus christi | body of Christ |
| corruptissima re publica plurimae leges | when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous — said by Tacitus |
| creatio ex nihilo | creation out of nothing — a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context |
| cura te ipsum | take care of your own self — an exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others |
| curriculum vitae | the course of one’s life — in business, a lengthened resume |
| de facto | from the fact — distinguishing what’s supposed to be from what is reality |
| deo volente | God willing |
| deus ex machina | God out of a machine — a term meaning a conflict is resolved in improbable or implausible ways |
| dictum factum | what is said is done |
| disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus | learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if tomorrow you’re going to die |
| discendo discimus | while teaching we learn |
| docendo disco, scribendo cogito | I learn by teaching, think by writing |
| ductus exemplo | leadership by example |
| ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt | the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling — attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca |
| dulce bellum inexpertis | war is sweet to the inexperienced |
| dulce et decorum est pro patria mori | it is sweet and fitting to die for your country |
| dulcius ex asperis | sweeter after difficulties |
| e pluribus unum | out of many, one — on the U.S. seal, and was once the country’s de facto motto |
| emeritus | veteran — retired from office |
| ergo | therefore |
| et alii | and others — abbreviated et al. — et alia(neuter plural) et aliae(femenine plural) |
| et cetera | and the others |
| et tu, Brute? | last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” used today to convey utter betrayal |
| ex animo | from the heart — thus, “sincerely” |
| ex libris | from the library of — to mark books from a library |
| ex nihilo | out of nothing |
| ex post facto | from a thing done afterward — said of a law with retroactive effect |
| fac fortia et patere | do brave deeds and endure |
| fac simile | make alike — origin of the word “fax” |
| flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo | if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell — Virgil’s Aeneid |
| fortes fortuna adiuvat | fortune favors the bold |
| fortis in arduis | strong in difficulties |
| gloria in excelsis Deo | glory to God in the highest |
| habeas corpus | you should have the body — a legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term for a prisoner’s legal right to challenge the legality of their detention |
| habemus papam | we have a pope — used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope |
| historia vitae magistra | history, the teacher of life — from Cicero; also “history is the mistress of life” |
| hoc est bellum | this is war |
| homo unius libri (timeo) | (I fear) a man of one book — attributed to Thomas Aquinas |
| honor virtutis praemium | esteem is the reward of virtue |
| hostis humani generis | enemy of the human race — Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general |
| humilitas occidit superbiam | humility conquers pride |
| igne natura renovatur integra | through fire, nature is reborn whole |
| ignis aurum probat | fire tests gold — a phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances |
| imprimatur | let it be printed — applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement |
| in absentia | in the absence |
| in aqua sanitas | in water there is health |
| in flagrante delicto | in flaming crime — caught red-handed, or in the act |
| in memoriam | into the memory — more commonly “in memory of” |
| in omnia paratus | ready for anything |
| in situ | in position — something that exists in an original or natural state |
| in toto | in all or entirely |
| in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus | then we will fight in the shade — made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300 |
| in utero | in the womb |
| in vitro | in glass — biological process that occurs in the lab |
| incepto ne desistam | may I not shrink from my purpose |
| intelligenti pauca | few words suffice for he who understands |
| invicta | unconquered |
| invictus maneo | I remain unvanquished |
| ipso facto | by the fact itself — something is true by its very nature |
| labor omnia vincit | hard work conquers all |
| laborare pugnare parati sumus | to work, (or) to fight; we are ready |
| labore et honore | by labor and honor |
| leges sine moribus vanae | laws without morals [are] vain |
| lex parsimoniae | law of succinctness — also known as Occam’s Razor, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one |
| lex talionis | the law of retaliation |
| magna cum laude | with great praise |
| magna est vis consuetudinis | great is the power of habit |
| magnum opus | great work — said of someone’s masterpiece |
| mala fide | in bad faith — said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or mislead someone; opposite of bona fide |
| malum in se | wrong in itself — a legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong |
| malum prohibitum | wrong due to being prohibited — a legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law |
| mea culpa | my fault |
| meliora | better things — carrying the connotation of “always better” |
| memento mori | remember that [you will] die — was whispered by a servant into the ear of a victorious Roman general to check his pride as he paraded through cheering crowds after a victory; a genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of his death |
| memento vivere | remember to live |
| memores acti prudentes futuri | mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be |
| modus operandi | method of operating — abbreviated M.O. |
| montani semper liberi | mountaineers [are] always free — state motto of West Virginia |
| morior invictus | death before defeat |
| morituri te salutant | those who are about to die salute you — popularized as a standard salute from gladiators to the emperor, but only recorded once in Roman history |
| morte magis metuenda senectus | old age should rather be feared than death |
| mulgere hircum | to milk a male goat — to attempt the impossible |
| multa paucis | say much in few words |
| nanos gigantum humeris insidentes | dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants — commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” |
| nec aspera terrent | they don’t terrify the rough ones — frightened by no difficulties, less literally “difficulties be damned” |
| nec temere nec timide | neither reckless nor timid |
| nil volentibus arduum | nothing [is] arduous for the willing |
| nihil obstat | no objection to an initiative or an appointment — attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals |
| nolo contendere | I do not wish to contend — that is, “no contest”; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn’t admit guilt, but will accept punishment for a crime |
| non ducor, duco | I am not led; I lead |
| non loqui sed facere | not talk but action |
| non progredi est regredi | to not go forward is to go backward |
| non scholae, sed vitae discimus | we learn not for school, but for life — from Seneca |
| non sequitur | it does not follow — in general, a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent), often used in humor |
| non sum qualis eram | I am not such as I was — or “I am not the kind of person I once was” |
| nosce te ipsum | know thyself — from Cicero |
| novus ordo seclorum | new order of the ages — from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States |
| nulla tenaci invia est via | for the tenacious, no road is impassable |
| obliti privatorum, publica curate | forget private affairs, take care of public ones — Roman political saying which reminds that common good should be given priority over private matters for any person having a responsibility in the State |
| panem et circenses | bread and circuses — originally described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman mob; today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters |
| para bellum | prepare for war — if you want peace, prepare for war—if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack |
| parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus | when you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things — sometimes translated as, “once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely” |
| pater familias | father of the family — the eldest male in a family |
| pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina | if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you don’t, money is your master |
| per angusta ad augusta | through difficulties to greatness |
| per annum | by the year |
| per capita | by the person |
| per diem | by the day |
| per se | through itself |
| persona non grata | person not pleasing — an unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person |
| pollice verso | with a turned thumb — used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator |
| post meridiem | after noon — P.M., used in timekeeping |
| post mortem | after death |
| postscriptum | thing having been written afterward — in writing, abbreviated P.S. |
| praemonitus praemunitus | forewarned is forearmed |
| praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes | lead in order to serve, not in order to rule |
| primus inter pares | first among equals — a title of the Roman Emperors |
| pro bono | for the good — in business, refers to services rendered at no charge |
| pro rata | for the rate |
| quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu | it is how well you live that matters, not how long — from Seneca |
| quasi | as if or as though |
| qui totum vult totum perdit | he who wants everything loses everything — attributed to Seneca |
| quid agis | what’s going on? — what’s up, what’s happening, etc. |
| quid pro quo | this for that — an exchange of value |
| quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur | whatever has been said in Latin seems deep — or “anything said in Latin sounds profound”; a recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more important or “educated” |
| quis custodiet ipsos custodes? | who will guard the guards themselves? — Juvenal |
| quod erat demonstrandum | what was to be demonstrated — abbreviated Q.E.D. |
| quorum | of whom — the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional |
| requiescat in pace | let him rest in peace — abbreviated R.I.P. — also requiescat in pacem with accusative instead of ablative or requiescant in plural |
| rigor mortis | stiffness of death |
| scientia ac labore | knowledge through hard work |
| scientia ipsa potentia est | knowledge itself is power |
| semper anticus | always forward |
| semper fidelis | always faithful — U.S. Marines motto |
| semper fortis | always brave |
| semper paratus | always prepared |
| semper virilis | always virile |
| si vales, valeo | when you are strong, I am strong |
| si vis pacem, para bellum | if you want peace, prepare for war |
| sic parvis magna | greatness from small beginnings — motto of Sir Frances Drake |
| sic semper tyrannis | thus always to tyrants — attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; whether it was actually said at either of these events is disputed |
| sic vita est | thus is life — the ancient version of “it is what it is” |
| sola fide | by faith alone |
| sola nobilitat virtus | virtue alone ennobles |
| solvitur ambulando | it is solved by walking |
| spes bona | good hope |
| statim (stat) | immediately — medical shorthand |
| status quo | the situation in which or current condition |
| subpoena | under penalty |
| sum quod eris | I am what you will be — a gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death |
| summa cum laude | with highest praise |
| summum bonum | the supreme good |
| suum cuique | to each his own |
| tabula rasa | scraped tablet — “blank slate”; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge |
| tempora heroica | Heroic Age |
| tempus edax rerum | time, devourer of all things |
| tempus fugit | time flees — commonly mistranslated “time flies” |
| terra firma | firm ground |
| terra incognita | unknown land — used on old maps to show unexplored areas |
| vae victis | woe to the conquered |
| vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas | vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity — from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1) |
| veni vidi vici | I came, I saw, I conquered — famously said by Julius Caesar |
| verbatim | repeat exactly |
| veritas et aequitas | truth and equity |
| versus | against |
| veto | I forbid |
| vice versa | to change or turn around |
| vincit qui patitur | he conquers who endures |
| vincit qui se vincit | he conquers who conquers himself |
| vir prudens non contra ventum mingit | [a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind |
| virile agitur | the manly thing is being done |
| viriliter agite | act in a manly way |
| viriliter agite estote fortes | quit ye like men, be strong |
| virtus tentamine gaudet | strength rejoices in the challenge |
| virtute et armis | by virtue and arms — or “by manhood and weapons”; state motto of Mississippi |
| vive memor leti | live remembering death |
| vivere est vincere | to live is to conquer — Captain John Smith’s personal motto |
| vivere militare est | to live is to fight |
| vox populi | voice of the people |
Latin Common Expressions
26/07/2017
by admin
by admin