LATIN PHRASE IN ENGLISH

A[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

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

An inference from smaller to bigger; what is forbidden at least is

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

A solis ortu usque ad

from sunrise to sunset
occasum

Said of an argument either for a conclusion that rests on the alleged

absurdity of an opponent's argument (cf. appeal to ridicule) or that
ab absurdo from the absurd
another assertion is false because it is absurd. The phrase is distinct
from reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid logical argument.

ab abusu ad usum non An inference from an abuse

Rights abused are still rights; confer abusus non tollit usum.
valet consequential to a use is not valid

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

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

ab antique from the ancient From ancient times

Or, "at will" or "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and its Italian
a bene placito from one well pleased (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplácito) derivatives, are synonymous
with the more common ad libitum (at pleasure).

Regarding or pertaining to correspondence;[1] secretarial office in the

ab epistulis from the letters[1]
Roman Empire

Legal term denoting derivation from an external source, rather than

ab extra from beyond/without from a person's self or mind, this latter source being denoted by "ab
intra".
ab hinc from here on Also sometimes written as "abhinc"

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

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

New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from inconvenience", or "from

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

Thus, "from the beginning" or "from infancy". Incunabula is commonly

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

Or, "from the outset", referring to an inquiry or investigation. In

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

From a decedent, i. e., a dead person, who died without executing a

ab intestate from an intestate
legal will; cf. ex testamento

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

ab invite unwillingly

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

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

From the origin, beginning, source, or commencement; i. e., "originally".

ab origine from the source
It is the source of the word aboriginal.

ab ovo usque ad mala from the egg to the apples From Horace, Satire, 1.3. Means "from beginning to end", based on
the Roman main meal typically beginning with an egg dish and ending
 with fruit; cf. the English phrase soup to nuts. Thus, ab ovo means
"from the beginning", and can connote thoroughness.

an absent person will not be

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

[with] the defendant being

absente reo (abs. re.) Legal phrase denoting action "in the absence of the accused"
absent

Expresses the wish that no insult or injury be presumed or done by the

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

Said in the context of a statement of excellence: unlike the English

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

Or, "let this not be a bad omen". Expresses the wish that something
absit omen let an omen be absent seemingly ill-boding does not turn out to be an omen for future events,
and calls on Divine protection against evil.

absolutum dominium absolute dominion Total, if not supreme, power, dominion, ownership, and sovereignty

Legal term pronounced by a judge to acquit a defendant following his

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

abundans cautela non abundant caution does no

Frequently re-phrased as "one can never be too careful"
nocet harm

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 2, 65-6. Refers to situations where a single

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

Or, "from the founding of Rome", which occurred in 753 BC, according
to Livy's count. It was used as a referential year in ancient Rome from
from the city having been
ab urbe condita (a.u.c.) which subsequent years were calculated, prior to being replaced by
founded
other dating conventions. Also anno urbis conditae (a.u.c.); literally "in
the year of the founded city".
 The misuse of some thing does not eliminate the possibility of its
abusus non tollit usum misuse does not remove use
correct use.

ab utili from utility Used of an argument

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

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

From top to bottom; all the way through; or from head to toe; see also a
a capite ad calcem from head to heel
pedibus usque ad caput

accipe hoc take this Motto of the 848 Naval Air Squadron, British Royal Navy

Legal principle denoting that an accused person is entitled to plead not

no one ought to accuse guilty, and that a witness is not obligated to respond or submit a
accusare nemo se
himself except in the document that would incriminate himself. A similar phrase is nemo
debet nisi coram Deo
presence of God tenetur se ipsum accusare ("no one is bound to accuse himself").
See right to silence.

Equivalent to "on the contrary" and "au contraire". An argumentum a

a contrario from the opposite contrario ("argument from the contrary") is an argument or proof by
contrast or direct opposite.

Ovid, Tristia, 1.2.97: si tamen acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt, / a

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

Common ending to ancient Roman comedies; Suetonius claimed in The

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

acta non verba Deeds not Words Motto of the United States Merchant Marine Academy

Also used in the singular preceding a saint's name: Acta Sancti ("Deeds
acta sanctorum Deeds of the Saints
of Saint") N.; a common title of hagiography works
actiones secundum
action follows belief "We act according to what we believe (ourselves to be)."[2]
fidei

actus me invito factus the act done by me against

non est meus actus my will is not my act

The act does not make [a

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

The actual crime that is committed, as distinguished from the intent,

thinking, and rationalizing that procured the criminal act; the external
actus reus guilty act
elements of a crime, as contrasted with the mens rea, i. e., the internal
elements.

In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See also reductio ad

ad absurdum to absurdity
absurdum. Not to be confused with ab absurdo ("from the absurd").

In legal language, used when providing additional evidence to an

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

ad acta to the archives Denoting the irrelevance of a thing

ad altiora tendo I strive towards higher things

ad arbitrium at will, at pleasure

ad astra to the stars Name or motto, in whole or part, of many organizations' publications

Or, "a rough road leads to the stars", as on the Launch Complex 34
ad astra per aspera to the stars through difficulties memorial plaque for the astronauts of Apollo 1; motto of the State of
Kansas and other organisations

ad augusta per to rise to a high position

angusta overcoming hardships

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

ad captandum vulgus in order to capture the crowd An argumentum ad captandum is an argument designed to please the
crowd.
 Formal letter or communication in the Christian tradition from
a bishop to his clergy. An "ad clerum" may be an encouragement in a
ad clerum to the clergy
time of celebration or a technical explanation of new regulations
or canons.

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

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

ad fontes to the sources Motto of Renaissance humanism and the Protestant Reformation

Said during a generic toast; equivalent to "bottoms up!" In other

ad fundum to the bottom
contexts, it generally means "back to the basics".

Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised or intended only

ad hoc to this
for a specific, immediate purpose.

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

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

ad honorem to the honour "for the honour", not for the purpose of gaining any material reward

Enduring forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all

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

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

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

Attributed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to Augustus. The

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

Loosely, "according to what pleases" or "as you wish"; libitum comes

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

Legal phrase referring to a party appointed by a court to act in a lawsuit

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

Used to suggest looking for information about a term in the

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

ad lucem to the light frequently used motto for educational institutions

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

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

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

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

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

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

ad oculos to the eyes "obvious on sight" or "obvious to anyone that sees it"

Thus, "exactly as it is written"; similar to the phrase "to the letter",

ad pedem litterae to the foot of the letter
meaning "to the last detail"

ad perpetuam Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is used to wish for
to the perpetual memory
memoriam someone to be remembered long after death

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

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

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

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

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

ad sumus here we are Motto of the Brazilian Marine Corps

ad susceptum in order to achieve what has

Motto of the Association of Trust Schools
perficiendum been undertaken

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

ad undas to the waves Equivalent to "to Hell"

ad unum to one

Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive or improper parts.

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

ad usum proprium (ad

for one's own use
us. propr.)

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

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

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

More commonly translated "for victory", it was a battlecry of the

ad victoriam to victory
Romans

ad vitam aeternam to eternal life Also "to life everlasting"; a common Biblical phrase
 Phrase describing the term of a political office as ending upon the death
ad vitam aut culpam for life or until fault of the officer or his commission of a sufficiently grave immorality and/or
legal crime.

An item to be added, especially as a supplement to a book. The plural

Addendum thing to be added
is addenda.

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

adaequatio intellectus conformity of our minds to the

Phrase used in epistemology regarding the nature of understanding.
nostri cum re fact

Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite of absum ("I am

adsum I am here
absent").

adversus solem ne
do not speak against the Sun Or, "do not argue what is obviously/manifestly incorrect".
loquitor

Someone who, in the face of a specific argument, voices an argument

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

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

Often abbreviated to "aetat.", or more frequently further to "aet.";

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

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

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

a falsis principiis to set forth from false

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

affidavit he asserted
Legal term from "fides" ("faith"), originating at least from Medieval
 Latin to denote a statement under oath.

Loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger reason". Often used to
a fortiori from the stronger
lead from a less certain proposition to a more evident corollary.

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

Metaphysical and moral principle that indicates the connection

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

Latin translation from John 1: 36, when St. John the Baptist exclaimed
"Ecce Agnus Dei!" ("Behold the Lamb of God!") upon seeing Jesus
Agnus Dei Lamb of God
Christ; it refers both to the innocence of a lamb and to Christ being
a sacrificial lamb after the Jewish religious practice.

Or, in Greek, ἀνερρίφθω κύβος anerrhíphthō kýbos; said by Julius

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

alenda lux ubi orta light [is] to be nourished

Motto of Davidson College
libertas where liberty [has] arisen

An assumed name or pseudonym; similar to alter ego, but more

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

Legal defense where a defendant attempts to show that he was

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

something stands for

aliquid stat pro aliquo Foundational definition in semiotics
something else

Quotation from Isaiah, 40: "But those who wait for the Lord shall find
alis aquilae on an eagle's wings their strength renewed, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they
shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not grow faint."
 Or, "nothing is heavy to those who have wings". Motto of the Pontifical
alis grave nil nothing [is] heavy with wings
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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

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

Term used for the university one attends or has attended. Another
university term, matriculation, is also derived from mater. The term
alma mater nourishing mother 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 character, or different characters
alter ego another I
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)
alterius non sit qui let no man be another's who "The Frogs Who Desired a King" as appears in the collection commonly
suus esse potest can be his own known as the "Anonymus Neveleti", in Fable 21B: De ranis a Iove
querentibus regem). Motto of Paracelsus. Usually attributed to Cicero.

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

alumnus or Graduate or former student of a school, college, or university. Plural of

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

This translation ignores the word usque, which is an emphasis word, so

a better translation is probably from sea even unto sea.
From Psalm 72:8, "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine
a mari usque ad mare from sea to sea
usque ad terminos terrae" (KJV: "He shall have dominion also from sea
to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth"). National motto of
Canada.

amicus certus in re a sure friend in an unsure

Ennius, as quoted by Cicero in Laelius de Amicitia s. 64
incerta matter

An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to the favour of

a powerful group, e. g., the a Roman Curia. In current United States
amicus curiae friend of the court
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 assertion that truth is more valuable than friendship; attributed

Amicus Plato, sed Plato is my friend, but truth is
to Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1096a15 and Roger Bacon, Opus
magis amica veritas. a better friend.
Majus, Part 1, Chapter 5.
 An obsolete legal phrase signifying the forfeiture of the right of swearing
amittere legem terrae to lose the law of the land
in any court or cause, or to become infamous.

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

amor Dei intellectualis intellectual love of God Baruch Spinoza

amor et melle et felle love is rich with both honey

est fecundissimus and venom

Nietzscheian alternative world view to that represented by memento

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

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

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

Inscribed on a bracelet worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's The

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

Said by Axel Oxenstierna to encourage his son, a delegate to the

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

Used before the anglicized version of a word or name. For example,

anglice in English
"Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland".

animus in consulendo a mind unfettered in

Motto of NATO
liber deliberation

Also used in such phrases as anno urbis conditae (see ab urbe

anno (an.) in the year
condita), Anno Domini, and anno regni.

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

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

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

Variation on annus mirabilis, recorded in print from 1890;[4] notably

used in a speech by Queen Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year
annus horribilis horrible year
1992 had been for her. In Classical Latin, this phrase actually means
"terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.

Used particularly to refer to the years 1665 and 1666, during

which Isaac Newton made revolutionary inventions and discoveries in
calculus, motion, optics and gravitation. Annus Mirabilis is also the title
of a poem by John Dryden written in the same year. It has since been
annus mirabilis wonderful year
used to refer to other years, especially to 1905, when Albert
Einstein made equally revolutionary discoveries concerning the
photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, mass-energy equivalence, and
the special theory of relativity. (See Annus Mirabilis papers)

Used to describe 1348, the year the Black Death began to afflict
annus terribilis dreadful year
Europe

As in status quo ante bellum ("as it was before the war"); commonly
ante bellum before the war 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"

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

Said of an expression or term that describes something which existed

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

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

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

ante omnia armari before all else, be armed

Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote "before a meal". Less

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

antiqui colant let the ancients worship the

The motto of Chester
antiquum dierum ancient of days

Or, "completely"; similar to the English expressions "from tip to toe" and
a pedibus usque ad
from feet to head "from head to toe". Equally a capite ad calcem. See also ab ovo usque
caput
ad mala.

aperire terram Motto of Ferdinand de Lesseps referring to the Suez and Panama
open the land to nations
gentibus Canals. Also appears on a plaque at Kinshasa train station.

a posse ad esse from being able to being "From possibility to actuality" or "from being possible to being actual".

Based on observation, i. e., empirical evidence; the reverse of a priori.

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

Textual notes or a list of other readings relating to a document,

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

Presupposed independent of experience; the reverse of a posteriori.

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

apologia pro vita sua defense of one's life [5]

apud in the writings of Used in scholarly works to cite a reference at second hand

aqua (aq.) water

Refers to nitric acid, thus called because of its ability to dissolve all
aqua fortis strong water
materials except gold and platinum
aqua pura pure water Or, "clear water" or "clean water"

Refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, thus called

aqua regia royal water
because of its ability to dissolve gold and platinum

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

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

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

arare litus to plough the seashore Desiderius Erasmus, Adagia (AD 1508); meaning "wasted labor"

One who prescribes, rules on, or is a recognized authority on matters of

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

Originally used by Tacitus to refer to the state secrets and

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

arcanum boni tenoris The secret behind a good

Motto of the Starobrno Brewery in Brno
animae mood

An opaque circle around the cornea of the eye, often seen in elderly
arcus senilis bow of an old person
people

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

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

argentum album white silver
signifies bullion or silver uncoined

Or, "for the sake of argument". Said when something is done purely in
arguendo for arguing order to discuss a matter or illustrate a point. E. g., "let us
assume, arguendo, that your claim is correct."

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

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

charge made by a Justice of the Peace in Medieval England against

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

An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural rather than
ars celare artem art [is] to conceal art
contrived. Of medieval origin, but often incorrectly attributed to Ovid.[6]

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

Seneca, De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1, translating a phrase

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

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

Motto of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Branch of

arte et marte by skill and valour
the Canadian Forces

Award of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic for the

Artis Bohemiae Amicis Friends of Czech Arts
promotion of the positive reputation of Czech culture abroad

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

asinus ad lyram an ass to the lyre
incompetent individual"

Used to describe 2 persons who are lavishing excessive praise on one

asinus asinum fricat the jackass rubs the jackass
another

assecuratus non the assured does not seek

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

astra inclinant, sed the stars incline us, they do

Refers to the distinction of free will from astrological determinism
non obligant not bind us
 Used in bibliography for books, texts, publications, or articles that have
auctores varii various authors
more than 3 collaborators

auctoritas authority Level of prestige a person had in Roman society

auctoritas non veritas authority, not truth, makes This formula appears in the 1668 Latin revised edition of Thomas
facit legem law Hobbes's Leviathan, book 2, chapter 26, p. 133.

audacia pro muro et boldness is our wall, action is Cornelis Jol,[7] in a bid to rally his rebellious captains to fight and
scuto opus our shield conquer the Spanish treasure fleet in 1638.

audacter calumniare, slander boldly, something

Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (AD 1623)
semper aliquid haeret always sticks

audax at fidelis bold but faithful Motto of Queensland, Australia

Motto of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment [CSOR] on their

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

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

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

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 10, 284, where the first word is in the archaic
form audentis. Allegedly the last words of Pliny the Elder before he left
the docks at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption of Vesuvius in
audentes fortuna iuvat fortune favors the bold
79. Often quoted as audaces fortuna iuvat. Also the motto of
the Portuguese Army Commandos and the USS Montpelier in the latter
form.

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

Legal principle; also worded as audiatur et altera pars ("let the other
audi alteram partem hear the other side
side be heard also")

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

audi, vide, tace hear, see, be silent

 From Horace's Odes, 2, 10. Refers to the ethical goal of reaching a
aurea mediocritas golden mean virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes. The golden mean
concept is common to many philosophers, chiefly Aristotle.

From Virgil, Aeneid, Book 3, 57. Later quoted by Seneca as quod non
auri sacra fames accursed hunger for gold mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames ("what do not you force mortal
hearts [to do], accursed hunger for gold").

Common ancient proverb, this version from Terence. It indicates that

auribus teneo lupum I hold a wolf by the ears 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".

The Southern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Southern

Hemisphere. It is less well-known than the Northern Lights (aurorea
aurora australis southern dawn
borealis). The Aurora Australis is also the name of an
Antarctic icebreaker ship.

The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Northern

aurora borealis northern dawn
Hemisphere.

Title of a distich by Iohannes Christenius (1599–1672): "Conveniens

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

Motto of the fictional Fowl Family in the Artemis Fowl series, written
aurum potestas est gold is power
by Eoin Colfer

auspicium melioris Motto of the Order of St Michael and St George and of Raffles
hope/token of a better age
aevi Institution in Singapore

Denotes an absolute aspiration to become the Emperor, or the

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

I. e., either through reasoned discussion or through war. It was the

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

Or, "do or die" or "no retreat". A Greek expression («Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς»)
aut cum scuto aut in
either with shield or on shield that Spartan mothers said to their sons as they departed for battle. It
scuto
refers to the practices that a Greek hoplite would drop his cumbersome
shield in order to flee the battlefield, and a slain warrior would be borne
 home atop his shield.

Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 7:7. From the full
aut imiteris aut oderis imitate or loathe it phrase: "necesse est aut imiteris aut oderis" ("you must either imitate or
loathe the world").

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

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

aut simul stabunt aut they will either stand together Said of two situations that can only occur simultaneously: if one ends,
simul cadent or fall together so does the other, and vice versa.[8]

aut viam inveniam aut I will either find a way or

Hannibal
faciam make one

General pledge of victoria aut mors ("victory or death"). Motto of the

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

ave atque vale hail and farewell Catullus, Carmen 101, addressed to his deceased brother

ave Europa nostra vera hail Europe, our true

Anthem of Imperium Europa
patria fatherland

From Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, Claudius 21. A salute and plea
for mercy recorded on one occasion by naumachiarii–captives and
Ave Imperator, morituri Hail, Emperor! Those who are criminals fated to die fighting during mock naval encounters. Later
te salutant about to die salute you! versions included a variant of "We who are about to die", and this
translation is sometimes aided by changing the Latin to nos morituri te
salutamus.

Roman Catholic prayer of intercession asking St. Mary, the Mother of

Ave Maria Hail, Mary
Jesus Christ to pray for the petitioner

ave mater Angliae Hail, Mother of England Motto of Canterbury, England

B[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

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

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

barba tenus wise as far as the

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

A common name in the Roman Catholic Church for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Beata Virgo Blessed Virgin
The genitive, Beatae Mariae Virginis (BMV), occurs often as well, appearing with
Maria (BVM) Mary
such words as horae (hours), litaniae (litanies) and officium (office).

beatae memoriae of blessed memory See in memoriam

A Beatitude from Matthew 5:3 in the Vulgate: beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam
beati pauperes blessed in spirit
ipsorum est regnum caelorum "Blessed in spirit [are] the poor, for theirs is the
spiritu [are] the poor.
kingdom of the heavens".

blessed [are] those

beati possidentes Translated from Euripides
who possess

blessed are they

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

beatus homo qui blessed is the man From Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same name by Orlando di
invenit sapientiam who finds wisdom Lasso.

Bella, mulier qui

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

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

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

bella detesta war hateful to

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

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

bellum se ipsum
war feeds itself
alet

Biblia pauperum Paupers' Bible Tradition of biblical pictures displaying the essential facts of Christian salvation

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

he gives twice, who

bis dat qui cito dat A gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts.
gives 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

bona fide in good faith of "genuinely" or "sincerely". Bona fides is not the plural (which would be bonis
fidebus), but the nominative, and means simply "good faith". Opposite of mala fide.

In law, if a person dying has goods, or good debts, in another diocese or jurisdiction
within that province, besides his goods in the diocese where he dies, amounting to a
bona notabilia note-worthy goods
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.

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

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

bona vacantia vacant goods United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that passes to The Crown

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

bono malum overcome evil with

Motto of Westonbirt School
superate good
 Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society, as opposed to bonum
commune hominis, which refers to what is good for an individual. In the film Hot
bonum commune common good of
Fuzz, this phrase is chanted by an assembled group of people, in which context it is
communitatis the community
deliberately similar to another phrase that is repeated throughout the film, which
is The Greater Good.

bonum commune common good of a Refers to an individual's happiness, which is not "common" in that it serves everyone,
hominis man but in that individuals tend to be able to find happiness in similar things.

the North is our

boreas domus,
home, the sea is Motto of Orkney
mare amicus
our friend

harmless (or inert) Used to indicate either an empty threat, or a judgement at law which has no practical
brutum fulmen
thunderbolt effect

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

C[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

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

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

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

Supposed statement by Abbot Arnaud Amalric before the Massacre at

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

Those who hurry across the

Caelum non animum Hexameter by Horace (Epistula XI).[12] Seneca shortens it to Animum
sea change the sky [upon
mutant qui trans mare debes mutare, non caelum (You must change [your] disposition, not
them], not their souls or
currunt [your] sky) in his Letter to Lucilium XXVIII, 1.
state of mind
Caesar non supra Caesar has no authority
Political power is limited; it does not include power over grammar. [13]
grammaticos over the grammarians

caetera desunt the rest is missing Caetera is Medieval Latin spelling for cētera.

calix meus inebrians my cup making me drunk

The pen is mightier than the

calamus gladio fortior
sword

An optical device used in drawing, and an ancestor of

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

Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as funny from modern

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

canes pugnaces war dogs or fighting dogs

Refers to a situation where nobody is safe from anybody, each man for
canis canem edit dog eats dog
himself.

From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso imago Dei est quo
capax Dei capable of receiving God eius capax est,[14] "The mind is the image of God, in that it is capable of
Him and can be partaker of Him."

Capability of achieving goals by force of many instead of a single

capax infiniti holding the infinite
individual.

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

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

Originally an alchemical reference to the dead head or worthless

caput mortuum dead head residue left over from a reaction. Also used to refer to a freeloader or
worthless element.

It implies a command to love as Christ loved. Motto of St. Francis Xavier

Caritas Christi The love of Christ
High School located in West Meadowlark Park, Edmonton.
Caritas in Veritate Charity in Truth Pope Benedict XVI's third encyclical.

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

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

An exhortation to make good use of the night, often used when carpe
diem, q.v., would seem absurd, e.g., when observing a deep-sky
carpe noctem seize the night
object or conducting a Messier marathon or engaging in social activities
after sunset.

carpe vinum seize the wine

The Roman senator Cato the Elder ended every speech after the Second
Carthage must be
Carthago delenda est Punic War with ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam, literally
destroyed
"For the rest, I am of the opinion that Carthage is to be destroyed."

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

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

casus belli event of war Refers to an incident that is the justification or case for war.

causa latet, vis est The cause is hidden, but

Ovid: Metamorphoses IV, 287; motto of Alpha Sigma Phi.
notissima the result is well known.

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 effects of
cave beware!
an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in some British public schools by pupils to
warn each other of impending authority.

Earliest written example is in the Satyricon of Petronius, circa 1st century

cave canem Beware of the dog
C.E.

The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his
need. Phrases modeled on this one
caveat emptor let the buyer beware
replace emptor with lector, subscriptor, venditor, utilitor: "reader",
"signer", "seller", "user".
 It is a counter to caveat emptor and suggests that sellers can also be
deceived in a market transaction. This forces the seller to take
caveat venditor let the seller beware
responsibility for the product and discourages sellers from selling
products of unreasonable quality.

"Let military power yield to civilian power", Cicero, De Officiis I:77. Former
cedant arma togae let arms yield to the gown
motto of the Territory of Wyoming. See also Toga

cedere nescio I know not how to yield Motto of HMAS Norman

Motto of the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, also

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

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

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

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

Or "... if it can be rendered certain." Often used in law when something is

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

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

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

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

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

charta pardonationis a paper of pardon to the The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed. Also called perdonatio
utlagariae outlaw utlagariae.
 [Throw the] Christians to the
Christianos ad leones
lions!

Christo et Doctrinae For Christ and Learning The motto of Furman University.

Christus nos liberavit Christ has freed us title of volume I, book 5, chapter XI of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

Christus Rex Christ the King A Christian title for Jesus.

circa (c.) or (ca.) around In the sense of "approximately" or "about". Usually used of a date.

circle made in testing [a

circulus in probando Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus vitiosus.
premise]

In logic, begging the question, a fallacy involving the presupposition of a

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

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

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

civis romanus sum I am (a) Roman citizen
Roman citizen

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

clarere audere gaudere [be] bright, daring, joyful Motto of the Geal family.

A legal action for trespass to land; so called, because the writ demands
clausum fregit the person summoned to answer wherefore he broke the close (quare
clausum fregit), i.e., why he entered the plaintiff's land.

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

The means of discovering hidden or mysterious meanings in texts,

clavis aurea golden key
particularly applied in theology and alchemy.
 In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the admitting a clerk to a benefice
clerico admittendo for being made a clerk
upon a ne admittas, tried, and found for the party who procures the writ.

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

clerico convicto
In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his ordinary, that was formerly
commisso gaolae in
convicted of felony; by reason that his ordinary did not challenge him
defectu ordinarii
according to the privilege of clerks.
deliberando

clerico intra sacros In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc., that have thrust
ordines constituto non a bailiwick or beadleship upon one in holy orders; charging them to
eligendo in officium release him.

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

Cogitationis poenam "No one suffers punishment

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

A rationalistic argument used by French philosopher René Descartes to

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

Aborting sexual intercourse prior to ejaculation—the only permitted form

coitus interruptus interrupted congress
of birth control in some religions.

congress in the way of

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

Exhortation to enjoy fully the youth, "Gather ye

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

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

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

One year with another; on an average. "Common" here does not mean
communibus annis in common years
"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"

prevailing doctrine, generally accepted view (in an academic

communis opinio common opinion field), scientific consensus; originally communis opinio doctorum,
"common opinion of the doctors"

Describes someone of sound mind. Sometimes used ironically. Also a

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

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

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

concordia salus well-being through harmony Motto of Montreal. It is also the Bank of Montreal coat of arms and motto.

concordia parvae res small things grow in

Motto of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
crescunt harmony

They condemn what they

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

A required, indispensable condition. Commonly mistakenly rendered

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

conditur in petra it is founded on the rock Motto of Peterhouse Boys' School and Peterhouse Girls' School

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

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

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

Or "with united powers". Sometimes rendered conjunctis viribus. Motto

coniunctis viribus with connected strength
of Queen Mary, University of London.
consensu with consent

Where there are no specific laws, the matter should be decided by

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

The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latin

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

contemptus Despising the secular world. The monk or philosopher's rejection of a

scorn for the world/times
mundi/saeculi mundane life and worldly values.

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

Especially in civil law jurisdictions, said of an understanding of

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

In contract law, the doctrine of contractual interpretation which provides

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

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

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

contra vim mortis non No herb (or sage) grows in

crescit herba (or the gardens against the there is no medicine against death; from various medieval medicinal texts
salvia) in hortis power of death

A thing or idea that would embody a contradiction, for example, payment

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

contra principia there can be no debate with

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

From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a prescribed method of

cor ad cor loquitur heart speaks to heart
prayer: having a "heart to 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

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

cor meum tibi offero

my heart I offer to you Lord
domine prompte et John Calvin's personal motto, also adopted by Calvin College
promptly and sincerely
sincere

A popular school motto. Often used as names for religious and other
cor unum one heart
organisations such as the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

A phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the idea

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

coram nobis, coram in our presence, in your

Two kinds of writs of error.
vobis presence

in the presence of the

coram populo Thus, openly.
people

coram publico in view of the public

The name of a feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating

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

The fact that a crime has been committed, a necessary factor in

corpus delicti body of the offence 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 Roman Catholic

Corpus Iuris Canonici Body of Canon Law
Church (cf. Codex Iuris 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 experiment, as in the

corpus vile worthless body
phrase 'Fiat experimentum in corpore vili.'
corrigenda things to be corrected

corruptio optimi the corruption of the best is

pessima the worst

When the republic is at its

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

corvus oculum corvi a raven does not pick out

non eruit an eye of another raven

corruptus in extremis corrupt to the extreme Motto of the fictional Mayor's office in The Simpsons

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

cras es noster Tomorrow, be ours As "The Future is Ours", motto of San Jacinto College, Texas

A concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical

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

Credo in Unum Deum I Believe in One God The first words of the Nicene Creed and the 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 absurdum I believe it because it is
reason. The misquoted phrase, however, is commonly used to mock
est absurd
the dogmatic beliefs of the religious (see fideism). This phrase is
commonly shortened to credo quia absurdum, and is also sometimes
rendered credo quia impossibile est (I believe it because it is impossible)
or, as Darwin used it in his autobiography, credo quia incredibile.

I believe so that I may

credo ut intelligam A motto of St Anselm, used as the motto of St. Anselm Hall, Manchester
understand

crescamus in Illo per May we grow in Him

Motto of Cheverus High School.
omnia through all things
 Motto of the University of Chicago. Often rendered in English as "Let
crescat scientia vita let knowledge grow, let life
knowledge grow from more to more, And so be human life enriched," so
excolatur be enriched
as to achieve an iambic meter.

crescente luce Light ever increasing Motto of James Cook University.

crescit cum Civilization prospers with

Motto of Claremont McKenna College.
commercio civitas commerce

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

while I live, I trust in the

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

cucullus non facit The hood does not make

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

"Who benefits?" An adage in criminal investigation which suggests that

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

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

cuique suum to each his own

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

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

The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of his subjects. A regional

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

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

culpa fault
fault. See also mea culpa.

cum gladiis et fustibus with swords and clubs From the Bible. Occurs in Matthew 26:47 and 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 propter with this, therefore on

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

The standard formula for academic Latin honors in the United States.
cum laude with praise
Greater honors include magna cum laude and summa cum laude.

cum mortuis in lingua with the dead in a dead

Movement from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
mortua language

cum privilegio ad with the exclusive right to Copyright notice used in 16th-century England, used for comic effect
imprimendum solum print in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

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

cupio dissolvi desire to be dissolved From the Bible, locution indicating a will to death ("I want to die").

The question attributed to Anselm in his work of by this name, wherein he

cur Deus Homo Why the God-Man reflects on why the Christ of Christianity must be both fully Divine and
fully Human. Often translated "why did God become Man?"

Motto of Georgetown University School of Medicine and University of

cura personalis care for the whole person
Scranton.

An exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own

cura te ipsum take care of your own self
problems before addressing those of others.
curriculum vitae course of life An overview of a person's life and qualifications, similar to a résumé.

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

custos morum keeper of morals A censor.

cygnis insignis distinguished by its swans Motto of Western Australia.

cygnus inter anates swan among ducks

D[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

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

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

Paraphrase of Quintilianus, De Institutione Oratoria, Book 10, Chapter 1,

26:

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

E[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Often used in medicine when the underlying disease causing a

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

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

behold the handmaiden From Luke 1:38 in the Vulgate Bible. Name of an oil painting by Dante
ecce ancilla domini
of the Lord Gabriel Rossetti and motto of Bishopslea Preparatory School.

From the Gospel of John in the Vulgate 19:5 (Douay-Rheims),

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

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

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

From the canons of statutory interpretation in law. When more

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

Part of the formula of Catholic sacramental absolution, i. e., spoken

ego te absolvo I absolve you
by a priest as part of the Sacrament of Penance (see also absolvo).

ego te provoco I challenge you Used as a challenge; "I dare you". Can also be written as te provoco.

Alas, the fleeting years

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

let the light shine out

eluceat omnibus lux The motto of Sidwell Friends School.
from all

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

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

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

by the sword she seeks a

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

entities must not be Occam's Razor or Law of Parsimony; arguments which do not
entia non sunt multiplicanda
multiplied beyond introduce extraneous variables are to be preferred in logical
praeter necessitatem
necessity argumentation.
entitas ipsa involvit
aptitudinem ad reality involves a power
A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature of truth.
extorquendum certum to compel certain assent
assensum

Technical term in philosophy and law. Similar to ipso facto. Example:

eo ipso by that very (act) "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean that I think." From
the Latin ablative form of id ipsum ("that thing itself").

eo nomine by that name

equo ne credite do not trust the horse From Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48–49; a reference to the Trojan Horse.

Used in law, especially international law, to denote a kind of

erga omnes in relation to everyone
universal obligation.

ergo therefore Denotes a logical conclusion (see also cogito ergo sum).

Sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger, but not attested: Errare

humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum, et tertia non datur (To
err is human; to persist [in committing such errors] is of the devil, and
the third possibility is not given.) Several authors contemplated the
idea before Seneca: Livy, Venia dignus error is humanus (Storie, VIII,
35) and Cicero: is Cuiusvis errare: insipientis nullius nisi, in errore
perseverare (Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault)
errare humanum est to err is human
(Philippicae, XII, 2, 5). Cicero, being well-versed in ancient Greek,
may well have been alluding to Euripides' play Hippolytus some four
centuries earlier.[24] 300 years later Saint Augustine of Hippo recycled
the idea in his Sermones, 164, 14: Humanum fuit errare, diabolicum
est per animositatem in errore manere.[25] The phrase gained
currency in the English language after Alexander Pope's An Essay on
Criticism of 1711: "To err is human, to forgive divine" (line 325).

I. e., mistake. Lists of errors in a previous edition of a work are often

erratum error
marked with the plural errata ("errors").

Roman legal principle formulated by Pomponius in the Digest of

the will of a mistaken
errantis voluntas nulla est the Corpus Juris Civilis, stating that legal actions undertaken by man
party is void
under the influence of error are invalid.

eruditio et religio scholarship and duty Motto of Duke University

Motto of George Berkeley for his subjective idealist philosophical

esse est percipi to be is to be perceived position that nothing exists independently of its perception by a mind
except minds themselves.
 Truly being a thing, rather than merely seeming to be a thing. The
motto of many institutions. From Cicero, De amicitia (On Friendship),
Chapter 26. Prior to Cicero, Sallust used the phrase in Bellum
to be, rather than to Catilinae, 54, 6, writing that Cato esse quam videri bonus
esse quam videri
seem malebat ("preferred to be good, rather than to seem so"). Earlier
still, Aeschylus used a similar phrase in Seven Against Thebes, line
592: ou gar dokein aristos, all' enai thelei ("he wishes not to seem the
best, but to be the best").

there is a middle or mean in things, there is a middle way or position;

from Horace, Satires 1.1.106; see also: Golden mean (philosophy).
According to Potempski and Galmarini (Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9471-
there is measure in 9489, 2009) the sentence should be translated as: "There is an
est modus in rebus
things optimal condition in all things", which in the original text is followed
by sunt certi denique fines quos ultra citraque nequit consistere
rectum ("There are therefore precise boundaries beyond which one
cannot find the right thing").

Said of Venice, Italy, by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo Sarpi shortly
before his death. Motto of the US state of Idaho, adopted in 1867;
esto perpetua may it be perpetual
of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka; of Sigma Phi
Society.

esto quod es be what you are Motto of Wells Cathedral School.

et adhuc sub iudice lis est it is still before the court From Horace, Ars Poetica (The Art of Poetry) 1.78.

A less common variant on et cetera ("and the rest") used at the end of
et alibi (et al.) and elsewhere
a list of locations to denote unenumerated/omitted ones.

Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest") to denote names that,

usually for the sake of space, are
unenumerated/omitted. Alii is masculine, and therefore it can be used
to refer to men, or groups of men and women; the feminine et aliae is
proper when the "others" are all female, but as with many loanwords,
interlingual use, such as in reference lists, is often invariable. Et alia is
neuter plural and thus in Latin text is properly used only for inanimate,
et alii (et al.) and others genderless objects, but some use it as a gender-neutral
alternative.[26] APA style uses et al. (normal font)[27] if the work cited
was written by more than six authors; MLA style uses et al. for more
than three authors; AMA style lists all authors if ≤6, and 3 + et al if
>6. AMA style forgoes the period (because it forgoes the period on
abbreviations generally) and it forgoes the italic (as it does with other
loanwords naturalized into scientific English); many journals that
follow AMA style do likewise.

et cetera (etc. (US English);

etc (UK English)) or (&c. (US); and the rest In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or "and more".
&c (UK))
et cum spiritu tuo and with your spirit A response in the Sursum corda element of the Catholic Mass.

Acting and suffering

Et facere et pati fortia The words of Gaius Mucius Scaevola when Lars Porsena captured
bravely is the attribute of
Romanum est him.
a Roman

And light came to From Genesis, 1:3: "and there was light". Motto of Morehouse
et facta est lux
be or was made College in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. See also Fiat lux.

et hoc genus omne and all that sort of thing Abbreviated as e.h.g.o. or ehgo

et in Arcadia ego and in Arcadia [am] I In other words, "I too am in Arcadia". See also memento mori.

and light shines in the See also Lux in Tenebris. Motto of the Pontificia Universidad Católica
et lux in tenebris lucet
darkness del Perú.

"And now, O ye kings,

et nunc reges intelligite
understand: receive
erudimini qui judicatis From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate), 2.10 (Douay-Rheims).
instruction, you that
terram
judge the earth."

Also et sequentia ("and the following things": neut.), abbreviations: et

seqq., et seq., or sqq. Commonly used in legal citations to refer
and the following
to statutes that comprise several sequential sections of a code of
et sequentes (et seq.) (masculine/feminine
statutes (e. g. National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 159 et seq.;
plural)
New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. §
2C:25-17 et seq.).

et suppositio nil ponit in and a supposition puts

More usually translated as "Sayin' it don't make it so".
esse nothing in being

Or "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?" Indicates betrayal by an

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

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

et vir and husband A legal term.

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

even if God were not a

etsi deus non daretur This sentence synthesizes a famous concept of Hugo Grotius (1625).
given

In law, describes someone taking precautions against a very remote

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

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

Denoting "on equal footing", i. e., in a tie. Used for those two (seldom
ex aequo from the equal more) participants of a competition who demonstrated identical
performance.

"(There is) always Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 8, 42 (unde etiam vulgare Graeciae
ex Africa semper aliquid
something new (coming) dictum semper aliquid novi Africam adferre[29]), a translation of the
novi
out of Africa" Greek «Ἀεὶ Λιβύη φέρει τι καινόν».

Often used on internal diplomatic event invitations. A motto

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

ex animo from the soul Sincerely.

Denoting "beforehand", "before the event", or "based on prior

ex ante from before
assumptions"; denoting a prediction.

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

A phrase applied to the declarations or promulgations of

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

from culture [comes]

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

ex Deo from God

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

From suffering [comes]

ex duris gloria Motto of Rapha Cycling club (see also Rapha (sportswear)).
glory

Idiomatically rendered "on the face of it". A legal term typically used to
ex facie from the face state that a document's explicit terms are defective absent further
investigation.

from faith [comes] Motto of St George's College, Harare and Hartmann House
ex fide fiducia
confidence Preparatory School.

from faith [comes]

ex fide fortis Motto of Loyola School in New York City, New York, United States.
strength

Motto of the Municipal Borough of

ex glande quercus from the acorn the oak
Southgate, London, England, United Kingdom.

More literally "from grace". Refers to someone voluntarily performing

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

ex hypothesi from the hypothesis Denoting "by hypothesis".

from ignorance into

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

Recent academic notation denoting "from below in this writing". See

ex infra (e.i.) "from below"
also ex supra.
 The medical pitfall in which response to a therapeutic regimen
ex juvantibus from that which helps
substitutes proper diagnosis.

ex lege from the law

Precedes a person's name, denoting "from the library of" the

ex libris from the books
nominate; also a synonym for "bookplate".

The motto of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, derived from ex scientia

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

From Saint Augustine of Hippo, "Sermon LXI", in which he contradicts

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

ex mea sententia in my opinion

out of mere impulse, or of

ex mero motu
one's own accord

From Lucretius, and said earlier by Empedocles. Its original meaning

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

Denotes something that has been newly made or made from

ex novo anew
scratch (see also de novo).

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

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

A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere operato, referring to the

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

A theological phrase meaning that the act of receiving

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

Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but alludes to culture
ex oriente lux light from the east
coming from the Eastern world. Motto of several institutions.

A legal term that means "by one party" or "for one party". Thus, on
ex parte from a part
behalf of one side or party only.

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

"Afterward", "after the event". Based on knowledge of the past.

ex post from after
Measure of past performance.

from a thing done

ex post facto Said of a law with retroactive effect.
afterward

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

The term is a legal phrase; the legal citation guide called

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

The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to knowledge

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

The motto of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee

ex scientia vera from knowledge, truth
State University.
 In general, the claim that the absence of something demonstrates the
proof of a proposition. An argumentum ex silentio ("argument from
silence") is an argument based on the assumption that someone's
ex silentio from silence
silence on a matter suggests ("proves" when a logical fallacy) that
person's ignorance of the matter or their inability to counterargue
validly.

ex situ out of position opposite of "in situ"

Recent academic notation for "from above in this writing". See also ex
ex supra (e.s.) "from above"
infra.

from [this moment of]

ex tempore "This instant", "right away" or "immediately". Also written extempore.
time

From a dishonorable A legal doctrine which states that a claimant will be unable to pursue
Ex turpi causa non oritur
cause an action does not a cause of action, if it arises in connection with his own illegal act.
actio
arise Particularly relevant in the law of contract, tort and trusts.

from the shadow into the

ex umbra in solem Motto of Federico Santa María Technical University.
light

from the waves [of the

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

union is strength, or unity

Ex Unitate Vires motto of South Africa.
is strength

ex vi termini from the force of the term Thus, "by definition".

ex vita discedo, tanquam ex

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

Used in reference to the study or assay of living tissue in an artificial

ex vivo out of or from life
environment outside the living organism.

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

ex voto from the vow
made in fulfillment of a vow.

used to describe social computing, in The Wisdom of Crowds and

ex vulgus scientia from crowd, knowledge
discourse referring to it.
 "Ever upward!" The state motto of New York. Also
excelsior higher
a catchphrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.

A juridical principle which means that the statement of a rule's

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

an excuse that has not More loosely, "he who excuses himself, accuses himself"—an
excusatio non petita
been sought [is] an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt. In French, qui s'excuse,
accusatio manifesta
obvious accusation s'accuse.

exeat s/he may go out A formal leave of absence.

I have reared a
exegi monumentum aere
monument more Horace, Carmina III:XXX:I
perennius
enduring than bronze

Exempli gratiā, 'for example', is usually abbreviated "e.g." (less

commonly, ex. gr.). The abbreviation "e.g." often is interpreted
for the sake of example, anglicised as 'example given'. It is not usually followed by a comma in
exempli gratia (e.g.)
for example British English, but it is in American usage. E.g. is often confused
with i.e. (id est, meaning 'that is' or 'in other words').[32] Some writing
styles give such abbreviations without punctuation, as ie and eg.[a]

exercitus sine duce corpus an army without a leader On a plaque at the former military staff building of the Swedish Armed
est sine spiritu is a body without a spirit Forces.

Third-person plural present active indicative of the Latin verb exire;

exeunt they leave
also seen in exeunt omnes, "all leave"; singular: exit.

This term has been used in dermatopathology to express that there is

no substitute for experience in dealing with all the numerous
experientia docet experience teaches variations that may occur with skin conditions.[49] The term has also
been used in gastroenterology.[50] It is also the motto of San Francisco
State University.

experimentum crucis experiment of the cross Or "crucial experiment". A decisive test of a scientific theory.

Literally "believe one who has had experience". An author's aside to

experto crede trust the expert
the reader.

expressio unius est exclusio "Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing". A principle of
the expression of the one
alterius legal statutory interpretation: the explicit presence of a thing implies
is the exclusion of the
intention to exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief Act
 other 1601 to "lands, houses, tithes and coal mines" was held to exclude
mines other than coal mines. Sometimes expressed as expressum
facit cessare tacitum (broadly, "the expression of one thing excludes
the implication of something else").

Refers to a possible result of Catholic ecclesiastical legal proceedings

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

This expression comes from the Epistle to Jubaianus, paragraph 21,

outside the Church [there written by Saint Cyprian of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It
extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
is] no 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
extra omnes outside, all [of you]
spoken, all those who are not Cardinals, or those otherwise mandated
to be present at the Conclave, must leave the Sistine Chapel.

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

"extreme solution", "last

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

F[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

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

fac et spera do and hope motto of Clan Matheson

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

fac simile make a similar thing origin of the word facsimile, and, through it, of fax

appeared on British coinage following the Union of

faciam eos in gentem unum I will make them into one nation
the Crowns
faciam quodlibet quod necesse
I'll do whatever it takes
est

from Plautus, Persa IV.3–24; used by Russian

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

said of the acknowledged leader in some field,

facile princeps easily the first
especially in the arts and humanities

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

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

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

factum fieri infectum non

It is impossible for a deed to be undone Terence, Phormio 5/8:45
potest

A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness

who willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on
falsus in uno, falsus in any matter. The underlying motive for attorneys to
false in one, false in all
omnibus impeach opposing witnesses in court: the principle
discredits the rest of their testimony if it is without
corroboration.

familia supra omnia family over everything frequently used as a family motto

It is lawful to be taught even by an

fas est et ab hoste doceri Ovid, Metamorphoses 4:428
enemy

Slight variant ("quod potui feci") found in James

Boswell's An Account of Corsica, there described as
"a simple beautiful inscription on the front of Palazzo
Tolomei at Siena".[51] Later, found in Henry
feci quod potui, faciant meliora I have done what I could; let those who
Baerlein's introduction to his translation of The
potentes can do better.
Diwan of Abul ʿAla by Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri (973–
1057);[52] also in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, act
1. Also in Alfonso Moreno Espinosa, Compendio de
Historia Universal, 5. ed. (Cádiz 1888).

NN fecit NN made (this) a formula used traditionally in the author's signature

by painters, sculptors, artisans, scribes etc.;
 compare pinxit

fecisti patriam diversis de "From differing peoples you have made Verse 63 from the poem De reditu suo by Rutilius
gentibus unam one native land" Claudius Namatianus praising emperor Augustus.[53]

felicior Augusto, melior "be more fortunate than Augustus and

ritual acclamation delivered to late Roman emperors
Traiano better than Trajan"

The motto of Oakland Colegio Campestre school

Felicitas, Integritas Et
Happiness, Integrity and Knowledge through which Colombia participates
Sapientia
of NASA Educational Programs

from the "Exsultet" of the Catholic liturgy for

felix culpa fortunate fault
the Easter Vigil

Virgil. "Rerum cognoscere causas" is the motto of

felix qui potuit rerum happy is he who can ascertain the
the London School of Economics, University of
cognoscere causas causes of things
Sheffield, and University of Guelph.

archaic legal term for one who commits suicide,

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

fere libenter homines id quod People's beliefs are shaped largely by their
men generally believe what they want to
volunt credunt desires. Julius Caesar, The Gallic War 3.18

An oxymoronic motto of Augustus. It encourages

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

festinare nocet, nocet et

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

let justice be done, though the world

fiat iustitia et pereat mundus motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
shall perish

fiat justitia ruat caelum let justice be done, should the sky fall attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus
 from the Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est
fiat lux let there be light lux" ("and God said: 'Let there be light', and there
was light."); frequently used as the motto of schools.

fiat mihi secundum verbum

be it done to me according to thy word Virgin Mary's response to the Annunciation
tuum

Motto of the United Nations Food and Agriculture

fiat panis let there be bread
Organization (FAO)

motto of Robert May's School; see the next phrase

fiat voluntas Dei May God's will be done
below

motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman

Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton; quotation of the
third petition of the Pater Noster (Our Father) prayer
fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done
dictated by Jesus Christ and his response to the
Father during the Agony in the Garden of
Gethsemane

ficta voluptatis causa sint fictions meant to please should Horace, Ars Poetica (338); advice presumably
proxima veris approximate the truth discounted by the magical realists

A title given to King Henry VIII of England by Pope

Leo X on 17 October 1521, before Henry broke from
the Roman Church and founded the Church of
Fidei Defensor (Fid Def) or (fd) Defender of the Faith
England. British monarchs continue to use the title,
which is still inscribed on all British coins, and
usually abbreviated.

sometimes mistranslated to "keep the faith" when

used in contemporary English writings of all kinds to
fidem scit he knows the faith
convey a light-hearted wish for the reader's well-
being

Roman Catholic theological term for the personal

faith that apprehends what is believed, contrasted
fides qua creditur the faith by which it is believed
with fides quae creditur, which is what is believed;
see next phrase below

Roman Catholic theological term for the content and

truths of the Faith or "the deposit of the Faith",
fides quae creditur the faith which is believed contrasted with fides qua creditur, which is the
personal faith by which the Faith is believed; see
previous phrase
fides quaerens intellectum faith seeking understanding motto of St. Anselm; Proslogion

refers to a faithful friend; from the name of Aeneas's

fidus Achates faithful Achates
faithful companion in Virgil's Aeneid

filiae nostrae sicut anguli incisi may our daughters be as polished as

motto of Francis Holland School
similitudine templi the corners of the temple

A major part of a work is properly finishing it. Motto

of St. Mary's Catholic High School in Dubai, United
finis coronat opus the end crowns the work
Arab Emirates; on the Coat of Arms of Seychelles;
and of the Amin Investment Bank

finis vitae sed non amoris the end of life, but not of love unknown

title for Attila the Hun, the ruthless invader of

flagellum dei the scourge of God
the Western Roman Empire

a mere name, word, or sound without a

corresponding objective reality; expression used by
flatus vocis [a or the] breath of voice the nominalists of universals and traditionally
attributed to the medieval philosopher Roscelin of
Compiègne

flectere si nequeo
if I can not reach Heaven I will raise Hell Virgil, Aeneid, Book VII.312
superos, Acheronta movebo

floreat Etona may Eton flourish Motto of Eton College, England, United Kingdom

floreat nostra schola may our school flourish a common scholastic motto

indicates the period when a historic person was most

active or was accomplishing that for which he is
floruit (fl.) one flourished
famous; may be used as a substitute when the dates
of his birth and/or death are unknown.

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

fons et origo the spring and source also: "the fountainhead and beginning"

fons sapientiae, verbum Dei motto of Bishop Blanchet High School

the fount of knowledge is the word of
 God

motto of Chisipite Senior School and Chisipite Junior

fons vitae caritas love is the fountain of life
School

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

Virgil, Eclogues, 1:5
Amaryllida silvas Amaryllis"

forsan et haec olim meminisse perhaps even these things will be good
Virgil, Aeneid, Book 1, Line 203
iuvabit to remember one day

The motto of the United States Marine Corps 3rd

fortes fortuna adiuvat Fortune favours the bold
Marine Regiment

The motto of the Jutland Dragoon

fortes fortuna juvat Fortune favours the bold
Regiment of Denmark

fortes in fide strong in faith a common motto

motto on the Coat of Arms of the Fahnestock Family

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

motto on the Coat of Arms of Oxford, England,

fortis est veritas truth is strong
United Kingdom

fortis et liber strong and free motto of Alberta, Canada

motto of the Municipal Borough of Middleton, from

fortis in arduis strong in difficulties
the Earl of Middleton

fortiter et fideliter bravely and faithfully a common motto

fortiter in re, suaviter in modo resolute in execution, gentle in manner a common motto

artisan of my fate and that of several

fortunae meae, multorum faber motto of Gatineau
others

fraus omnia vitiat a legal principle: the occurrence or taint

of fraud in a (legal) transaction entirely
 invalidates it

An epitaph that reminds the reader of the inevitability

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

fumus boni iuris presumption of sufficient legal basis a legal principle

fundamenta inconcussa unshakable foundation

G[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

according to Cassiodorus, an expression used by Attila in addressing his

gaudia certaminis the joys of battle
troops prior to the 451 Battle of Châlons

gaudeamus hodie let us rejoice today

First words of an academic anthem used, among other places, in The

gaudeamus igitur therefore let us rejoice
Student Prince.

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

gaudium in
joy in truth Motto of Campion School
veritate

A principle of statutory interpretation: If a matter falls under a specific

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

The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those

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

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

Motto of FIDE. Can be traced back to Claudian's poem De consulatu

gens una sumus we are one people
Stilichonis.

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

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

Gloria in excelsis
Glory to God in the Highest ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad
Deo
maiorem Dei gloriam.

Gloria invidiam By your fame you have

Sallust, Bellum Jugurthum ("Jugurthine War") 10:2.
vicisti conquered envy

gloria filiorum The glory of sons is their fathers

Motto of Eltham College
patres (Proverbs17:6)

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

gloriosus et liber glorious and free Motto of Manitoba

Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin, which officially treats

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

gradibus
ascending by degrees Motto of Grey College, Durham
ascendimus

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

Most commonly from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar where Casca couldn't

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

grandescunt By hard work, all things increase

Motto of McGill University
aucta labore and grow

gratia et scientia grace and learning Motto of Arundel School

gratiae veritas
Truth through mercy and nature Motto of Uppsala University
naturae

graviora manent heavier things remain Virgil Aeneid 6:84; more severe things await, the worst is yet to come

Gravis Dulcis
serious sweet immutable Title of a poem by James Elroy Flecker [55]
Immutabilis

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

H[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of legal writs to bring a
person before a court or judge, most commonly habeas corpus ad subiciendum (you
You should have may have the body to bring up). Commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's
habeas corpus
the body legal right to challenge the legality of their detention. (Corpus here is used in a similar
sense to corpus delicti, referring to the substance of the reason for detention rather
than a physical human body.)

Used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to
habemus papam we have a pope
elect a new pope.

Books have their

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

hac lege with this law

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

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

Hannibal ad Hannibal at the Found in Cicero's first Philippic and in Livy's Ab urbe condita
portas gates Hannibal was a fierce enemy of Rome who almost brought them to defeat.
Sometimes rendered "Hannibal ante portas", with verisimilar meaning:
"Hannibal before the gates"

haud ignota I speak not of

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

Hei mihi! quod

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

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

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

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

I[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as funny by modern

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

Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to the last source

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

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

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

Used to refer to something that has already been cited; ditto. See
idem (id.) the same
also ibidem.

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

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

Used by Johann Sebastian Bach at the beginning of his

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

From Vulgate; John 19:19. John 19:20 states that this inscription was
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Jesus the Nazarene, King of
written in three languages—Aramaic, Latin and Greek—at the top of
Iudaeorum (INRI) the Jews
the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus.

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

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

A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also rendered as igne

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

A phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult

ignis aurum probat fire tests gold
circumstances, it is also the motto of the Prometheus Society.

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

(or ignorantia legis non

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

The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making an argument that,

while possibly valid, doesn't prove or support the proposition it claims
ignoratio elenchi ignorance of the issue 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.

unknown by means of the An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained.
ignotum per ignotius
more unknown Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.

ignotus (ign.) unknown

In the Gospel of John 3:30, a phrase said by John the Baptist after
illum oportet crescere me He must become greater; I
baptizing Jesus. Motto of Saint John the Baptist Catholic School, San
autem minui must become less
Juan, Metro Manila.

imago Dei image of God From the religious concept that man was created in "God's image".

A principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to

imitatio dei imitation of a god
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
imperium in imperio an order within an order
internal group's leader(s).
2. A "fifth column" organization operating against the organization
within which they seemingly reside.
 3. "State within a state"

In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from

imperium sine fine an empire without an end which would come an everlasting, never-ending empire, the endless
(sine fine) empire.

impossibilium nulla there is no obligation to do

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

An authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority

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

Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial carried out in the

in absentia in the absence
absence of the accused.

in absentia lucis, in the absence of light,

tenebrae vincunt darkness prevails

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

[Dominica] in [Sunday in Setting Aside the]

Latin name of the Octave of Easter.
albis [depositis] White Garments

in articulo mortis at the point of death

in bono veritas truth is in the good

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

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

Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said of an account that

proceeds gently, but turns vicious towards the end—or more
in cauda venenum the poison is in the tail
generally waits till the end to reveal an intention or statement that is
undesirable in the listener's ears.

Eboracum was the Roman name for York and this phrase is used in
in com. Ebor. In the county of Yorkshire some Georgian and Victorian books on the genealogy of prominent
Yorkshire families.
in Christi lumine pro in the light of Christ for the
Motto of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
mundi vita life on the world

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

Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision

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

in duplo in double In duplicate

In (the form of) an image; in effigy (as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in
in effigie in the likeness
person").

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

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

In extremity; in dire straits; also "at the point of death" (cf. in articulo
in extremis in the furthest reaches
mortis).

in fide scientiam To our faith add knowledge Motto of Newington College.

in fidem into faith To the verification of faith.

in fieri in becoming In progress; pending.

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

in fine (i.f.) in the end
end of page 157".

in a blazing wrong, while the Caught in the act (esp. a crime or in a "compromising position");
in flagrante delicto
crime is blazing equivalent to "caught red-handed" in English idiom.

in flore in blossom Blooming.

in foro in forum In court (legal term).

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

in harmonia progressio progress in harmony Motto of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.

in hoc sensu or in sensu

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

Words Constantine the Great claimed to have seen in a vision before

in hoc signo vinces by this sign you will conquer
the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

in hunc effectum for this purpose Describes a meeting called for a particular stated purpose only.

in ictu oculi in the blink of an eye

Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "...,

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

At that time, found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used to

in illo tempore in that time
mark an undetermined time in the past.

lit.: in the beginning is the

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

Preliminary, in law, a motion in limine is a motion that is made to the

in limine at the outset/threshold judge before or during trial, often about the admissibility of evidence
believed prejudicial.

That is, 'on site'. "The nearby labs were closed for the weekend, so the
in loco in the place, on the spot
water samples were analyzed in loco."

Assuming parental or custodial responsibility and authority

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

Motto of Valparaiso University. The phrase comes from the book of

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

Motto of Columbia University, Presbyterian Boys' Secondary

in lumine tuo videbimus in your light we will see the
School and Ohio Wesleyan University. Also, it is the motto of the
lumen light
South African University of Fort Hare.
in manus tuas commendo into your hands I entrust my
According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on the cross.
spiritum meum spirit

From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative

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

Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring

in memoriam into the memory
a deceased person.

in natura

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

in necessariis unitas, in in necessary things unity, in
"compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the Cartellverband der
dubiis libertas, in doubtful things liberty, in all
katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed
omnibus caritas things charity
to Augustine of Hippo.[citation needed]

I.e., "Tomorrow is a new day." Motto of Birkbeck College, University

in nocte consilium advice comes over night
of London.

in nomine diaboli in the name of the devil

Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name of a 1050 papal

in nomine Domini in the name of the Lord
bull

in the name of the Father,

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

in nuce in a nut in a nutshell; briefly stated; potential; in the embryonic phase

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

in omnia paratus Ready for anything. Motto of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment

in omnibus amare et In everything, love and serve

The motto of Ateneo de Iloilo, a school in the Philippines
servire Domino the Lord.

in omnibus requiem Everywhere I have searched

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

An experiment or process performed in an egg or embryo (e.g. in ovo

in ovo in the egg or in the embryo
electroporation of chicken embryo).

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

Alternate form of requiescat in pace ("let him rest in peace"). Found

in pace requiescat in peace may he rest in this form at the end of The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan
Poe.

In statutory interpretation, when a statute is ambiguous, its meaning

upon the same matter or
in pari materia may be determined in light of other statutes on the same subject
subject
matter.

"In the land of the infidels"; used to refer to bishoprics that remains
in partibus infidelium in the parts of the infidels as titular sees even after the corresponding territory was conquered
by Muslim empires.

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

in personam into a person Directed towards a particular person

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

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

in the beginning was the

in principio erat Verbum Beginning of the Gospel of John
Word (Logos)

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

Primarily of philosophical use to discuss properties and property

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

in regione caecorum rex In the land of the blind, the A quote of Desiderius Erasmus from Adagia (first published 1500,
est luscus one-eyed man is king. with numerous expanded editions through 1536), III, IV, 96.

Legal term indicating a court's jurisdiction over a piece

of property rather than a legal person; contrast with personal (ad
in rem to the thing
personam) jurisdiction. See In rem jurisdiction; Quasi in rem
jurisdiction

in rerum natura in the nature of things See also Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things).

Used to describe documents kept separately from the regular records

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

in saecula (saeculorum), roughly: down to the times of

forever (and ever), liturgical
in saeculum saeculi the times

in saeculo in the times In the secular world, esp. outside a monastery, or before death.

in salvo in safety

in scientia opportunitas In Knowledge, there is

Motto of Edge Hill University.
(Dog Latin) Opportunity

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

great things collapse of their

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

Coined in the late 1980s for scientific papers. Refers to an

experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation.
in silico
in silicon The term is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and in
(Dog Latin)
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 situ in the place In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement.

in somnis veritas In dreams there is truth

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

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

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

in toto in all Totally; entirely; completely.

in triplo in triple In triplicate.

in umbra, igitur, Then we will fight in the

pugnabimus shade

in utero in the womb

in utrumque paratus prepared for either (event)

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

in varietate concordia united in diversity The motto of the European Union and the Council of Europe

invidiae prudentia victrix prudence conquers jealousy

That is, wine loosens the tongue (referring to alcohol's disinhibitory

in vino veritas in wine [there is] truth
effects).

An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-

natural" setting (e.g. in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri
in vitro in glass dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. Alternative
experimental or process methodologies include in vitro, in silico, ex
vivo and in vivo.

in vivo in life/in a living thing An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.

in vivo veritas An expression used by biologists to express the fact that laboratory
in a living thing [there is]
findings from testing an organism in vitro are not always reflected
 truth when applied to an organism in vivo. A pun on in vino veritas.

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

A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader

incertae sedis of uncertain position (seat)
relationships are unknown or undefined.

incredibile dictu incredible to say A variant on mirabile dictu.

Inwardly, under the skin

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

Index Librorum Index of Prohibited (or,

A list of books considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
Prohibitorum Forbidden) Books

From Augustine, De Civitate Dei XII, 1.3: beatitudinem consequatur

being-in-need-of-God,
indigens Deo nec expleat indigentiam suam, "since it is not satisfied unless it be
beggar before God
perfectly blessed."

indignor quandoque I too am annoyed whenever

Horace, Ars Poetica 358
bonus dormitat Homerus good Homer nods off

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

indivisible and inseparable
inseparabiliter independent states in 1918.

Infinitus est numerus Infinite is the number of

stultorum. fools.

The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the bishop of the St.

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

infra dignitatem (infra dig) beneath one's dignity

ingenio stat sine morte The honors of genius are

Propertius, Elegies Book III, 2
decus eternal
iniuriae qui addideris You who have added insult
Phaedrus, Fables 5/3:5.
contumeliam to injury

To poverty many things are

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

insita hominibus libidine

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

Used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month,

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

Used to express the exploitation of religion by State or ecclesiastical

Instrumentum regni instrument of government polity as a means of controlling the masses, or in particular to
achieve political and mundane ends.

So Varro in his De re rustica (On Agriculture) defines the slave: an

Instrumentum vocale instrument with voice
instrument (as a simple plow, or etc.) with voice.

intaminatis fulget Untarnished, she shines with

From Horace's Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford College.
honoribus honor

integer vitae scelerisque unimpaired by life and clean

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

Few words suffice for he who

intelligenti pauca
understands

A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate that the minute

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

inter alios among others Often used to compress lists of parties to legal documents

Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against unchecked political

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

Steadfast in the midst of Motto for Rockwell College in Ireland and Francis Libermann Catholic
inter mutanda constantia
change High School in Ontario, Canada

inter spem et metum between hope and fear

inter faeces et urinam we are born between feces

Attributed to Saint Augustine
nascimur and urine

Refers to property transfers between living persons, as opposed to

inter vivos between the living a testamentary transfer upon death such as an inheritance; often
relevant to tax laws.

Not public; source of the word intramural. See also Intramuros,

intra muros within the walls
Manila.

intra vires within the powers Within one's authority

You would still recognize the

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

Attributed to Petronius[62] or Prudentius. Motto of Nature in

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

L[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

The pleasure is in the work

labor ipse voluptas Motto of Leopold von Ranke (Manilius IV 155)
itself.

Popular as a motto; derived from a phrase

labor omnia vincit Hard work conquers all. in Virgil's Eclogue (X.69: omnia vincit Amor – "Love conquers all"); a
similar phrase also occurs in his Georgics I.145.

laborare pugnare To work, (or) to fight; we are

Motto of the California Maritime Academy
parati sumus ready

labore et honore By labour and honour

laboremus pro
Let us work for the fatherland Motto of the Carlsberg breweries
patria

laboris gloria Ludi Games are the glory of work, Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK

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

lapse, slip, error; involuntary

lapsus mistake made while writing or
speaking
 inadvertent typographical error,
lapsus calami
slip of the pen

inadvertent speech error, slip of

lapsus linguae
the tongue

lapsus memoriae slip of memory source of the term memory lapse

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

lauda finem praise to the end Motto of Nottingham High School

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

One who is discontent with the present and instead prefers things of the
laudator temporis
praiser of time past past ("the good old days"). In Horace's Ars Poetica, line 173. The motto
acti
of HMS Veteran

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

Inscription on the east side at the peak of the Washington Monument in

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

A maxim in text criticism. Codified, but simultaneously refuted, by Marxist

lectio brevior potior The shorter reading is the better
educators.[citation needed]

lectori salutem greetings reader Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a letter

Denotes that a certain intervention is performed in a correct way. Used

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

legem terrae the law of the land

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

leges sine moribus

laws without morals [are] vain From Horace's Odes; motto of the University of Pennsylvania
vanae

legio patria nostra The Legion is our fatherland Motto of the French Foreign Legion

legi, intellexi, et I read, understood, and

condemnavi condemned.

legis plenitudo charity (love) is the fulfilment of

Motto of Ratcliffe College, UK and of the Rosmini College, NZ
charitas the law

In Roman and civil law, a forced share in an estate; the portion of the
legitime lawfully decedent's estate from which the immediate family cannot
be disinherited. From the French héritier legitime (rightful heir).

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

lex dei vitae lampas the law of God is the lamp of life Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne

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

The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos or bequeath by

lex hac edictali the law here proclaims testament to his or her second spouse more 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. See law of the case.

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

lex loci law of the place

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

lex orandi, lex the law of prayer is the law of

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

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

A principle of government advocating a rule by law rather than by men.

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

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

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

Used in the movie Event Horizon (1997), where it is translated as "save

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

Libertas Justitia
Liberty Justice Truth Motto of the Korea University and Freie Universität Berlin
Veritas

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

Libertas quae sera

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

Libertas Securitas
Liberty Security Justice Motto of the Frontex
Justitia

libra (lb) balance; scales Its abbreviation lb is used as a unit of weight, the pound.

lignum crucis arbor The wood of the cross is the

School motto of Denstone College
scientiae tree of knowledge

littera scripta
The written word endures Attributed to Horace
manet

loco citato (lc) in the place cited More fully written in loco citato; see also opere citato
 A worker who temporarily takes the place of another with similar
locum tenens place holder qualifications, for example as a doctor or a member of the clergy; usually
shortened to locum.

The most typical or classic case of something; quotation which most

locus classicus a classic place
typifies its use.

A medical term to describe a location on or in a body that offers little

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

A legal term, it is the opportunity of withdrawing from a projected

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

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

longissimus dies
even the longest day soon ends Pliny the Younger, Epistulae 9/36:4
cito conditur

A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (On

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

luceat lux vestra Let your light shine From Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16; popular as a school motto

lucem sequimur We follow the light Motto of the University of Exeter

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

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

Motto of the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its battle against the
luctor et emergo I struggle and emerge
sea, and the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame

'I struggle, but am not

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

lucus a non From late 4th-century grammarian Honoratus Maurus, who sought to
[it is] a grove by not being light
lucendo mock implausible word origins such as those proposed by Priscian.
A pun based on the word lucus (dark grove) having a similar appearance
 to the verb lucere (to 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, it derives from parum luceat (it does
not shine [being darkened by shade]) by Quintilian in Institutio Oratoria.

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

Plautus' adaptation of an old Roman proverb: homo homini lupus

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

With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will come"; from Terence's
lupus in fabula the wolf in the story
play Adelphoe.

lupus non mordet

a wolf does not bite a wolf
lupum

lupus non timet a wolf is not afraid of a barking

canem latrantem dog

lux aeterna eternal light epitaph

Motto of the Franklin & Marshall College and the University of North
lux et lex light and law
Dakota

A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim. Motto of several

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

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

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

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

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

lux libertas light and liberty Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lux mentis Lux Light of the mind, Light of the
Motto of Sonoma State University
orbis world

A more literal Latinization of the phrase; the most common translation

is fiat lux, from Latin Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line
lux sit let there be light
"‫אֹור‬-‫ י ְִהי אֹור; ַוי ְִהי‬,‫ֹלהים‬
ִ ֱ‫ֹּאמר א‬
ֶ ‫( "וַי‬And God said: 'Let there be light.' And
there was light). Motto of the University of Washington.

lux tua nos ducat Your light guides us

lux, veritas, virtus light, truth, courage Motto of Northeastern University

M[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Young, cheer up! This

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

those who excel, thus or "excellence is the way to the stars"; frequent motto;
macte virtute sic itur ad astra
reach the stars from Virgil's Aeneid IX.641 (English, Dryden)

Canonical medieval reference to Aristotle, precluding further

magister dixit the teacher has said it
discussion

common Catholic edict and motto of a Catholic private

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

Set of documents from 1215 between Pope Innocent III, King John of
Magna Carta Great Charter
England, and English barons.

magna cum laude with great praise Common Latin honor, above cum laude and below summa cum laude

The gods care about

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

great is the power of

magna est vis consuetudinis
habit
 Greater Europe is
Magna Europa est patria nostra Political motto of pan-Europeanists
Our Fatherland

magno cum gaudio with great joy

magnum opus great work Said of someone's masterpiece

Cicero, Paradoxa 6/3:49. Sometimes translated into English as "thrift

(or frugality) is a great revenue (or income)", edited from its
magnum vectigal est Economy is a great
original subordinate clause: "O di immortales! non intellegunt homines,
parsimonia revenue
quam magnum vectigal sit parsimonia." (English: O immortal gods!
Men do not understand what a great revenue is thrift.)

greater reverence When viewed from a distance, everything is

maior e longinquo reverentia
from afar beautiful. Tacitus, Annales 1.47

greater things are Used to indicate that it is the moment to address more important,
maiora premunt
pressing urgent, issues.

Said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to

mala fide in bad faith
defraud or mislead someone. Opposite of bona fide.

Mala Ipsa Nova Bad News Itself Motto of the inactive 495th Fighter Squadron, US Air Force

bad times are upon Also used ironically, e.g.: New teachers know all tricks used by pupils
mala tempora currunt
us to copy from classmates? Oh, mala tempora currunt!.

wrongly captured,
male captus bene detentus An illegal arrest will not prejudice the subsequent detention/trial.
properly detained

Death rather than Motto of the inactive 34th Battalion (Australia), the Drimnagh Castle
Malo mori quam foedari
dishonour Secondary School

I prefer liberty with

malo periculosam libertatem Attributed to the Count Palatine of Posen before the Polish Diet, cited
danger to peace with
quam quietum servitium in The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
slavery

Alludes to the apple of Eris in the Judgement of Paris, the mythological

cause of the Trojan War. It is also a pun based on the near-
malum discordiae apple of discord homonymous word malum (evil). The word for "apple" has a
long ā vowel in Latin and the word for "evil" a short a vowel, but they
are normally written the same.
 A legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong (cf. malum
malum in se wrong in itself
prohibitum).

wrong due to being A legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is
malum prohibitum
prohibited against the law.

malum quo communius eo the more common an

peius evil is, the worse it is

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

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

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

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

one hand washes the famous quote from The Pumpkinification of Claudius, ascribed
manus manum lavat
other to Seneca the Younger.[68] It implies that one situation helps the other.

many hands, one

manus multae cor unum Motto of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.
heart

manus nigra black hand

Seneca the Younger, De Providentia 2:4. Also, translated into English

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

mare clausum closed sea

In law, a sea under the jurisdiction of one nation and closed to all
 others.

The sea enriches, the

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

mare liberum free sea In law, a sea open to international shipping navigation.

A nickname given to the Mediterranean during the height of the Roman

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

A name given to describe Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, who is also
Mater Dei Mother of God
called the Son of God.

the mother of the

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

mater lectionis mother reading

a Roman-law principle which has the power of praesumptio iuris et de

the mother is always iure, meaning that no counter-evidence can be made against this
Mater semper certa est
certain principle (literally: Presumed there is no counter evidence and by the
law). Its meaning is that the mother of the child is always known.

Branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs used in

materia medica medical matter
the treatment of disease. Also, the drugs themselves.

maxima debetur puero greatest deference is

from Juvenal's Satires XIV:47
reverentia owed to the child

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

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

Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote the inherently

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

mea navis aëricumbens My hovercraft is full of A relatively common recent Latinization inspired by the Dirty Hungarian
anguillis abundat eels Phrasebook sketch by Monty Python.

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

Used erroneously as Mediolanum Capta Est by the black metal

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

Better too much than

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

Carrying the connotation of "always better". The motto of the University

Meliora better things
of Rochester.

Meliorare legem meliorare To improve the law is

The motto of the Salem/Roanoke County, Virginia Bar Association.
vitam est to improve life.

He has planted one

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

A relatively common recent Latinization from the joke phrasebook Latin

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

remember that [you

memento mori remember your mortality
will] die

memento vivere remember to live

meminerunt omnia amantes lovers remember all

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

A common first line on 17th century English church monuments. The

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

N[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

First recorded by John of Salisbury in the twelfth century and

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

nascentes morimur When we are born we die, our

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

nasciturus pro iam

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

natura abhorret a Pseudo-explanation for why a liquid will climb up a tube to fill
nature abhors vacuum
vacuo a vacuum, often given before the discovery of atmospheric pressure.
natura artis magistra Nature is the teacher of art The name of the zoo in the centre of Amsterdam; short: "Artis".

Cf. Aristotle: "οὐθὲν γάρ, ὡς φαμέν, μάτην ἡ φύσις ποιεῖ" (Politics I

natura nihil frustra
nature does nothing in vain 2, 1253a9) and Leucippus: "Everything that happens does so for a
facit
reason and of necessity."

That is, the natural world is not sentimental or compassionate.

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

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

A famous aphorism of Carl Linnaeus stating that all organisms bear

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

Sir Isaac Newton's famous quote, defining foundation of all modern

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

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

naturam expellas You may drive out Nature with a

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

Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, who, during a

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

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 Roman Emperor Charles V's heraldic
ne plus ultra nothing more beyond emblem reversed this idea, using a depiction of this phrase inscribed
on the Pillars – as plus ultra, without the negation. The Boston
Musical Instrument Company engraved ne plus ultra on its
instruments from 1869 to 1928 to signify that none were
better. Non... is the motto of the Spanish exclave Melilla.

Never give dangerous tools to someone who is untrained to use

ne puero gladium do not give a sword to a boy
them or too immature to understand the damage they can do.
ne supra crepidam a shoemaker should not judge
see Sutor, ne ultra crepidam
sutor iudicaret beyond the shoe

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

They are not afraid of difficulties. Less literally "Difficulties be

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

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

nec dextrorsum, nec Do not get distracted. Motto for Bishop Cotton Boys' School and
Neither to the right nor to the left
sinistrorsum the Bishop Cotton Girls' School, both located in Bangalore, India.

nec spe, nec metu without hope, without fear

nec tamen Refers to the Burning Bush of Exodus 3:2. Motto of

and yet it was not consumed
consumebatur many Presbyterian churches throughout the world.

Motto of the Dutch 11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade and the city
nec temere nec timide neither reckless nor timid
of Gdańsk, Poland

nec vi, nec clam, nec Without permission, without

The law of adverse possession
precario secrecy, without interruption

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

necesse est aut you must either imitate or loathe

Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 7:7
imiteris aut oderis the world

necessitas etiam
need makes even the timid brave Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline, 58:19
timidos fortes facit

nemine with no one speaking against Less literally, "without dissent". Used especially in committees,
contradicente (nem. where a matter may be passed nem. con., or unanimously, or
con., N.C.D.) with unanimous consent.

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

nemo dat quod non no one gives what he does not

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

nobody is above the law;

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

Nemo igitur vir

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

nemo iudex in causa no man shall be a judge in his Legal principle that no individual can preside over a hearing in which
sua own cause he holds a specific interest or bias

Also translated to "no rest for the wicked." Refers to the inherent
nemo malus felix peace visits not the guilty mind
psychological issues that plague bad/guilty people.

Motto of the Order of the Thistle, and consequently of Scotland,

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

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

nemo nisi per No one learns except by

Used to imply that one must like a subject in order to study it.
amicitiam cognoscitur friendship

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

The short and more common form of Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius,
nemo saltat sobrius Nobody dances sober nisi forte insanit, "Nobody dances sober, unless he happens to be
insane," a quote from Cicero (from the speech Pro Murena).

A maxim banning mandatory self-incrimination. Near-synonymous

nemo tenetur se ipsum no one is bound to accuse with accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo. Similar phrases
include: nemo tenetur armare adversarium contra se (no one is
accusare himself (the right to silence) bound to arm an opponent against himself), meaning that a
defendant is not obligated to in any way assist the prosecutor to his
own detriment; nemo tenetur edere instrumenta contra se (no one is
bound to produce documents 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 se ipsum (no one is bound to betray
himself), meaning that a defendant is not obligated to testify against
himself.

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

Ne quid nimis Nothing in excess

nervos belli, pecuniam Endless money forms the sinews In war, it is essential to be able to purchase supplies and to pay
infinitam of war troops (as Napoleon put it, "An army marches on its stomach").

nihil ad rem nothing to do with the point That is, in law, irrelevant and/or inconsequential.

nothing achieved without hard

nihil boni sine labore Motto of Palmerston North Boys' High School
work

In law, a declination by a defendant to answer charges or put in a

nihil dicit he says nothing
plea.

nihil enim lacrima

nothing dries sooner than a tear Pseudo-Cicero, Ad Herrenium, 2/31:50
citius arescit

Adapted from Terence's Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-

nihil humanum mihi Tormentor), homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto ("I am a
nothing human is alien to me
alienum human being; nothing human is strange to me"). Sometimes ending
in est.

The guiding principle of empiricism, and accepted in some form

nihil in intellectu nisi nothing in the intellect unless first
by Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. Leibniz, however,
prius in sensu in sense
added nisi intellectus ipse (except the intellect itself).

Or nothing to excess. Latin translation of the inscription of

nihil nimis nothing too
the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Or just "nothing new". The phrase exists in two versions: as nihil

nihil novi nothing of the new novi sub sole (nothing new under the sun), from the Vulgate, and
as nihil novi nisi commune consensu (nothing new unless by the
common consensus), a 1505 law of the Polish–Lithuanian
 Commonwealth and one of the cornerstones of its Golden Liberty.

A notation, usually on a title page, indicating that a Roman

nihil obstat nothing prevents Catholic censor has reviewed the book and found nothing
objectionable to faith or morals in its content. See also imprimatur.

Motto of the Kingdom of Romania, while ruled by the Hohenzollern-

nihil sine Deo nothing without God
Sigmaringen dynasty (1878–1947).

nihil ultra nothing beyond Motto of St. Xavier's College, Calcutta

Or "nihil admirari". Cicero, Tusculanae

Disputationes (3,30), Horace, Epistulae (1,6,1),
nil admirari be surprised at nothing
and Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, (8,5). Motto of the
Fitzgibbon family. See John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare

nil desperandum nothing must be despaired at That is, "never despair".

nothing, therefore, we must

nil igitur fieri de nilo
confess, can be made from From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), I.205
posse fatendumst
nothing

Nil igitur mors est ad

Death, therefore, is nothing to us From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), III.831
nos

nothing is impossible for From Horace's Odes. Motto of Rathkeale College, New Zealand
nil mortalibus ardui est
humankind and Brunts School, England.

Short for nil nisi bonum de mortuis dicere. That is, "Don't speak ill
(about the dead say) nothing of anyone who has died". Also "Nil magnum nisi bonum" (nothing is
nil nisi bonum
unless (it is) good great unless good), motto of St Catherine's School, Toorak, Pennant
Hills High School and Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School.

nil nisi malis terrori no terror, except to the bad Motto of The King's School, Macclesfield

nil per os, rarely non Medical shorthand indicating that oral foods and fluids should be
nothing through the mouth
per os (n.p.o.) withheld from the patient.

nothing [is] enough unless [it is]

nil satis nisi optimum Motto of Everton F.C., residents of Goodison Park, Liverpool.
the best

nil sine labore nothing without labour Motto of many schools

 Or "nothing without providence". State motto of Colorado, adopted in
1861. Probably derived from Virgil's Aeneid Book II, line 777, "non
nil sine numine nothing without the divine will
haec sine numine divum eveniunt" (these things do not come to
pass without the will of Heaven). See also numen.

Nothing [is] arduous for the

nil volentibus arduum Nothing is impossible for the willing
willing

That is, "everything is in vain without God". Summarized

from Psalm 127 (126 Vulgate), nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in
vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam nisi Dominus custodierit
nisi Dominus frustra if not the Lord, [it is] in vain civitatem frustra vigilavit qui custodit (unless the Lord builds the
house, they work on a useless thing who build it; unless the Lord
guards the community, he keeps watch in vain who guards it);
widely used motto.

Irascetur aliquis: tu contra beneficiis prouoca; cadit statim simultas

ab altera parte deserta; nisi paria non pugnant. (If any one is angry
with you, meet his anger by returning benefits for it: a quarrel which
nisi paria non pugnant it takes two to make a fight
is only taken up on one side falls to the ground: it takes two men to
fight.) Seneca the Younger, De Ira (On Anger): Book 2, cap. 34, line
5.

In England, a direction that a case be brought up to Westminster for

trial before a single judge and jury. In the United States, a court
nisi prius unless previously
where civil actions are tried by a single judge sitting with a jury, as
distinguished from an appellate court.

From Ovid's Amores, III.4:17. It means that when we are denied of

something, we will eagerly pursue the denied thing. Used
nitimur in vetitum We strive for the forbidden
by Friedrich Nietzsche in his Ecce Homo to indicate that his
philosophy pursues what is forbidden to other philosophers.

nobis bene, nemini Inscription on the old Nobistor [de] gatepost that
Good for us, Bad for no one
male divided Altona and St. Pauli

That is, "whether unwillingly or willingly". Sometimes

rendered volens nolens, aut nolens aut volens or nolentis volentis.
nolens volens unwilling, willing
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 to the Gospel of

noli me tangere do not touch me John, this was said by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after
his resurrection.

That is, "Don't upset my calculations!" Said by Archimedes to a

noli turbare circulos
Do not disturb my circles! Roman soldier who, despite having been given orders not to, killed
meos
Archimedes at the conquest of Syracuse, Sicily.
nolite te bastardes From The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood – the protagonist
Don't let the bastards grind you
carborundorum (Offred) finds the phrase inscribed on the inside of her wardrobe.
down
(Dog Latin) One of many variants of Illegitimi non carborundum.

A legal motion by a prosecutor or other plaintiff to drop legal

nolle prosequi to be unwilling to prosecute charges, usually in exchange for a diversion program or out-of-court
settlement.

That is, "no contest". A plea that can be entered on behalf of a

defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn't admit guilt,
nolo contendere I do not wish to contend
but will accept punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas
cannot be used as evidence in another trial.

nomen amicitiae sic,

the name of friendship lasts just
quatenus expedit, Petronius, Satyricon, 80.
so long as it is profitable
haeret

nomen dubium doubtful name A scientific name of unknown or doubtful application.

nomen est omen the name is a sign Thus, "true to its name".

nomen nescio (N.N.) I do not know the name Thus, the name or person in question is unknown.

A purported scientific name that does not fulfill the proper formal
nomen nudum naked name criteria and therefore cannot be used unless it is subsequently
proposed correctly.

According to some roman this sentence was said by Marcus Furius

non auro, sed ferro, Not gold, but iron redeems the
Camillus to Brennus, the chief of the Gauls, after he demanded
recuperanda est patria native land
more gold from the citizens of the recently sacked Rome in 390 BC.

Motto of Republic of Ragusa, inscribed over the gates of St.

non bene pro toto liberty is not well sold for all the
Lawrence Fortress. From Gualterus Anglicus's version of Aesop's
libertas venditur auro gold
fable "The Dog and the Wolf".

non bis in idem not twice in the same thing A legal principle forbidding double jeopardy.

non canimus surdis,

we sing not to the deaf; the trees
respondent omnia Virgil, Eclogues 10:8
echo every word
silvae

non causa pro causa not the cause for the cause
Also known as the "questionable cause" or "false cause". Refers to
 any logical fallacy where a cause is incorrectly identified.

See compos mentis. Also rendered non compos sui (not in control of
non compos mentis not in control of the mind himself). Samuel Johnson, author of the first English dictionary,
theorized that the word nincompoop may derive from this phrase.

Used to explain scientific phenomena and 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,
non constat it is not certain
occasionally a backing for nulling information that was presented by
an attorney. Without any tangible proof, Non constat information is
difficult to argue for.

non ducor, duco I am not led; I lead Motto of São Paulo city, Brazil. See also pro Brasilia fiant eximia.

a doctrine in contract law that allows a signing party to escape

performance of the agreement. A claim of "non est factum" means
non est factum it is not [my] deed that the signature on the contract was signed by mistake, without
knowledge of its meaning, but was not done so negligently. A
successful plea would make the contract void ab initio.

non est princeps super

the prince is not above the laws,
leges, sed leges supra Pliny the Younger, Panegyricus 65:1.
but the law is above the prince.
principem

Motto of the Society of Antiquaries of London accompanying their

non extinguetur shall not be extinguished
Lamp of knowledge emblem

non facias malum ut you should not make evil in order More simply, "don't do wrong to do right". The direct opposite of the
inde fiat bonum that good may be made from it phrase "the ends justify the means".

Virgil, Aeneid, 4:647, of the sword with which Dido will commit
suicide. "Not for so dire an enterprise design’d." (Dryden trans.;
1697)[80] "A gift asked for no use like this." (Mackail trans.;
non hos quaesitum
A gift sought for no such purpose 1885).[81] "Ne'er given for an end so dire." (Taylor trans.; 1907)[82] "A
munus in usus
gift not asked for use like this!" (Williams trans.; 1910).[83] Quoted by
Francis Bacon of the civil law, "not made for the countries it
governeth".

non impediti ratione unencumbered by the thought

motto of radio show Car Talk
cogitationis process

non in legendo sed in

the laws depend not on being
intelligendo leges
read, but on being understood
consistunt
 Also "it is not clear" or "it is not evident". A sometimes controversial
non liquet it is not proven decision handed down by a judge when they feel that the law is not
complete.

Motto of the University of Western Australia's Engineering faculty

non loqui sed facere not talk but action
student society.

non mihi solum not for myself alone Motto of Anderson Junior College, Singapore.

non ministrari sed Motto of Wellesley College and Shimer College (from Matthew
not to be served, but to serve
ministrare 20:28 in the Vulgate).

non multa sed multum not quantity but quality Motto of the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School.

Non nobis Domine Not to us (oh) Lord Christian hymn based on Psalm 115.

non nobis nati 'Born not for ourselves' Motto of St Albans School (Hertfordshire)

Appears in Cicero's De Officiis Book 1:22 in the form non nobis

solum nati sumus (we are not born for ourselves alone). Motto
non nobis solum not for ourselves alone
of Lower Canada College, Montreal and University College, Durham
University, and Willamette University.

non numerantur, sed they are not counted, but Old saying. Paul Erdős (1913–1996), in The Man Who Loved Only
ponderantur weighed Numbers by Paul Hoffman [84]

A judgment notwithstanding verdict, a legal motion asking

not standing in the way of
non obstante veredicto the court to reverse the jury's verdict on the grounds that the jury
a verdict
could not have reached such a verdict reasonably.

non olet it doesn't smell See pecunia non olet.

non omnia possumus

not everyone can do everything Virgil, Eclogues 8:63 (and others).
omnest

Horace, Carmina 3/30:6. "Not all of me will die", a phrase expressing

non omnis moriar I shall not all die
the belief that a part of the speaker will survive beyond death.

non plus ultra nothing further beyond the ultimate. See also 'ne plus ultra'
non possumus not possible

non possunt primi

not everyone can occupy the first
esse omnes omni in (It is impossible always to excel) Decimus Laberius.
rank forever
tempore

non progredi est to not go forward is to go

regredi backward

A judgment in favor of a defendant when the plaintiff failed to take

non prosequitur he does not proceed
the necessary steps in an action within the time allowed.

[We learn]
non scholae sed vitae An inversion of non vitae sed scholae now used as a school motto
not for school but for life

non qui parum habet, It is not he who has little, but he

set qui plus cupit, who wants more, who is the Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 2:6.
pauper est pauper.

Used in the sense "what matters is not who says it but what he
non quis sed quid not who but what says" – a warning against ad hominem arguments; frequently used
as motto, including that of Southwestern University.

In general, a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in

its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or
non sequitur it does not follow
internally inconsistent), often used in humor. As a logical fallacy, a
conclusion that does not follow from a premise.

Possibly derived from a Vulgate mistranslation of the Book of

Jeremiah. Commonly used in literature as Satan's statement of
non serviam I will not serve
disobedience to God, though in the original context the quote is
attributed to Israel, not Satan.

non sibi Not for self A slogan used by many schools and universities.

Engraved on the doors of the United States Naval Academy chapel;

non sibi, sed patriae Not for self, but for country
motto of the USS Halyburton (FFG-40).

Not for one's self but for one's

non sibi, sed suis A slogan used by many schools and universities.
own

non sibi, sed omnibus Not for one's self but for all A slogan used by many schools and universities.
non sic dormit, sed
Sleeps not but is awake Martin Luther on mortality of the soul.
vigilat

non silba, sed anthar; Not for self, but for others; God
A slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan
Deo vindice will vindicate

Or "I am not the kind of person I once was". Expresses a change in

non sum qualis eram I am not such as I was
the speaker. Horace, Odes 4/1:3.

non teneas aurum

Do not hold as gold all that Also, "All that glitters is not gold." Shakespeare in The Merchant of
totum quod splendet
shines as gold Venice.
ut aurum

It is possibly a reference to Psalm 23. Printed on the Colt

non timebo mala I will fear no evil
in Supernatural.

non vestra sed vos Not yours but you Motto of St Chad's College, Durham.

From a passage of occupatio in Seneca the Younger's moral letters

[We learn]
non vitae sed scholae to Lucilius,[85] wherein Lucilius is given the argument that too much
not for life but for schooltime
literature fails to prepare students for life

From Martin Luther's "Invocavit Sermons" preached in March, 1522,

against the Zwickau prophets unrest in Wittenberg;[86] later echoed
Not by force, but by the word
non vi, sed verbo in the Augsburg Confession as ...sine vi humana, sed
[of God]
Verbo: bishops should act "without human force, but through the
Word".[87]

From Cicero, based on the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton),

inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi,
nosce te ipsum know thyself according to the Greek periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1). A non-
traditional Latin rendering, temet nosce (thine own self know), is
translated in The Matrix as "know thyself".

a word is known by the company In statutory interpretation, when a word is ambiguous, its meaning
noscitur a sociis
it keeps may be determined by reference to the rest of the statute.

noster nostri Literally "Our ours" Approximately "Our hearts beat as one."

Nota bene (NB, n.b.

mark well That is, "please note" or "note it well".
or )
 From Virgil. Motto on the Great Seal of the United States. Similar
novus ordo seclorum new order of the ages
to Novus Ordo Mundi (New World Order).

Pliny the Elder attributes this maxim to Apelles, an ancient Greek

nulla dies sine linea Not a day without a line drawn
artist.

nulla dies umquam

No day shall erase you from the From Virgil's Aeneid, Book IX, line 447, on the episode of Nisus and
memori vos eximet
memory of time Euryalus.
aevo

Refers to the legal principle that one cannot be punished for doing
nulla poena sine lege no penalty without a law something that is not prohibited by law, and is related to Nullum
crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali.

there is no question, there is no

nulla quaestio
issue

nulla tenaci invia est For the tenacious, no road is

Motto of the Dutch car builder Spyker.
via impassable

That is, "nothing". It has been theorized that this expression is the
nullam rem natam no thing born origin of Italian nulla, French rien,
and Spanish and Portuguese nada, all with the same meaning.

Motto of the Coldstream Guards and Nine Squadron Royal

nulli secundus second to none
Australian Corps of Transport and the Pretoria Regiment.

nullius in verba On the word of no man Motto of the Royal Society.

nullum crimen, nulla Legal principle meaning that one cannot be penalised for doing
no crime, no punishment without
poena sine praevia something that is not prohibited by law; penal law cannot be enacted
a previous penal law
lege poenali retroactively.

nullum magnum
There has been no great wisdom
ingenium sine mixtura
without an element of madness
dementiae fuit

nullum funus sine

No Funeral Without a Fiddle Motto of the Guild of Funerary Violinists.
fidula

The motto of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The motto

numen lumen God our light
of Elon University.
 A method to limit the number of students who may study at a
numerus clausus closed number
university.

nunc aut nunquam now or never Motto of the Korps Commandotroepen, Dutch elite special forces.

nunc dimittis now you send beginning of the Song of Simeon, from the Gospel of Luke.

Carpe-Diem-type phrase from the Odes of Horace, Nunc est

nunc est bibendum now is the time to drink bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus (Now is the time to
drink, now the time to dance footloose upon the earth).

Something that has retroactive effect, is effective from an earlier

nunc pro tunc now for then
date.

nunc scio quid sit

now I know what love is From Virgil, Eclogues VIII.
amor

nunquam minus solus never less alone than when

quam cum solus alone

never unprepared, ever ready,

nunquam non paratus frequently used as motto
always ready

nunquam obliviscar never forget

O[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

O Deus ego amo te O God I Love You attributed to Saint Francis Xavier

The farmers would

O fortunatos nimium
count themselves lucky,
sua si bona norint, from Virgil in Georgics, 458
if only they knew how
agricolas
good they had it

attributed (in Tacitus, Annales, III, 65) to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, in
o homines ad
Men ready to be slaves! disgust at the servile attitude of Roman senators; said of those who should
servitutem paratos
be leaders but instead slavishly follow the lead of others
 Oh, the times! Oh, the
O tempora, o mores! also translated "What times! What customs!"; from Cicero, Catilina I, 2
morals!

The obedience of the

Obedientia civium
citizens makes us a Motto of Dublin
urbis felicitas
happy city

"He/she died", inscription on gravestones; ob. also sometimes stands

obiit (ob.) one died
for obiter (in passing or incidentally)

The old woman dies, the

obit anus, abit onus Arthur Schopenhauer
burden is lifted

in law, an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly relevant

to the case before him, and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as
obiter dictum a thing said in passing
a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority. In general, any
comment, remark or observation made in passing

Roman political saying which reminds that common good should be given
obliti privatorum, Forget private affairs,
priority over private matters for any person having a responsibility in the
publica curate take care of public ones
State

the truth being

obscuris vera
enveloped by obscure from Virgil
involvens
things

obscurum per the obscure by means An explanation that is less clear than what it tries to explain; synonymous
obscurius of the more obscure with ignotum per ignotius

obtorto collo with a twisted neck unwillingly

oculus dexter (O.D.) right eye Ophthalmologist shorthand

oculus sinister (O.S.) left eye

let them hate, so long as favorite saying of Caligula, attributed originally to Lucius Accius, Roman
oderint dum metuant
they fear tragic poet (170 BC)

opening of Catullus 85; the entire poem reads, "odi et amo quare id faciam
fortasse requiris / nescio sed fieri sentio et excrucior" (I hate and I love. Why
odi et amo I hate and I love
do I do this, you perhaps ask. / I do not know, but I feel it happening to me
and I am burning up.)
odi profanum vulgus et I hate the unholy rabble
Horace, Carmina III, 1
arceo and keep them away

odium theologicum theological hatred name for the special hatred generated in theological disputes

oleum camino (pour) oil on the fire from Erasmus' (1466–1536) collection of annotated Adagia

or "everything unknown appears magnificent" The source

omne ignotum pro every unknown thing [is is Tacitus: Agricola, Book 1, 30 where the sentence ends with 'est'. The
magnifico taken] for great quotation is found in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short story "The
Red-Headed League" (1891) where the 'est' is missing.

omne initium difficile every beginning is

est difficult

every living thing is from foundational concept of modern biology, opposing the theory of spontaneous
omne vivum ex ovo
an egg generation

Omnes homines sunt All men are donkeys or

asini vel homines et men and donkeys are a sophismata proposed and solved by Albert of Saxony (philosopher)
asini sunt asini donkeys

omnes vulnerant,
postuma all [the hours] wound,
usual in clocks, reminding the reader of death
necat or omnes feriunt, last one kills
ultima necat

omnia cum deo all with God motto for Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia

or "everything sounds more impressive when said in Latin"; a more common

omnia dicta fortiora si everything said [is]
phrase with the same meaning is quidquid Latine dictum sit altum
dicta Latina stronger if said in Latin
videtur (whatever said in Latin, seems profound)

omnia in mensura et Thou hast ordered all

numero et pondere things in measure, and Book of Wisdom, 11:21
disposuisti number, and weight.

Omnia mea mecum All that is mine I carry

is a quote that Cicero ascribes to Bias of Priene
porto with me

omnia mutantur, nihil everything changes,

Ovid (43 BC – 17 AD), Metamorphoses, book XV, line 165
interit nothing perishes
omnia omnibus all things to all men 1 Corinthians 9:22

if all (the words of poets)

si omnia ficta Ovid, Metamorphoses, book XIII, lines 733–4: "si non omnia vates ficta"
is fiction

omnia vincit amor love conquers all Virgil (70 BC – 19 BC), Eclogue X, line 69

everything [is] pure to

omnia munda mundis from The New Testament
the pure [men]

all things are presumed

omnia praesumuntur
to be lawfully done, until
legitime facta donec in other words, "innocent until proven guilty"
it is shown [to be] in the
probetur in contrarium
reverse

omnis vir enim sui Every man for himself!

motto of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, usually accompanied by a sun, which

omnibus idem the same to all
shines for (almost) everyone

There is slaughter
omnibus locis fit
everywhere (in every Julius Caesar's The Gallic War, 7.67
caedes
place)

omnis traductor every translator is a every translation is a corruption of the original; the reader should take heed
traditor traitor of unavoidable imperfections

omnis vir tigris everyone a tiger motto of the 102nd Intelligence Wing

miscellaneous collection or assortment; "gatherum" is English, and the term

omnium gatherum gathering of all
is used often used facetiously

onus probandi burden of proof

onus procedendi burden of procedure burden of a party to adduce evidence that a case is an exception to the rule

opera omnia all works collected works of an author

opera posthuma posthumous works works published after the author's death
 act of doing something scholastic phrase, used to explain that there is no possible act if there is not
operari sequitur esse
follows the act of being being: being is absolutely necessary for any other act

in the work that was used in academic works when referring again to the last source mentioned
opere citato (op. cit.)
cited or used

opere et veritate in action and truth doing what you believe is morally right through everyday actions

opere laudato (op.

See opere citato
laud.)

leading the way with

operibus anteire to speak with actions instead of words
deeds

ophidia in herba a snake in the grass any hidden danger or unknown risk

opinio juris sive an opinion of law or a belief that an action was undertaken because it was a legal necessity;
necessitatis necessity source of customary law

opus anglicanum English work fine embroidery, especially used to describe church vestments

Opus Dei The Work of God Catholic organisation

This principle of the Benedictine monasteries reads in full: "Ora et labora (et
lege), Deus adest sine mora." "Pray and work (and read), God is there
ora et labora pray and work
without delay" (or to keep the rhyme: "Work and pray, and God is there
without delay")

"Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis pecatoribus"; Brazilian name
ora pro nobis pray for us
for Pereskia aculeata

orando laborando by praying, by working motto of the Rugby School

oratio recta direct speech

expressions from Latin grammar

oratio obliqua indirect speech

from Satires of Juvenal (Book IV/10), referring to Alexander the

orbis non sufficit the world does not
Great; James Bond's adopted family motto in the novel On Her Majesty's
suffice or the world is
Secret Service; it made a brief appearance in the film adaptation of the
 not enough same name and was later used as the title of the nineteenth James Bond
film, The World Is Not Enough.

orbis unum one world seen in The Legend of Zorro

out of chaos, comes

ordo ab chao one of the oldest mottos of Craft Freemasonry.[88]
order

(Let us pray), one for Popular salutation for Roman Catholic clergy at the beginning or ending of a
(oremus) pro invicem the other; let us pray for letter or note. Usually abbreviated OPI. ("Oremus" used alone is just "let us
each other pray").

orta recens quam pura newly risen, how brightly

Motto of New South Wales
nites you shine

P[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

"With all due respect to", "with due deference to", "by leave of", "no
offence to", or "despite (with respect)". Used to politely acknowledge
pace Ablative form of peace
someone with whom the speaker or writer disagrees or finds irrelevant to
the main argument.

pace tua with your peace Thus, "with your permission".

Pacem in terris Peace on Earth

agreements must be Also "contracts must be honoured". Indicates the binding power of
pacta sunt servanda
kept treaties.

palma non sine pulvere no reward without effort Also "dare to try"; motto of numerous schools.

He who has earned the Loosely, "achievement should be rewarded" (or, "let the symbol of victory
palmam qui meruit ferat
palm, let him bear it. go to him who has deserved it"); frequently used motto

From Juvenal, Satire X, line 81. Originally described all that was needed
for emperors to placate the Roman mob. Today used to describe any
panem et circenses bread and circuses
entertainment used to distract public attention from more important
matters.

parvus pendetur fur, The petty thief is

magnus abire videtur hanged, the big thief
gets away.

From "Si vis pacem para bellum": if you want peace, prepare for war—if a
country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack. Usually used
to support a policy of peace through strength (deterrence). In antiquity,
para bellum prepare for war
however, the Romans viewed peace as the aftermath of successful
conquest through war, so in this sense the proverb identifies war as the
means through which peace will be achieved.

parare Domino plebem to prepare for God a

motto of the St. Jean Baptiste High School
perfectam perfect people

it is ungenerous to hold resentment toward the dead. Quote from

parce sepulto forgive the interred
the Aeneid, III 13-68.

A public policy requiring courts to protect the best interests of any child
parens patriae parent of the nation
involved in a lawsuit. See also Pater Patriae.

pari passu with equal step Thus, "moving together", "simultaneously", etc.

The mountains are in

parturiunt montes, said of works that promise much at the outset but yield little in the end
labour, a ridiculous
nascetur ridiculus mus (Horace, Ars poetica 137) – see also The Mountain in Labour
mouse will be born.

It does not shine [being

parum luceat Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, 1/6:34 – see also lucus a nonlucendo
darkened by shade].

the small under the Implies that the weak are under the protection of the strong, rather than
parva sub ingenti
huge that they are inferior. Motto of Prince Edward Island.

When you are steeped

parvis imbutus tentabis in little things, you shall Motto of Barnard Castle School, sometimes translated as "Once you have
grandia tutus safely attempt great accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely".
things.

Less literally, "throughout" or "frequently". Said of a word, fact or notion

here and there,
passim that occurs several times in a cited text. Also used in proofreading, where
everywhere
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
pater familias father of the family over his children, wife, and slaves, though these rights dwindled over
time. Derived from the phrase pater familias, an Old Latin expression
preserving the archaic -as ending for the genitive case.
Pater Omnipotens Father Almighty A more direct translation would be "omnipotent father".

Also rendered with the gender-neutral parens patriae ("parent of the

Pater Patriae father of the nation
nation").

pater peccavi Father, I have sinned The traditional beginning of a Roman Catholic confession.

Similar to "quality over quantity"; though there may be few of something,

pauca sed bona few, but good
at least they are of good quality.

Said to be one of Carl Gauss's favorite quotations. Used in The King and
pauca sed matura few, but ripe
I by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Former motto of Latymer Upper School in London (the text latim er is

paulatim ergo certe slowly therefore surely
concealed in the words)

pax aeterna eternal peace A common epitaph

A euphemism for the United States of America and its sphere of

Pax Americana American Peace
influence. Adapted from Pax Romana.

Pax Britannica British Peace A euphemism for the British Empire. Adapted from Pax Romana

Used as a wish before the Holy Communion in the Catholic Mass, also
Pax Christi Peace of Christ
the name of the peace movement Pax Christi

pax Dei peace of God Used in the Peace and Truce of God movement in 10th-century France

Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the Romans
practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax
Pax Deorum Peace of the gods
Deorum (The Peace of the gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the
gods).

lord or master; used as a form of address when speaking to clergy or

Pax, Domine peace, lord
educated professionals

Motto of St. Francis of Assisi and, consequently, of his monastery

pax et bonum peace and the good in Assisi; understood by Catholics to mean 'Peace and Goodness be with
you,' as is similar in the Mass; translated in Italian as pace e bene.
pax et justitia peace and justice Motto of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

pax et lux peace and light Motto of Tufts University and various schools

Pax Europaea European Peace euphemism for Europe after World War II

Euphemism for the Spanish Empire; specifically can mean the twenty-
Pax Hispanica Spanish Peace three years of supreme Spanish dominance in Europe (approximately
1598–1621). Adapted from Pax Romana.

pax in terra peace on earth Used to exemplify the desired state of peace on earth

Peace to those who Used as an inscription over the entrance of buildings (especially homes,
Pax intrantibus, salus
enter, health to those monasteries, inns). Often benedicto habitantibus (Blessings on those who
exeuntibus
who depart. abide here) is added.

peace of mothers, If the mother is peaceful, then the family is peaceful. The inverse of
pax matrum, ergo pax
therefore peace of the Southern United States saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody
familiarum
families happy."

Pax Mongolica Mongolian Peace period of peace and prosperity in Asia during the Mongol Empire

peace is the greatest

pax optima rerum Silius Italicus, Punica (11,595); motto of the university of Kiel
good

Pax Romana Roman Peace period of relative prosperity and lack of conflict in the early Roman Empire

Pax Sinica Chinese Peace period of peace in East Asia during times of strong Chinese hegemony

peace be with you

pax tecum
(singular)

Legend states that when the evangelist went to the

lagoon where Venice would later be founded, an angel
Pax tibi, Marce, Peace to you, Mark,
came and said this.[89] The first part is depicted as the
Evangelista meus. Hic my Evangelist. Here
note in the book shown opened by the lion of St Mark's
requiescet corpus tuum. will rest your body.
Basilica, Venice; registered trademark of
the Assicurazioni Generali, Trieste.[90]

A common farewell. The "you" is plural ("you all"), so the phrase must be
pax vobiscum peace [be] with you used when speaking to more than one person; pax tecum is the form
used when speaking to only one person.
 Telegraph message and pun from Charles Napier, British general, upon
completely subjugating the Indian province of Sindh in 1842 ('I have
peccavi I have sinned
Sindh'). 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 coin before his son and asked whether
pecunia non olet money doesn't smell
it smelled or simply said non olet ("it doesn't smell"). From this, the phrase
was expanded to pecunia non olet, or rarely aes non olet ("copper doesn't
smell").

if you know how to use

pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla money, money is your
Written on an old Latin tablet in downtown Verona (Italy).
est; si nescis, domina slave; if you don't,
money is your master

punishment comes
pede poena claudo That is, retribution comes slowly but surely. From Horace, Odes, 3, 2, 32.
limping

the work hangs

pendent opera interrupta From the Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV
interrupted

By, through, by means

per See specific phrases below
of

through difficulties to Joining sentence of the conspirators in the drama Hernani by Victor
per angusta ad augusta
greatness Hugo (1830). The motto of numerous educational establishments.

per annum (pa.) each year Thus, "yearly"—occurring every year

per ardua through adversity Motto of the British RAF Regiment

through difficulty to
per ardua ad alta Through hardship, great heights are reached; frequently used motto
heights

Motto of the Royal, Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand Air Forces,
through adversity to the the U. S. State of Kansas and of several schools. The phrase is used by
per ardua ad astra
stars Latin Poet Virgil in the Aeneid; also used in H. Rider Haggard's novel The
People of the Mist.

through hardships to From Seneca the Younger; frequently used motto, sometimes as ad astra
per aspera ad astra
the stars per aspera ("to the stars through hardships")
 "Per head", i.e., "per person", a ratio by the number of persons. The
per capita by heads
singular is per caput.

per capsulam through the small box That is, "by letter"

per contra through the contrary Or "on the contrary" (cf. a contrario)

through the cross we

per crucem vincemus Motto of St John Fisher Catholic High School, Dewsbury
shall conquer

through the cross,

Per Crucem Crescens Motto of Lambda Chi Alpha
growth

per curiam through the senate Legal term meaning "by the court", as in a per curiam decision

per definitionem through the definition Thus, "by definition"

Thus, "per day". A specific amount of money an organization allows an

per diem (pd.) by day
individual to spend per day, typically for travel expenses.

per fas et nefas through right or wrong By fair means or foul

per fidem intrepidus fearless through faith

per literas regias

per lit. reg. by letters patent;
per regias literas by royal letters of academic degrees: awarded by letters patent from the King/Queen,
per reg. lit. rather than by a University[91][92]
etc.

Motto of the Royal Marines and (with small difference) of Clan

per mare per terram by sea and by land
Donald and the Compagnies Franches de la Marine

per mensem (pm.) by month Thus, "per month", or "monthly"

what can be done

per multum cras, cras,
today should not be
crebro dilabitur aetas
delayed
per os (p.o.) through the mouth Medical shorthand for "by mouth"

Used of a certain place that can be traversed or reached by foot, or to

per pedes by feet
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
per procura (p.p.) or (per the name of the person signing, but often placed before the name of the
through the agency
pro) 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

per quod by reason of which requires no reasoning). In 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

a modern parody of per aspera ad astra, originating and most commonly

used in Russia, meaning that the path to success took you through most
per rectum ad astra via rectum to the stars
undesirable and objectionable places or environments; or that a found
solution to a complex problem is extremely convoluted.

by excessive laughter
per risum multum poteris
one can recognise the
cognoscere stultum
fool

Also "by itself" or "in itself". Without referring to anything else, intrinsically,
per se through itself taken without qualifications etc. A common example is negligence per se.
See also malum in se.

Used in wills to indicate that each "branch" of the testator's family should
per stirpes through the roots
inherit equally. Contrasted with per capita.

per unitatem vis through unity, strength Motto of Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets

per veritatem vis through truth, strength Motto of Washington University in St. Louis

Frequently used motto; not from Latin but from Dante's Purgatorio, Canto
per volar sunata[sic] born to soar
XII, 95, the Italian phrase "per volar sù nata".

Be patient and tough; From Ovid, Amores, Book III, Elegy XI

Perfer et obdura; dolor hic
some day this pain will
tibi proderit olim be useful to you.

periculum in mora danger in delay

perinde [well-disciplined] like a Phrase written by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Constitutiones Societatis
ac [si] cadaver [essent] corpse Iesu (1954)

skilled hand, cultivated

perita manus mens exculta Motto of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia
mind

from Virgil's Aeneid IV 114; in Vergil's context: "proceed with your plan, I
perge sequar advance, I follow
will do my part."

Pericula ludus Danger is my pleasure Motto of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

thing in perpetual A musical term; also used to refer to hypothetical perpetual motion
perpetuum mobile
motion machines

Perseverantia et Fide in Perseverance and

Motto of Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, India
Deo Faith in God

An unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person. In diplomatic contexts, a

person rejected by the host government. The reverse, persona
persona non grata person not pleasing
grata ("pleasing person"), is less common, and refers to a diplomat
acceptable to the government of the country to which he is sent.

request of the Begging the question, a logical fallacy in which a proposition to be proved
petitio principii
beginning is implicitly or explicitly assumed in one of the premises

pia desideria pious longings Or "dutiful desires"

Or "dutiful deceit". Expression from Ovid; used to describe deception

pia fraus pious fraud
which serves Church purposes

Or "tender mother". Translated into Latin from Arabic. The delicate

pia mater pious mother
innermost of the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Freedom is made safe

Pietate et doctrina tuta
through character and Motto of Dickinson College
libertas
learning
 Thus, "he painted this" or "she painted this". Formerly used on works of
pinxit one painted
art, next to the artist's name.

Latin proverb, attributed by Erasmus in his Adagia to Greek origin

[you] teach a fish to (Diogenianus, Ἰχθὺν νήχεσθαι διδάσκεις); corollary Chinese idiom
piscem natare doces
swim
(班門弄斧)

placet it pleases expression of assent

plene scriptum fully written

I.e., it is difficult to concentrate on mental tasks after a heavy meal. The

plenus venter non studet A full belly does not like
following variant is also attested: plenus si venter renuit studere
libenter studying
libenter (the belly, when full, refuses to study willingly).

plenus venter facile de A full belly readily

Hieronymus, Epistulæ 58,2
ieiuniis disputat discusses fasting.

The first-person plural pronoun when used by an important personage to

pluralis majestatis plural of majesty
refer to himself or herself; also known as the "royal we"

pluralis modestiae plural of modesty

Frequently found on Roman funerary inscriptions to denote that the age

plus minusve (p.m.v.) more or less
of a decedent is approximate

plus ultra further beyond National motto of Spain and a number of other institutions

Life was spared with a thumb tucked inside a closed fist, simulating a
pollice compresso favor goodwill decided by
sheathed weapon. Conversely, a thumb up meant to unsheath your
iudicabatur compressed thumb
sword.

Used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator. The

pollice verso with a turned thumb type of gesture used is uncertain. Also the name of a famous painting
depicting gladiators by Jean-Léon Gérôme.

Polonia Restituta Rebirth of Poland

Any obstacle that stupid people find hard to cross. Originally used
pons asinorum bridge of asses
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 of the religion in
Pontifex Maximus Greatest High Priest
ancient Rome; their name is usually 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 force. In common

posse comitatus force of the county[93] law, a sheriff's right to compel people to assist law enforcement in
unusual situations.

possunt quia posse They can because they Inscription on the back of Putney medals, awarded to boat
videntur think they can race winning Oxford blues. From Virgil's Aeneid Book V line 231.

Causality between two phenomena is not established (cf. post hoc, ergo
post aut propter after it or by means of it
propter hoc)

post cibum (p.c.) after food Medical shorthand for "after meals" (cf. ante cibum)

post coitum After sex After sexual intercourse

After sexual
post coitum omne animal intercourse every
Or: triste est omne animal post coitum, praeter mulierem gallumque.
triste est sive gallus et animal is sad, except
Attributed to Galen of Pergamum.[94]
mulier the cock (rooster) and
the woman

Refers to an action or occurrence that takes place after the event that is
being discussed (similar in meaning to post factum). More specifically, it
post eventum after the event may refer to a person who is recounting an event long after it took place,
implying that details of the story may have changed over time. (Some
sources attribute this expression to George Eliot.)

post factum after the fact Not to be confused with ex post facto.

post festum after the feast Too late, or after the fact

after this, therefore A logical fallacy where one assumes that one thing happening after
post hoc ergo propter hoc
because of this another thing means that the first thing caused the second.

post meridiem (p.m.) after midday The period from noon to midnight (cf. ante meridiem)
post mortem (pm) after death Usually rendered postmortem. Not to be confused with post meridiem

The phrase is used in legal terminology in the context of intellectual

Post mortem
after the author's death property rights, especially copyright, which commonly lasts until a certain
auctoris (p.m.a.)
number of years after the author's death.

after the clouds, the Motto of the University of Zulia, Venezuela, as well as Hartford,
post nubila phoebus
sun Connecticut

post nubes lux out of darkness, light Motto of Cranfield University

post prandial after “late breakfast” Refers to the time after any meal. Usually rendered postprandial.

after what has been A postscript. Used to mark additions to a letter, after the signature. Can
post scriptum (p.s.)
written be extended to post post scriptum (p.p.s.), etc.

post tenebras lux, or post after darkness, [I hope

from Vulgata, Job 17:12; frequently used motto
tenebras spero lucem for] light

we grow in the esteem

postera crescam laude Motto of the University of Melbourne
of future generations

potest solum unum There can be only one Highlander

honours are the

praemia virtutis honores
rewards of virtue

forewarned is Common catch phrase of the fictional character "Captain Blood" from the
praemonitus praemunitus
forearmed novel Captain Blood (novel)

praesis ut prosis ne ut Lead in order to serve,

Motto of Lancaster Royal Grammar School
imperes not in order to rule.

praeter legem after the law Legal terminology, international law

Prague, Head of the

Praga Caput Regni Motto of Prague from Middle Ages
Kingdom

Praga Caput Rei publicae Motto of Prague from 1991

Prague, Head of the
 Republic

Prague, Mother of
Praga mater urbium Motto of Prague from 1927
Cities

Praga totius Bohemiae Prague, the mistress of

Former motto of Prague
domina the whole of Bohemia

No mean reward for

Pretium Laborum Non Vile Motto of the Order of the Golden Fleece
labour

Motto of Burnley Football Club; from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 4.739

pretiumque et causa The prize and the (Latin)/English): "The Tale of Perseus and Andromeda": resoluta catenis
laboris cause of our labour incedit virgo, pretiumque et causa laboris. ("freed of her chains the virgin
approaches, cause and reward of the enterprise.")

Used to designate evidence in a trial which is suggestive, but not

prima facie at first sight
conclusive, of something (e.g., a person's guilt)

prima luce at dawn Literally "at first light"

I am a primate; nothing
primas sum: primatum nil A sentence by the American anthropologist Earnest Hooton and the
about primates is
a me alienum puto slogan of primatologists and lovers of the primates.
outside of 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
primum movens prime mover first entity to "move" or "cause" anything. Aristotle was one of the first
philosophers to discuss the "uncaused cause", a hypothetical originator—
and violator—of causality.

A medical precept. Often falsely attributed to the Hippocratic Oath, though

its true source is probably a paraphrase from Hippocrates' Epidemics,
primum non nocere first, to not harm where he wrote, "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the
future; practice these acts. As to diseases, make a habit of two things: to
help, or at least to do no harm."

Position of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Eastern Orthodox Church,

primus inter pares first among equals position of the President of the Swiss Confederation among the members
of the Federal Council, and a title of the Roman Emperors (cf. princeps).
principia probant non principles prove; they
Fundamental principles require no proof; they are assumed a priori.
probantur are not proved

principiis obsta (et respice resist the beginnings

Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 91
finem) (and consider the end)

psychological term: the self-formation of the personality into a coherent

principium individuationis Individuation
whole

earlier in time, stronger A legal principle that older laws take precedence over newer ones. The
prior tempore potior iure
in law inverse principle is known as lex posterior.

The motto of the Royal Queensland Regiment, and many other

pro aris et focis For altars and hearths
regiments.

Often abbreviated pro bono. Work undertaken voluntarily at no expense,

pro bono publico for the public good such as public services. Often used of a lawyer's work that is not charged
for.

let exceptional things

pro Brasilia fiant eximia Motto of São Paulo state, Brazil.
be made for Brazil

For God, home and

pro Deo Domo Patria Motto of the University of Mary Washington
country

pro Deo et Patria For God and Country Frequently used motto

for (one’s own) home serving the interests of a given perspective or for the benefit of a given
pro domo (sua)
or house group.

Motto of Baylor University, a private Christian Baptist university in Waco,

pro Ecclesia, pro Texana For Church, For Texas
Texas.

Motto of the originally Irish Muldoon family and of several schools, such
pro fide et patria for faith and fatherland as the Diocesan College (Bishops) in Cape Town, South Africa, and All
Hallows High School in the Bronx, New York.

Or "as a matter of form". Prescribing a set form or procedure, or

pro forma for form
performed in a set manner.

pro gloria et patria for glory and fatherland Motto of Prussia

 Request of a state court to allow an out-of-state lawyer to represent a
pro hac vice for this occasion
client.

It is part of the Rite of Consecration of the wine in Western

pro multis for many
Christianity tradition, as part of the Mass.

pro parte in part Frequently used in taxonomy to refer to part of a group.

Pro Patria Medal: for operational service (minimum 55 days) in defence of

the Republic South Africa or in the prevention or suppression of terrorism;
issued for the Border War (counter-insurgency operations in South West
pro patria for country
Africa 1966–89) and for campaigns in Angola (1975–76 and 1987–88).
Motto of The Royal Canadian Regiment, Royal South Australia
Regiment, Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

pro patria vigilans watchful for the country Motto of the United States Army Signal Corps.

for the people and

pro populo et gloria Motto of HMS Westminster
glory

to defend oneself in court without counsel; abbreviation of propria

pro per for self
persona. See also: pro se.

pro rata for the rate i.e., proportionately.

Medical shorthand for "as the occasion arises" or "as needed". Also
"concerning a matter having come into being". Used to describe a
for a thing that has
pro re nata (PRN, prn) meeting of a special Presbytery or Assembly called to discuss something
been born
new, and which was previously unforeseen (literally: "concerning a matter
having been born").

pro rege et lege for king and the law Found on the Leeds coat of arms.

for king, the law and

pro rege, lege et grege Found on the coat of arms of Perth, Scotland.
the people

to defend oneself in court without counsel. Some jurisdictions prefer, "pro

pro se for oneself
per".

pro scientia atque for knowledge and

motto of Stuyvesant High School in New York City
sapientia wisdom
pro scientia et patria for science and nation motto of the National University of La Plata

pro studio et labore for study and work

Denotes something that has only been partially fulfilled. A philosophical

pro tanto for so much term indicating the acceptance of a theory or idea without fully accepting
the explanation.

what shall we give in The motto of the city of Belfast; taken from the Vulgate translation
pro tanto quid retribuemus
return for so much of Psalm 116.

pro tempore for the time (being) Denotes a temporary current situation; abbreviated pro tem.

probatio pennae testing of the pen Medieval Latin term for breaking in a new pen

I am open for honest Traditionally inscribed above a city gate or above the front entrance of a
probis pateo
people dwelling or place of learning.

To Accomplish Rather
prodesse quam conspici Than To Be motto of Miami University
Conspicuous

propria manu (p.m.) "by one's own hand"

to destroy the reasons

propter vitam vivendi That is, to squander life's purpose just in order to stay alive, and live a
for living for the sake of
perdere causas meaningless life. From Juvenal, Satyricon VIII, verses 83–84.
life

Protection draws
protectio trahit
allegiance, and
subjectionem, et subjectio Legal maxim, indicating that reciprocity of fealty with protection
allegiance draws
protectionem
protection

launch forward into the

provehito in altum motto of Memorial University of Newfoundland
deep

proxime accessit he came next the runner-up

Used in formal correspondence to refer to the next month. Used

proximo mense (prox.) in the following month
with ult. ("last month") and inst. ("this month").
pulchrum est paucorum
Beauty is for the few from Friedrich Nietzsche's 1889 book Twilight of the Idols
hominum

we are dust and

pulvis et umbra sumus From Horace, Carmina book IV, 7, 16.
shadow

punctum saliens leaping point Thus, the essential or most notable point. The salient point.

purificatus non
purified, not consumed
consumptus

Q[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Thus: "by definition"; variant of per definitionem; sometimes used in

qua definitione by virtue of definition German-speaking countries. Occasionally misrendered as "qua
definitionem".

qua patet orbis as far as the world extends Motto of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps

do not take away what you

quae non posuisti, ne tollas Plato, Laws
did not put in place

quae non prosunt singula what alone is not useful

Ovid, Remedia amoris
multa iuvant helps when accumulated

quaecumque sunt vera whatsoever is true frequently used as motto; taken from Philippians 4:8 of the Bible

teach me whatsoever is
quaecumque vera doce me motto of St. Joseph's College, Edmonton at the University of Alberta
true

Or "you might ask..." Used to suggest doubt or to ask one to

quaere to seek consider whether something is correct. Often introduces rhetorical or
tangential questions.

quaerite primum regnum seek ye first the kingdom

Also quaerite primo regnum dei; frequently used as motto
Dei of God

qualis artifex pereo

As what kind of artist do I Or "What a craftsman dies in me!" Attributed
 perish? to Nero in Suetonius' De vita Caesarum

Qualitas potentia nostra Quality is our might motto of Finnish Air Force

quam bene non quantum how well, not how much motto of Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada

quam bene vivas

it is how well you live that
referre (or refert), non quam Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium CI (101)
matters, not how long
diu

I.e., "[while on] good behavior." So for example the Act of Settlement
1701 stipulated that judges' commissions are valid quamdiu se bene
as long as he shall have gesserint (during good behaviour). (Notice the different singular,
quamdiu (se) bene gesserit
behaved well (legal Latin) "gesserit", and plural, "gesserint", forms.) It was from this phrase
that Frank Herbert extracted the name for the Bene
Gesserit sisterhood in the Dune novels.

quantocius quantotius the sooner, the better or, as quickly as possible

quantum libet (q.l.) as much as pleases medical shorthand for "as much as you wish"

medical shorthand for "as much as needed" or "as much as will

quantum sufficit (qs) as much as is enough
suffice"

medical shorthand; also quaque die (qd), "every day", quaque

quaque hora (qh) every hour
mane (qm), "every morning", and quaque nocte (qn), "every night"

An action of trespass; thus called, by reason the writ demands the

wherefore he broke the
quare clausum fregit person summoned to answer to wherefore he broke the close (quare
close
clausum fregit), i.e. why he committed such a trespass.

quater in die (qid) four times a day medical shorthand

Whom the gods would

quem deus vult perdere,
destroy, they first make
dementat prius
insane

Other translations of diligunt include "prize especially" or "esteem".

From Plautus, Bacchides, IV, 7, 18. In this comic play, a sarcastic
quem di diligunt adulescens he whom the gods love
servant says this to his aging master. The rest of the sentence
moritur dies young
reads: dum valet sentit sapit ("while he is healthy, perceptive and
wise").
 from the Summoner's section of Chaucer's General Prologue to The
questio quid iuris I ask what law?
Canterbury Tales, line 648

qui audet adipiscitur Who Dares Wins The motto of the SAS, of the British Army

from St. Augustine of Hippo's commentary on Psalm 73, verse 1: Qui

he who sings well praises
qui bene cantat bis orat enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter
twice
laudat ("He who sings praises, not only praises, but praises joyfully")

qui bono who with good common misspelling of the Latin phrase cui bono ("who benefits?")

he that teacheth, on Motto of the University of Chester. A less literal translation is "Let
qui docet in doctrina
teaching those who teach, teach" or "Let the teacher teach".

qui habet aures audiendi he who has ears to hear

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"; Mark Mark 4:9
audiat shall hear

qui me tangit, vocem meam who touches me, hears my

common inscription on bells
audit voice

Thus, silence gives consent. Sometimes accompanied by the

he who is silent is taken to
qui tacet consentire videtur proviso "ubi loqui debuit ac potuit", that is, "when he ought to have
agree
spoken and was able to".

qui prior est tempore potior Who is first in point of time As set forth in the "Property Law" casebook written by Jesse
est jure is stronger in right Dukeminier, which is generally used to teach first year law students.

Generally known as 'qui tam,' it is the technical legal term for the
qui tam pro domino rege he who brings an action for
unique mechanism in the federal False Claims Act that allows
quam pro se ipso in hac the king as well as for
persons and entities with evidence of fraud against federal programs
parte sequitur himself
or contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the Government.

he who wants everything

qui totum vult totum perdit Attributed to Publilius Syrus
loses everything

Or "he who brought us across still supports us", meaning God. State
he who transplanted still
qui transtulit sustinet motto of Connecticut. Originally written as sustinet qui transtulit in
sustains
1639.

because he should wish Attributed to Julius Caesar by Plutarch, Caesar 10. Translated
quia suam uxorem etiam
even his wife to be free loosely as "because even the wife of Caesar may not be suspected".
suspicione vacare vellet
from suspicion At the feast of Bona Dea, a sacred festival for females only, which
was being held at the Domus Publica, the home of the Pontifex
 Maximus, Caesar, and hosted by his second wife, Pompeia, the
notorious politician Clodius arrived in disguise. Caught by the
outraged noblewomen, Clodius fled before they could kill him on the
spot for sacrilege. In the ensuing trial, allegations arose that
Pompeia and Clodius were having an affair, and while Caesar
asserted that this was not the case and no substantial evidence
arose suggesting otherwise, he nevertheless divorced, with this
quotation as explanation.

quid agis What are you doing? What's happening? What's going on? What's the news? What's up?

In the Vulgate translation of John 18:38, Pilate's question

quid est veritas What is truth? to Jesus (Greek: Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια;). A possible answer is an anagram
of the phrase: est vir qui adest, "it is the man who is here."

What of the new out of less literally, "What's new from Africa?"; derived from
quid novi ex Africa
Africa? an Aristotle quotation

Commonly shortened to quidnunc. As a noun, a quidnunc is a

quid nunc What now? busybody or a gossip. Patrick Campbell worked for The Irish
Times under the pseudonym "Quidnunc".

Commonly used in English, it is also translated as "this for that" or "a

thing for a thing". Signifies a favor exchanged for a favor. The
quid pro quo what for what
traditional Latin expression for this meaning was do ut des ("I give,
so that you may give").

Quid rides? Why do you laugh?

Mutato nomine de te fabula Change but the name, and Horace, Satires, I. 1. 69.
narratur. the story is told of yourself.

Or "anything said in Latin sounds profound". A recent ironic Latin

phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and
quidquid Latine dictum sit whatever has been said in
quotations only to make themselves sound more important or
altum videtur Latin seems deep
"educated". Similar to the less common omnia dicta fortiora si dicta
Latina.

quieta non movere don't move settled things

Commonly associated with Plato who in the Republic poses this

question; and from Juvenal's On Women, referring to the practice of
having eunuchs guard women and beginning with the
Quis custodiet ipsos Who will guard the guards
word sed ("but"). Usually translated less literally, as "Who watches
custodes? themselves?
the watchmen?" This translation is a common epigraph, such as of
the Tower Commission and Alan Moore's Watchmen comic book
series.
quis leget haec? Who will read this?

quis separabit? Who will separate us? motto of Northern Ireland and of the Order of St Patrick

Usually translated "Who is like unto God?" Questions who would

have the audacity to compare himself to a Supreme Being. It is a
quis ut Deus Who [is] as God?
translation of the Hebrew name 'Michael' = Mi cha El Who like God
‫ אל‬/‫כ‬/‫ מי‬Hebrew: ‫( ִמיכָאֵ ל‬right to left).

quo errat demonstrator where the prover errs A pun on "quod erat demonstrandum"

quo fata ferunt where the fates bear us to motto of Bermuda

Quod verum tutum what is true is right motto of Spier's School

From Cicero's first speech In Catilinam to the Roman

Senate regarding the conspiracy of Catiline: Quo usque tandem
quousque tandem? For how much longer?
abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? ("For how much longer, Catiline,
will you abuse our patience?").

Quo Vadimus? Where are we going? Title of the series finale of Aaron Sorkin's TV dramedy Sports Night

According to Vulgate translation of John 13:36, Saint

Peter asked Jesus Domine, quo vadis? ("Lord, where are you
quo vadis? Where are you going?
going?"). The King James Version has the translation "Lord, whither
goest thou?"

whithersoever you throw it,

quocunque jeceris stabit motto of the Isle of Man
it will stand

what is abundant doesn't

quod abundat non obstat It is no problem to have too much of something.
hinder

what is done quickly, Things done in a hurry are more likely to fail and fail quicker than
quod cito fit, cito perit
perishes quickly those done with care.

The abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a mathematical

quod erat what was to be proof. Sometimes translated loosely into English as "The Five
demonstrandum (Q.E.D.) demonstrated Ws", W.W.W.W.W., which stands for "Which Was What We
Wanted".
 Or "which was to be constructed". Used in translations of
quod erat Euclid's Elements when there was nothing to prove, but there was
which was to be done
faciendum (Q.E.F.) something being constructed, for example a triangle with the same
size as a given line.

quod est (q.e.) which is

quod est necessarium est

what is necessary is lawful
licitum

what is asserted without

quod gratis asseritur, gratis If no grounds have been given for an assertion, then there are no
reason may be denied
negatur grounds needed to reject it.
without reason

If an important person does something, it does not necessarily mean

what is permitted
quod licet Iovi, non licet that everyone can do it (cf. double standard). Iovi (also commonly
to Jupiter is not permitted
bovi rendered Jovi) is the dative form of Iuppiter ("Jupiter" or "Jove"), the
to an ox
chief god of the Romans.

Thought to have originated with Elizabethan playwright Christopher

Marlowe. Generally interpreted to mean that that which motivates or
what nourishes me
quod me nutrit me destruit drives a person can consume him or her from within. This phrase
destroys me
has become a popular slogan or motto for pro-
ana websites, anorexics and bulimics.

what nature does not

quod natura non dat Refers to the Spanish University of Salamanca, meaning that
give, Salamanca does not
Salmantica non praestat education cannot substitute the lack of brains.
provide

A well-known satirical lampoon left attached to the

quod non fecerunt barbari, What the barbarians did
ancient "speaking" statue of Pasquino on a corner of the Piazza
fecerunt Barberini not do, the Barberini did
Navona in Rome, Italy.[95]

What has happened has happened and it cannot be changed, thus

quod periit, periit What is gone is gone we should look forward into the future instead of being pulled by the
past.

What I have written I have

quod scripsi, scripsi Pilate to the chief priests (John 19:22)
written.

Whatever you hope to i.e. "You must thoroughly understand that which you hope to
quod supplantandum, prius
supplant, you will first supplant". A caution against following a doctrine of Naive Analogy
bene sciendum
know thoroughly when attempting to formulate a scientific hypothesis.
 Used after a term, phrase, or topic that should be looked up
quod vide (q.v.) which see elsewhere in the current document, book, etc. For more than one
term or phrase, the plural is quae vide (qq.v.).

More colloquially: "Do whatever He [Jesus] tells you to do."

Quodcumque dixerit vobis, Whatever He tells you, that
Instructions of Mary to the servants at the Wedding at Cana. (John
facite. you shall do.
2:5). Also the motto of East Catholic High School.

quomodo vales How are you?

the number of members whose presence is required under the rules

quorum of whom
to make any given meeting constitutional

quos amor verus tenuit Those whom true love has

Seneca
tenebit held, it will go on holding

as many heads, so many

quot capita tot sensus "There are as many opinions as there are heads" – Terence
perceptions

as many men, so many Or "there are as many opinions as there are people", "how many
quot homines tot sententiae
opinions people, so many opinions"

R[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Or "greed is the root of all evil". Theme of "The Pardoner's Tale"

radix malorum est cupiditas the root of evils is desire
from The Canterbury Tales.

An extraordinary or unusual thing. From Juvenal's Satires: rara

rara avis (rarissima avis) rare bird (very rare bird) avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a rare bird in the lands,
and very like a black swan").

Rare survivors in the immense

rari nantes in gurgite vasto Virgil, Aeneid, I, 118
sea

The legal, moral, political, and social principles used by a court

ratio decidendi reasoning for the decision
to compose a judgment's rationale.

ratio legis reasoning of law A law's foundation or basis.

 Also "Jurisdiction Ratione Personae" the personal reach of the
ratione personae by reason of his/her person
courts jurisdiction.[96]

Or "according to the soil". Assigning property rights to a thing

ratione soli by account of the ground
based on its presence on a landowner's property.

ratum et consummatum confirmed and completed in Canon law, a consummated marriage

in Canon law, a confirmed but unconsummated marriage (which

ratum tantum confirmed only
can be dissolved super rato)

More literally, "by the thing". From the ablative of res ("thing" or
"circumstance"). It is a common misconception that the "Re:" in
correspondence is an abbreviation for regarding or reply; this is
not the case for traditional letters. However, when used in an e-
re [in] the matter of
mail subject, there is evidence that it functions as an
abbreviation of regarding rather than the Latin word for thing.
The use of Latin re, in the sense of "about", "concerning", is
English usage.

The doctrine that treaty obligations hold only as long as the

rebus sic stantibus with matters standing thus fundamental conditions and expectations that existed at the time
of their creation hold.

recte et fortiter Upright and Strong Motto of Homebush Boys High School

Also "just and faithful" and "accurately and faithfully". Motto

recte et fideliter Upright and Faithful
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 philosophy, a reductio ad
reductio ad absurdum leading back to the absurd
absurdum is a tactic in which the logic of an argument is
challenged by reducing the concept to its most absurd extreme.
Translated from Aristotle's "ἡ εις άτοπον απαγωγη" (hi eis
atopon apagogi, "reduction to the impossible").

A term coined by German-American political philosopher Leo

Strauss to humorously describe a fallacious argument that
reductio ad Hitlerum leading back to Hitler
compares an opponent's views to those held by Adolf Hitler or
the Nazi Party. Derived from reductio ad absurdum.

An argument that creates an infinite series of causes that does

reductio ad infinitum leading back to the infinite not seem to have a beginning. As a fallacy, it rests upon
Aristotle's notion that all things must have a cause, but that all
series of causes must have a sufficient cause, that is, an
 unmoved mover. An argument which does not seem to have
such a beginning becomes difficult to imagine. If it can be
established, separately, that the chain must have a start, then a
reductio ad infinitum is a valid refutation technique.

A decision from a court of appeal is amended to a worse one.

reformatio in peius change to worse With certain exceptions, this is prohibited at the Boards of
Appeal of the European Patent Office by case law.

Regem ego comitem me you made me a Count, I will

Motto of the Forbin family [fr]
comes regem make you a King

From "Reginam occidere nolite

timere bonum est si omnes
consentiunt ego non Written by John of Merania, bishop of Esztergom, to Hungarian
contradico", a sentence whose nobles planning the assassination of Gertrude of Merania. The
Reginam occidere
meaning is highly dependent queen was assassinated as the plotters saw the bishop's
on punctuation: either the message as an encouragement.
speaker wishes a queen killed
or not.[97]

State motto of Arkansas, adopted in 1907. Originally rendered in

regnat populus the people rule 1864 in the plural, regnant populi ("the peoples rule"), but
subsequently changed to the singular.

Regnum Mariae Patrona Kingdom of Mary, the Patron of

Former motto of Hungary.
Hungariae Hungary

Concept used in psychoanalysis by Sándor Ferenczi and the

regressus ad uterum return to the womb
Budapest School.

You have touched the point

rem acu tetigisti i.e., "You have hit the nail on the head"
with a needle

Lit: "Repeated things help". Usually said as a jocular remark to

defend the speaker's (or writer's) choice to repeat some
repetita iuvant repeating does good
important piece of information to ensure reception by the
audience.

repetitio est mater repetition is the mother of

studiorum study/learning

requiem aeternam eternal rest

requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) let him/her rest in peace Or "may he/she rest in peace". A benediction for the dead. Often
inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers. "RIP" is
 commonly mistranslated as "Rest In Peace", though the two
mean essentially the same thing.

Motto of the University of Sheffield, the University of Guelph,

rerum cognoscere causas to learn the causes of things
and London School of Economics.

a firm resolve does not know Used in the 1985 film American Flyers where it is colloquially
res firma mitescere nescit
how to weaken translated as "once you got it up, keep it up".

A phrase used in law representing the belief that certain

statements are made naturally, spontaneously and without
deliberation during the course of an event, they leave little room
res gestae things done for misunderstanding/misinterpretation upon hearing by
someone else ( i.e. by the witness who will later repeat the
statement to the court) and thus the courts believe that such
statements carry a high degree of credibility.

A phrase from the common law of torts meaning that negligence

res ipsa loquitur the thing speaks for itself can be inferred from the fact that such an accident happened,
without proof of exactly how.

A matter which has been decided by a court. Often refers to the

legal concept that once a matter has been finally decided by the
res judicata judged thing
courts, it cannot be litigated again (cf. non bis in
idem and double jeopardy).

From rēs ("things, facts") the plural of rēs ("a thing, a fact") + nōn
"actions speak louder than ("not") + verba ("words") the plural of verbum ("a word"). Literally
res, non verba
words", or "deeds, not words" meaning "things, not words" or "facts instead of words" but
referring to that "actions be used instead of words".

Goods without an owner. Used for things or beings which belong

to nobody and are up for grabs, e.g., uninhabited and
res nullius nobody's property
uncolonized lands, wandering wild animals, etc. (cf. terra nullius,
"no man's land").

res publica Pertaining to the state or public source of the word republic

look behind, look here, look

respice adspice prospice i.e., "examine the past, the present and future". Motto of CCNY.
ahead

i.e., "have regard for the end" or "consider the end". Generally
a memento mori, a warning to remember one's death. Motto
respice finem look back at the end of Homerton College, Cambridge, Trinity College,
Kandy, Georgetown College in Kentucky , Turnbull High
School, Glasgow, and the London Oratory School.
 Regarded as a legal maxim in agency law, referring to the legal
liability of the principal with respect to an employee. Whereas a
hired independent contractor acting tortiously may not cause the
respondeat superior let the superior respond
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.

Principle behind the awarding of damages in common law

restitutio ad (or in) integrum restoration to original condition
negligence claims

‘I shall rise again’, expressing Christian faith in resurrection at

the Last Day. It appears, inter alia, in Charlotte Brontë's Jane
Eyre, as the epitaph written on Helen Burns's grave; in a poem
of Emily Dickinson: Poems (1955) I. 56 ("Arcturus" is his other
name), I slew a worm the other day — A ‘Savant’ passing by
resurgam I shall arise
Murmured ‘Resurgam’ — ‘Centipede’! ‘Oh Lord—how frail are
we’!; and in a letter of Vincent van Gogh.[98] The OED gives
"1662 J. Trapp Annotations Old & New Testament I. 142
Howbeit he had hope in his death, and might write Resurgam on
his grave" as its earliest attribution in the English corpus.

An utterance by the Delphic oracle recorded by Eusebius of

Caesarea in Praeparatio evangelica, VI-5, translated from the
retine vim istam, falsa enim Restrain your strength, for if
Greek of Porphyry (c.f. E. H. Gifford's translation)[99] and used
dicam, si coges you compel me I will tell lies
by William Wordsworth as a subtitle for his ballad "Anecdote for
Fathers".

Latin motto that appears on the crest of the Trinity Broadcasting

rex regum fidelum et king even of faithful kings
Network of Paul and Jan Crouch.

The rigidity of corpses when chemical reactions cause the limbs

to stiffen about 3–4 hours after death. Other signs of death
rigor mortis stiffness of death
include drop in body temperature (algor mortis, "cold of death")
and discoloration (livor mortis, "bluish color of death").

An ironic or rueful commentary, appended following a fanciful or

risum teneatis, amici? Can you help laughing, friends?
unbelievable tale.

risus abundat in ore laughter is abundant in the

excessive and inappropriate laughter signifies stupidity.
stultorum mouth of fools

Roma invicta Unconquered Rome Inspirational motto inscribed on the Statue of Rome.

Rome has spoken, the case is In Roman Catholic ecclesiology, doctrinal matters are ultimately
Roma locuta, causa finita
closed decided by the Vatican.
 An intentionally garbled Latin phrase from Monty Python's Life of
People called Romans they go
Romanes eunt domus Brian. Its intended meaning is "Romans, go home!", in
the house
Latin Romani ite domum.

rorate coeli drop down ye heavens a.k.a. The Advent Prose.

rosa rubicundior, lilio

redder than the rose, whiter
candidior, omnibus
than the lilies, fairer than all From Veni, veni, venias (Carmina Burana).
formosior, semper in te
things, I do ever glory in thee
glorior

She who has earned the rose

Rosam quae meruit ferat Motto from Sweet Briar College
may bear it

Generally used to refer to a haven of peace and quiet within an

rus in urbe A countryside in the city
urban setting, often a garden, but can refer to interior decoration.

S[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

saltus in
leap in explaining a leap in logic, by which a necessary part of an equation is omitted.
demonstrando

a stronghold (or
salus in arduis a Roman Silver Age maxim. Also the school motto of Wellingborough School.
refuge) in difficulties

the welfare of the From Cicero's De Legibus, book III, part III, sub. VIII. Quoted by John Locke in
salus populi suprema
people is to be the his Second Treatise, On Civil Government, to describe the proper organization
lex esto
highest law of government. Also the state motto of Missouri.

Refers to two expressions that can be interchanged without changing the truth
salva veritate with truth intact
value of the statements in which they occur.

Christian epithet, usually referring to Jesus. The title of paintings by Albrecht

Salvator Mundi Savior of the World
Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci.

salvo errore et save for error and Used as a reservation on statements of financial accounts. Often now given in
omissione (s.e.e.o.) omission English "errors and omissions excluded" or "e&oe".

salvo honoris
Addressing oneself
titulo (SHT)
to someone whose
 title is unknown.|

Sancta Sedes Holy Chair literally, "holy seat". Refers to the Papacy or the Holy See.

sancta simplicitas holy innocence Or "sacred simplicity".

in a holy and wise Also sancte sapienter (holiness, wisdom), motto of several institutions,
sancte et sapienter
way notably King's College London

referring to a more sacred and/or guarded place, within a lesser guarded, yet
sanctum sanctorum Holy of Holies
also holy location.

From Horace's Epistularum liber primus, Epistle II, line 40. Made popular
sapere aude dare to know in Kant's essay Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment? defining
the Age of Enlightenment. The phrase is common usage as a university motto.

wise is he who looks

sapiens qui prospicit Motto of Malvern College, England
ahead

From Plautus. Indicates that something can be understood without any need for
explanation, as long as the listener has enough wisdom or common sense.
sapienti sat enough for the wise
Often extended to dictum sapienti sat est ("enough has been said for the wise",
commonly translated as "a word to the wise is enough").

Motto of Fordham University, New York. Motto of Hill House School Doncaster,
sapientia et doctrina wisdom and learning
England.

One of the mottos of the Ateneo schools in the Philippines.[100]

wisdom and
sapientia et eloquentia
eloquence
Motto of the Minerva Society

sapientia et veritas wisdom and truth Motto of Christchurch Girls' High School, New Zealand.
sapientia et virtus wisdom and virtue Motto of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
wisdom is the
sapientia ianua vitae Motto of the Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington, England.
gateway to life
wisdom is better than
sapientia melior auro Motto of University of Deusto, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Spain.
gold
sapientia, pax, Wisdom, Peace,
Motto of Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Cholula, Mexico.
fraternitas Fraternity
sapientia potentia est wisdom is power Motto of the House of Akeleye, Sweden, Denmark, Czechoslovakia.
That which has been
sat celeriter fieri
done well has been One of the two favorite saying of Augustus. The other is "festina lente".[101]
quidquid fiat satis bene
done quickly enough
scientia ac labore By/From/With Motto of several institutions
 knowledge and
labour
scientia, aere knowledge, more unknown origin, probably adapted from Horace's ode III (Exegi monumentum
perennius lasting than bronze aere perennius).
religion and
scientia cum religione Motto of St Vincent's College, Potts Point
knowledge united
The sea yields to
scientiae cedit mare Motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy.
knowledge
For science and
scientiae et patriae Motto of University of Latvia
fatherland
scientia et labor knowledge and work motto of Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería
knowledge and
scientia et sapientia motto of Illinois Wesleyan University
wisdom
knowledge is the
scientia imperii decus adornment and
Motto of Imperial College London
et tutamen protection of the
Empire
Stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon in Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in
scientia ipsa potentia knowledge itself is
modern times is often paraphrased as scientia est potestas or scientia potentia
est power
est (knowledge is power).
science, labour,
scientia, labor, libertas Motto of the Free University of Tbilisi.
liberty
scientia vincere conquering darkness Motto of several institutions, such as the Free University of Brussels (Vrije
tenebras by science Universiteit Brussel).
it is permitted to that is to say; to wit; namely; in a legal caption, it provides a statement of venue
scilicet (sc. or ss.)
know or refers to a location.
scio I know
I know that I know
scio me nihil scire
nothing
knowledge which is
scire quod sciendum motto of now defunct publisher Small, Maynard & Company
worth having
scribimus indocti Each desperate as translated by Philip Francis. From Horace, Epistularum liber secundus (1,
doctique poemata blockhead dares to 117)[102] and quoted in Fielding's Tom Jones; lit: "Learned or not, we shall write
passim write poems without distinction."
by the shield of
scuto amoris divini The motto of Skidmore College
God's love
seculo seculorum forever and ever
But the same Spirit
sed ipse spiritus
intercedes
postulat pro nobis,
incessantly for us, Romans 8:26
gemitibus
with inexpressible
inenarrabilibus
groans
sed terrae graviora But on earth, worse
Virgil, Aeneid 6:84.
manent things await
with the seat being The "seat" refers to the Holy See; the vacancy refers to
sede vacante
vacant the interregnum between two popes.
sedes apostolica apostolic chair Synonymous with Sancta Sedes.
Used in biological classification to indicate that there is no agreement as to
seat (i.e. location)
sedes incertae which higher order grouping a taxon should be placed into. Abbreviated sed.
uncertain
incert.
sedet, aeternumque seat, be seated a Virgi's verse, means when you stop trying, then you lose
sedebit forever
semel in anno licet once in a year one is Concept expressed by various authors, such as Seneca, Saint
insanire allowed to go crazy Augustine and Horace. It became proverbial during the Middle Ages.
always towards
semper ad meliora Motto of several institutions
better things
Motto of the 45th Infantry Division (United States) and its successor, the 45th
semper anticus always forward
Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
semper apertus always open Motto of University of Heidelberg
Motto of Carl Jacobsen and name of a line of beers
semper ardens always burning
by Danish brewery Carlsberg.
personal motto of Elizabeth I, appears above her royal coat of arms. Used as
motto of Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Channel Islands, which was founded by
semper eadem ever the same
Elizabeth I, and of Ipswich School, to whom Elizabeth granted a royal charter.
Also the motto of the City of Leicester and Prince George's County.
Motto of the K.A.V. Lovania Leuven and the House of Wrigley-Pimley-
semper excelsius always higher
McKerr[103]
semper fidelis always faithful Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Marine Corps
semper fortis always brave Unofficial motto of the United States Navy
semper idem always the same Motto of Underberg
semper in excretia We're always in the
sumus solim manure; only the Lord de Ramsey, House of Lords, 21 January 1998[104]
profundum variat depth varies.
semper instans always threatening Motto of 846 NAS Royal Navy
semper invicta always invincible Motto of Warsaw
the necessity of proof
semper necessitas
always lies with the
probandi incumbit ei Latin maxim often associated with the burden of proof
person who lays
qui agit
charges
semper liber always free Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia
semper paratus always prepared Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Coast Guard
semper primus always first Motto of several US military units
Motto of the island of Sint Maarten, of King City Secondary School in King City,
semper progrediens always progressing
Ontario, Canada and of Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia)
A phrase deriving from the Nadere Reformatie movement in the seventeenth
century Dutch Reformed Church and widely but informally used
in Reformed and Presbyterian churches today. It refers to the conviction of
always in need of
semper reformanda certain Reformed Protestant theologians that the church must continually re-
being reformed
examine itself in order to maintain its purity of doctrine and practice. The term
first appeared in print in Jodocus van Lodenstein, Beschouwinge van
Zion (Contemplation of Zion), Amsterdam, 1674.[105]
Motto of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Motto of St. Stephen School, Chandigarh,
India. Motto of St. Joseph's College, Allahabad, India. Motto of Palmerston
North Girls' High School, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Motto of Vancouver
semper sursum always aim high
Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Motto of
865 Dartmouth Kiwanis Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia, Canada.
Motto of several institutions including the US Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air
semper vigilans always vigilant Patrol), the city of San Diego, California, and the Providence, Rhode Island
Police Department.
semper vigilo always vigilant The motto of the Scottish Police Forces, Scotland.
Senatus Populusque The Senate and the The official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle
Romanus (SPQR) People of Rome standards by the Roman legions. In addition to being an ancient 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
Less literally, "in the strict sense".
sensu meaning"
In biblical exegesis, the deeper meaning intended by God, not intended by the
sensus plenior in the fuller meaning
human author.
In an effort to understand why things may be happening contrary to
expectations, or even in alignment with them, this idiom suggests that keeping
sequere pecuniam follow the money track of where money is going may show the basis for the observed behavior.
Similar in spirit to the phrase cui bono (who gains?) or cui prodest (who
advances?), but outside those phrases' historically legal context.
Sermo Tuus Veritas
Thy Word Is Truth motto of the General Theological Seminary, Cornelius Fontem Esua
Est
sero venientes male those who are late
sedentes are poorly seated
those who are late
sero venientibus ossa
get bones
servabo fidem Keeper of the faith I will keep the faith.
The answer of St. Michael the Archangel to the non serviam, "I will not serve"
serviam I will serve of Satan, when the angels were tested by God on whether they will serve an
inferior being, a man, Jesus, as their Lord.
servant of the
servus servorum Dei A title for the Pope.
servants of God
From Horace's Ars Poetica, "proicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba" ("he
words a foot and a throws down his high-flown language and his foot-and-a-half-long words").
sesquipedalia verba
half long A self-referential jab at long words and needlessly elaborate language in
general.
If I sleep, I may be
si dormiam capiar Motto of HMS Wakeful (H88)
caught
If you seek (his)
Si monumentum
monument, look from the epitaph on Christopher Wren's tomb in St Paul's Cathedral.
requiris circumspice
around you
Si non oscillas, noli If you can't swing,
Inscribed on a plaque above the front door of the Playboy mansion in Chicago.
tintinnare don't ring
si omnes... ego non if all ones... not I
if we deny having
si peccasse negamus From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, where the
made a mistake, we
fallimur et nulla est in phrase is translated "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
are deceived, and
nobis veritas there's no truth in us." (cf. 1 John 1:8 in the New Testament)
there's no truth in us
if you seek a Said to have been based on the tribute to architect Christopher Wren in St
si quaeris peninsulam
delightful peninsula, Paul's Cathedral, London: si monumentum requiris, circumspice (see
amoenam circumspice
look around above). State motto of Michigan, adopted in 1835.
if you can better
si quid novisti rectius
these principles, tell
istis, candidus imperti; Horace, Epistles I :6, 67–68
me; if not, join me in
si nil, his utere mecum.
following them
This quote is often attributed to the Latin philosopher Boethius of the late fifth
If you had kept your
si tacuisses, and early sixth centuries. It translates literally as, "If you had been silent, you
silence, you would
philosophus would have remained a philosopher." The phrase illustrates a common use of
have stayed a
mansisses the subjunctive verb mood. Among other functions it expresses actions contrary
philosopher
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. An abbreviation of si vales
if you are well, I am
si vales valeo (SVV) bene est ego valeo, alternatively written as SVBEEV. The practice fell out of
well (abbr)
fashion and into obscurity with the decline in Latin literacy.
If you want to be This is often attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca, found in the sixth
si vis amari ama
loved, love of his letters to Lucilius.
From Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari. Origin of the
si vis pacem, para if you want peace, name parabellum for some ammunition and firearms, such as the Luger
bellum prepare for war Parabellum. (Similar to igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum and in pace
ut sapiens aptarit idonea bello.)
Or "just so". States that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way
in the source, despite any errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact that may
sic thus
be present. Used only for previous quoted text; ita or similar must be used to
mean "thus" when referring to something about to be stated.
sic currite ut More specifically, So run, that ye may obtain, 1 Corinthians 24. Motto of Divine
Run to win
comprehendatis Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea.
sic et non thus and not More simply, "yes and no".
we gladly feast on
sic gorgiamus allos
those who would Mock-Latin motto of The Addams Family.
subjectatos nunc
subdue us
sic infit so it begins
From Virgil, Aeneid book IX, line 641. Possibly the source of the ad
thus you shall go to
sic itur ad astra astra phrases. Motto of several institutions, including the Royal Canadian Air
the stars
Force.
greatness from small
sic parvis magna Motto of Sir Francis Drake
beginnings
sic passim Thus here and there Used when referencing books; see passim.
Thus has it always
sic semper erat, et sic
been, and thus shall
semper erit
it ever be
Attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar's assassination and to John
thus Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln's assassination; whether it was
sic semper tyrannis
always to tyrants actually said at either of these events is disputed. State motto of Virginia,
adopted in 1776.
A reminder that all things are fleeting. During Papal coronations, a monk
reminds the Pope of his mortality by saying this phrase, preceded by pater
thus passes the glory
sic transit gloria mundi sancte ("holy father") while holding before his eyes a burning paper illustrating
of the world
the passing nature of earthly glories. This is similar to the tradition of a slave in
a Roman triumphs whispering memento mori in the ear of the celebrant.
use [what is] yours Or "use your property in such a way that you do not damage others'". A legal
sic utere tuo ut
so as not to harm maxim related to property ownership laws, often shortened to simply sic
alienum non laedas
[what is] of others utere ("use it thus").
Or "such is life". Indicates that a circumstance, whether good or bad, is an
sic vita est thus is life
inherent aspect of living.
Though the
sidere mens eadem constellations
Latin motto of the University of Sydney.
mutato change, the mind is
universal
signetur (sig) or (S/) let it be labeled Medical shorthand
signum fidei Sign of the Faith Motto of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Latinization of the English expression "silence is golden". Also Latinized
silentium est aureum silence is golden
as silentium est aurum ("silence is gold").
 similar things are
similia similibus taken care of by "like cures like" and "let like be cured by like"; the first form ("curantur") is
curantur similar things indicative, while the second form ("curentur") is subjunctive. The indicative form
is found in Paracelsus (16th century), while the subjunctive form is said
similia similibus let similar things be by Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy, and is known as the law of
curentur taken care of by similars.
similar things
similar substances Used as a general rule in chemistry; "like dissolves like" refers to the ability of
similia similibus
will dissolve similar polar or non polar solvents to dissolve polar or non
solvuntur
substances polar solutes respectively.[106]
simplicity is the sign
simplex sigillum veri expresses a sentiment akin to Keep It Simple, Stupid
of truth
sincere et constanter sincere and constant Motto of the Order of the Red Eagle
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is
sine anno (s.a.) without a year
unknown.
Originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive
order has been made in the case. In modern legal context, it means there is
sine die without a day
nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set,
resulting in an "adjournment sine die".
without anger and
sine ira et studio Thus, impartially. From Tacitus, Annals 1.1.
fondness
sine honoris titulo without honorary title Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown.
without labour there
sine labore non erit
will be no bread in
panis in ore
mouth
Used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication of a document is
sine loco (s.l.) without a place
unknown.
sine metu "without fear" Motto of Jameson Irish Whiskey
sine nomine (s.n.) "without a name" Used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a document is unknown.
Without penalty,
sine poena nulla lex Refers to the ineffectiveness of a law without the means of enforcement
there is no law
Frequently abbreviated to "s.p." or "d.s.p." (decessit sine prole – "died without
sine prole Without offspring
offspring") in genealogical works.
Without surviving
sine prole superstite Without surviving offspring (even in abstract terms)
children
Without Fear or
sine timore aut favore St.George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada motto
Favor
Used to denote something that is an essential part of the whole. See
sine qua non without which not
also condicio sine qua non.
without remedies
sine remediis medicina Inscription on a stained glass in the conference hall of a pharmaceutical mill
medicine is
debilis est in Kaunas, Lithuania.
powerless
sine scientia ars nihil without knowledge, Motto of The International Diving Society, and motto of Oxford University
est skill is nothing Medical Students' Society
sisto activitatem I cease the activity Phrase, used to cease the activities of the Sejm upon the liberum veto principle
may it be worthy of
sit nomine digna Motto of Rhodesia
the name
let honour stainless
sit sine labe decus Motto of the Brisbane Boys' College (Brisbane, Australia).
be
may the earth be Commonly used on gravestones, often contracted as S.T.T.L., the same way as
sit tibi terra levis
light to you today's R.I.P.
 may there be
sit venia verbo forgiveness for the Similar to the English idiom "pardon my French".
word
sun of justice, shine
sol iustitiae illustra nos Motto of Utrecht University.
upon us
the sun shines on
sol lucet omnibus Petronius, Satyricon Lybri 100.
everyone
the sun rules over
sol omnia regit Inscription near the entrance to Frombork Museum
everything
The material principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas,
sola fide by faith alone referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches that men
are saved by faith even without works.
It is credited to Paracelsus who expressed the classic toxicology maxim "All
sola dosis facit the dose makes the
things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not
venemum poison
a poison."
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the
sola gratia by grace alone Protestant claim that salvation is an unearned gift (cf. ex gratia), not a direct
result of merit.
the only good
sola lingua bona est
language is a dead Example of dog Latin humor.
lingua mortua
language
The formal principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas,
sola scriptura by scripture alone referring to the Protestant idea that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority, not
the Pope or tradition.
sola nobilitat virtus virtue alone ennobles
solamen miseris
misery loves
socios habuisse From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
company
doloris
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the
idea that God is the creator of all good things and deserves all the praise for
them. Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his manuscripts with the
soli Deo gloria (S.D.G.) glory to God alone
abbreviation S.D.G. to invoke this phrase, as well as with AMDG (ad maiorem
Dei gloriam). The motto of the MasterWorks Festival, an annual Christian
performing arts festival.
A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the
solus Christus Christ alone Protestant 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
it is solved by
solvitur ambulando The problem is solved by taking a walk, or by simple experiment.
walking
your lot is cast in
Spartam nactus es;
Sparta, be a credit to from Euripides's Telephus, Agamemnon to Menelaus.[107]
hanc exorna
it
specialia generalibus special departs from
derogant general
species nova new species Used in biological taxonomy
speculum speculorum mirror of mirrors
spem gregis the hope of the flock from Virgil's Eclogues
spem reduxit he has restored hope Motto of New Brunswick.
I hope for better
spero meliora
things
spes bona good hope Motto of University of Cape Town.
hope conquers Refers to Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in
spes vincit thronum (overcomes) the my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne throne." On the John Winthrop family tombstone, Boston, Massachusetts.
From The Second Coming (poem) by William Butler Yeats. Refers to Yeats'
belief that each human mind is linked to a single vast intelligence, and that this
spiritus mundi spirit of the world
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 you can hear
the spirit spreads
spiritus ubi vult spirat its noise, you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. The same thing
wherever it wants
happens to whomever has been born of the Spirit." It is the motto of Cayetano
Heredia University[108]
brightness without Loosely "splendour without diminishment" or "magnificence without
splendor sine occasu
setting ruin". Motto of British Columbia.
The motto of the Jungle Patrol in The Phantom. The phrase actually
we stand against by violates Latin grammar 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
stare decisis To uphold previous rulings, recognize precedent.
decided things
There is a day [turn]
stat sua cuique dies Virgil, Aeneid, X 467
for everybody
statim (stat) "immediately" Medical shorthand used following an urgent request.[109]
A safe harbour for Motto of Cork City, Ireland. Adapted from Virgil's Aeneid (II, 23: statio male fida
statio bene fide carinis
ships carinis, "an unsafe harbour") but corrupted for unknown reasons to "fide".
The current condition or situation. Also status quo ante ("the situation in which
status quo the situation in which [things were] before"), referring to the state of affairs prior to some upsetting
event (cf. reset button technique).
the state before the
status quo ante bellum A common term in peace treaties.
war
Marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or
stet let it stand
marked for deletion should be retained.
let the fortune of the First part of the motto of Harrow School, England, and inscribed upon Ricketts
stet fortuna domus
house stand House, at the California Institute of Technology.
From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. (See Rom
stipendium peccati the reward of sin is
6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
mors est death
Christ Jesus our Lord.")
the heights yield to
strenuis ardua cedunt Motto of the University of Southampton.
endeavour
stricto sensu cf. sensu with the tight
Less literally, "in the strict sense".
stricto meaning
A title given to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. More literally translated "the
the wonder of the
stupor mundi bewilderment of the world", or, in its original, pre-Medieval sense, "the stupidity
world
of the world".
Legal term when a court takes up a motion on its own initiative, not because any
sua sponte by its own accord of the parties to the case has made the motion. The regimental motto of
the 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army.
Commonly abbreviated sa, it is used in citing annals, which record events by
sub anno under the year
year.
sub cruce lumen The Light Under the Motto of the University of Adelaide, Australia. Refers to the figurative "light of
 Cross learning" and the Southern Cross constellation, Crux.
under the wide open Also, "under the sky", "in the open air", "out in the open" or "outdoors". Ablative
sub divo
sky "divo" does not distinguish divus, divi, a god, from divum, divi, the sky.
Used in citations to refer to the end of a book, page, etc., and abbreviated 's.f.'
sub finem toward the end
Used after the page number or title. E.g., 'p. 20 s.f. '
sub Iove frigido under cold Jupiter At night; from Horace's Odes 1.1:25
Said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed until it is finished. Also sub
sub judice under a judge
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
sub poena under penalty tecum ("take 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 "under the rose" was not to be repeated outside. This
sub rosa under the rose 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.
"in the name of", "under the title of"; used in legal citations to indicate the name
sub nomine (sub nom.) under the name
under which the litigation continued.
sub silentio under silence implied but not expressly stated.
under the sight of
sub specie aeternitatis Thus, "from eternity's point of view". From Spinoza, Ethics.
eternity
under the sight of
sub specie Dei "from God's point of view or perspective".
God
Beneath thy Name of the oldest extant hymn to the Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary). Also
sub tuum praesidium
compassion "under your protection". A popular school motto.
Under the shade I
Sub umbra floreo National Motto of Belize, referring to the shade of the mahogany tree.
flourish
sub verbo; sub voce Under the word or heading, as in a dictionary; abbreviated s.v.
Raised from the
sublimis ab unda Motto of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham
waves
subsiste sermonem stop speaking
statim immediately
Cut down, we grow
Succisa virescit Motto of Delbarton School
back stronger
One doesn't sing on
Sudetia non cantat the Sudeten Saying from Hanakia
Mountains
sui generis Of its own kind In a class of its own.
Capable of responsibility. Has both legal and ecclesiastical use. Commonly
sui iuris Of one's own right
rendered sui juris.
A gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death
sum quod eris I am what you will be (cf. memento mori). Also rendered fui quod sis ("I have been what you are")
and tu fui ego eris ("I have been you, you will be I").
sum quod sum I am what I am from Augustine's Sermon No. 76.[110]
summa cum laude with highest praise
sum or totality of It refers to the final authority of power in government. For example, power of the
summa potestas
power Sovereign.
 Literally "sum of sums". When a short conclusion is rounded up at the end of
summa summarum all in all
some elaboration.
summum bonum the supreme good Literally "highest good". Also summum malum ("the supreme evil").
From Cicero (De officiis, I, 10, 33). An acritical application of law, without
understanding and respect of laws's purposes and without considering the
summum ius, summa supreme law,
overall circumstances, is often a means of supreme injustice. A similar sentence
iniuria supreme injustice
appears in Terence (Heautontimorumenos, IV, 5): Ius summum saepe summa
est malitia ("supreme justice is often out of supreme malice (or wickedness)").
published [cost of
Found in self-published academic books of the 17th to 19th century. Often
sumptibus auctoris printing paid] by
preceded by Latin name of city in which the work is published.
author
From Virgil, Aeneid. Followed by et mentem mortalia tangunt ("and mortal
there are tears for
sunt lacrimae rerum things touch my mind"). Aeneas cries as he sees Carthaginian temple murals
things
depicting the deaths of the Trojan War. See also hinc illae lacrimae.
sunt omnes unum they are all one
Children are children,
sunt pueri pueri, pueri
and children do anonymous proverb
puerilia tractant
childish things
Used in the context of titles of nobility, for instance where a wife may hold a title
suo jure in one's own right
in her own right rather than through her marriage.
Also rendered suo moto. Usually used when a court of law, upon its own
upon one's own initiative, (i.e., no petition has been filed) proceeds against a person or authority
suo motu
initiative that it deems has committed an illegal act. It is used chiefly in South Asia.[citation
needed]

suos cultores scientia Knowledge crowns

The motto of Syracuse University, New York.
coronat those who seek her
super firmum On the firm
The motto of Ursinus College, Pennsylvania.
fundamentum dei foundation of God
Where Thomas More accused the reformer, Martin Luther, of going to
super fornicam on the lavatory
celebrate Mass.
superbia in proelia pride in battle Motto of Manchester City F.C.
supero omnia I surpass everything A declaration that one succeeds above all others.
to belch before the
surdo oppedere From Erasmus' collection of annotated Adagia (1508): a useless action.
deaf
surgam I shall rise Motto of Columbia University's Philolexian Society.
sursum corda Lift up your hearts
Thus, don't offer your opinion on things that are outside your competence. It is
said that the Greek painter Apelles once asked the advice of a cobbler on how
sutor, ne ultra Cobbler, no further
to render the sandals of a soldier he was painting. When the cobbler started
crepidam than the sandal!
offering advice on other parts of the painting, Apelles rebuked him with this
phrase in Greek, and it subsequently became a popular Latin expression.
to render to every One of Justinian I's three basic precepts of law. Also shortened to suum
suum cuique tribuere
man his due cuique ("to each his own").
s.v. Abbreviation for sub verbo or sub voce (see above).

T[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

tabula gratulatoria congratulatory tablet A list of congratulations.

Thus, "blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-covered wooden tablets,

which were erased by scraping with the flat end of the stylus. John Locke used
tabula rasa scraped tablet
the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any
knowledge.

talis qualis just as such "Such as it is" or "as such".

taliter qualiter somewhat

for of such (little from St Mark's gospel 10:14 "talium (parvuli) est enim regnum Dei"; similar in St
talium Dei regnum children) is the kingdom Matthew's gospel 19:14 "talium est enim regnum caelorum" ("for of such is the
of God kingdom of heaven"); motto of the Cathedral School, Townsville.

tanquam ex ungue we know the lion by his Said in 1697 by Johann Bernoulli about Isaac Newton's anonymously submitted
leonem claw solution to Bernoulli's challenge regarding the Brachistochrone curve.

tarde venientibus To the late are left the

ossa bones

Te occidere possunt They can kill you, but The motto of the fictional Enfield Tennis Academy in the David Foster
sed te edere non they cannot eat you, it is Wallace novel Infinite Jest. Translated in the novel as "They can kill you, but the
possunt nefas est against the law. legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier".

technica impendi Technology impulses

Motto of Technical University of Madrid
nationi nations

A reference to the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton), inscribed on

the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, according to the Greek
temet nosce know thyself periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1). Rendered also with nosce te
ipsum, temet nosce ("thine own self know") appears in The Matrix translated as
"know thyself".

Literally "Heroic Times"; refers to the period between the

tempora heroica Heroic Age
mythological Titanomachy and the (relatively) historical Trojan War.

16th century variant of two classical lines of Ovid: tempora labuntur ("time
tempora mutantur et the times are changing,
labors", Fasti) and omnia mutantur ("everything changes", Metamorphoses).
nos mutamur in illis and we change in them
See entry for details.

tempus edax rerum

time, devourer of all Also "time, that devours all things", literally: "time, gluttonous of things", edax:
 things adjectival form of the verb edo to eat. From Ovid, Metamorphoses, 15, 234-236.

Time flees. From Virgil's Georgics (Book III, line 284), where it appears as fugit inreparabile
tempus fugit
Time flies. tempus. A common sundial motto. See also tempus volat, hora fugit below.

tempus rerum time, commander of all "Tempus Rerum Imperator" has been adopted by the Google Web Accelerator
imperator things project. It is shown in the "About Google Web Accelerator" page.

tempus vernum spring time Name of song by popular Irish singer Enya

tempus volat, hora

time flies, the hour flees
fugit

virtue strives for what is

tendit in ardua virtus Appears in Ovid's Epistulae ex Ponto
difficult

Suetonius attributes this to Julius Caesar, from when Caesar was on the
teneo te Africa I hold you, Africa!
African coast.

tentanda via The way must be tried motto for York University

ter in die (t.i.d.) thrice in a day Medical shorthand for "three times a day".

terminat hora diem; The hour finishes the

terminat auctor day; the author finishes Phrase concluding Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor Faustus.[111]
opus. his work.

In archaeology or history, refers to the date before which an artefact or feature

must have been deposited. Used with terminus post quem (limit after which).
terminus ante quem limit before which Similarly, terminus ad quem (limit to which) may also refer to the latest possible
date of a non-punctual event (period, era, etc.), while terminus a quo (limit from
which) may refer to the earliest such date.

terra australis
unknown southern land First name used to refer to the Australian continent
incognita

terra firma solid earth Often used to refer to the ground

terra incognita unknown land

 Latin name of Newfoundland (island portion of Canadian province
terra nova new land of Newfoundland and Labrador, capital- St. John's), also root of French name of
same, Terre-Neuve

That is, no man's land. A neutral or uninhabited area, or a land not under the
terra nullius land of none
sovereignty of any recognized political entity.

Or "let them give light to the world". An allusion to Isaiah 6.3: plena est omnis
terra gloria eius ("the whole earth is full of his glory"). Sometimes mistranslated
let them illuminate the as "they will illuminate the lands" based on mistaking irradiare for
terras irradient
lands 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.

no third (possibility) is
tertium non datur A logical axiom that a claim is either true or false, with no third option.
given

1. Something that cannot be classified into either of two groups considered

tertium quid a third something exhaustive; an intermediate thing or factor. 2. A third person or thing of
indeterminate character.

testis unus, testis one witness is not a A law principle expressing that a single witness is not enough to corroborate a
nullus witness story.

textus receptus received text

Tibi cordi We consecrate to your

The inscription found on top of the central door of the Minor Basilica of the
immaculato immaculate heart and
Immaculate Conception, otherwise known as the Manila Cathedral in the
concredimus nos ac entrust to you (Mary) for
Philippines
consecramus safekeeping

Danaos being a term for the Greeks. In Virgil's Aeneid, II, 49, the phrase is said
by Laocoön when warning his fellow Trojans against accepting the Trojan
timeo Danaos et I fear Greeks even if
Horse. The full original quote is quidquid id est timeo Danaos et dona
dona ferentes they bring gifts
ferentis, quidquid id est meaning "whatever it is" and ferentis being an archaic
form of ferentes. Commonly mistranslated "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts".

A coward's mother does

timidi mater non flet proverb
not weep

Refrain originating in the response to the seventh lesson in the Office of the
timor mortis the fear of death Dead. In the Middle 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.
toto cælo by whole heaven as far apart as possible; utterly.

Offering one's life in total commitment to another. The motto was adopted
totus tuus totally yours by Pope John Paul II to signify his love and servitude to Mary the Mother of
Jesus.

Literally "beneficial passage." Mentioned in "The Seamy Side of History"

transire to travel along while
(L'envers de l'histoire contemporaine, 1848), part of La Comédie humaine,
benefaciendo doing good
by Honoré de Balzac, and Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

Used to express the belief in the transfer of imperial authority from the Roman
translatio imperii transfer of rule
Empire of antiquity to the Medieval Holy Roman Empire.

tres faciunt It takes three to have a valid group; three is the minimum number of members
three makes company
collegium for an organization or a corporation.

A decree by the medieval Church that all feuds should be cancelled during
treuga Dei Truce of God the Sabbath—effectively from Wednesday or Thursday night until Monday. See
also Peace and Truce of God.

tria juncta in uno Three joined in one Motto of the Order of the Bath

Triste est omne Every animal is sad

animal post coitum, after coitus except the
præter mulierem human female and the
gallumque rooster

tu autem Domine But Thou, O Lord, have Phrase said at the end of biblical readings in the liturgy of the medieval church.
miserere nobis mercy upon us Also used in brief, "tu autem", as a memento mori epitaph.

tuitio fidei et
Defence of the faith and Motto of the Association of Canadian Knights of the Sovereign and Military
obsequium
assistance to the poor Order of Malta.[112]
pauperum

Thus, "what you are, I was; what I am, you will be.". A memento
I was you; you will be
tu fui ego eris mori gravestone inscription to remind the reader that death is unavoidable
me
(cf. sum quod eris).

you should not give in to

tu ne cede malis,
evils, but proceed ever
sed contra audentior From Virgil, Aeneid, 6, 95. "Ne cede malis" is the motto of The Bronx.
more boldly against
ito
them
 The logical fallacy of attempting to defend one's position merely by pointing out
tu quoque you too
the same weakness in one's opponent.

tu stultus es you are stupid Motto for the satirical news organization, The Onion

tuebor I will protect Found on the Great Seal on the flag of the state of Michigan.

tunica propior est A tunic is closer to the

pallio body than a cape

turris fortis mihi

God is my strong tower Motto of the Kelly Clan
Deus

tutum te robore I will give you safety by

Motto of the Clan Crawford
reddam strength

tuum est It's up to you Motto of the University of British Columbia

U[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

Or "utmost good faith" (cf. bona fide). A legal maxim of insurance

uberrima fides most abundant faith
contracts requiring all parties to deal in good faith.

ubertas et fidelitas fertility and faithfulness Motto of Tasmania.

where [there is] love,

ubi amor, ibi dolor
there [is] pain

where [it is] well, there

ubi bene, ibi patria Or "Home is where it's good"; see also ubi panis ibi patria.
[is] the fatherland

ubi caritas et amor, where there is charity

Deus ibi est and love, God is there

ubi dubium, ibi where [there is] doubt,

Anonymous proverb.
libertas there [is] freedom
ubi jus, ibi Where [there is] a right,
remedium there [is] a remedy

where [there is] honey, Similar to "you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar"—treat people
ubi mel, ibi apes
there [are] bees nicely and they will treat you nicely in return.

ubi libertas. ibi where [there is] liberty,

Or "where there is liberty, there is my country". Patriotic motto.
patria there [is] the fatherland

where you are worth

ubi nihil vales, ibi From the writings of the Flemish philosopher Arnold Geulincx; also quoted
nothing, there you will
nihil velis by Samuel Beckett in his first published novel, Murphy.
wish for nothing

where [there is] no Thus, there can be no judgment or case if no one charges a defendant with a
ubi non accusator,
accuser, there [is] no crime. The phrase is sometimes parodied as "where there are no police, there is
ibi non iudex
judge no speed limit".

where there is bread,

ubi panis ibi patria
there is my country

where there is pus,

ubi pus, ibi evacua
there evacuate it

Or "whereas, in reality..." Also rendered ubi, revera ("when, in fact" or "when,

ubi, re vera when, in a true thing
actually").

if there's a society, law

ubi societas, ibi ius By Aristotle.
will be there

ubi solitudinem
They make a desert and
faciunt pacem from a speech by Calgacus reported/constructed by Tacitus, Agricola, ch. 30.
call it peace
appellant

Nostalgic theme of poems yearning for days gone by. From the line ubi sunt, qui
ubi sunt? where are they?
ante nos fuerunt? ("Where are they, those who have gone before us?").

Motto of the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery and most other Engineer or Artillery
corps within the armies of the British Commonwealth (for example, the Royal
Australian Engineers, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal New Zealand
ubique, quo fas et everywhere, where right Engineers, Royal Canadian Artillery, Royal Australian Artillery, Royal New
gloria ducunt and glory leads Zealand Artillery). Interunit rivalry often leads to the sarcastic translation
of ubique to mean all over the place in a derogative sense.

Motto of the American Council on Foreign Relations, where the translation

of ubique is often given as omnipresent, with the implication of pervasive hidden
 influence.[113]

The last resort. Short form for the metaphor "The Last Resort of
Kings and Common Men" referring to the act of declaring war;
used in the names the French sniper rifle PGM Ultima Ratio and
the fictional Reason weapon system. Louis XIV of
last method
France had Ultima Ratio Regum ("last argument of kings") cast
ultima ratio the final argument
on the cannons of his armies; motto of the American 1st
the last resort (as force)
Battalion 11th Marines; motto of the French Fourth Artillery
Regiment; motto of Swedish Artilleriregementet. Also, the Third
Battery of the French Third Marine Artillery Regiment has the
motto Ultima Ratio Tribuni.

Used in formal correspondence to refer to the previous month. Used

ultimo mense (ult.) in the last month
with inst. ("this month") and prox. ("next month").
"Without authority". Used to describe an action done without proper authority, or
ultra vires beyond powers acting without the rules. The term will most often be used in connection with
appeals and petitions.
No one is
ultra posse nemo
obligated beyond what
obligatur
he is able to do.
From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of
annotated Adagia (1508). Latin translation of a classical Greek proverb.
ululas Athenas (to send) owls to Athens
Generally means putting large effort in a necessarily fruitless enterprise.
Compare "selling coal to Newcastle".
una hirundo non one swallow does not A single example of something positive does not necessarily mean that all
facit ver make summer subsequent similar instances will 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 ruamus ("let us die even as we rush into
una salus victis the only safety for the
the midst of battle") in Virgil's Aeneid, book 2, lines 353–354. Used in Tom
nullam sperare conquered is to hope for
Clancy's novel Without Remorse, where character John Clark translates it as "the
salutem no safety
one hope of the doomed is not to hope for safety". It was said several times in
"Andromeda" as the motto of the SOF units.
unitas, iustitia,
unity, justice, hope Motto of Vilnius.
spes
unitas per
unity through service Motto for the St. Xavier's Institution Board of Librarians.
servitiam
uniti aedificamus united we build Motto of the Mississippi Makerspace Community
Used in criticism of inconsistent pleadings, i.e. "one cannot argue uno flatu both
uno flatu in one breath
that the company does not exist and that it is also responsible for the wrong."
uno sumus animo we are one of soul Motto of Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden
unus multorum one of many An average person.
Unus papa Romae,
One pope in Rome, one
unus portus
port in Ancona, one
Anconae, una Motto of the Czech Brewery in Rakovník.[114]
tower in Cremona, one
turris Cremonae,
beer in Rakovník
una ceres Raconae
to the city and the circle Meaning "To Rome and the World". A standard opening of Roman
Urbi et Orbi
[of the lands] proclamations. Also a traditional blessing by the pope.
urbs in horto city in a garden Motto of the City of Chicago.
Often used in reference to battle, implying a willingness to keep fighting until you
usque ad finem to the very end
die.
usus est magister practice is the best In other words, practice makes perfect. Also sometimes translated "use makes
optimus teacher. master."
ut aquila versus As an eagle towards the
Motto of the Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
coelum sky
Also rendered with quando ("when") in place of quoniam. From a book
by Suetonius (Vit. Tib., 2.2) and Cicero (De Natura Deorum, 2.3). The phrase
ut biberent so that they might drink, was said by Roman admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher right before the battle of
quoniam esse since they refused to Drepana, as he threw overboard the sacred chickens which had refused to eat
nollent 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". He lost
the battle disastrously.
so that they may know
ut cognoscant te Motto of Boston College High School.
You.
ut desint vires, though the power be
tamen est laudanda lacking, the will is to be From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto (III, 4, 79).
voluntas praised all the same
as has been said; as
ut dicitur
above
ut incepit fidelis sic as she began loyal, so
Poetically, "Loyal she began, loyal she remains." Motto of Ontario.
permanet she persists
ut infra as below
ut in omnibus that in all things, God
Motto of the Order of Saint Benedict
glorificetur Deus. may be glorified
ut mare quod ut
to sea and into wind Motto of USNS Washington Chambers
ventus
ut omnes te
that all may know you Motto of Niagara University
cognoscant
ut omnes unum That they all may be
Motto of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
sint one
ut prosim that I may serve Motto of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
ut proverbium you know what they
Lit: As the old proverb says...
loquitur vetus... say...
that the matter may
ut res magis valeat
have effect rather than
quam pereat
fail[115]
ut retro as backwards Or "as on the back side"; thus, "as on the previous page" (cf. ut supra).
ut Roma cadit, sic as Rome falls, so [falls]
omnis terra the whole world
A traditional brocard. The full form is Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium, "it is in
so there might be an
ut sit finis litium the government's interest that there be an end to litigation." Often quoted in the
end of litigation
context of statutes of limitation.
ut supra as above
Robert Hooke's expression of his discovery of his law of linear elasticity. Also:
as the extension, so the
ut tensio sic vis Motto of École Polytechnique de Montréal. Motto of the British Watch and
force
Clockmaker's Guild.
utilis in
usefulness in service Comes from 2 Timothy 4:11. Motto of Camberwell Girls Grammar School.
ministerium
Also translated as "that the two may be one." Motto found in 18th
century Spanish dollar coins. Motto of Georgetown University.From the Vulgate,
utraque unum both into one
Eph. 2:14, Ipse enim est pax nostra, qui fecit utraque unum, "For he is our peace,
who hath made both one."
Motto of The British Parachute Regiment. Motto of the Belize National Coast
utrinque paratus ready for anything
Guard.
V[edit]

Latin Translation Notes

vacate et scire Be still and know. Motto of the University of Sussex

From the Vulgate, Proverbs 6:6. The full quotation translates as "Go to
vade ad formicam go to the ant
the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!"[Pro 6:6]

A vade-mecum or vademecum is an item one carries around, especially a

vade mecum go with me
handbook.

An exhortation to Satan to be gone, often a Roman Catholic response

to temptation. From a popular Medieval Roman
Catholic exorcism formula, derived from the rebuke of Jesus Christ to St.
vade retro Satana go back, Satan
Peter, as quoted in the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro me Satana ("get
behind Me, Satan").[Mark 8:33] The phrase "vade retro" ("go back") is also
in Terence's Formio, I, 4, 203.

valenter volenter strongly and willingly Motto of HMS Valorous (L00)

Attributed by Livy to Brennus, the chief of the Gauls, stated with his
vae victis woe to the conquered demand for more gold from the citizens of the sacked city of Rome in 390
BC.

vanitas vanitatum vanity of vanities; everything Or more simply: "vanity, vanity, everything vanity". From
omnia vanitas [is] vanity the Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:2;12:8.

A purported prediction stated as if it was made before the event it

vaticinium ex eventu prophecy from the event
describes, while in fact being made thereafter.

Summary of alternatives, e. g., "this action turns upon whether the

vel non or not
claimant was the deceased's grandson vel non."

Non-literally, "where there is a will, there is a way". It is the motto of

velle est posse to be willing is to be able
Hillfield, one of the founding schools of Hillfield Strathallan College.

Rendered by Robert Graves in I, Claudius as "as quick as boiled

asparagus". Ascribed to Augustus by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars,
velocius quam faster than asparagus can
Book 2 (Augustus), para. 87. It refers to anything done very quickly. A
asparagi coquantur be cooked
very common variant is celerius quam asparagi cocuntur ("faster than
asparagus [is] cooked").
 as a tree with the passage
velut arbor aevo Motto of the University of Toronto, Canada
of time

The message supposedly sent by Julius Caesar to the Roman Senate to

veni, vidi, vici I came, I saw, I conquered describe his battle against King Pharnaces II of Pontus near Zela in 47
BC.

venturis ventis to the coming winds Motto of Brasília, the capital of Brazil

vera causa true cause

verba docent exempla words instruct, illustrations

This refers to the relevance of illustrations, for example in preaching.
trahunt lead

Taking the words out of someone's mouth, speaking exactly what the
verba ex ore words from mouth
other colloquist wanted to say.

verba ita sunt words are to be understood

intelligenda ut res such that the subject matter I. e., when explaining a subject, it is important to clarify rather than
magis valeat quam may be more effective than confuse.
pereat wasted

verba vana aut risui not to speak words in vain A Roman Catholic religious precept, being Rule 56 of the Rule of Saint
non loqui or to start laughter Benedict.

verba volant, scripta words fly away, writings Quotation from a famous speech of Caius Titus in the ancient Roman
manent remain Senate.

verbatim word for word The phrase refers to perfect transcription or quotation.

word for word and letter by

verbatim et literatim
letter

Verbi Divini minister servant of the Divine Word A phrase denoting a priest. Cf. "Verbum Dei" infra.

verbi gratia
for example Literally, "for the sake of a word".
(v. gr. or v. g.)

Verbum Dei Word of God See religious text.

verbum Domini
The word of the Lord [is] a
lucerna pedibus Motto of the University of Groningen
light for our feet
nostris

verbum Domini manet the word of the Lord

Motto of the Lutheran Reformation
in aeternum (VDMA) endures forever

verb. sap. a word to the wise [is A phrase denoting that the listener can fill in the omitted remainder, or
verbum sap. sufficient] enough is said. It is the truncation of "verbum sapienti sat[is] est".

A word that floats in the air, on which everyone is thinking and is just
verbum volitans flying word
about to be imposed.[citation needed]

veritas truth Motto many educational institutions

veritas aequitas truth [and] justice

veritas, bonitas, truth, goodness, beauty,

Motto of Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
pulchritudo, sanctitas [and] sanctity

The de iure motto of Harvard University, United States, which dates to its
veritas Christo et
truth for Christ and church foundation; it is often shortened to veritas to remove its original religious
ecclesiae
meaning.

veritas cum libertate truth with liberty Motto of Winthrop University

Motto of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and

veritas curat truth cures
Research

veritas Dei vincit the truth of God conquers Motto of the Hussites

veritas Domini manet the truth of the Lord remains

in aeternum for eternity

veritas et fortitudo truth and fortitude One of the mottos of the Lyceum of the Philippines University

Motto of the University of Pittsburgh, Methodist University, and Mississippi

veritas et virtus truth and virtue
College
veritas, fides,
truth, faith, [and] wisdom Motto of Dowling Catholic High School
sapientia

veritas in caritate truth in charity Motto of Bishop Wordsworth's School and St Munchin's College

veritas, iustitia,
truth, justice, [and] liberty Motto of the Free University of Berlin
libertas

veritas liberabit vos truth shall liberate you Motto of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan

A common, non-literal translation is "truth enlightens me"; motto of Seoul

veritas lux mea truth [is] my light
National University, South Korea

veritas numquam perit truth never expires by Seneca the Younger

veritas odit moras truth hates delay by Seneca the Younger

veritas omnia vincit truth conquers all A quotation from a letter of Jan Hus; frequently used as a motto

veritas, unitas, caritas truth, unity, [and] love Motto of Villanova University, United States

Cf. "veritas omnia vincit" supra. Motto on the standard of the presidents
veritas vincit truth conquers
of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, and of the Scottish Clan Keith

Veritas. Virtus.
Truth. Virtue. Liberty. Motto of the University of Szeged, Hungary
Libertas.

Another plausible translation is "truth is the mistress of life". It is the

veritas vitæ magistra truth is the teacher of life unofficial motto of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras and is
inscribed in its tower.

veritas vos liberabit truth will liberate you [all] Motto of Johns Hopkins University, United States

veritate duce progredi advancing with truth leading Motto of the University of Arkansas, United States

Motto of Catholic Junior College, Singapore; St. Xavier's School,

[in] veritate et caritate in truth and charity
and Hazaribagh, India
 Motto of Sydney Boys High School. It is alternatively rendered "virtute et
veritate et virtute with truth and virtue veritate" ("with virtue and truth"), which is the motto of Walford Anglican
School for Girls and Pocklington School.

veritatem dilexi I esteemed truth Alternatively, "I loved truth"; motto of Bryn Mawr College

veritatem fratribus to bear witness to truth in

Motto of Xaverian Brothers High School
testari fraternity

Motto of the Clandestine Service of the United States Central Intelligence

veritatem cognoscere to know truth
Agency

vero nihil verius nothing [is] truer than truth Motto of Mentone Girls' Grammar School

A variation of the campaign slogan of then-Senator Barack Obama, which

vero possumus yes, we can was superimposed on a variation of the Great Seal of the United
States during the US presidential campaign of 2008.[116]

Literally, "in the direction [of]". It is erroneously used in English for

versus (vs) or (v.) towards "against", probably as the truncation of "adversus", especially in reference
to two opponents, e. g., the parties to litigation or a sports match.

vestigia nulla
Never a backward step Motto of Wanganui Collegiate School
retrorsum

The word denotes the right to unilaterally forbid or void a specific

veto I forbid proposal, especially legislation. It is derived from ancient Roman voting
procedures.

Latin legal phrase denoting a question that is often debated or

vexata quaestio vexed question considered, but is not generally settled, such that contrary answers may
be held by different persons.

Authored by Dante Alighieri in Canto XXXIV of the Inferno, the phrase is

vexilla regis prodeunt forth go the banners of the
an allusion to and play upon the Latin Easter hymn Vexilla Regis. The
inferni king of Hell
phrase is repeatedly referenced in the works of Walter M. Miller, Jr..

A legal phrase regarding contracts that indicates agreement made under

vi coactus under constraint
duress.

vi et animo with heart and soul Alternatively, "strength and courage"; motto of the Ascham School
 by the power of truth, I,
vi veri universum
while living, have conquered Magickal motto of Aleister Crowley.
vivus vici
the universe

The word denotes "by way of" or "by means of", e. g., "I will contact you
via by the road/way
via email".

This phrase describes a compromise between two extremes or the radical

via media middle road/way
center political position.

the Way, the Truth, [and]

via, veritas, vita Words of Jesus Christ in John 14:6; motto of many institutions
the Life

viam sapientiae I will show you the way of

Motto of DePaul University
monstrabo tibi wisdom

The word refers to one who acts in the place of another. It is used as a
vice in place of separate word or as a hyphenated prefix, e. g., "Vice President" and
"Vice-Chancellor".

For other uses, see Vice Versa (disambiguation).

Thus, "the other way around", "conversely", et cetera. Historically and

vice versa in British English, vice is pronounced as two syllables, but in American
with position turned
versa vice English the singular syllable pronunciation is almost universal. Classical
Latin pronunciation dictates that the letter "c" is only a hard sound, like
"k". Moreover, the letter "v", when consonantal, represents /w/;
hence WEE-keh WEHR-sah.[117]

victoria aut mors victory or death Similar to "aut vincere aut mori".

victoria concordia
victory comes from harmony Motto of Arsenal F.C.
crescit

victrix causa diis the victorious cause pleased Authored by Lucan in Pharsalia, 1, 128. The dedicatory inscription on the
placuit sed victa the gods, but the conquered south face of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery,
Catoni cause pleased Cato Virginia, United States.

vide "see" or "refer to" The word is used in scholarly citations.

vide infra (v. i.) see below The word is used in scholarly works.
 The word is used in scholarly works to refer to previous text in the same
vide supra (v. s.) see above
document. It is sometimes truncated to "supra".

"namely", "that is to say", or

videlicet (viz.) A contraction of "videre licet" ("it is permitted to see"), vide infra.
"as follows"

video et taceo I see and keep silent Motto of Queen Elizabeth I of England

video meliora
I see and approve of the From the Metamorphoses Book 7, 20-1 of Ovid, being a summary of the
proboque deteriora
better, but I follow the worse experience of akrasia.
sequor

I see it, but I do not believe The statement of Caspar Hofmann [de] after being shown proof of
video sed non credo
it the circulatory system by William Harvey.

"it is permitted to see" or

videre licet The phrase is used in scholarship.
"one may see"

promotes one's innate

vim promovet insitam Motto of the University of Bristol, derived from Horace, Ode 4, 4.
power

A partial quotation of Romans 12:21; motto of Old Swinford

vince malum bono overcome evil with good
Hospital and Bishop Cotton School in Shimla

vincere est vivere to conquer is to live Motto of Captain John Smith

you know [how] to According to Livy, a colonel in the cavalry stated this to Hannibal after
vincere scis Hannibal
win, Hannibal; you do not victory in the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, meaning that Hannibal should
victoria uti nescis
know [how] to use victory have marched on Rome immediately.

vincit omnia veritas truth conquers all University of Mindanao

First attributed to the Roman scholar and satirst Persius; frequently used
vincit qui patitur he conquers who endures
as a motto.

Motto of many educational institutions, including the Philadelphia High

School for Girls and North Sydney Boys High School. It is alternatively
he (she) conquers who rendered as bis vincit qui se vincit ("he (she) who prevails over himself
vincit qui se vincit
conquers himself (herself) (herself) is twice victorious"). It is also the motto of the Beast in Disney's
film Beauty and the Beast, as seen inscribed in the castle's stained
glass window near the beginning of the film.
 The phrase denotes that a thing is legally binding. "A civil obligation is one
vinculum juris the chain of the law which has a binding operation in law, vinculum juris." (Bouvier's Law
Dictionary (1856), "Obligation")

vinum et musica wine and music gladden the Asterix and Caesar's Gift; it is a variation of "vinum bonum laetificat cor
laetificant cor heart hominis".

vinum regum, rex the wine of kings, the king of The phrase describes Hungarian Tokaji wine, and is attributed to King
vinorum wines Louis XIV of France.

viperam sub ala A caveat regarding trusting someone against his inherent nature; the
a viper nursed at the bosom
nutricare moral of Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper.

vir prudens non [a] wise man does not

contra ventum mingit urinate [up] against the wind

vir quisque vir every man a man Motto of the US collegiate fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha.

she gathers strength as she A quotation from Vergil's Aeneid, Book 4, 175, which in the original
Vires acquirit eundo
goes context refers to Pheme. Motto on the Coat of arms of Melbourne

Viribus Unitis with united forces Motto of the house of Habsburg-Lorraine

the manly thing is being

virile agitur Motto of Knox Grammar School
done

"act manfully" or "act

viriliter age Motto of Marist College Ashgrove and other institutions
courageously"

Motto of St Muredach's College and the PAREF Southridge School for

viriliter agite act in a manly way
Boys

viriliter agite estote

act manfully, be strong Motto of Culford School
fortes

virtus et labor virtue and [hard] work

virtus et scientia virtue and knowledge Common motto

 A principle derived from the ethical theory of Aristotle. Idiomatically, "good
virtus in media stat virtue stands in the middle practice lies in the middle path" between two extremes. It is disputed
whether media or medio is correct.

virtus junxit mors non that which virtue unites, let

separabit not death separate

greatness increases with

virtus laudata crescit Motto of the Berkhamsted School
praise

Motto of the Duke of Westminster, inscribed at his residence in Eaton,

virtus non stemma valor, not garland and the motto of Grosvenor Rowing Club and Harrow County School for
Boys

virtus sola nobilitas virtue alone [is] noble Motto of Christian Brothers College, St Kilda

virtus tentamine strength rejoices in the

Motto of Hillsdale College, Michigan, United States
gaudet challenge

virtus unita fortior virtue united [is] stronger State motto of Andorra

virtute duce led by virtue

virtute duce comite led by virtue, accompanied

fortuna by [good] fortune

Alternatively, "by manliness and weapons". The State

motto of Mississippi, United States. The phrase was possibly derived from
virtute et armis by virtue and arms
the motto of Lord Gray de Wilton, virtute non armis fido ("I trust in virtue,
not in arms").

virtute et industria by virtue and industry Motto of Bristol, United Kingdom

virtute et veritate by virtue and truth Motto of Pocklington School

vis legis the power of the law

force majeure, superior

vis major
force
visio dei vision of a god

The phrase denotes a previous life, generally believed to be the result

vita ante acta a life done before
of reincarnation.

Motto of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, which is

Mary, [our] life, sweetness,
vita, dulcedo, spes derived from the Roman Catholic hymn to the Blessed Virgin
[and] hope
Mary titled Salve Regina.

vita incerta, mors life is uncertain, death is

More simply, "the most certain thing in life is death".
certissima most certain

vita mutatur, non life is changed, not taken The phrase is a quotation from the preface of the first Roman Catholic rite
tollitur away of the Mass for the Dead.

Hence the term "decessit vita patris" (d. v. p) or "died v. p.", which is seen
vita patris during the life of the father
in genealogical works such as Burke's Peerage.

vita summa brevis the shortness of life This is a wistful refrain that is sometimes used ironically. It is derived from
spem nos vetat prevents us from the first line of Horace's Ode 1. It was later used as the title of a short
incohare longam entertaining far-off hopes poem of Ernest Dowson.

A quotation from the poem of Lucretius, De rerum natura, Book 2, 77-9.

The ordinary spelling "vitae" in two syllables had to be changed to "vitaï"
vitai lampada tradunt they hand on the torch of life in three syllables to satisfy the requirements of the poem's dactylic
hexameters. Motto of the Sydney Church of England Grammar
School and others.

vitam amplificare
mankind [who] extends the
hominibus Motto of East Los Angeles College, California, United States
life of the community
hominesque societati

The phrase denotes an oral, as opposed to written, examination of a

viva voce living voice
candidate.

may it live, grow, [and]

vivat crescat floreat
flourish

The acclamation is ordinary translated as "long live the king!". In the case
vivat rex may the king live
of a queen, "vivat regina" ("long live the queen").

vivat rex, curat lex

long live the king, guardian A curious translation of the pun on "vivat rex", found in Westerham parish
 of the law church in Kent, England.

vive memor leti live remembering death Authored by Persius. Cf. "memento mori".

The phrase suggests that one should live life to the fullest and without
vive ut vivas live so that you may live
fear of the possible consequences.

vivere est cogitare to live is to think Authored by Cicero. Cf. "cogito ergo sum".

Authored by Seneca the Younger in Epistle 96, 5. Cf. the allegory of Miles
vivere militare est to live is to fight Christianus based on "militia est vita hominis" from the Vulgate, Book of
Job 7:1.

Alternatively, "called and even not called, God approaches". Attributed to

vocatus atque non called and not called, God
the Oracle at Delphi. Motto of Carl Jung, and inscribed in his home and
vocatus Deus aderit will be present
grave.

Alternatively, "to him who consents, no harm is done". The principle is

to one willing, no harm is
volenti non fit injuria used in the law of torts and denotes that one can not be held liable for
done
injuries inflicted on another who consented to the act that injured him.

volo non fugia I fly but do not flee Motto of HMS Venetia[118]

vos estis sal terrae you are the salt of the earth A famous biblical sentence proclaimed by Jesus Christ.

votum separatum separate vow The phrase denotes an independent, minority voice.

Or traditionally, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness". A quotation of

vox clamantis in the voice of one clamoring the Vulgate, Isaiah 40:3, and quoted by St. John the
deserto in the desert Baptist in Mark 1:3 and John 1:23). Motto of Dartmouth College, Hanover,
New Hampshire, United States.

vox nihili voice of nothing The phrase denotes a useless or ambiguous statement.

The phrase denotes a brief interview of a common person that is not

vox populi voice of the people previously arranged, e. g., an interview on a street. It is sometimes
truncated to "vox pop."

the voice of the people [is]

vox populi, vox Dei In the opinion of the majority of the people.
the voice of God
 By extension, and in common morality, humanity can change their
vulpes pilum mutat, the fox changes his fur, not attitudes, but they will hardly change their objectives or what they have
non mores his habits set themselves to achieve. Ascribed to Titus by Suetonius in the eighth
book (chapter 16) of The Twelve Caesars.