LATIN NOTESETYMOLOGY

QUID PRO QUO

Something for something

An even exchange; You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours

QUORUM

Of whom

Minimum number of people required in order to conduct official business

RARA AVIS

Rare bird

One of a kind

REQUIESCAT IN PACE (R.I.P.)

May s/he rest in peace

Check out some old timey tombstones

SANCTUM SANCTORUM

Holy of Holies

Place of inviolable privacy; where no one should interrupt you

SEMPER FIDELIS

Always faithful

Motto of US Marine Corps (often abbreviated as “semper fi”)

SEMPER PARATUS

Always prepared/ready

Motto of US Coast Guard

SI QUAERIS PENINSULAM AMOENAM CIRCUMSPICE

If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you

Motto of the State of Michigan

SIC

Thus

I found it thus; used when using a direct quote from text to denote misspellings i.e. Her note said “I left because their (sic) was no one home.”

SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Thus even to tyrants

John Wilkes Boothe’s alleged words when killing Lincoln; motto of the State of Virginia

SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI

Thus/so passes the glory of the world

Everything passes/is transitory; used during the coronation of the Pope

SINE QUA NON

Without which not

An absolute necessity; indispensable

SUB ROSA

Under the rose

What’s said in a meeting is confidential; roses suspended above Roman tables to remind guests to keep silent; “what’s said under the rose, stays under the rose”

SUI GENERIS

Of its own kind

Unique; in a class of its own

SUMMUM BONUM

Highest good

The supreme good from which all others are derived

TABULA RASA

Clean slate

Starting over from scratch; newborns are tabula rasa

TEMPUS FUGIT

Time flies

‘nuff said

TERRA FIRMA

Solid earth

To be on solid ground

TERRA INCOGNITA

Unknown land

Often written on maps before it was “discovered”

VENI, VIDI, VICI

I came, I saw, I conquered

Julius Caesar quote after crossing the Rubicon in 49 bc in defiance of Roman law, resulting in civil war

VERSO

Left

Left (side of a page)

RECTO

Right

Right (side of a page)

VICE VERSA

With the order changed

Conversely; reversed

VALE (SALVE)

Farewell (Hail)

Roman greeting

NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM

New order of the ages

Motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the US; also on dollar bill

VOX POPULI

Voice of the people

Popular opinion