List of Latin phrases (full)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis page lists direct English translations of common Latin phrases. Some of the phrases are themselvestranslations of Greek phrases, as Greek rhetoric and literature reached its peak centuries before thatof ancient Rome.

This list is a combination of the twenty divided "List of Latin phrases" pages, for users who have no troubleloading large pages and prefer a single page to scroll or search through. The content of the list cannot beedited here, and is kept automatically in sync with the separate lists through the use of transclusion.

Contents

ABCDEFGHILMNOPQRSTUV

NotesReferences

Latin Translation Notes

a bene placito from one well pleased

Or "at will", "at one's pleasure". This phrase, andits Italian (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplcito) derivatives,are synonymous with the more common ad libitum (atpleasure).

a caelo usque adcentrum

from the sky to thecenter

Or "from heaven all the way to the center of the earth". In law,can refer to the obsolete cuius est solum eius est usque adcoelum et ad inferos maxim of property ownership ("forwhoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to thedepths").

a capite adcalcem from head to heel

From top to bottom; all the way through (colloquially "from headto toe"). Equally a pedibus usque ad caput.

a contrario from the oppositeEquivalent to "on the contrary" or "au contraire".An argumentum a contrario is an "argument from the contrary",an argument or proof by contrast or direct opposite.

a Deucalione from or sinceDeucalion A long time ago. From Gaius Lucilius (Satires, 6, 284)a falsis principiisproficisci

to set forth from falseprinciples Legal term from Cicero's De Finibus 4.53.

a fortiori from the strongerLoosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger reason". Oftenused to lead from a less certain proposition to a more evidentcorollary.

a mari usque admare from sea to sea

From Psalm 72:8, "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et aflumine usque ad terminos terrae" (KJV: "He shall havedominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto theends of the earth"). National motto of Canada.

a pedibus usquead caput from feet to head

Completely. Similar to the English expressions "from tip to toe"or "from head to toe". Equally a capite ad calcem. See also abovo usque ad mala.

a posse ad esse from being able tobeing"From possibility to actuality" or "from being possible to beingactual"

a posteriori from the latter

Based on observation (i.e., empirical knowledge), the reverseof a priori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote somethingthat is known after a proof has been carried out. In philosophy,used to denote something known from experience.Presupposed independent of experience, the reverse of a

A [edit]

a priori from the former

posteriori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote somethingthat is known or postulated before a proof has been carriedout. In philosophy, used to denote something is supposedwithout empiricalevidence. In everyday speech, it denotessomething occurring or being known before the event.

ab absurdo from the absurd

Said of an argument that seeks to prove a statement's validityby pointing out the absurdity of an opponent's position(cf. appeal to ridicule) or that an assertion is false because ofits absurdity. Not to be confused with a reductio ad absurdum,which is usually a valid logical argument.

ab abusu adusum non valetconsequentia

an inference from anabuse to a use is notvalid

Rights abused are still rights (cf. abusus non tollit usum).

ab aeterno from the eternal

Literally, "from the everlasting" or "from eternity". Thus, "fromtime immemorial", "since the beginning of time" or "from aninfinitely remote time in the past". In theology, often indicatessomething, such as the universe, that was created outside oftime.

ab antiquo from the ancient From ancient times.ab epistulis from the letters Or, having to do with correspondence.

ab extra from beyond A legal term meaning "from without". From external sources,rather than from the self or the mind (ab intra).ab hinc orabhinc from here on

ab imo pectore from the deepest chest Or "from the bottom of my heart", "with deepest affection","sincerely".. Attributed to Julius Caesar.

ab inconvenienti from an inconvenientthing

New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from inconvenience" or"from hardship". An argumentum ab inconvenienti is one basedon the difficulties involved in pursuing a line of reasoning, andis thus a form of appeal to consequences; it refers to a rule inlaw that an argument from inconvenience has great weight.

ab incunabulis from the cradle

Thus, "from the beginning" or "from infancy". Incunabula iscommonly used in English to refer to the earliest stage or originof something, and especially to copies of books that predatethe spread of the printing press around AD 1500.

ab initio from the beginning

"At the outset", referring to an inquiry or investigation. Inliterature, refers to a story told from the beginning rather than inmedias res (from the middle). In law, refers to something beingthe case from the start or from the instant of the act, ratherthan from when the court declared it so. A judicial declarationof the invalidity of a marriage ab initio is a nullity. In science,refers to the first principles. In other contexts, often refers tobeginner or training courses. Ab initio mundi means "from thebeginning of the world".

ab intestato from anintestate From someone who dies with no legal will (cf. ex testamento).ab intra from within From the inside. The opposite of ab extra.

ab irato from an angry man

By a person who is angry. Used in law to describe a decisionor action that is detrimental to those it affects and was madebased on hatred or anger, rather than on reason. Theform irato is masculine; however, this does not mean it appliesonly to men, rather 'person' is meant, as the phrase probablyelides "homo," not "vir."

ab origine from the source From the origin, beginning, source, or commencementi.e.,"originally". The source of the word aboriginal.

ab ovo usque ad from the egg to the

From Horace, Satire 1.3. Means "from beginning to end",based on the Roman main meal typically beginning with an egg

mala apples dish and ending with fruit (cf. the English phrase soup to nuts).Thus, ab ovo means "from the beginning", and can alsoconnote thoroughness.

ab uno disceomnes from one, learn all

From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a singleexample or observation indicates a general or universal truth.Visible in the court of King Silas in the TV series Kings.

ab urbecondita (a.u.c.)

from the city havingbeen founded

Or "from the founding of Rome", which occurred in 753 BCaccording to Livy's count. Used as a reference point in ancientRome for establishing dates, before being supplanted by othersystems. Also anno urbis conditae (a.u.c.) (literally "in the yearof the founded city").

ab utili from utility Used of an argument.absens haeresnon erit

an absent person willnot be an heir

In law, refers to the principle that someone who is not presentis unlikely to inherit.

absente reo(abs.re.)

[with] the defendantbeing absent In the absence of the accused.

absit iniuriaverbis (orinjuria)

let injury be absentfrom [these] words

Expresses the wish that no insult or wrong be conveyed by thespeaker's words, i.e., "no offence". See also absit invidia.

absit invidia let ill will be absent

Although similar to the English expression "no offence", absitinvidia is not a mere social gesture to avoid causing offense,but also a way to ward off the harm that some peoplesuperstitiously believe animosity can cause others. Alsoextended to absit invidia verbo, meaning "may ill will be absentfrom the word" (cf. absit iniuria verbis).

absit omen let an omen be absent

Or "let this not be a bad omen". Expresses the wish thatsomething seemingly ill-boding does not turn out to be anomen for future events, and calls on divine protection againstevil.

absolutumdominium absolute dominion Total power or sovereignty.

absolvo I acquit

A legal term said by a judge acquitting a defendant following atrial. Te absolvo or absolvo te, translated, "I forgive you," saidbyRoman Catholic priests during the Sacrament of Confession,in Latin prior to the Second Vatican Council and in vernacularthereafter.

abundans cautelanon nocet

abundant caution doesno harm Frequently phrased as "one can never be too careful".

abusus non tollitusum

misuse does notremove use

Just because something is misused doesn't mean it can't beused correctly.

abyssusabyssum invocat deep calleth unto deep From Psalms 42:7; some translations have 'Sea calls to sea'.

accipe hoc Take this Motto of 848 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy.

accusare nemose debet nisicoram Deo

no one ought toaccuse himself exceptin the Presence ofGod

A legal maxim denoting that any accused person is entitled tomake a plea of not guilty, and also that a witness is not obligedto give a response or submit a document that will incriminatehimself. A very similar phrase is nemo tenetur se ipsumaccusare "no one is bound to accuse himself". See right tosilence.

acta deosnumquammortalia fallunt

mortal actions neverdeceive the gods

Ovid's Tristia 1.2.97: si tamen acta deos numquam mortaliafallunt, / a culpa facinus scitis abesse mea. "Yet if mortalactions never deceive the gods, / you know that crime wasabsent from my fault."

acta est fabula The play has been

A common ending to ancient Roman comedies, also claimedby Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to have been Augustus'last words. Applied by Sibelius to the third movement of his

plaudite performed; applaud! String Quartet no. 2 so that his audience would realize it wasthe last one, as a fourth would normally be expected.

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

acta sanctorum Deeds of theSaintsAlso used in the singular, Acta Sancti (Deeds of the Saint),preceding a specific Saint's name. A common title of worksinhagiography.

actus me invitofactus non estmeus actus

the act done by meagainst my will is notmy act

actus non facitreum nisi menssit rea

The act does notmake [a person] guiltyunless the mindshould be guilty.

A legal term outlining the presumption of mens rea in a crime.

actus reus guilty act

The actual crime that is committed, rather than the intent orthought process leading up to the crime. Thus, the externalelements of a crime, as contrasted with mens rea, the internalelements.

ad absurdum to the absurdIn logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. Seealso reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused with ababsurdo (from the absurd).

ad abundantiam to abundanceIn legal language, used when providing additional evidence toan already sufficient collection. Also used commonly, as anequivalent of "as if this wasn't enough".

ad altiora tendo I strive towards higherthingsad arbitrium at will, at pleasure

ad acta to the archives, nolonger relevant

ad astra to the stars Name or motto (in full or part) of many organizations,publications, etc.

ad astra peraspera

to the stars throughdifficulties

Motto of Kansas, and other organisations. The phrase is alsotranslated as "A rough road leads to the stars", as on theLaunch Complex 34 memorial plaque for the astronautsof Apollo 1.

ad augusta perangusta

to rise to a highposition overcominghardships.

adcaptandumvulgus

in order to capture thecrowd

To appeal to the masses. Often used of politicians.An argumentum ad captandum is an argument designed toplease the crowd.

ad clerum to the clergy

A formal letter or communication (in the Christian tradition)from a Bishop to the clergy under his direction. An "ad clerum"may be a letter of encouragement at a time of celebration, or atechnical explanation of new regulations or canons.

ad eundem to the same

An ad eundem degree, from the Latin ad eundem gradum (tothe same step" or "to the same degree), is a courtesy degreeawarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another.It is not an honorary degree, but a recognition of the formallearning that earned the degree at another college.

ad fontes to the sources A motto of Renaissance humanism. Also used in the ProtestantReformation.

ad fundum to the bottom Said during a generic toast, equivalent to "bottoms up!" In othercontexts, generally means "back to the basics".Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised on the

ad hoc to this spot or designed for only a specific, immediate purpose.

ad hominem to the man

Or "at the man". Typically used in argumentum ad hominem,a logical fallacy consisting of criticizing a person when thesubject of debate is the person's ideas or argument, on themistaken assumption that the soundness of an argument isdependent on the qualities of the proponent.

ad honorem to the honour Generally means "for the honour", not seeking any materialreward.

ad infinitum to infinity Going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeatsin all cases in mathematical proof.

ad interim (ad int) for the meantime As in the term "charg d'affaires ad interim" for a diplomaticofficer who acts in place of an ambassador.

ad kalendasgraecas at the GreekCalends

Attributed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to Augustus.The Calends were specific days of the Roman calendar, not oftheGreek, and so the "Greek Kalends" would never occur.Similar to "when pigs fly".

ad libitum (ad lib) toward pleasure

Loosely, "according to what pleases" or "as youwish"; libitum comes from the past participle of libere, "toplease". It typically indicates in music and theatrical scripts thatthe performer has the liberty to change or omit something. Adlib is specifically often used when someone improvises orignores limitations. Also used by some restaurants in favor ofthe colloquial "all you can eat or drink".

ad litem to the lawsuit

A legal term referring to a party appointed by a court to act in alawsuit on behalf of another party who is deemed incapable ofrepresenting himself. An individual who acts in this capacity iscalled a guardian ad litem.

ad lucem to the lightMotto of Oxford High School (Oxford), the University ofLisbon, Withington Girls' School and St. Bartholomew's School,Newbury, UK

ad maiorem Deigloriam oradmajorem Deigloriam(AMDG)

to the greater glory ofGod

Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Edward Elgar dedicatedhis oratorio The Dream of Gerontius "A.M.D.G."

ad meliora Towards better things motto of St. Patrick's College, Cavan, Irelandad mortem To death used in medical contexts as a synonym for deathad multos annos to many years! A wish for a long life. Similar to "Many happy returns!"

ad nauseam to seasickness

Or "to the point of disgust". Sometimes used as a humorousalternative to ad infinitum. An argumentum ad nauseam isa logical fallacy involving basing one's argument on prolongedrepetition, i.e., repeating something so much that people are"sick of it".

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

ad pedem litterae to the foot of the letter Thus, "exactly as it is written". Similar to the phrase "to theletter", meaning "to the last detail".ad perpetuammemoriam

to the perpetualmemory

Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is used towish for someone to be remembered long after death.

ad pondusomnium (ad pondom)

to the weight of allthings

More loosely, "considering everything's weight". Theabbreviation was historically used by physicians and others tosignify that the last prescribed ingredient is to weigh as muchas 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 measureof damages inflicted, implying that a remedy, if one exists,

ought to correspond specifically and only to the damagesuffered (cf. damnum absque iniuria).

ad referendum(ad ref)

to be proposed [beforethe Senate]

Loosely "subject to reference": provisionally approved, but stillneeding official approval. Not the same as a referendum.

ad rem to the matter Thus, "to the point", without digression.ad terminum quipraeteriit

for the term which haspassed

A legal term for a writ of entry ad terminum qui praeteriit [forthe term which has passed].[1]

ad undas to the waves Equivalent to "to hell".ad unum to one

ad usum Delphini for the use ofthe Dauphin

Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive orimproper parts. The phrase originates from editions of Greekand Roman classics which Louis XIV had censored for his heirapparent, the Dauphin. Also rarely in usum Delphini (into theuse of theDauphin).

ad usumproprium (ad us.propr.)

for one's own use

ad utrumqueparatus

prepared for either[alternative]

The motto of Lund University, with the implied alternativesbeing the book (study) and the sword (defending the country inwar).

ad valorem according to value Used in commerce to refer to ad valorem taxes, taxes basedon the assessed value of real estate or personal property.

ad victoriam to victory More commonly translated into "for victory" this is a battlecry ofthe Romans.ad vitamaeternam to eternal life Also "to life everlasting". A common Biblical phrase.

ad vitam autculpam for life or until fault Usually used of a term of office.

addendum thing to be added An item to be added, especially a supplement to a book. Theplural is addenda.

adaequatiointellectus et rei

correspondence of themind and reality

One of the definitions of the truth. When the mind has thesame form as reality, we think truth. Also found as adaequatiorei et intellectus.

adaequatiointellectus nostricum re

conformity of ourminds to the fact

A phrase used in Epistemology regarding the nature ofunderstanding.

adsum I am here Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite of absum "Iam absent".adversus solemne loquitor

don't speak againstthe sun Or don't argue what's obviously wrong.

advocatus diaboli devil's advocate Someone who, given a certain argument, takes a position he orshe does not necessarily agree with, for the sake of argument.aegri somnia a sick man's dreams From Horace, Ars Poetica, 7. Loosely, "troubled dreams".

aetat. "of age" / "aged" (inthe sense of: "age: ...)Abbreviation of "aetatis"; further abbreviated (and morecommon): "aet." e.g.: "aetat" or "aet. 36" = "36 years old".

aetatis suae of one's own age

Thus, "at the age of". Appeared on portraits, gravestones, etc.Sometimes extended to anno aetatis suae (AAS), "in the year ofhis age". Sometimes shortened to just aetatis or aetat (aet.).The tomb reads Anno 1629 Aetatis Suae 46 because she died in 1629 atage 46.

affidavit he asserted A legal term from Medieval Latin referring to a swornstatement. From fides, "faith".More often translated as "Do well whatever you do", this phrase

age quod agis Do what you aredoing.

is used as the motto of several Catholic schools. Literallytranslated, it means "Drive, because you are driven";figuratively it means "keep going, because you are inspired ordedicated to do so".

agenda things to be done

Originally comparable to a to-do list, an ordered list of things tobe done. Now generalized to include any planned course ofaction. The singular, agendum (thing that must be done), israrely used.

agere sequiturcredere action follows belief "We act according to what we believe (ourselves to be)".

[2]

agere sequitur(esse) action follows being

Metaphysical and moral principle that indicates the connectionamong ontology, obligation and ethics.[2]

Agnus Dei Lamb of God

Latin translation from John 1:36, where John theBaptist exclaims Ecce Agnus Dei! "Behold the Lamb of God!"upon seeing Jesus, referring both to a lamb's connotations ofinnocence and to a sacrificial lamb.

alea iacta est the die has been cast

Or in Greek, anerrhphth kbos; saidby Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC,according toSuetonius. The original meaning was similar to"the game is afoot", but its modern meaning, like that of thephrase "crossing the Rubicon", denotes passing the point of noreturn on a momentous decision and entering into a riskyendeavor where the outcome is left to chance.

alenda lux ubiorta libertas

Light [is] to benourished whereliberty [has] arisen.

Or "let learning be cherished..." The motto of DavidsonCollege.

alias at another time,otherwiseAn assumed name or pseudonym. Similar to alter ego, butmore specifically referring to a name, not to a "second self".

alibi elsewhereA legal defense where a defendant attempts to show that hewas elsewhere at the time a crime was committed.His alibi is sound; he gave evidence that he was in another city on thenight of the murder.

aliquid stat proaliquo

something stands forsomething else A foundational definition for semiotics.

alis aquilae on an eagle's wings

taken from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. "But those who waitfor the Lord shall find their strength renewed, they shall mountup on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary,they shall walk and not grow faint."

alis grave nil nothing [is] heavy withwingsOr "nothing is heavy to those who have wings". Motto ofthe Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro.

alis volat propriis she flies with her ownwingsState motto of Oregon; adopted in 1987, it replaced "TheUnion", which was the previous state motto adopted in 1957.

alma mater nourishing mother

Term used for the university one attends or has attended.Another university term, matriculation, is also derivedfrom mater. The term suggests that the students are "fed"knowledge and taken care of by the university. The term is alsoused for a university's traditional school anthem.

alter ego another I

Another self, a second persona or alias. Can be used todescribe different facets or identities of a single character, ordifferent characters who seem representations of the samepersonality. Often used of a fictional character's secret identity.

alterius non sitqui suus essepotest

Let no man beanother's who can behis own

Final sentence from Aesop ascribed fable (see also Aesop'sFables) "The Frogs Who Desired a King" as appears in thecollection commonly known as the "Anonymus Neveleti" (fableXXIb. De ranis a Iove querentibusregem). Motto of Paracelsus. Usually attributed to Cicero.

alterum nonlaedere to not wound another One of Justinian I's three basic legal precepts.

alumnus oralumna pupil graduate or former student of a school, college or university

amicus certus inre incerta

A sure friend is seenin an unsure matter by Ennius as cited by Cicero in Laelius de Amicitia s. 64

amicus curiae friend of the court

An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to thefavour of powerful group, like a Roman Curia. In current U.S.legal usage, an amicus curiae is a third party allowed to submita legal opinion (in the form of an amicus brief) to the court.

Amicus Plato,sed magis amicaveritas.

Plato is my friend, buttruth is a better friend.

to value truth higher than friendship; attributedto Aristotle (Ethics, 1096a15) and Roger Bacon (Opus Majus,P. I, ch. v)

amittere legemterrae

to lose the law of theland

An obsolete legal term signifying the forfeiture of the right ofswearing in any court or cause, or to become infamous.

Amat victoriacuram Victory favors care

Motto of Baylor School - Chattanooga, Tennessee; WellesleyCollege Primary School - Eastbourne, New Zealand; VictoriaCollege- St. Helier Parish, Jersey, the Channel Islands.

amor et melle etfelle estfecundissimus

love is rich with bothhoney and venom

amor fati love of fateNietzscheian alternative world view to mementomori ("remember you must die"). Nietzsche believed amor fatito be more life affirming.

amor omnibusidem love is the same for all from Virgil's Georgics III.

amor patriae love of one's country Patriotism.amor vincitomnia love conquers all

written on bracelet worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's TheCanterbury Tales

anglice in English Used before the anglicized version of a word or name. Forexample, "Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland".

anno (an.) in the year Also used in such phrases as anno urbis conditae (see ab urbecondita), Anno Domini, and anno regni.

Anno Domini(A.D.) in the Year of the Lord

Short for Anno Domini Nostri Iesu Christi (in the Year of OurLord Jesus Christ), the predominantly used system for datingyears across the world, used with the Gregorian calendar, andbased on the perceived year of the birth of Jesus Christ. Theyears before Jesus' birth were once marked with a.C.n (AnteChristum Natum, Before Christ was Born), but now use theEnglish abbreviation BC (Before Christ). Example: AugustusCaesar was born in the year 63 BC, and died AD 14.

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

annuit cptis He nods at thingsbeing begun

Or "he approves our undertakings". Motto on the reverse ofthe Great Seal of the United States and on the back ofthe United States one-dollar bill.

annus horribilis horrible year

A recent pun on annus mirabilis, first used by Queen ElizabethII to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her, andsubsequently occasionally used to refer to many other yearsperceived as "horrible". In Classical Latin, this phrase wouldactually mean "terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.Used particularly to refer to the years 16651666, duringwhich Isaac Newton made revolutionary inventions anddiscoveries in calculus, motion, optics and gravitation. AnnusMirabilis is also the title of a poem by John Dryden written in

annus mirabilis wonderful year the same year. It has since been used to refer to other years,especially to 1905, when Albert Einstein made equallyrevolutionary discoveries concerning the photoelectric effect,Brownian motion and the special theory ofrelativity. (See Annus Mirabilis papers)

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

ante bellum before the warAs in status quo ante bellum, "as it was before the war".Commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum torefer to the period preceding the American Civil War.

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

ante litteram before the letter

Said of an expression or term that describes something whichexisted before the phrase itself was introduced or becamecommon.Example: Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram,since the field of "computer science" was not yet recognized in Turing'sday.

antemeridiem(a.m.) before midday From midnight to noon (cf. post meridiem).

ante mortem before death See post mortem (after death).ante omniaarmari

before all else, bearmed

anteprandium(a.p.) before lunch

Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote "before ameal". Less common is post prandium, "after lunch".

apparatus criticus tools of a critic Textual notes. A list of other readings relating to a document,especially in a scholarly edition of a text.apud in the writings of Used in scholarly works to cite a reference at second handaqua (aq.) wateraqua fortis strong water Refers to nitric acid.aqua pura pure water Or "clear water", "clean water".

aqua regia royal water refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, thuscalled because of its ability to dissolve gold.

aqua vitae water of life

"Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer to variousnative distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) inScotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, brandy (eau de vie) inFrance, and akvavit in Scandinavia.

aquila non capitmuscas

an eagle doesn't catchflies

A noble or important person doesn't deal with insignificantissues.

arare litus to plough the seashoreFrom Gerhard Gerhards' (14661536) [better known asErasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Wastedlabour.

arbiterelegantiarum judge of tastes

One who prescribes, rules on, or is a recognized authority onmatters of social behavior and taste. Said of Petronius.Sometimes found in the singular, arbiter elegantiae (judge oftaste).

Arcana imperii Invisible powerArcanum bonitenoris animae

The secret behind agood mood Motto of the Starobrno Brewery in Brno.

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

arduus ad solem Striving towards thesun Motto of the Victoria University of Manchester.

argentum album white silver Also "silver coin". Mentioned in the Domesday Book,signifies bullion, or silver uncoined.

arguendo for arguingFor the sake of argument. Said when something is done purelyin order to discuss a matter or illustrate a point. Example: Let usassume, arguendo, that your claim is correct.

argumentum argument

Or "reasoning", "inference", "appeal", "proof". The pluralis argumenta. Commonly used in the names oflogical arguments andfallacies, preceding phrases such as asilentio (by silence), ad antiquitatem (to antiquity), adbaculum (to the stick), ad captandum (to capturing), adconsequentiam (to the consequence), ad crumenam (to thepurse), ad feminam (to the woman), ad hominem (to theperson), ad ignorantiam (to ignorance), ad judicium (tojudgment), ad lazarum (to poverty), ad logicam (to logic),admetum (to fear), ad misericordiam (to pity), ad nauseam (tonausea), ad novitatem (to novelty), ad personam (to thecharacter), ad numerum (to the number), ad odium (tospite), ad populum (to the people), ad temperantiam (tomoderation), ad verecundiam (to reverence), ex silentio (fromsilence), in terrorem (into terror), and e contrario (from/to theopposite).

ars [est] celareartem art [is] to conceal art

An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural ratherthan contrived. Of medieval origin, but often incorrectlyattributed toOvid.[3]

ars gratia artis art for art's sake

Translated into Latin from Baudelaire's "L'art pour l'art". Mottoof Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This phrasing is a direct translationof 'art for the sake of art.' While very symmetrical for the MGMlogo, the better Latin word order is 'Ars artis gratia.'

ars longa, vitabrevis art is long, life is short

The Latin translation by Seneca (De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1) of aphrase from Hippocrates, often used out of context. The "art"referred to in the original aphorism was the craft of medicine,which took a lifetime to acquire.

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

arte et marte by skill and valour motto of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME)Branch of the Canadian Forces.Artis BohemiaeAmicis Friends of Czech Arts

Award of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic for thepromotion of the positive reputation of Czech culture abroad.

asinus ad lyram an ass to the lyre From Erasmus's collection of Adages. An awkward orincompetent individual.asinus asinumfricat

the jackass rubs thejackass

Used to describe two people lavishing excessive praise on oneanother.

assecuratus nonquaerit lucrumsed agit ne indamno sit

the assured does notseek profit but makes[it his profit] that he notbe in loss

Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity cannot belarger than the loss.

Astra inclinant,sed non obligant

The stars incline us,they do not bind us Refers to the Free will over the astrological determinism.

Auctores Varii Various Authors Used in bibliography for books, texts, publications or articlesthat contain more than three collaborators.auctoritas authority The level of prestige a person had in Roman society.Auctoritas nonveritas facitlegem

authority, not truth,makes law

This formula appears in the 1670 Latin translation ofthe Hobbes' Leviathan, II, 26[4]

audactercalumniare,semper aliquidhaeret

slander boldly,something alwayssticks

from Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623)

audax at fidelis bold but faithful Motto of Queensland.

audeamus let us dareMotto of Otago University Students' Association, a directresponse to the university's motto of sapere aude "dare to bewise". Also Motto of Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.

audemus juranostra defendere

we dare to defend ourrights

State motto of Alabama, adopted in 1923. Translated into Latinfrom a paraphrase of the stanza "Men who their duties know /But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain" from thepoem "What Constitutes a State?" by 18th-century authorWilliam Jones.

audentes fortunaiuvat fortune favors the bold

From Virgil, Aeneid X, 284 (where the first word is in thearchaic form audentis). Allegedly the last words of Pliny theElder before he left the docks at Pompeii to rescue people fromthe eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Often quoted as audacesfortuna iuvat. Also the motto of the Portuguese ArmyCommandos, and the USS Montpelier (SSN-765) in the latterform.

audere est facere to dare is to do motto of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.audi alterampartem hear the other side

A legal principle of fairness. Also worded as audiatur et alterapars (let the other side be heard too).

audio hostem I hear the enemy Motto of 845 NAS Royal Navyaudi, vide, tace hear, see, be silent

aurea mediocritas golden mean

From Horace's Odes II, 10. Refers to the ethical goal ofreaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinfulextremes. Thegolden mean concept is common to manyphilosophers, chiefly Aristotle.

auri sacra fames accursed hunger forgold

From Virgil, Aeneid 3,57. Later quoted by Seneca as quod nonmortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames "What don't you forcemortal hearts [to do], accursed hunger for gold!"

auribus teneolupum

I hold a wolf by theears

A common ancient proverb, this version from Terence.Indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where bothholding on and letting go could be deadly. A modern version is"To have a tiger by the tail."

aurora australis southern dawn

The Southern Lights, an aurora that appears in the SouthernHemisphere. It is less well-known than the Northern Lights,oraurorea borealis. The Aurora Australis is also the name of anAntarctic icebreaker ship.

aurora borealis northern lights The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in the NorthernHemisphere.

aurora musisamica

Dawn is a friend to theMuses

Title of a distich by Iohannes Christenius (15991672):"Conveniens studiis non est nox, commoda lux est; / Luce laborbonus est et bona nocte quies." (Night is not suitable forstudying, daylight is; / working by light is good, as is rest atnight.) in Nihus, Barthold (1642). Epigrammata disticha .Johannes Kinckius.

aurum potestasest gold is power

Motto of the fictional Fowl family in the Artemis Fowl series,written by Eoin Colfer

auspiciummelioris aevi

hope/token of a betterage

Motto of the Order of St Michael and St George and mottoof Raffles Institution, a secondary school in Singapore.

aut Caesar autnihil

either Caesar ornothing

Indicates that the only valid possibility is to be emperor, or asimilarly prominent position. More generally, "all or nothing".Adopted by Cesare Borgia as a personal motto.

aut consiliis autense

either by meeting orthe sword

Thus, either through reasoned discussion or through war. Thefirst motto of Chile.

aut cum scuto aut either with shield or on"Do or die", "no retreat". A Greek expression said by Spartanmothers to their sons as they departed for battle. A hoplite

in scuto shield would drop his cumbersome shield in order to flee thebattlefield; a slain warrior would be borne home atop his shield.

aut neca autnecare either kill or be killed or neca ne neceris (kill lest you be killed)

aut pax autbellum either peace or war The motto of the Gunn Clan.

aut viaminveniam autfaciam

I will either find a wayor make one Hannibal.

aut vincere autmori

either to conquer or todie

A general pledge of victoria aut mors "victory or death". Mottoof the Higgenbotham, and Higginbottom families of CheshireEngland; participants in the War of the Roses. Also the mottofor the 1st Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

ave atque vale Hail and farewell! From Catullus, carmen 101, addressed to his deceasedbrother.ave Europanostra vera patria

Hail, Europe, our trueFatherland! Anthem of Imperium Europa

Ave Imperator,morituri tesalutant

Hail, Emperor! Thosewho are about to diesalute you!

From Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, Claudius 21. A saluteand plea for mercy recorded on one occasion by naumachiariicaptives and criminals fated to die fighting during mock navalencounters. Later versions included a variant of "We who areabout to die", and this translation is sometimes aided bychanging the Latin to nos morituri te salutamus.

Ave Maria Hail, Mary Catholic prayer of intercession asking Mary, the mother ofJesus to pray for the petitioner.

Latin Translation Notes

barba crescitcaput nescit

beardgrows,headdoesn'tgrow wiser

barba nonfacitphilosophum

a bearddoesn'tmake one aphilosopher

barba tenussapientes

wise as faras thebeard

Or wise only in appearance. From Erasmus's collection of Adages.

Beata VirgoMaria (BVM)

BlessedVirgin Mary

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

beataememoriae

of blessedmemory See in memoriam.

beatipauperesspiritu

Blessed inspirit [are]the poor.

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

beatipossidentes

blessed[are] thosewhopossess

Translated from Euripides.

beatus homo blessed is

B [edit]

qui invenitsapientiam

the manwho findswisdom

from Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same nameby Orlando di Lasso.

bella gerantaliiProtesilausamet!

Otherswage warProtesilausshould love!

Originally from Ovid, Heroides 13.84,[5] where Laodamia is writing to herhusband Protesilaus who is at the Trojan War. She begs him to stay out ofdanger, but he was in fact the first Greek to die at Troy. Also used ofthe Habsburg marriages of 1477 and 1496, written as bella gerant alii, tu felixAustria nube (let others wage war; you, happy Austria, marry). Said by KingMatthias.

bellumomniumcontraomnes

war of allagainst all A phrase used by Thomas Hobbes to describe the state of nature.

bellum seipsum alet

war feedsitself

Bibliapauperum

Paupers'Bible

Tradition of biblical pictures displaying the essential facts of Christiansalvation.

bibo ergosum

I drink,therefore Iam

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

bis dat quicito dat

he givestwice, whogivespromptly

A gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts.

bis indie (bid)

twice in aday Medical shorthand for "twice a day".

bona fide in goodfaith

In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly". In modern contexts, often hasconnotations of "genuinely" or "sincerely". Bona fidesis not the plural (whichwould be bonis fidebus), but the nominative, and means simply "good faith".Opposite of mala fide.

bonanotabilia

note-worthygoods

In law, if a person dying has goods, or good debts, in another diocese orjurisdiction within that province, besides his goods in the diocese where hedies, amounting to a certain minimum value, he is said to have bona notabilia;in which case, the probat of his will belongs to the archbishop of that province.

bona officia goodservices A nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other nations.

bona patria goods of acountry A jury or assize of countrymen, or good neighbors.

bonavacantia

vacantgoods United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that passes to The Crown.

boni pastorisest tonderepecus nondeglubere

it is a goodshepherd's[job] toshear hisflock, not toflay them

Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders, as a warning againsttaxing the populace excessively.

bono malumsuperate

Overcomeevil withgood

Motto of Westonbirt School.

bonumcommunecommunitatis

commongood of thecommunity

Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society, as opposed to bonumcommune hominis, which refers to what is good for an individual. In thefilm Hot Fuzz, this phrase is chanted by an assembled group of people, inwhich context it is deliberately similar to another phrase that is repeatedthroughout the film, which is The Greater Good.

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

communehominis

good of aman

everyone, but in that individuals tend to be able to find happiness in similarthings.

brutumfulmen

harmless(or inert)thunderbolt

Used to indicate either an empty threat, or a judgement at law which has nopractical effect.

busillis

Pseudo-Latin meaning "baffling puzzle" or "difficult point". John ofCornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the word meant. It turnsout that the original text said in diebus illis magnis plenae (in those days therewere plenty of great things), which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnisplenae (in India there were plenty of large busillis).

Latin Translation Notes

cacoethesscribendi

insatiable desire towrite

Cacothes[6] "bad habit", or medically, "malignant disease" isa borrowing of Greek kakthes.[7] The phrase is derivedfrom a line in the Satires of Juvenal: Tenet insanabile multosscribendi cacoethes, or "the incurable desire (or itch) forwriting affects many". See hypergraphia.

cadavera veroinnumera truly countless bodies

Used by the Romans to describe the aftermath of the Battle ofthe Catalaunian Plains.

Caedite eos. Novitenim Dominus quisunt eius.

Kill them all. For theLord knows those whoare his.

Supposed statement by Abbot Arnaud Amalric before themassacre of Bziers during the Albigensian Crusade, recorded30 years later, according to Caesar of Heisterbach.

Caelum nonanimum mutantqui trans marecurrunt

Those who hurryacross the sea changethe sky [upon them],not their souls or stateof mind

Hexameter by Horace (Epistula XI).[8] Seneca shortens itto Animum debes mutare, non caelum (You must change[your] disposition, not [your] sky) in his Letter toLucilium XXVIII, 1.

Caesar non supragrammaticos

Caesar has noauthority over thegrammarians

caetera desunt the rest is missing Caetera is Medieval Latin spelling for ctera.calix meusinebrians

my cup making medrunk

camera obscura dark chamber An optical device used in drawing, and an ancestor ofmodern photography. The source of the word camera.

canes pugnaces war dogs or fightingdogs

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

capax Dei capable of receivingGod

From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso imagoDei est quo eius capax est,[9] "The mind is the image of God,in that it is capable of Him and can be partaker of Him."

capax infiniti holding the infinite

A term referring (at least) to some Christian doctrines of theincarnation of the Son of God when it asserts that humanity iscapable of housing full divinity within its finite frame. Relatedto the Docetic heresy and sometimes a counterpoint to theReformed 'extracalvinisticum.'

caput inter nubila(condit)

(she plunges) [her]head in the clouds

So aggrandized as to be beyond practical (earthly) reach orunderstanding (from Virgil's Aeneid and the shorter formappears in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government)

caput mortuum dead headOriginally an alchemical reference to the deadhead or worthless residue left over from a reaction. Also used

C [edit]

to refer to a freeloader or worthless element.

Caritas Christi The love of ChristIt implies a command to love as Christ loved. Motto of St.Francis Xavier High School located in West Meadowlark Park,Edmonton.

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

carpe diem seize the dayAn exhortation to live for today. From Horace, Odes I,11.8. Carpere refers to plucking of flowers or fruit. Thephrase collige virgo rosas has a similar sense.

carpe noctem seize the night

An exhortation to make good use of the night, often usedwhen carpe diem, q.v., would seem absurd, e.g., whenobserving adeep-sky object or conducting a Messiermarathon or engaging in social activities after sunset.

carpe vinum seize the wine

Carthago delendaest

Carthage must bedestroyed

The Roman senator Cato the Elder ended every speech afterthe Second Punic War with ceterum censeo Carthaginemesse delendam, literally "For the rest, I am of the opinion thatCarthage is to be destroyed." Before the ratification ofthe Treaty of Lisbon in the European Parliament, DanielHannan ended all his speeches in a similar way with PactioOlisipiensis censenda est "The Treaty of Lisbon must be putto a referendum".

castigat ridendomores

One corrects customsby laughing at them

Or, "[Comedy/Satire] criticises customs through humour", is aphrase coined by French New Latin poet Jean de Santeul (fr)(16301697), but sometimes wrongly attributed to hiscontemporary Molire 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, visest notissima

The cause is hidden,but the result is wellknown.

Ovid: Metamorphoses IV, 287; motto of Alpha Sigma Phi.

causa mortis cause of death

cave beware!

especially used by Doctors of Medicine, when they want towarn each other (e.g.: "cave nephrolithiases" in order to warnabout side effects of an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in someBritish public schools by pupils to warn each other ofimpending authority.

cave canem Beware of the dog

caveat emptor let the buyer beware

The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goodssuit his need. Phrases modeled on this onereplace emptor withlector, subscriptor, venditor, utilitor:"reader", "signer", "seller", "user".

caveat venditor let the seller beware

It is a counter to caveat emptor and suggests that sellers canalso be deceived in a market transaction. This forces theseller to take responsibility for the product and discouragessellers from selling products of unreasonable quality.

cedant armatogae

let arms yield to thegown

"Let military power yield to civilian power", Cicero, DeOfficiis I:77. See also Toga

celerius quamasparagi cocuntur

more swiftlythanasparagus [stem]sare cooked

Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". A variant of theRoman phrase velocius quam asparagi coquantur, using adifferent adverb and an alternative mood and spellingof coquere.

cepi corpus I have taken the bodyIn law, it is a return made by the sheriff, upon a capias, orother process to the like purpose; signifying, that he has takenthe body of the party. See also habeas corpus.

certum est quod it is certain, whatever Or "... if it can be rendered certain." Often used in law whensomething is not known, but can be ascertained (e.g. the

certum reddipotest

can be renderedcertain purchase price on a sale which is to be determined by a third-party valuer)

cessante rationelegis cessat ipsalex

when the reason forthe law ceases, thelaw itself ceases

A rule of law becomes ineffective when the reason for itsapplication has ceased to exist or does not correspond to thereality anymore. By Gratian.

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

ceteris paribus all other things beingequalThat is, disregarding or eliminating extraneous factors in asituation.

chartapardonationis sedefendendo

a paper of pardon todefend oneself

The form of a pardon for killing another man in self-defence(see manslaughter).

chartapardonationisutlagariae

a paper of pardon tothe outlaw

The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed. Alsocalled perdonatio utlagariae.

Christianos adleones

[Throw the] Christiansto the lions!

Christo etDoctrinae

For Christ andLearning The motto of Furman University.

Christus nosliberavit Christ has freed us

title of volume I, book 5, chapter XI of LesMisrables 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 adate.circulus inprobando

circle made in testing[a premise] Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus vitiosus.

circulus vitiosus vicious circle

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

citius altiusfortius faster, higher, stronger Motto of the modern Olympics.

clameaadmittenda initinere peratturnatum

A writ whereby the king of England could command the justiceto admit one's claim by an attorney, who being employed inthe king's service, cannot come in person.

clarere auderegaudere

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

clausum fregit

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

claves SanctiPetri the keys of Saint Peter A symbol of the Papacy.

clavis aurea golden key The means of discovering hidden or mysterious meanings intexts, particularly applied in theology and alchemy.

clericoadmittendo for being made a clerk

In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the admitting a clerk toa benefice upon a ne admittas, tried, and found for the partywho procures the writ.

clerico capto perstatutummercatorum

In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk out of prison, who isimprisoned upon the breach of statute merchant.

clerico convictocommisso gaolae In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his ordinary, that was

in defectuordinariideliberando

formerly convicted of felony; by reason that his ordinary didnot challenge him according to the privilege of clerks.

clerico intrasacros ordinesconstituto noneligendo inofficium

In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc., that have thrusta bailiwick or beadleship upon one in holy orders; chargingthem to release him.

Codex IurisCanonici Book of Canon Law

The official code of canon law in the Roman CatholicChurch (cf. Corpus Iuris Canonici).

Cogitationispoenam nemopatitur

"No one sufferspunishment for mereintent."

A Latin legal phrase. See, State v Taylor, 47 Or 455, 84 P 82.

cogito ergo sum I think, therefore I am. A rationalistic argument used by French philosopher RenDescartes to attempt to prove his own existence.

coitus interruptus interrupted congress Aborting sexual intercourse prior to ejaculationthe onlypermitted form of birth control in some religions.coitus moreferarum

congress in the way ofbeasts A medical euphemism for the doggy-style sexual position.

collige virgorosas pick, girl, the roses

Exhortation to enjoy fully theyouth, similar to Carpe diem,from "De rosis nascentibus"(also titled "Idyllium de rosis"),attributedto Ausonius or Virgil.[10]

"Gather yerosebudswhile yemay", 1909,by JohnWilliamWaterhouse

combinatio nova new combinationIt is frequently abbreviated comb. nov.. It is used in the lifesciences literature when a new name is introduced,e.g. Klebsiella granulomatis comb. nov..

communibusannis in common years

One year with another; on an average. "Common" here doesnot mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"

communibus locis in common places

A term frequently used among philosophical and other writers,implying some medium, or mean relation between severalplaces; one place with another; on a medium. "Common" heredoes not mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"

communis opinio common opinionprevailing doctrine, generally accepted view (in an academicfield), scientific consensus; originally communis opiniodoctorum, "common opinion of the doctors"

compos mentis in control of the mindDescribes someone of sound mind. Sometimes usedironically. Also a legal principle, non compos mentis (not incontrol of one's faculties), used to describe an insane person.

concordia cumveritate in harmony with truth Motto of the University of Waterloo

concordia salus well-being throughharmonyMotto of Montreal. It is also the Bank of Montreal coat of armsand motto.

concordia parvaeres crescunt

small things grow inharmony Motto of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood

condemnant quodnon intellegunt

They condemn whatthey do not understandorThey condemnbecause they do notunderstand

The quod here is ambiguous: it may be the relativepronoun or a conjunction.

condicio sine qua condition without which A required, indispensable condition. Commonly mistakenlyrendered with conditio ("seasoning" or "preserving") in place

non not ofcondicio ("arrangement" or "condition").

confer(cf. [11][12]) compare The abbreviation cf. is used in text to suggest a comparisonwith something else (cf. citation signal).

ConfoederatioHelvetica (C.H.) HelvetianConfederation

The official name of Switzerland, hence the use of "CH" forits ISO country code, ".ch" for its Internet domain, and "CHF"for the ISO three-letter abbreviation of its currency, the Swissfranc.

CongregatioSanctissimiRedemptorisC.Ss.R

Congregation of theMost Holy Redeemer Redemptorists

coniunctis viribus with connectedstrengthOr "with united powers". Sometimes rendered conjunctisviribus. Motto of Queen Mary, University of London.

consensu with consent

consuetudo prolege servatur Custom is held as law.

Where there are no specific laws, the matter should bedecided by custom;[13] established customs have the force oflaws.[14]Also consuetudo est altera lex (custom is anotherlaw) and consuetudo vincit communem legem (customoverrules the common law); see also: Consuetudinary.

consummatum est It is completed. The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latintranslation of John 19:30.contemptusmundi/saeculi

scorn for theworld/times

Despising the secular world. The monk or philosopher'srejection of a mundane life and worldly values.

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

contra legem against the lawEspecially in civil law jurisdictions, said of an understanding ofa statute that directly contradicts its wording and thus isneither valid by interpretation nor by analogy.

contraproferentem against the proferror

In contract law, the doctrine of contractual interpretation whichprovides that an ambiguous term will be construed against theparty that imposed its inclusion in the contract or, moreaccurately, against the interests of the party who imposed it.

contra spemspero hope against hope

Title of a poem by Lesya Ukrainka; also used inthe Pentateuch with reference to Abraham the Patriarch.

contra vim mortisnon crescitherba(or salvia) inhortis

No herb (or sage)growsin the gardens againstthe power of death

there is no medicine against death; from various medievalmedicinal texts

contradictio interminis contradiction in terms

A thing or idea that would embody a contradiction, forexample, payment for a gift, or a circle with corners.The fallacy of proposing such a thing.

contra principianegantem non estdisputandum

there can be no debatewith those who denythe foundations

Debate is fruitless when you don't agree on common rules,facts, presuppositions.

contrariacontrariis curantur

the opposite is curedwith the opposite

First formulated by Hippocrates to suggest that the diseasesare cured with contrary remedies. Antonym of similia similibuscurantur (the diseases are recovered with similar remedies.)

cor ad corloquitur heart speaks to heart

From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a prescribedmethod of prayer: having a "heart to heart" with God.Commonly used in reference to a later quote by Cardinal JohnHenry Newman. A motto of Newman Clubs.

cor aut mors Heart or Death(Your choice is between) The Heart (Moral Values, Duty,Loyalty) or Death (to no longer matter, to no longer berespected as person of integrity.)

cor meum tibi

offero domineprompte etsincere

my heart I offer to youLord promptly andsincerely

John Calvin's personal motto, also adopted by Calvin College

cor unum one heartA popular school motto. Often used as names for religiousand other organisations such as the Pontifical Council CorUnum.

coram Deo in the Presence of GodA phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the ideaof Christians living in the Presence of, under the authority of,and to the honor and glory of God.

coramnobis,coramvobis

in our presence, inyour presence Two kinds of writs of error.

coram populo in the presence of thepeople Thus, openly.

coram publico in view of the public

Corpus Christi Body of Christ

The name of a feast in the Roman CatholicChurch commemorating the Eucharist. It is also the name of acity in Texas,Corpus Christi, Texas, the name of Collegesat Oxford and Cambridge universities, and a controversialplay.

corpus delicti body of the offenceThe fact that a crime has been committed, a necessary factorin convicting someone of having committed that crime; if therewas no crime, there can not have been a criminal.

Corpus IurisCanonici Body of Canon Law

The official compilation of canon law in the Roman CatholicChurch (cf. Codex Iuris Canonici).

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

corpus vile worthless body A person or thing fit only to be the object of an experiment, asin the phrase 'Fiat experimentum in corpore vili.'corrigenda things to be correctedcorruptio optimipessima

the corruption of thebest is the worst

corruptissima republica plurimaeleges

When the republic is atits most corrupt thelaws are mostnumerous

Tacitus

corvus oculumcorvi non eruit

a raven will not pickout an eye of anotherraven

corruptus inextremis corrupt to the extreme

Motto of the fictional Springfield Mayor Office in TheSimpsons TV-Show

cras amet quinunquam amavit;quique amavit,cras amet

May he love tomorrowwho has never lovedbefore; And may hewho has loved, lovetomorrow as well

The refrain from the 'Pervigilium Veneris', a poem whichdescribes a three day holiday in the cult of Venus, locatedsomewhere in Sicily, involving the whole town in religiousfestivities joined with a deep sense of nature and Venus asthe "procreatrix", the life-giving force behind the natural world.

Cras es Noster The Future is Ours Motto of San Jacinto College.

creatio ex nihilo creation out of nothing

A concept about creation, often used in a theological orphilosophical context. Also known as the 'First Cause'argument inPhilosophy of Religion. Contrasted with creatio exmateria.

Credo in UnumDeum 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

credo quiaabsurdum est

I believe it because it isabsurd

Filius prorsus credibile quia ineptum est (and the Son of Godis dead: in short, it is credible because it is unfitting), meaningthat it is so absurd to say that God's son has died that it wouldhave to be a matter of belief, rather than reason. Themisquoted phrase, however, is commonly used to mockthe dogmaticbeliefs of the religious (see fideism). This phraseis commonly shortened to credo quia absurdum, and is alsosometimes rendered credo quia impossibile est (I believe itbecause it is impossible) or, as Darwin used it in hisautobiography, credo quia incredibile.

crescamus in Illoper omnia

May we grow in Himthrough all things Motto of Cheverus High School.

crescat scientiavita excolatur

let knowledge grow, letlife be enriched Motto of the University of Chicago.

crescente luce Light ever increasing Motto of James Cook University.crescit cumcommercio civitas

Civilization prosperswith commerce Motto of Claremont McKenna College.

crescit eundo it grows as it goes

State motto of New Mexico, adopted in 1887 as the territory'smotto, and kept in 1912 when New Mexico receivedstatehood. Originally from Lucretius' De rerum natura book VI,where it refers in context to the motion of a thunderbolt acrossthe sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes.

cruci dum spirofido

while I live, I trust inthe cross, Whilst I trustin the Cross I have life

Motto of the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) and its associatedschools.

cucullus non facitmonachum

The hood does notmake the monk William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Scene I, Act V 4850

cui bono Good for whom?

"Who benefits?" An adage in criminal investigation whichsuggests that considering who would benefit from anunwelcome event is likely to reveal who is responsible for thatevent (cf. cui prodest). Also the motto of the Crime Syndicateof America, a fictional supervillain group. The opposite is cuimalo (Bad for whom?).

cui prodest for whom it advances

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

cuique suum to each his own

cuius est solumeius est usque adcoelum et adinferos

Whose the land is, allthe way to the sky andto theunderworld is his.

First coined by Accursius of Bologna in the 13th century.A Roman legal principle of property law that is no longerobserved in most situations today. Less literally, "Forwhosoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down tothe depths."

cuius regio, eiusreligio

whose region, hisreligion

The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of his subjects.A regional prince's ability to choose his people's religion wasestablished at the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.

cuiusvis hominisest errare, nulliusnisi insipientis inerroreperseverare.

Anyone can err, butonly the fool persists inhis fault

Cicero, Philippica XII, 5.

culpa fault Also "blame" or "guilt". In law, an act of neglect. In general,guilt, sin, or a fault. See also mea culpa.cum gladiis etfustibus 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 ergopropter hoc

with this, therefore onaccount of this Fallacy of assuming that correlation implies causation.

cum laude with praiseThe standard formula for academic Latin honors in the UnitedStates. Greater honors include magna cum laude and summacum laude.

cum mortuis inlingua mortua

with the dead in adead language

Movement from Pictures at an Exhibition by ModestMussorgsky

cum privilegio adimprimendumsolum

with the exclusive rightto print

Copyright notice used in 16th-century England, used for comiceffect in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

cuncti adsintmeritaequeexpectent praemiapalmae

let all come who bymerit deserve the mostreward

Motto of University College London.

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

cur Deus Homo Why the God-Man

The question attributed to Anselm in his work of by this name,wherein he reflects on why the Christ of Christianity must beboth fully Divine and fully Human. Often translated "why didGod become Man?"

cura personalis care for the wholepersonMotto of Georgetown University School ofMedicine and University of Scranton.

cura te ipsum take care of your ownselfAn exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to dealwith their own problems before addressing those of others.

curriculum vitae course of life An overview of a person's life and qualifications, similar toa rsum.custos morum keeper of morals A censor.

cygnis insignis distinguished by itsswans Motto of Western Australia.

cygnus interanates swan among ducks

Latin Translation Notes

Da Deusfortunae

God givehappiness orGodgive luck

Traditional Czech brewers greeting.

Da mihifactum, dabotibi ius

Give me the fact(s),I'll give you the law

also: Da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius; legal principle based on Romanlaw; parties should present the facts of a case while the judge ruleson the law. Related to iura novit curia (the court knows the law).

damnant quodnon intelligunt

They condemn whatthey do notunderstand

Used to describe ignorant people.

damnatio adbestias

condemnation to[the] beasts Colloquially "thrown to the lions".

damnatiomemoriae

damnation ofmemory

A Roman custom in which disgraced Romans (particularly formerEmperors) were pretended to have never existed.

damnumabsque injuria

damage withoutinjury

A loss that results from no one's wrongdoing. In Roman law, a manis not responsible for unintended, consequential injury to anotherresulting from a lawful act. This protection does not necessarily

D [edit]

apply to unintended damage by negligence or folly.dat deusincrementumordeus datincrementum

God gives growth Motto of several schools

data venia "with due respect" or"given the excuse" Used before disagreeing with someone.

datumperficiemusmunus

We shall accomplishthe mission assigned

Motto of Batalho de Operaes Policiais Especiais (BOPE), Rio deJaneiro.

de bene esse as well doneA de bene esse deposition is used to preserve the testimony of awitness who is expected not to be available to appear at trial and becross-examined.

de bonisasportatis carrying goods away

Trespass de bonis asportatis was the traditional namefor larceny (wrongful taking of chattels).

decessit sineprole died without issue

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dsp, toindicate a person who died without having had any children

decessit sineprole legitima

died withoutlegitimate issue

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dspl, toindicate a person who died without having had any children by aspouse.

decessit sineprole masculasuperstite

died withoutsurviving male issue

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dspm, toindicate a person who died without having had any male childrenwho lived or outlived them.

decessit sineprolesuperstite

died withoutsurviving issue

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dsps, toindicate a person who died without having had any children wholived or outlived them.

decessit vitamatris

died in the lifetime ofthe mother

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dvm, toindicate a person who predeceased their mother.

decessit vitapatris

died in the lifetime ofthe father

Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dvp, toindicate a person who predeceased their father

de dato of the date Used in the context of "As we agreed in the meeting d.d. 26th Mai2006.

de facto by deed

Said of something that is the actual state of affairs, in contrast tosomething's legal or official standing, which is described as dejure.De facto refers to the "way things really are" rather than what is"officially" presented as the fact.

de fideli with faithfulness A clerk makes the declaration De fideli on when appointed,promising to do his or her tasks faithfully as a servant of the court.de futuro regarding the future Usually used in the context of "at a future time"de gustibusnon estdisputandum

there is no disputingabout tastes

Less literally "there's no accounting for taste". Likelyof Scholastic origin (see Wiktionary).

de integro again, a second time

de jure by law

"Official", in contrast with de facto. Analogous to "in principle",whereas de facto is to "in practice". In other contexts, can mean"according to law", "by right" or "legally". Also commonly written deiure, the classical form.

de legeferenda

from law to bepassed

de lege lata "from law passed" or"by law in force"

de minimisnoncurat lex

The law does notbother with thesmallest things.

The court does not want to bother with small, trivial things. A casemust have importance for the court to hear it. See "de minimis noncurat praetor".

de minimisnoncurat praetor

The commanderdoes not bother withthe smallest things.

Also "The chief magistrate does not concern himself with trifles."Trivial matters are no concern of a high official (cf. aquila non capitmuscas, the eagle does not catch flies). Sometimes rex (the king)or lex (the law) is used in place of praetor, and de minimis is a legalterm referring to things unworthy of the law's attention.

de mortuis autbene aut nihil

about the dead,either well or nothing

Less literally, "speak well of the dead or not at all" (cf. de mortuis nilnisi bonum).

de mortuis nilnisi bonum

about the dead,nothing unless agood thing

From de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est, "nothing must be saidabout the dead except the good", attributed by DiogenesLartius to Chilon. In legal contexts, this quotation is used with theopposite meaning, as defaming a deceased person is not a crime. Inother contexts, it refers to taboos against criticizing the recentlydeceased.

de nobisfabula narratur

about us is the storytold

Thus, "their story is our story". Originally referred to the end ofRome's dominance. Now often used when comparing any currentsituation to a past story or historical event.

de novo from the new

"Anew" or "afresh". In law, a trial de novo is a retrial. In biology, denovo means newly synthesized, and a de novo mutation is amutation that neither parent possessed or transmitted. Ineconomics, de novo refers to newly founded companies, and denovo banks are state banks that have been in operation for fiveyears or less.

de omni rescibili etquibusdamaliis

about everyknowable thing, andeven certain otherthings

The 15th-century Italian scholar Giovanni Pico dellaMirandola wrote the De omni re scibili portion (about everyknowable thing), and a wag added et quibusdam aliis (and evencertain other things).

de omnibusdubitandum

be suspicious ofeverything, doubteverything

Attributed to Ren Descartes. Karl Marx's favorite motto and a titleof one of Sren Kierkegaard's works De Omnibus Dubitandum Est

de oppressoliber

Free From HavingBeen Oppressed

Loosely translated as "To Liberate the Oppressed". The motto ofthe United States Army Special Forces.[15]

de profundis from the depths Out of the depths of misery or dejection. From the Latin translationof Psalm 130.

de re about the matterIn logic, de dicto statements (about the truth of a proposition) aredistinguished from de re statements (about the properties of a thingitself).

decus ettutamen

An ornament and asafeguard

Inscription on British one-pound coins. Originally on 17th-centurycoins, it refers to the inscribed edge as a protection againsttheclipping of precious metal. The phrase originally comesfrom Virgil's Aeneid.

defenditnumerus

There is safety innumbers

defunctusvivente patre

("dvp") died with hisfather (still) living.See alsoviventerege[16]

Used by genealogists to denote a son who has pre-deceased hisfather and not lived long enough to inherit his father's title or estate.See also sine prole.

Dei GratiaRegina

By the Grace ofGod, Queen

Also Dei Gratia Rex (By the Grace of God, King). Abbreviated as DG REG preceding Fidei Defensor (F D) on British pounds, and as D GRegina on Canadian coins.

Dei subnumine viget

under God's Spiritshe flourishes Motto of Princeton University.

delectatiomorosa peevish delight

In Catholic theology, a pleasure taken in sinful thought orimagination, such as brooding on sexual images. It is distinct fromactual sexual desire, and involves voluntary and complacent eroticfantasizing, without any attempt to suppress such thoughts.

delirant istiRomani

They are mad, thoseRomans!

A translation into Latin from Ren Goscinny's French ils sont fous,ces romains! or Italian Sono pazzi questi Romani (compareSPQR),frequently issued by Obelix in the Asterix comics.

Deo ac veritati For God and fortruth Motto of Colgate University.

DeoConfidimus In God we trust Motto of Somerset College.

Deo domuique for God and forhome Motto of Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne.

Deo et patriae for God and Country Motto of Regis High School (New York City).Deo gratias thanks [be] to God The semi-Hispanicized form Deogracias is a Philippine first name.

Deo juvante with God's help The motto of Monaco and its monarch which appears on the royalarms.Deo nonFortuna by God, not by luck Motto of the Epsom College in Surrey

Deo OptimoMaximo (DOM)

To the Best andGreatest God

Derived from the Pagan Iupiter Optimo Maximo (To the best andgreatest Jupiter). Printed on bottles of Bndictine liqueur.

Deo vindice with God asprotectorMotto of the Confederate States of America. An alternate translationis "With an avenging God".

Deo volente God willing

This was often used in conjunction with a signature at the end ofletters. It was used in order to signify that "God willing" this letter willget to you safely, "God willing" the contents of this letter come true.As an abbreviation (simply "D.V.") it is often found in personalletters (in English) of the early 1900s, employed to generally andpiously qualify a given statement about a future planned action, thatit will be carried out, so long as God wills (see James 4:13-15,which encourages this way of speaking). The motto of SouthernIllinois University-Carbondale. See also: Insha'Allah.

descensus incuniculi cavum

The descent into thecave of the rabbit

Down the Rabbit Hole (see: Alice's Adventures inWonderland#Famous lines and expressions.

Deus CaritasEst God is Love

The first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI; for other meanings,see Deus Caritas Est (disambiguation)

deus exmachina

a god from amachine

From the Greek (ap mchans thes). Acontrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot. Refers to thepractice in Greek drama of lowering by crane (the mechan) anactor playing a god or goddess onto the stage to resolve aninsuperable conflict in the plot. The device is most commonlyassociated with Euripides.

Deus Lux MeaEst God is my Light The motto of The Catholic University of America.

Deusmeumque jus God and my right

The principal motto of Scottish Rite Freemasonry; see also Dieu etmon droit.

deus otiosus God at leisureDeus spesnostra God is our hope

The motto of Sir Thomas de Boteler, founder of Boteler GrammarSchool Warrington in 1526

Deus vult God wills it! The principal slogan of the Crusades.Motto of Bergen Catholic HighSchool, NJ

dictatumerat(dict) as previously stated

Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "Aspreviously stated, ...". Literally, has been stated; also translated as"dicta prius" (literally, said previously).

dicto [From] a maxim,

I.e. "From a rule without exception." Short for a dicto simpliciter,the a often being dropped by confusion with the English indefinitearticle. A dicto simpliciter occurs when an acceptable exception isignored or eliminated. For instance, the appropriateness of using

simpliciter simply opiates is dependent on the presence of extreme pain. To justify therecreational use of opiates by referring to a cancer patient or tojustify arresting said cancer patient by comparing him to therecreational user would be a dicto simpliciter.

dictum factum what is said is done Motto of U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron VF-194dictum meumpactum

my word [is] mybond Motto of the London Stock Exchange

diem perdidi I have lost the day From the Roman Emperor Titus. Passed down in Suetonius'sbiography of him in Lives of the Twelve Caesars

Dies Irae Day of WrathRefers to the Judgment Day in Christian eschatology. The name ofa famous 13th-century Medieval Latin hymn by Tommaso daCelano, used in the Mass for the dead.

diesnonjuridicum Day withoutjudiciary

Days under common law (traditionally Sunday) in which no legalprocess can be served and any judgment is void. This concept wasfirst codified by the English Parliament in the reign of Charles II.

dirigo I direct In Classical Latin, "I arrange". State motto of Maine. Based on acomparison of the state of Maine to the star Polaris.

dis alitervisum

it seemed otherwiseto the gods

In other words, the gods have different plans than mortals, and soevents do not always play out as people wish them to. Virgil,Aeneid,2:428.

dis manibussacrum(D.M.S.)

Sacred to the ghost-gods

Refers to the Manes, Roman spirits of the dead. Loosely "To thememory of". A conventional inscription preceding the name of thedeceased on pagan grave markings, often shortened to dismanibus (D.M.), "for the ghost-gods". Preceded in some earliermonuments by hic situs est (H. S. E.), "he lies here".

disce autdiscede Learn or Depart Motto of Royal College Colombo.

disce quasisempervicturus vivequasi crasmoriturus

Learn as if alwaysgoing to live; live asif tomorrow going todie.

Attributed to St Edmund of Abingdon.

discendodiscimus

while teaching welearn

disiectamembra scattered limbs

That is, "scattered remains". Paraphrased from Horace, Satires, I, 4,62, where it was written "disiecti membra poetae" (limbs of ascattered poet). Also written as disjecta membra.

ditat Deus God enriches State motto of Arizona, adopted in 1911. Probably derived fromthe Vulgate's translation of Genesis 14:23.divide etimpera divide and rule

A Roman maxim adopted by Julius Caesar, LouisXI and Machiavelli. Commonly rendered "divide and conquer".

dixi I have spokenA popular eloquent expression, usually used in the end of a speech.The implied meaning is: "I have said all that I had to say and thusthe argument is settled".

["...", ...] dixit ["...", ...] said Used to attribute a statement or opinion to its author, rather than thespeaker.

do ut des I give that you maygiveOften said or written for sacrifices, when one "gives" and expectssomething back from the gods.

docendodiscitur

It is learned byteaching

Also translated "One learns by teaching." Attributed to Seneca theYounger.

docendodisco,scribendocogito

I learn by teaching,think by writing.

dolus specialis special intent

"The ... concept is particular to a few civil law systems and cannotsweepingly be equated with the notions of special or specificintent in common law systems. Of course, the same might equallybe said of the concept of specific intent, a notion used in thecommon law almost exclusively within the context of the defense ofvoluntary intoxication."Genocide scholar William Schabas[17]

Domine dirigenos Lord guide us Motto of the City of London

Dominica inalbis[depositis]

Sunday in [SettingAside the] WhiteGarments

Latin name of the Octave of Easter.

DominusIlluminatio Mea the Lord is my light Motto of the University of Oxford.

Dominusfortitudonostra

The Lord is ourStrength Motto of the Southland College, Philippines

Dominusvobiscum Lord be with you

Phrase used during and at the end of Catholic sermons, and ageneral greeting form among and towards members of Catholicorganizations, such as priests and nuns. See also pax vobiscum.

dona nobispacem give us peace

Often set to music, either by itself or as part of the Agnus Dei prayerof the Mass. Also an ending in the video game Haunting Ground.

donatio mortiscausa

giving in expectationof death

A legal concept where a person in imminent mortal danger need notmeet the requisite consideration to create or modify a will.

dracodormiensnunquamtitillandus

a sleepingdragon isnever to be tickled

Motto of the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter series;translated more loosely in the books as "never tickle a sleepingdragon".

dramatisperson the parts of the play

More literally, "the masks of the drama"; more figuratively, "cast ofcharacters". The characters represented in a dramatic work.

duae tabulaerasae inquibus nihilscriptum est

Two blank slateswith nothing writtenupon them

Stan Laurel, inscription for the fanclub logo of The Sons of theDesert.

ducimus We lead Motto of the Royal Canadian Infantry CorpsDucit amorpatriae

Love of countryleads me Motto of the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment

ducuntvolentem fata,nolentemtrahunt

The fates lead thewilling and drag theunwilling

Attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

ductusexemplo

leadership byexample

Motto for the United States Marine Corps' Officer Candidates Schoollocated at Marine Corps Base Quantico; Quantico, Virginia.

dulce belluminexpertis

war is sweet to theinexperienced

War may seem pleasant to those who have never been involved init, though the more experienced know better. A phrasefromErasmus in the 16th century.

Dulce estdesipere inloco

It is sweet onoccasion to play thefool.

It is pleasant to relax once in a while. From Horace, Odes IV, 12,28. Used by George Knapton for Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6thBaronet1744 portrait.

dulce etdecorum estpro patria mori

It is sweet andhonorable to die forthe fatherland.

From Horace, Odes III, 2, 13. Used by Wilfred Owen for the title of apoem about World War I, Dulce et Decorum est.

dulce et utile a sweet and usefulthingHorace wrote in his Ars Poetica that poetry must be dulce etutile (pleasant and profitable), both enjoyable and instructive.

dulce danger is sweet Horace, Odes III, 25, 16. Motto of the Scottish clan MacAulay.

periculumdulcius exasperis

sweeter afterdifficulties Motto of the Scottish clan Fergusson.

[18]

dum RomadeliberatSaguntumperit

while Romedebates,Saguntum isin danger

Used when someone has been asked for urgent help, but respondswith no immediate action. Similar to Hannibal ante portas, butreferring to a less personal danger.

dum spirospero

while I breathe, Ihope State motto of South Carolina. From Cicero.

dum vita est,spes est

while there is life,there is hope

dum vivimusservimus

While we live, weserve motto of Presbyterian College.

dum vivimus,vivamus

While we live, let uslive!

An encouragement to embrace life. Motto inscribed on the sword ofthe main character in the novel Glory Road.

dura lex sedlex

[the] law [is] harsh,but [it is the] law

dura mater tough mother outer covering of the braindurante beneplacito

During goodpleasure

At the pleasure [of the monarch or other appointing authority].Mediaeval legal Latin phrase.

durantemunere while in office

For example, the Governor General of Canada is durantemunere the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order ofCanada.

dux bellorum war leaderInitiumSapientiaeTimor Domini

The fear of the Lordis the beginning ofwisdom

Latin Translation Notes

e pluribus unum out of many,one

Literally, out of more (than one), one. Former de facto motto ofthe United States of America. Used on many U.S. coins andinscribed on the Capitol. Also used as the motto of S.L. Benfica.Less commonly written as ex pluribus unum.

Ecce homo Behold theman

From the Latin Vulgate Gospel of John 19:5 (Douay-Rheims) , where Pontius Pilate speaks these words as hepresents Christ, crowned with thorns, to the crowd. It is also thetitle of Nietzsche's autobiography and of the theme musicby Howard Goodall for theITV comedy Mr. Bean, in which the fullsung lyric is Ecce homo qui est faba ("Behold the man who is abean").

ecce panis angelorumbehold thebread ofangels

A phrase occasionally inscribed near the altar in Catholicchurches; it makes reference to the Host; the Eucharist; thebread of Heaven; the Body of Christ. See also: Panis Angelicus.

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

ego te absolvo I absolve you Part of the absolution-formula spoken by a priest as part of thesacrament of Penance (cf. absolvo).

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

eheu fugaces labunturanni

Alas, thefleeting yearsslip by

From Horace's Odes II, 14.

E [edit]

eluceat omnibus luxlet the lightshine out fromall

The motto of Sidwell Friends School

emeritus veteran

Also "worn-out". Retired from office. Often used to denote aposition held at the point of retirement, as an honor, suchas professor emeritus or provost emeritus. This does notnecessarily mean that the honoree is no longer active.

ens causa suiexistingbecause ofoneself

Or "being one's own cause". Traditionally, a being that owes itsexistence to no other being, hence God or a SupremeBeing (cf.Primum Mobile).

ense petit placidam sublibertate quietem

by the swordshe seeks aserene reposeunder liberty

State motto of Massachusetts, adopted in 1775.

entia non suntmultiplicanda praeternecessitatem

entities mustnot bemultipliedbeyondnecessity

Occam's Razor or law of parsimony; that is, that argumentswhich do not introduce extraneous variables are to be preferredin logical argumentation.

entitas ipsa involvitaptitudinem adextorquendum certumassensum

realityinvolves apower tocompel sureassent

A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature oftruth.

eo ipso by that very(act)

Technical term used in philosophy and the law. Similar to ipsofacto. Example: "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean that Ithink." From Latin eo ipso, ablative form of id ipsum, "that (thing)itself".

eo nomine by that name

equo ne credite do not trustthe horse Virgil, Aeneid, II. 4849 (Latin)

erga omnes in relation toeveryoneergo therefore Denotes a logical conclusion (cf. cogito ergo sum).

errare humanum est to err ishuman

From Seneca the Younger: Errare humanum est, perseverareautem diabolicum, et tertia non datur (To err is human; to persist[in committing such errors] is of the devil, and the third possibilityis not given.) Several authors contemplated the idea beforeSeneca:Livy Venia dignus error is humanus (Storie, VIII, 35)and Cicero: is Cuiusvis errare: insipientis nullius nisi, in errorepers