Idol Hunting

[ben]

ibidem (ibid.) in the same place Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to the last source previously referenced.
id est (i.e.) that is "That is (to say)" in the sense of "that means" and "which means", or "in other words", or sometimes "in this case", depending on the context; may be followed by a comma, or not, depending on style (American English and British English respectively).[29] It is often misinterpreted as "in example". In this situation, e.g. should be used instead. There should be a period (.) after both letters, since it is an abbreviation of two words.[30]
id quod plerumque accidit that which generally happens A phrase used in legal language to indicate the most probable outcome from an act, fact, event or cause.
idem (dito) (id.) the same Used to refer to something that has already been cited. See also ibidem.
idem quod (i.q.) the same as Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient.
Idus Martiae the Ides of March 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 which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC; the term has come to be used as a metaphor for impending doom.
Jesu juva J.J. Jesus, help! Used by Johann Sebastian Bach at the beginning of his compositions, which he ended with "S.D.G." (Soli Deo gloria).
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (INRI) Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews
John 19:20 states that this inscription was written in three languages—Aramaic, Latin and Greek—at the top of the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazereth.
igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum Therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari; similar to si vis pacem, para bellum.
igne natura renovatur integra through fire, nature is reborn whole An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate meaning for the acronym INRI.
igni ferroque with fire and iron A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also rendered as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.
ignis aurum probat fire tests gold A phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto of the Prometheus Society.
ignis fatuus foolish fire Will-o'-the-wisp.
ignorantia iuris non excusat (or ignorantia legis non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat) ignorance of the law is no excuse A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does not allow one to escape liability.
ignoratio elenchi ignorance of the issue The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't prove or support the proposition it claims to. An ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt to mislead or confuse the opposing party is known as a red herring. Elenchi is from the Greek elenchos.
ignotum per ignotius unknown by means of the more unknown An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained. Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.
ignotus (ign.) unknown
imago Dei image of God From the religious concept that man was created in "God's image".
imitatio dei imitation of a god A principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).
imperium in imperio an order within an order 1. A group of people who owe utmost fealty to their leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger group to the authority of the internal group's leader(s).
2. A "fifth column" organization operating against the organization within which they seemingly reside.
3. "State within a state"
imperium sine fine an empire without an end In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, never-ending empire, the endless (sine fine) empire.
imprimatur let it be printed An authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).
in absentia in the absence Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.
in absentia luci, tenebrae vincunt in the absence of light, darkness prevails
in actu in act In the very act; in reality.
in articulo mortis at the point of death
in camera in the chamber In secret. See also camera obscura.
in casu (i.c.) in the event In this case.
in cauda venenum the poison is in the tail Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said of an account that proceeds gently, but turns vicious towards the end — or more generally waits till the end to reveal an intention or statement that is undesirable in the listener's ears.
in com. Ebor. In the county of Yorkshire Eboracum was the Roman name for York and this phrase is used in some Georgian and Victorian books on the genealogy of prominent Yorkshire families.
in Deo speramus in God we hope Motto of Brown University.
in dubio pro reo in doubt, on behalf of the [alleged] culprit Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision must be in favor of the accused (in that anyone is innocent until there is proof to the contrary).
in duplo in double In duplicate
in effigie in the likeness In (the form of) an image; in effigy (as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in 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 extremis in the furthest reaches In extremity; in dire straits; also "at the point of death" (cf. in articulo 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.
in fine (i.f.) in the end At the end. The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the end of page 157".
in flagrante delicto in a blazing wrong, while the crime is blazing Caught in the act (esp. a crime or in a "compromising position"); 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 consumimur igni We enter the circle at night and are consumed by fire A palindrome said to describe the behavior of moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.
in harmonia progressio progress in harmony Motto of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.
in hoc sensu or in sensu hoc (s.h.) in this sense Recent academic abbreviation for "in this sense".
in hoc signo vinces by this sign you will conquer translated from the Greek "Εν Τουτῳ Νικα". Words Constantine the Great claimed to have seen in a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Motto of Sigma Chi fraternity, the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion and the House of Di Santis.
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
in illo ordine (i.o.) in that order Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "..., respectively."
in illo tempore in that time At that time, found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used to mark an undetermined time in the past.
in inceptum finis est lit.: in the beginning is the end or: the beginning foreshadows the end
in limine at the outset/threshold Preliminary, in law, a motion in limine is a motion that is made to the judge before or during trial, often about the admissibility of evidence believed prejudicial.
in loco in the place, on the spot That is, 'on site'. "The nearby labs were closed for the weekend, so the water samples were analyzed in loco."
in loco parentis in the place of a parent Assuming parental or custodial responsibility and authority (e.g., schoolteachers over students); a legal term.
in luce Tua videmus lucem in Thy light we see light Motto of Valparaiso University. The phrase comes from the book of Psalms 36:9 "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
in lumine tuo videbimus lumen in your light we will see the light Motto of Columbia University, Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School and Ohio Wesleyan University. Also, it is the motto of the South African University of Fort Hare.
in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum into your hands I entrust my spirit According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on the cross.
in medias res into the middle of things 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 already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, Os Lusíadas, Othello, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.
in memoriam into the memory Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring a deceased person.
in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas in necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity "Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed to Augustine of Hippo.[citation needed]
in nocte consilium advice comes over night I.e., "Tomorrow is a new day." Motto of Birkbeck College, University of London.
in nomine diaboli in the name of the devil
in nomine Domini in the name of the Lord Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name of a 1050 papal bull
in nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus sancti in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit invocation of the Holy Trinity
in nuce in a nut in a nutshell; briefly stated; potential; in the embryonic phase
in omnia paratus Ready for anything. Motto of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment
in omnibus amare et servire Domino In everything, love and serve the Lord. The motto of Ateneo de Iloilo, a university in the Philippines
in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book Quote by Thomas à Kempis
in ovo in the egg or in the embryo An experiment or process performed in an egg or embryo (e.g. in ovo electroporation of chicken embryo).
in pace requiescat in peace may he rest Alternate form of requiescat in pace ("let him rest in peace"). Found in this form at the end of The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe.
in partibus infidelium in the parts of the infidels "In the land of the infidels"; used to refer to bishoprics that remains 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.
in propria persona in one's own person Abbreviated pro per; For one's self; acting on one's own behalf, especially a person representing himself in a legal proceeding; see also litigant in person, pro se legal representation in the United States.
in principio erat Verbum in the beginning was the Word (Logos) Beginning of the Gospel of John
in re in the matter [of] A legal term used to indicate that a judicial proceeding may not have formally designated adverse parties or is otherwise uncontested. The 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.
in regione caecorum rex est luscus In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. A quote of Desiderius Erasmus from Adagia (first published 1500, with numerous expanded editions through 1536), III, IV, 96.
in rem to the thing Legal term indicating a court's jurisdiction over a piece of property rather than a legal person; contrast with personal (ad 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).
in retentis among things held back Used to describe documents kept separately from the regular records of a court for special reasons.
in saecula (saeculorum), in saeculum saeculi roughly: down to the times of the times forever (and ever), liturgical
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 Opportunity Motto of Edge Hill University.
in silico
(Dog Latin) in silicon Coined in the late 1980s for scientific papers. Refers to an experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation. The term is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon is silicium, so the correct Latinization of "in silicon" would be in silicio, but this form has little usage.
in situ in the place In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement.
in somnis veritas In dreams there is truth
in spe in hope "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 resembles, in spe, Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers."
in specialibus generalia quaerimus To seek the general in the specifics That is, to understand the most general rules through the most 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, pugnabimus Then we will fight in the 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
in vino veritas in wine [there is] truth That is, wine loosens the tongue (referring to alcohol's disinhibitory effects).
in vitro in glass An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-natural" setting (e.g. in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. Alternative experimental or process methodologies include in vitro, in silico, ex vivo and in vivo.
in vivo in life" or "in a living thing An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.
in vivo veritas in a living thing [there is] truth An expression used by biologists to express the fact that laboratory findings from testing an organism in vitro are not always reflected when applied to an organism in vivo. A pun on in vino veritas.
incepto ne desistam May I not shrink from my purpose! 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 Aeneas. When she saw the fleet of Aeneas on its way to Italy, after 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!"
incertae sedis of uncertain position (seat) A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.
incredibile dictu incredible to say A variant on mirabile dictu.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum Index of Prohibited (or, Forbidden) Books A list of books considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter indivisible and inseparable Motto of Austria-Hungary prior to its separation into independent states in 1918.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum. Infinite is the number of fools.
infirma mundi elegit Deus God chooses the weak of the world The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
infra dignitatem (infra dig) beneath one's dignity
instante mense (inst.) in the present month Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month, sometimes abbreviated as instant; e.g.: "Thank you for your letter of the 17th inst." — ult. mense = last month, prox. mense = next month.
intaminatis fulget honoribus Untarnished, she shines with honor From Horace's Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford College.
integer vitae scelerisque purus unimpaired by life and clean of wickedness From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.
intelligenti pauca Few words suffice for he who understands
inter alia (i.a.) among other things A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate that the minute 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.
inter arma enim silent leges in a time of war, the law falls silent 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 BC. Famously quoted in the essay Civil Disobedience by Henry 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
inter spem et metum between hope and fear
inter urinas et faeces nascimur we are born between urine and feces Attributed to St Augustine.
inter vivos between the living Refers to property transfers between living persons, as opposed to a testamentary transfer upon death such as an inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.
intra muros within the walls Not public; source of the word intramural. See also Intramuros, Manila.
intra vires within the powers Within one's authority
invicta Unconquered Motto of the English county of Kent.
invictus maneo I remain unvanquished Motto of the Armstrong Clan.
Iohannes est nomen eius John is his name Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
ipsa scientia potestas est knowledge itself is power Famous phrase written by Sir Francis Bacon in 1597.
ipse dixit he himself said it Commonly said in Medieval debates 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 any unsupported rhetorical assertion that lacks a logical argument. Originally coined by Cicero in his De Natura Deorum (I, 10) to describe the behavior of the students of Pythagoras.
ipsissima verba the very words themselves "Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim). Often used in Biblical Studies to describe the record of Jesus' teaching found in the New Testament (specifically, the four Gospels).
ipsissima voce the very 'voice' itself To approximate the main thrust or message without using the exact words.
ipso facto by the fact itself By that very fact
ira deorum wrath of the gods Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the ancient Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of pax deorum (peace of the gods) instead of ira deorum (wrath of the gods): earthquakes, floods, famine, etc.
ira furor brevis est Wrath (anger) is but a brief madness
ita vero thus indeed A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes", preferring to respond to questions with the affirmative or negative of the question (e.g., "Are you hungry?" was answered by "I am hungry" or "I am not hungry", not "Yes" or "No).
ite, missa est Go, it is the dismissal Loosely: "You have been dismissed". Concluding words addressed to the people in the Mass of the Roman Rite.[31]
iter legis The path of the law The path a law takes from its conception to its implementation.
iugulare mortuos to cut the throat of corpses From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). It can mean attacking the work or personality of deceased person. Alternatively, it can be used to describe criticism of an individual already heavily criticised by others.
iuncta iuvant together they strive also spelled juncta juvant; from the legal principle quae non valeant singula, iuncta iuvant ("What is without value on its own, helps when joined")
iura novit curia the court knows the law A legal principle in civil law countries of the Roman-German tradition that says that lawyers need not to argue the law, as 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.
iure uxoris in right of his wife Indicates a right exercised by a husband on behalf of his wife.
iuris ignorantia est cum ius nostrum ignoramus it is ignorance of the law when we do not know our own rights
ius accrescendi right of accrual Commonly referred to as "right of survivorship": a rule in property law that surviving joint tenants have rights in equal shares to a decedent's property.
ius ad bellum law towards war Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons for going to war. Typically, this would address issues of self-defense or preemptive strikes.
ius cogens compelling law Refers to a fundamental principle of international law considered to have acceptance among the international community of states as a whole. Typically, this would address issues not listed or 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.
ius in bello law in war Refers to the "laws" that regulate the conduct of combatants during a conflict. Typically, this would address issues of who or what is a valid target, how to treat prisoners, and what sorts of weapons can be used. The word jus is also commonly spelled ius.
ius primae noctis law of the first night The droit de seigneur.
iustitia fundamentum regni justice is the foundation of a reign Motto of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office of the Czech Republic.
iustitia omnibus justice for all The motto of Washington, D.C.
iuventuti nil arduum to the young nothing is difficult Motto of Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
iuventutis veho fortunas I bear the fortunes of youth Motto of Dollar Academy.
L [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
labor omnia vincit Hard work conquers all Popular as a motto; derived from a phrase in Virgil's Eclogue (X.69: omnia vincit Amor – "Love conquers all"); a similar phrase also occurs in his Georgics I.145. Motto of St. Xavier's Institution, Penang.
laborare pugnare parati sumus To work, (or) to fight; we are ready Motto of the California Maritime Academy
labore et honore By labour and honour Motto of several schools
laboremus pro patria Let us work for the fatherland Motto of the Carlsberg breweries
laboris gloria Ludi Games are the glory of work, Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK
lapsus lapse, slip, error; involuntary mistake made while writing or speaking
lapsus calami inadvertent typographical error, slip of the pen
lapsus linguae inadvertent speech error, slip of the tongue
lapsus memoriae slip of memory Source of the term memory lapse.
laudator temporis acti praiser of time past One who is discontent with the present and instead prefers things of the past ("the good old days").
laudetur Jesus Christus Praise (Be) Jesus Christ Often used as a salutation, but also used after prayers or the reading of the gospel.
laus Deo praise be to God This is written on the East side at the peak of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Also is the motto of the Viscount of Arbuthnott and Sydney Grammar School.
lectori salutem greetings reader Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a letter.
lege artis according to the law of the art Denotes that a certain intervention is performed in a correct way. Used especially in a medical context. The 'art' referred to in the phrase is medicine.
legem terrae the law of the land
leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, et moriuntur laws of man are born, live and die
leges sine moribus vanae laws without morals [are] vain From Horace's Odes: the official motto of the University of Pennsylvania.
legio patria nostra The Legion is our fatherland Motto of the French Foreign Legion
legi, intellexi, et condemnavi I read, understood, and condemned.
legitime lawfully In Roman and civil law, a forced share in an estate; the portion of the 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.
lex hac edictali the law here proclaims The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos or bequeath by 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 credendi the law of prayer is the law of 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.
lex rex the law [is] king 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 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 (cf. an eye for an eye).
lex tempus time is the law Name of musical composition by popular Maltese electronic music artist Ray Buttigieg
libera te tutemet (ex inferis) Free yourself (from hell) 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 later corrected. Libera te is often mistakenly merged into liberate, which would necessitate a plural pronoun instead of the singular tutemet (which is an emphatic form of tu, you).
Libertas Justitia Veritas Liberty Justice Truth Motto of the Korea University and Freie Universität Berlin.
Libertas Quae Sera Tamen freedom which [is] however late Liberty even when it comes late; Motto of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Libertas Securitas Justitia Liberty Security Justice Motto of the Frontex.
libra (lb) balance; scales Its abbreviation lb is used as a unit of weight, the pound.
loco citato (lc) in the place cited More fully written in loco citato. See also opere citato.
locus classicus a classic place The most typical or classic case of something; quotation which most typifies its use.
locus minoris resistentiae place of less resistance A medical term to describe a location on or in a body that offers little resistance to infection, damage, or injury. For example, a weakened place that tends to be reinjured.
locus standi A right to stand Standing in law (the right to have one's case in court).
lorem ipsum sorrow itself; pain for its own sake A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (On the Limits of Good and Evil, 45 BC), used as typographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a. greeking).
luceat lux vestra Let your light shine May be found in Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16. Popular as a school motto.
lucem sequimur We follow the light Motto of the University of Exeter
luctor et emergo I struggle and emerge Motto of the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its battle against the sea, and the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame.
lucus a non lucendo [it is] a grove by not being light From late 4th-century grammarian Honoratus Maurus, who sought to mock implausible word origins such as those proposed by Priscian. A pun based on the word lucus (dark 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.
ludemus bene in compania We play well in groups Motto of the Barony of Marinus.
lupus in fabula the wolf in the story With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will come"; from Terence's play Adelphoe.
lupus non mordet lupum a wolf does not bite a wolf
lupus non timet canem latrantem a wolf is not afraid of a barking dog
lux aeterna eternal light epitaph
lux et lex light and law Motto of the Franklin & Marshall College
lux et veritas light and truth A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim. Motto of several institutions.
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
lux libertas light, liberty Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lux mentis Lux orbis Light of the mind, Light of the world Motto of Sonoma State University
lux sit let there be light A more literal Latinization of the phrase; the most common translation is fiat lux, from Latin Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line "וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר" (And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light). Motto of the University of Washington.
lux tua nos ducat Your Light Guides Us Motto of St. Julian's School, Carcavelos, Portugal[32]
lux, veritas, virtus light, truth, courage Motto of Northeastern University
M [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
Macte animo! Generose puer sic itur ad astra Young, cheer up! This is the way to the skies. Motto of Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force Academy) of the Brazilian Air Force
magister dixit the teacher has said it Canonical medieval reference to Aristotle, precluding further discussion
Magna Carta Great Charter Set of documents from 1215 between Pope Innocent III, King John of England, and English barons.
magna cum laude with great praise Common Latin honor, above cum laude and below summa cum laude
magna est vis consuetudinis great is the power of habit
Magna Europa est patria nostra Great Europe is Our Fatherland Political motto of pan-Europeanists
magno cum gaudio with great joy
magnum opus great work Said of someone's masterpiece
maior e longinquo reverentia greater reverence from afar When viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful. Tacitus, Annales 1.47
maiora premunt greater things are pressing Used to indicate that it is the moment to address more important, urgent, issues.
mala fide in bad faith Said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or mislead someone. Opposite of bona fide.
Mala Ipsa Nova Bad News Itself Motto of the inactive 495th Fighter Squadron, US Air Force
mala tempora currunt bad times are upon us Also used ironically, e.g.: New teachers know all tricks used by pupils to copy from classmates? Oh, mala tempora currunt!.
male captus bene detentus wrongly captured, properly detained An illegal arrest will not prejudice the subsequent detention/trial.
malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery attributed to the Count Palatine of Posen before the Diet of Poland, cited in "The Social Contract or Principles of Political Right" by Jean Jacques Rousseau
malum discordiae apple of discord Alludes to the apple of Eris in the Judgement of Paris, the mythological cause of the Trojan War. It is also a pun based on the near-homonymous word malum (evil). The word for "apple" has a long ā vowel in Latin and the word for "evil" a short a vowel, but they are normally written the same.
malum in se wrong in itself A legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong (cf. malum prohibitum).
malum prohibitum wrong due to being prohibited A legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law.
malum quo communius eo peius the more common an evil is, the worse it is
manibus date lilia plenis give lilies with full hands A phrase from Virgil's Aeneid, VI.883, mourning the death of Marcellus, Augustus' nephew. Quoted by Dante as he leaves Virgil in Purgatory, XXX.21, echoed by Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass III, 6.
manu militari with a military hand Using armed forces in order to achieve a goal
manu propria (m.p.) with one's own hand With the implication of "signed by one's hand". Its abbreviated form is sometimes used at the end of typewritten or printed documents or 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.
manus celer Dei the swift hand of God Originally used as the name of a ship in the Marathon game series, its usage has spread. In the PlayStation game, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, the phrase was written in blood on the walls of a vampire's feeding room. It is assumed that one of the dying victims wrote it with his fingers. After the game's main character surveys the bloody room, associative logic dictates that the phrase was to deify both the vampire's wrath on shackled, powerless humans and the boundless slaughter of his victims.
manus manum lavat one hand washes the other famous quote from The Pumpkinification of Claudius, ascribed to Seneca the Younger.[33] It implies that one situation helps the other.
manus multae cor unum many hands, one heart Motto of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
mare clausum closed sea In law, a sea under the jurisdiction of one nation and closed to all others.
mare liberum free sea In law, a sea open to international shipping navigation.
mare nostrum our sea A nickname given to the Mediterranean Sea during the height of the Roman Empire, as it encompassed the entire coastal basin.
Mater Dei Mother of God A name given to describe Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, who is also called the Son of God.
mater familias the mother of the family The female head of a family. See pater familias.
Mater semper certa est The mother is always certain a Roman-law principle which has the power of praesumptio iuris et de iure, meaning that no counter-evidence can be made against this principle (literally: Presumed there is no counter evidence and by the law). Its meaning is that the mother of the child is always known.
materia medica medical matter The branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs used in the treatment of disease. Also, the drugs themselves.
me vexat pede it annoys me at the foot Less literally, "my foot itches". Refers to a trivial situation or person that is being a bother, possibly in the sense of wishing to kick that thing away or, such as the commonly-used expressions, a "pebble in one's shoe" or "nipping at one's heels".
mea culpa through my fault Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote the inherently flawed nature of mankind; can also be extended to mea maxima culpa (through my greatest fault).
mea navis aëricumbens anguillis abundat My hovercraft is full of eels A relatively common recent Latinization inspired by the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch by Monty Python.
media vita in morte sumus In the midst of our lives we die A well-known sequence, falsely attributed to Notker during the Middle Ages. It was translated by Cranmer and became a part of the burial service in the funeral rites of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.
Mediolanum captum est Milan has been captured Used erroneously as Mediolanum Capta Est by the black metal band Mayhem as an album title. Mediolanum was an ancient city in present-day Milan, Italy.
meliora better things Carrying the connotation of "always better". The motto of the University of Rochester.
Melita, domi adsum Honey, I'm home! A relatively common recent Latinization from the joke phrasebook Latin for All Occasions. Grammatically correct, but the phrase would be anachronistic in ancient Rome.
memento mori remember that [you will] die remember your mortality
memento vivere remember to live
meminerunt omnia amantes lovers remember all
memores acti prudentes futuri mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be Thus, both remembering the past and foreseeing the future. From the North Hertfordshire District Council coat of arms.
mens agitat molem the mind moves the mass From Virgil. Motto of Rossall School, the University of Oregon, the University of Warwick and the Eindhoven University of Technology.
mens et manus mind and hand Motto of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and also of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
mens rea guilty mind Also "culprit mind". A term used in discussing the mindset of an accused criminal.
mens sana in corpore sano a sound mind in a sound body Or "a sensible mind in a healthy body".
metri causa for the sake of the meter Excusing flaws in poetry "for the sake of the meter"
Miles Gloriosus Glorious Soldier Or "Boastful Soldier". Miles Gloriosus is the title of a play of Plautus. A stock character in comedy, the braggart soldier. (It is said that at Salamanca, there is a wall, on which graduates inscribe their names, where Francisco Franco had a plaque installed reading "Franciscus Francus Miles Gloriosus".)
minatur innocentibus qui parcit nocentibus he threatens the innocent who spares the guilty
mirabile dictu wonderful to tell
mirabile visu wonderful to see A Roman phrase used to describe a wonderful event/happening.
miscerique probat populos et foedera jungi He approves of the mingling of the peoples and their bonds of union Latin Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV, line 112, "he" referring to the great Roman god, who approved of the settlement of Romans in Africa. Old Motto of Trinidad and Tobago, and used in the novel A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul.
misera est servitus ubi jus est aut incognitum aut vagum miserable is that state of slavery in which the law is unknown or uncertain Quoted by Samuel Johnson in his paper for James Boswell on Vicious intromission.
miserabile visu terrible to see A terrible happening or event.
miserere nobis have mercy upon us A phrase within the Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the Agnus Dei, to be 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.
mittimus we send A warrant of commitment to prison, or an instruction for a jailer to hold someone in prison.
mobilis in mobili "moving in a moving thing" or, poetically, "changing through the changing medium" The motto of the Nautilus from the Jules Verne novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
modus morons
(Dog Latin) — Dog Latin based on wordplay with modus ponens and modus tollens, referring to the common logical fallacy that if P then Q and not P, then 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.
modus ponens method of placing Loosely "method of affirming", a logical rule of inference stating that from propositions if P then Q and P, then one can conclude Q.
modus tollens method of removing Loosely "method of denying", a logical rule of inference stating that from propositions if P then Q and not Q, then one can conclude not P.
modus vivendi method of living An accommodation between disagreeing parties to allow life to go on. A practical compromise.
Monasterium sine libris est sicut civitas sine opibus A monastery without books is like a city without wealth 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, castrum sine numeris, coquina sine suppellectili, mensa sine cibis, hortus sine herbis, pratum sine floribus, arbor sine foliis. Translation: A 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.
montaini semper liberi mountaineers [are] always free State motto of West Virginia, adopted in 1872.
Montis Insignia Calpe Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar
more ferarum like beasts used to describe any sexual act in the manner of beasts
morior invictus death before defeat
morituri nolumus mori we who are about to die don't want to From Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero
morituri te salutant those who are about to die salute you Used once in Suetonius' De Vita Caesarum 5, (Divus Claudius), chapter 21,[34] by the condemned prisoners manning galleys about to take part in a mock naval battle on Lake Fucinus in AD 52. Popular misconception ascribes it as a gladiator's salute. See also: Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant and Naumachia.
mors certa, hora incerta death is certain, its hour is uncertain
mors omnibus death to all Signifies anger and depression.
mors tua, vita mea your death, my life From medieval Latin, it indicates that battle for survival, where your defeat is necessary for my victory, survival.
mors vincit omnia death conquers all" or "death always wins An axiom often found on headstones.
morte magis metuenda senectus old age should rather be feared than death from Juvenal in his 'Satires'
mortui vivos docent The dead teach the living Used to justify dissections of human cadavers in order to understand the cause of death.
mortuum flagellas you are flogging a dead From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Criticising one who will not be affected in any way by the criticism.
mos maiorum the custom of our ancestors an unwritten code of laws and conduct, of the Romans. It institutionalized cultural traditions, societal mores, and general policies, as distinct from specific laws.
motu proprio on his own initiative Or "by his own accord." Identifies a class of papal documents, administrative papal bulls.
mulgere hircum to milk a male goat From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Attempting the impossible.
mulier est hominis confusio woman is man's ruin "Part of a comic definition of woman" from the Altercatio Hadriani Augusti et Secundi.[35] Famously quoted by Chauntecleer in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
multa paucis Say much in few words
multis e gentibus vires from many peoples, strength Motto of Saskatchewan
multitudo sapientium sanitas orbis a multitude of the wise is the health of the world From the Vulgate, Wisdom of Solomon 6:24. Motto of the University of Victoria.
multum in parvo much in little Conciseness. The term "mipmap" is formed using the phrase's abbreviation "MIP"; motto of Rutland, a county in central England.
Latin phrases are often multum in parvo, conveying much in few words.
mundus senescit the world grows old
mundus vult decipi the world wants to be deceived From James Branch Cabell's 1921 novel Figures of Earth
mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur the world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived
munit haec et altera vincit this one defends and the other one conquers Motto of Nova Scotia.
mutatis mutandis after changing what needed to be changed "with the appropriate changes"

[ben]

e pluribus unum out of many, one Former de facto motto of the United States of America. Used on many U.S. coins and inscribed on the Capitol. Also used as the motto of S.L. Benfica. Less commonly written as ex pluribus unum.
Ecce Homo Behold the Man From the Latin Vulgate Gospel according to St. John (XIX.v) (19.5, Douay-Rheims), 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").
ecce panis angelorum behold the bread of angels A phrase occasionally inscribed near the altar in Catholic churches; it makes reference to the Host; the Eucharist; the bread of Heaven; the Body of Christ. See also: Panis Angelicus.
editio princeps first edition The first printed edition of a work.
ego non not I short for "Even if all others... I will not."
ego te absolvo I absolve you Part of the absolution-formula spoken by a priest as part of the sacrament of Penance (cf. absolvo).
ego te provoco I provoke you Used as a challenge, "I dare you".
eheu fugaces labuntur anni Alas, the fleeting years slip by From Horace's Odes II, 14.
emeritus veteran Also "worn-out". Retired from office. Often used to denote a position held at the point of retirement, as an honor, such as professor emeritus or provost emeritus. This does not necessarily mean that the honoree is no longer active.
ens causa sui existing because of oneself Or "being one's own cause". Traditionally, a being that owes its existence to no other being, hence God or a Supreme Being (cf. Primum Mobile).
ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem by the sword she seeks a serene repose under liberty State motto of Massachusetts, adopted in 1775.
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity Occam's Razor or law of parsimony; that is, that arguments which do not introduce extraneous variables are to be preferred in logical argumentation.
entitas ipsa involvit aptitudinem ad extorquendum certum assensum reality involves a power to compel sure assent A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature of truth.
eo ipso by that very (act) Technical term used in philosophy and the law. Similar to ipso facto. Example: "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean that I think." From Latin eo ipso, ablative form of id ipsum, "that (thing) itself".
eo nomine by that name
equo ne credite do not trust the horse Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48–49 (Latin)
erga omnes in relation to everyone
ergo therefore Denotes a logical conclusion (cf. cogito ergo sum).
errare humanum est to err is human From Seneca the Younger: 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) (Philippicae XII, ii, 5). 300 years later Augustine of Hippo recycled the idea in his Sermones (164, 14): Humanum fuit errare, diabolicum est per animositatem in errore manere.[15]
erratum error Or "mistake". Lists of errors in a previous edition of a work are often marked with the plural, errata ("errors").
errantis voluntas nulla est the will of a mistaken party is void Roman legal principle formulated by Pomponius in the Digest of the Corpus Juris Civilis, stating that legal actions undertaken by man under the influence of error are ineffective.
eruditio et religio scholarship and religion Motto of Duke University
esse est percipi to be is to be perceived George Berkeley's motto for his idealist philosophical position that nothing exists independently of its perception by a mind except minds themselves.
esse quam videri to be, rather than to seem Truly being something, rather than merely seeming to be something. Motto of many institutions. From chapter 26 of Cicero's De amicitia ('On Friendship'). Earlier than Cicero, the phrase had been used by Sallust in his Bellum Catilinae (54.6), where he wrote that Cato esse quam videri bonus malebat (he preferred to be good, rather than to seem so). Earlier still, Aeschylus used a similar phrase in Seven Against Thebes, line 592, ou gar dokein aristos, all' enai thelei (he wishes not to seem the best, but to be the best). State motto of North Carolina. School motto of Colyton Grammar School.
est modo in rebus there is measure in things there is a middle ground in things, there is a middle way; from Horace's Satires 1.1.106; see also: Golden mean (philosophy).
esto perpetua may it be perpetual Said of Venice by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo Sarpi shortly before his death. Also the state motto of Idaho, adopted in 1867, and of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka. It is also used as the open motto of Sigma Phi Society, a collegiate Greek Letter Fraternity.
esto quod es be what you are Motto of Wells Cathedral School.
et alibi (et al.) and elsewhere A less common variant on et cetera used at the end of a list of locations to denote unlisted places.
et alii (et al.) and others Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest"), to stand for a list of names. Alii is actually masculine, so it can be used for men, or groups of men and women; the feminine, et aliae (or et aliæ), is appropriate when the "others" are all female. Et alia is neuter plural and thus properly used only for inanimate, genderless objects, but some use it as a gender-neutral alternative.[16] APA style uses et al. if the work cited was written by more than six authors; MLA style uses et al. for more than three authors.
et cetera (etc.) or (&c.) And the rest In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or "and more".
et facta est lux And light came to be or was made From Genesis 1:3 "and there was light". Motto of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
et hoc genus omne And all that sort of thing Abbreviated to e.h.g.o. or ehgo
et in Arcadia ego and in Arcadia [am] I In other words, "I, too, am in Arcadia". See memento mori.
et lux in tenebris lucet And light shines in the darkness See also Lux in Tenebris; motto for the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
et nunc reges intelligite erudimini qui judicatis terram And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth. From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate), 2.10 (Douay-Rheims).
et sequentes (et seq.) and the following (masc./fem. plural) Also et sequentia ('and the following things': neut.), abbreviations: et seqq., et seq.., or sqq.
et cum spiritu tuo And with your spirit
et suppositio nil ponit in esse and a supposition puts nothing in being More typically translated as "Sayin' it don't make it so".
et tu, Brute? And you, Brutus? Also "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?" Used to indicate a betrayal by someone close. From Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, based on the traditional dying words of Julius Caesar. However, these were almost certainly not Caesar's true last words; Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying, in Greek, the language of Rome's elite at the time, καὶ σὺ τέκνον; (Kaì sù téknon?), in English "You too, (my) child?", quoting from Menander.
et uxor (et ux.) and wife A legal term.
et vir and husband A legal term.
Etiamsi omnes, ego non Even if all others... I will not Peter to Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:33)
ex abundanti cautela out of an abundance of caution In law, describes someone taking precautions against a very remote contingency. "One might wear a belt in addition to braces ex abundanti cautela".[17] In banking, a loan in which the collateral is more than the loan itself. Also the basis for the term "an abundance of caution" employed by United States President Barack Obama to explain why his oath of office had to be re-administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts and again in reference to terrorist threats.
ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. From the Gospel according to St. Matthew, XII.xxxiv (Vulgate), 12.34 (Douay-Rheims) and the Gospel according to St. Luke, VI.xlv (Vulgate), 6.45 (Douay-Rheims). Sometimes rendered without enim ('for').
ex aequo from the equal "On equal footing", i.e., "in a tie". Used for those two (seldom more) participants of a competition, that showed exactly the same performance.
ex Africa semper aliquid novi Always something new from Africa (literally something of new) Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, VIII/42: unde etiam vulgare Graeciae dictum semper aliquid novi Africam adferre.[18]
ex animo from the heart Thus, "sincerely".
ex ante from before "Beforehand", "before the event". Based on prior assumptions. A forecast.
ex astris scientia From the Stars, Knowledge The motto of the fictional Starfleet Academy on Star Trek. Adapted from ex luna scientia, which in turn was modeled after ex scientia tridens.
ex cathedra from the chair A phrase applied to the declarations or promulgations of the Pope when, in communion with the college of cardinals, preserved from the possibility of error by the action of the Holy Spirit (see Papal infallibility), he solemnly declares or promulgates ("from the chair" that was the ancient symbol of the teacher and of the governor, in this case of the church) a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at least being intimately connected to divine revelation. Used, by extension, of anyone who is perceived as speaking as though with supreme authority.
ex cultu robur from culture [comes] strength The motto of Cranleigh School, Surrey.
ex Deo from God
ex dolo malo from fraud "From harmful deceit"; dolus malus is the Latin legal term for "fraud". The full legal phrase is ex dolo malo non oritur actio ("an action does not arise from fraud"). When an action has its origin in fraud or deceit, it cannot be supported; thus, a court of law will not assist a man who bases his course of action on an immoral or illegal act.
ex facie from the face Idiomatically rendered "on the face of it". A legal term typically used to note that a document's explicit terms are defective without further investigation.
ex fide fiducia from faith [comes] confidence A motto of St George's College, Harare.
ex fide fortis from faith [comes] strength A motto of Loyola School (New York City).
ex glande quercus from acorn to oak The motto of the Municipal Borough of Southgate, London.
ex gratia from kindness More literally "from grace". Refers to someone voluntarily performing an act purely out of kindness, as opposed to for personal gain or from being forced to do it. In law, an ex gratia payment is one made without recognizing any liability or legal obligation.
ex hypothesi from the hypothesis Thus, "by hypothesis".
ex infra (e.i.) cf. ex supra "from below" Recent academic notation for "from below in this writing"
ex juvantibus from that which helps The medical pitfall in which response to a therapeutic regimen substitutes proper diagnosis.
ex lege from the law
ex libris from the books Precedes a person's name, with the meaning of "from the library of..."; also a bookplate.
ex luna scientia from the moon, knowledge The motto of the Apollo 13 moon mission, derived from ex scientia tridens, the motto of Jim Lovell's Alma Mater, the United States Naval Academy.
ex malo bonum good out of evil From St. Augustine's "Sermon LXI" where he contradicts Seneca's dictum in Epistulae 87:22: bonum ex malo non fit (good does not come from evil). Also the alias of the Anberlin song, "Miserabile Visu" from their album New Surrender.
ex mea sententia in my opinion
ex mero motu out of mere impulse, or of one's own accord.
ex nihilo nihil fit nothing comes from nothing From Lucretius, and said earlier by Empedocles. Its original meaning is "work is required to succeed", but its modern meaning is a more general "everything has its origins in something" (cf. causality). It is commonly applied to the conservation laws in philosophy and modern science. Ex nihilo often used in conjunction with the term creation, as in creatio ex nihilo, meaning "creation out of nothing". It is often used in philosophy or theology in connection with the proposition that God created the universe from nothing. It is also mentioned in the final ad-lib of the Monty Python song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
ex novo from new Said of something that has been built from scratch.
Ex Oblivione from oblivion The title of a short story by H. P. Lovecraft.
ex officio from the office By virtue of office or position; "by right of office". Often used when someone holds one position by virtue of holding another: for example, the President of France is an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. A common misconception is that all ex officio members of a committee or congress may not vote – this may be the case, but it is not guaranteed by that title. In legal terms, ex officio refers to an administrative or judicial office taking action of its own accord, for example to invalidate a patent or prosecute copyright infringers.
ex opere operantis from the work of the one working A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere operato, referring to the notion that the validity or promised benefit of a sacrament depends on the person administering it.
ex opere operato from the work worked A theological phrase meaning that the act of receiving a sacrament actually confers the promised benefit, such as 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.
ex oriente lux light from the east Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but alludes to culture coming from the Eastern world. Motto of several institutions.
ex parte from a part A legal term meaning "by one party" or "for one party". Thus, on behalf of one side or party only.
ex pede Herculem from Hercules' foot From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall know his size; from a part, the whole.
ex post from after "Afterward", "after the event". Based on knowledge of the past. Measure of past performance.
ex post facto from a thing done afterward Said of a law with retroactive effect.
ex professo from one declaring [an art or science] Or 'with due competence'. Said of the person who perfectly knows his art or science.
ex scientia tridens from knowledge, sea power. The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to knowledge bringing men power over the sea comparable to that of the trident-bearing Greek god Poseidon.
ex scientia vera from knowledge, truth The motto of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
ex silentio from silence 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 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"
ex supra (e.s.) cf. ex infra "from above" Recent academic notation for "from above in this writing".
ex tempore from [this moment of] time "This instant", "right away" or "immediately". Also written extempore.
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio From a dishonorable cause an action does not arise A legal doctrine which states that a claimant will be unable to pursue a cause of action, if it arises in connection with his own illegal act. Particularly relevant in the law of contract, tort and trusts.
ex umbra in solem from the shadow into the light Motto of Federico Santa María Technical University.
ex unitae vires union is strength, or unity is strength Former motto of South Africa.
ex vi termini from the force of the term Thus, "by definition".
ex vivo out of or from life Used in reference to the study or assay of living tissue in an artificial environment outside the living organism.
ex voto from the vow Thus, in accordance with a promise. An ex voto is also an offering made in fulfillment of a vow.
ex vulgus scientia from crowd, knowledge used to describe social computing, The Wisdom of Crowds
excelsior higher "Ever upward!" The state motto of New York. Also a catch phrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.
exceptio firmat (or probat) regulam in casibus non exceptis The exception confirms the rule in cases which are not excepted A juridical principle which means that the statement of a rule's exception (e.g., "no parking on Sundays") implicitly confirms the rule (i.e., that parking is allowed Monday through Saturday). Often mistranslated as "the exception that proves the rule".
excusatio non petita accusatio manifesta an excuse that has not been sought [is] an obvious accusation More loosely, "he who excuses himself, accuses himself"—an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt. In French, qui s'excuse, s'accuse.
exeat may he/she leave A formal leave of absence.
exempli gratia (e.g.) for the sake of example Usually shortened in English to "for example" (see citation signal). Often confused with id est (i.e.).[19]
Exempli gratia, "for example", is commonly abbreviated "e.g."; in this usage it is sometimes followed by a comma, depending on style.[20]
exercitus sine duce corpus est sine spiritu an army without a leader is a body without a spirit On a plaque at the former military staff building of the Swedish Armed Forces.
exeunt they leave Third-person plural present active indicative of the Latin verb exire; also extended to exeunt omnes, "all leave"; singular: exit.
experientia docet experience teaches This term has been used in dermatopathology to express that there is no substitute for experience in dealing with all the numerous variations that may occur with skin conditions.[21] The term has also been used in gastroenterology.[22]
experimentum crucis experiment of the cross Or "crucial experiment". A decisive test of a scientific theory.
experto crede trust the expert Literally "believe one who has had experience". An author's aside to the reader.
expressio unius est exclusio alterius the expression of the one is the exclusion of the other "Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing". A principle of legal statutory interpretation: the explicit presence of a thing implies intention to exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief Act 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").
extra domum [placed] outside of the house Refers to a possible result of Catholic ecclesiastical legal proceedings when the culprit is removed from being part of a group like a monastery.
extra Ecclesiam nulla salus outside the Church [there is] no salvation This expression comes from the writings of Saint Cyprian of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It is often used to summarise the doctrine that the Catholic Church is absolutely necessary for salvation.
extra omnes outside, all [of you] It is issued by the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations before a session of the Papal conclave which will elect a new Pope. When spoken, all those who are not Cardinals, or those otherwise mandated to be present at the Conclave, must leave the Sistine Chapel.
extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur he who administers justice outside of his territory is disobeyed with impunity Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited in law of the sea cases on the high seas.
F [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
faber est suae quisque fortunae every man is the artisan of his own fortune Appius Claudius Caecus. Motto of Fort Street High School in Petersham, Sydney, Australia.
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.
faciam quodlibet quod necesse est I'll do whatever it takes
facile princeps easily the first Said of the acknowledged leader in some field, especially in the arts and humanities.
facio liberos ex liberis libris libraque "I make free adults out of children by means of books and a balance." Motto of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
facta, non verba deeds, not words Frequently used as motto.
falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus false in one, false in all A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness who willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter. The underlying motive for attorneys to impeach opposing witnesses in court: the principle discredits the rest of their testimony if it is without corroboration.
feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes I have done what I could; let those who can do better. from Henry Baerlein's introduction to his translation of The Diwan of Abul ʿAla by Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri (973–1057);[23] also in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, act I.
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 gentibus unam "From differing peoples you have made one native land" Verse 63 from the poem De reditu suo by Rutilius Claudius Namatianus praising emperor Augustus.[24]
felicior Augusto, melior Traiano "be more fortunate than Augustus and better than Trajan" A ritual acclamation delivered to late Roman emperors.
felix culpa fortunate fault from "Exsultet" of the Catholic liturgy
felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas happy is he who can discover the causes of things Virgil. "Rerum cognoscere causas" is the motto of the London School of Economics and the University of Sheffield.
felo de se felon from himself An archaic legal term for one who commits suicide, referring to early English common law punishments, such as land seizure, inflicted on those who killed themselves.
fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt men generally believe what they want to People's beliefs are shaped largely by their desires. Julius Caesar, The Gallic War 3.18
festina lente hurry slowly An oxymoronic motto of Augustus. It encourages proceeding quickly, but with calm and caution. Equivalent to 'More haste, less speed'. Motto of The Madeira School, McLean, Virginia.
festinare nocet, nocet et cunctatio saepe; tempore quaeque suo qui facit, ille sapit. it is bad to hurry, and delay is often as bad; the wise person is the one who does everything in its proper time. Ovid[25]
fiat iustitia et pereat mundus let justice be done, though the world shall perish Motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
fiat justitia ruat caelum let justice be done should the sky fall Attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus.
fiat lux let light be made Less literally, "let light arise" or "let there be light" (cf. lux sit). From the Latin translation of Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God said, 'Let light be made', and light was made."); frequently used as motto for educational institutions.
fiat panis let there be bread Motto of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
fiat voluntas Dei May God's will be done The motto of Robert May's School
fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done The motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris fictions meant to please should approximate the truth Horace Ars Poetica (338), advice presumably discounted by the magical realists
Fidei Defensor (Fid Def) or (fd) Defender of the Faith A title given to Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on October 17, 1521 before Henry became a heresiarch. Still used by the British monarchs, it appears on all British coins, usually abbreviated.
fidem scit He knows the faith Sometimes mistranslated to "Keep the faith", when used in contemporary English-language writings of all kinds to convey a light-hearted wish for the reader's well-being.
fides qua creditur the faith by which it is believed the personal faith which apprehends, contrasted with fides quae creditur
fides quae creditur the faith which is believed the content of "the faith," contrasted with fides qua creditur
fides quaerens intellectum faith seeking understanding the motto of Saint Anselm, found in his Proslogion
fidus Achates faithful Achates A faithful friend. From the name of Aeneas's faithful companion in Virgil's Aeneid.
filae nostrae sicvt angvli incisi similitvdine templi may our daughters be as polished as the corners' of the temple Motto of Francis Holland School
finis coronat opus the end crowns the work the end justifies the means.
finis vitae sed non amoris the end of life, but not of love
flagellum dei scourge of god referred to Attila the Hun, when he led his armies to invade the Western Roman Empire.
flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell Virgil's Aeneid, book VII.312
floreat etona may Eton flourish Motto of Eton College
floreat nostra schola may our school flourish Common school motto
floruit (fl.) one flourished Indicates the period when a historical figure whose birth and death dates are unknown was most active.
fluctuat nec mergitur she wavers and is not immersed Motto of Paris
fons et origo the spring and source "The fountainhead and beginning". The source and origin.
fons sapientiae, verbum Dei the fount of knowledge is the word of God. The motto of Bishop Blanchet High School.
forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit perhaps even these things will be good to remember one day From Virgil's Aeneid, book I, line 203.
fortes fortuna adiuvat Fortune favours the bold The motto of the 3rd Marine Regiment
fortes in fide strong in faith Frequently used as motto.
fortis cadere, cedere non potest The brave may fall, but cannot yield Motto of Fahnestock Family Arms.
fortis est veritas truth is strong Motto on the coat of arms of Oxford, England.
fortis et liber strong and free Motto of Alberta
fortis in arduis strong in difficulties Motto of Municipal Borough of Middleton from the Earl of Middleton.
fortiter et fideliter bravely and faithfully Frequently used as motto.
fortunae meae, multorum faber artisan of my fate and that of several others Motto of Gatineau.
fui quod es, eris quod sum I once was what you are, you will be what I am An Epitaph, made to remind the reader of the inevitability of death, saying "Once I was alive like you are, and you will be dead as I am now." As believed, it was carved on a gravestone of some Roman military officers.
fumus boni iuris presumption of sufficient legal basis
fundamenta inconcussa unshakable foundation
G [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
gaudeamus hodie let us rejoice today
gaudeamus igitur therefore let us rejoice First words of a famous academic anthem used, among other places, in The Student Prince.
gaudete in domino rejoice in the Lord Motto of Bishop Allen Academy
gaudium in veritate joy in truth Motto of Campion School
generalia specialibus non derogant general provisions enacted in later legislation do not detract from specific provisions enacted in earlier legislation A principle of statutory interpretation: If a matter falls under a specific provision in a statute enacted before a general provision enacted in a later statute, it is to be presumed that the legislature did not intend that the earlier specific provision be repealed, and the matter is governed by the earlier specific provision, not the more recent general one.
genius loci spirit of place The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually depicted as a snake.
generatim discite cultus Learn each field of study according to its kind. (Virgil, Georgics II.) Motto of the University of Bath.
gesta non verba deeds, not words Motto of James Ruse Agricultural High School.
Gloria in excelsis Deo Glory to God in the Highest Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title and beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
gloria filiorum patres The glory of sons is their fathers (Proverbs17:6) Motto of Eltham College
Gloria Patri Glory to the Father The beginning of the Lesser Doxology.
gloriosus et liber glorious and free Motto of Manitoba
gradatim ferociter by degrees, ferociously Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin
gradibus ascendimus ascending by degrees Motto of Grey College, Durham
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit Conquered Greece in turn defeated its savage conqueror Horace Epistles 2.1
Graecum est; non legitur It is Greek (and therefore) it cannot be read. Most commonly from William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar where Casca couldn't explain to Cassius what Cicero was saying because he was speaking Greek. The more common collloquilism would be: It's all Greek to me.
Grandescunt Aucta Labore By hard work, all things increase and grow Motto of McGill University
gratiae veritas naturae Truth through mercy and nature Motto of Uppsala University
graviora manent heavier things remain more severe things await, the worst is yet to come
Gravis Dulcis Immutabilis serious sweet immutable Title of a poem by James Elroy Flecker [26]
gutta cavat lapidem [non vi sed saepe cadendo] a water drop hollows a stone [not by force, but by falling often] main phrase is from Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10, 5.;[27] expanded in the Middle Ages
H [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
habeas corpus You should have the body 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 subjiciendum (you may have the body to bring up). Commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention.
habemus papam we have a pope Used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope.
Habent sua fata libelli Books have their destiny [according to the capabilities of the reader]
hac lege with this law
haec olim meminisse iuvabit one day, this will be pleasing to remember Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look back on this and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also, motto of the Jefferson Society.
Hannibal ad portas Hannibal is at the gates Roman parents would tell their misbehaving children this, invoking their fear of Hannibal.
Hannibal ante portas Hannibal before the gates Refers to wasting time while the enemy is already here. Attributed to Cicero.
haud ignota loquor I speak not of unknown things Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.91.
hic abundant leones here lions abound Written on uncharted territories of old maps; see also: here be dragons.
hic et nunc here and now
The imperative motto for the satisfaction of desire. "I need it, Here and Now"
hic jacet (HJ) here lies Also rendered hic iacet. Written on gravestones or tombs, preceding the name of the deceased. Equivalent to hic sepultus (here is buried), and sometimes combined into hic jacet sepultus (HJS), "here lies buried".
hic manebimus optime here we'll stay excellently According to Titus Livius the phrase was pronounced by Marcus Furius Camillus, addressing the senators who intended to abandon the city, invaded by Gauls, circa 390 BC. It is used today to express the intent to keep one's position even if the circumstances appear adverse.
hic sunt dracones here there are dragons Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
hic sunt leones here there are lions Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
hinc et inde from both sides
hinc illae lacrimae hence those tears From Terence, Andria, line 125. Originally literal, referring to the tears shed by Pamphilus at the funeral of Chrysis, it came to be used proverbially in the works of later authors, such as Horace (Epistula XIX, 41).
hinc robur et securitas herefore strength and safety Motto of the Central Bank of Sweden.
historia vitae magistra history, the teacher of life From Cicero's De Oratore, II, 9. Also "history is the mistress of life".
hoc age do this Motto of Bradford Grammar School, often purposefully mistranslated by pupils as "Just do it!".
hoc est bellum This is war
hoc est Christum cognoscere, beneficia eius cognoscere To know Christ is to know his benefits Famous dictum by the Reformer Melanchthon in his Loci Communes of 1521
hoc est enim corpus meum This is my Body The words of Jesus reiterated in Latin during the Roman Catholic Eucharist: "Hoc est corpus"
hodie mihi, cras tibi Today it's me, tomorrow it will be you
hominem non morbum cura Treat the Man, not the Disease Motto of the Far Eastern University – Institute of Nursing
homo bulla man is a bubble 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, man is a bubble, all the more so is an old man)[28] later reintroduced by Erasmus in his Adagia, a collection of sayings published in 1572.
homo homini lupus man [is a] wolf to man First attested in Plautus' Asinaria (lupus est homo homini). The sentence was drawn on by Hobbes in Leviathan as a concise expression of his human nature view.
homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus One is innocent until proven guilty See also: presumption of innocence.
homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto I am a human being; nothing human is strange to me From Terence, Heautontimoroumenos. Originally "strange" or "foreign" (alienum) was used in the sense of "irrelevant", as this line was a response to the speaker being told to mind his own business, but it is now commonly used to advocate respecting different cultures and being humane in general. Puto (I consider) is not translated because it is meaningless outside of the line's context within the play.
homo unius libri (timeo) (I fear) a man of one book Attributed to Thomas Aquinas
honestes ante honores honesty before glory Motto of King George V school, Hong Kong, China
honor virtutis praemium esteem is the reward of virtue Motto of Arnold School, Blackpool, England
honoris causa for the sake of honor Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science honoris causa".
hora fugit the hour flees See tempus fugit.
hora somni (h.s.) at the hour of sleep Medical shorthand for "at bedtime".
horas non numero nisi serenas I do not count the hours unless they are sunny A common inscription on sundials.
horribile dictu horrible to say That is, "a horrible thing to relate". Cf. mirabile dictu.
hortus in urbe A garden in the city Motto of the Chicago Park District, a playful allusion to the city's motto, urbs in horto, q.v.
hortus siccus A dry garden A collection of dry, preserved plants.
hostis humani generis enemy of the human race Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general.
humilitas occidit superbiam humility conquers pride
hypotheses non fingo I do not fabricate hypotheses From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert that any hypotheses are true".

[ben]

a bene placito from one well pleased Or "at will", "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and its Italian (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplácito) derivatives, are synonymous with the more common ad libitum (at pleasure).
a caelo usque ad centrum from the sky to the center 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 ad coelum et ad inferos maxim of property ownership ("for whoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths").
a capite ad calcem from head to heel From top to bottom; all the way through (colloquially "from head to toe"). Equally a pedibus usque ad caput.
a contrario from the opposite Equivalent 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 since Deucalion A long time ago. From Gaius Lucilius (Satires, 6, 284)
a falsis principiis proficisci to set forth from false principles Legal term from Cicero's De Finibus 4.53.
a fortiori from the stronger Loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger reason". Often used to lead from a less certain proposition to a more evident corollary.
a mari usque ad mare from sea to sea From Psalm 72:8, "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine 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.
a pedibus usque ad caput from feet to head Completely. Similar to the English expressions "from tip to toe" or "from top to toe". Equally a capite ad calcem. See also ab ovo usque ad mala.
a posse ad esse from being able to being "From possibility to actuality" or "from being possible to being actual"
a posteriori from the latter Based on observation (i.e., empirical knowledge), the reverse of a priori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known after a proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to denote something known from experience.
a priori from the former 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 denote something is supposed without empirical evidence. In everyday speech, it denotes something occurring or being known before the event.
ab absurdo from the absurd Said of an argument that seeks to prove a statement's validity by pointing out the absurdity of an opponent's position (cf. appeal to ridicule) or that an assertion is false because of its absurdity. Not to be confused with a reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid logical argument.
ab abusu ad usum non valet consequentia an inference from an abuse to a use is not valid Rights abused are still rights (cf. abusus non tollit usum).
ab aeterno from the eternal Literally, "from the everlasting" or "from eternity". Thus, "from time immemorial", "since the beginning of time" or "from an infinitely remote time in the past". In theology, often indicates something, such as the universe, that was created outside of time.
ab antiquo from the ancient From ancient times.
ab epistulis from the 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 or abhinc 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 inconvenient thing New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from inconvenience" or "from hardship". An argumentum ab inconvenienti is one based on the difficulties involved in pursuing a line of reasoning, and is thus a form of appeal to consequences; it refers to a rule in law that an argument from inconvenience has great weight.
ab incunabulis from the cradle Thus, "from the beginning" or "from infancy". Incunabula is commonly used in English to refer to the earliest stage or origin of something, and especially to copies of books that predate the spread of the printing press around AD 1500.
ab initio from the beginning "At the outset", referring to an inquiry or investigation. In literature, refers to a story told from the beginning rather than in medias res (from the middle). In law, refers to something being the case from the start or from the instant of the act, rather than from when the court declared it so. A judicial declaration of the invalidity of a marriage ab initio is a nullity. In science, refers to the first principles. In other contexts, often refers to beginner or training courses. Ab initio mundi means "from the beginning of the world".
ab intestato from an intestate 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 decision or action that is detrimental to those it affects and was made based on hatred or anger, rather than on reason. The form irato is masculine; however, this does not mean it applies only to men, rather 'person' is meant, as the phrase probably elides "homo," not "vir."
ab origine from the source From the origin, beginning, source, or commencement—i.e., "originally". 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 also connote thoroughness.
ab uno disce omnes from one, learn all From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a single example or observation indicates a general or universal truth. Visible in the court of King Silas in the TV series Kings.
ab urbe condita (a.u.c.) from the city having been founded Or "from the founding of Rome", which occurred in 753 BC according to Livy's count. Used as a reference point in ancient Rome for establishing dates, before being supplanted by other systems. Also anno urbis conditae (a.u.c.) (literally "in the year of the founded city").
ab utili from utility Used of an argument.
absens haeres non erit an absent person will not be an heir In law, refers to the principle that someone who is not present is unlikely to inherit.
absente reo (abs. re.) [with] the defendant being absent In the absence of the accused.
absit iniuria verbis (or injuria) let injury be absent from [these] words Expresses the wish that no insult or wrong be conveyed by the speaker'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", absit invidia is not a mere social gesture to avoid causing offense, but also a way to ward off the harm that some people superstitiously believe animosity can cause others. Also extended to absit invidia verbo, meaning "may ill will be absent from the word" (cf. absit iniuria verbis).
absit omen let an omen be absent Or "let this not be a bad omen". Expresses the wish that something 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 power or sovereignty.
absolvo I acquit A legal term said by a judge acquitting a defendant following a trial. Te absolvo or absolvo te, translated, "I forgive you," said by Roman Catholic priests during the Sacrament of Confession, in Latin prior to the Second Vatican Council and in vernacular thereafter.
abundans cautela non nocet abundant caution does no harm Frequently phrased as "one can never be too careful".
abusus non tollit usum misuse does not remove use Just because something is misused doesn't mean it can't be used correctly.
abyssus abyssum 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 nemo se debet nisi coram Deo no one ought to accuse himself except in the Presence of God A legal maxim denoting that any accused person is entitled to make a plea of not guilty, and also that a witness is not obliged to give a response or submit a document that will incriminate himself. A very similar phrase is nemo tenetur se ipsum accusare "no one is bound to accuse himself". See right to silence.
acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt mortal actions never deceive the gods Ovid's Tristia 1.2.97: si tamen acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt, / a culpa facinus scitis abesse mea. "Yet if mortal actions never deceive the gods, / you know that crime was absent from my fault."
acta est fabula plaudite The play has been performed; applaud! A common ending to ancient Roman comedies, also claimed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to have been Augustus' last words. Applied by Sibelius to the third movement of his String Quartet no. 2 so that his audience would realize it was the 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 the Saints Also used in the singular, Acta Sancti (Deeds of the Saint), preceding a specific Saint's name. A common title of works in hagiography.
actus me invito factus non est meus actus the act done by me against my will is not my act
actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea The act does not make guilty unless the mind should 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 or thought process leading up to the crime. Thus, the external elements of a crime, as contrasted with mens rea, the internal elements.
ad absurdum to the absurd In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See also reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused with ab absurdo (from the absurd).
ad abundantiam to abundance In legal language, used when providing additional evidence to an already sufficient collection. Also used commonly, as an equivalent of "as if this wasn't enough".
ad arbitrium at will, at pleasure
ad acta to the archives, no longer relevant
ad astra to the stars Name or motto (in full or part) of many organizations, publications, etc.
ad astra per alas porci to the stars on the wings of a pig A favorite saying of John Steinbeck. A professor told him that he would be an author when pigs flew. Every book he wrote is printed with this insignia.
ad astra per aspera to the stars through difficulty Motto of Kansas, and other organisations. The phrase is also translated as "A rough road leads to the stars", as on the Launch Complex 34 memorial plaque for the astronauts of Apollo 1.
ad augusta per angusta to rise to a high position overcoming hardships.
ad captandum vulgus in order to capture the crowd To appeal to the masses. Often used of politicians. An argumentum ad captandum is an argument designed to please the crowd.
ad eundem to the same An ad eundem degree, from the Latin ad eundem gradum (to the same step" or "to the same degree), is a courtesy degree awarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another. It is not an honorary degree, but a recognition of the formal learning that earned the degree at another college.
ad fontes to the sources A motto of Renaissance humanism. Also used in the Protestant Reformation.
ad fundum to the bottom Said during a generic toast, equivalent to "bottoms up!" In other contexts, generally means "back to the basics".
ad hoc to this Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised on the 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 the subject of debate is 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 Generally means "for the honour", not seeking any material reward.
ad infinitum to infinity Going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases in mathematical proof.
ad interim (ad int) for the meantime As in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim" for a diplomatic officer who acts in place of an ambassador.
ad kalendas graecas at the Greek Calends Attributed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to Augustus. The Calends were specific days of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, 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 you wish"; libitum comes 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.
ad litem to the lawsuit A legal term referring to a party appointed by a court to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party who is deemed incapable of representing himself. An individual who acts in this capacity is called a guardian ad litem.
ad lucem to the light Motto of Oxford High School (Oxford), the University of Lisbon, Withington Girls' School and St. Bartholomew's School, Newbury, UK
ad maiorem Dei gloriam or ad majorem Dei gloriam (AMDG) to the greater glory of God Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Edward Elgar dedicated his oratorio The Dream of Gerontius "A.M.D.G."
ad meliora Towards better things motto of St. Patrick's College, Cavan, Ireland
ad mortem To death used in medical contexts as a synonym for death
ad 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 humorous alternative to ad infinitum. An argumentum ad nauseam is a logical fallacy involving basing one's argument on prolonged repetition, 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 the letter", meaning "to the last detail".
ad perpetuam memoriam to the perpetual memory Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is used to wish for someone to be remembered long after death.
ad pondus omnium (ad pond om) to the weight of all things More loosely, "considering everything's weight". The abbreviation was historically used by physicians and others to signify that the last 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
(ad ref) to be proposed [before the Senate] Loosely "subject to reference": provisionally approved, but still needing official approval. Not the same as a referendum.
ad rem to the matter Thus, "to the point", without digression.
ad terminum qui praeteriit for the term which has passed A legal term for a writ of entry ad terminum qui praeteriit [for the term which has passed].[1]
ad undas to the waves Equivalent to "to hell".
ad unum to one
ad usum Delphini for the use of the Dauphin Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive or improper parts. The phrase originates from editions of Greek and Roman classics which Louis XIV had censored for his heir apparent, the Dauphin. Also rarely in usum Delphini (into the use of the Dauphin).
ad usum proprium (ad us. propr.) for one's own use
ad utrumque paratus prepared for either [alternative] The motto of Lund University, with the implied alternatives being the book (study) and the sword (defending the country in war).
ad valorem according to value Used in commerce to refer to ad valorem taxes, taxes based on the assessed value of real estate or personal property.
ad victoriam to victory More commonly translated into "for victory" this is a battlecry of the Romans.
ad vitam aeternam to eternal life Also "to life everlasting". A common Biblical phrase.
ad vitam aut culpam 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. The plural is addenda.
adaequatio intellectus et rei correspondence of the mind and reality One of the definitions of the truth. When the mind has the same form as reality, we think truth. Also found as adaequatio rei et intellectus.
adaequatio intellectus nostri cum re conformity of our minds to the fact A phrase used in Epistemology regarding the nature of understanding.
adsum I am here Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite of absum "I am absent".
adversus solem ne loquitor don't speak against the sun Or don't argue what's obviously wrong.
advocatus diaboli devil's advocate Someone who, given a certain argument, takes a position he or she 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" (in the sense of: "age: ...) Abbreviation of "aetatis"; further abbreviated (and more common): "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 of his age". Sometimes shortened to just aetatis or aetat (aet.).
The tomb reads Anno 1629 Aetatis Suae 46 because she died in 1629 at age 46.
affidavit he asserted A legal term from Medieval Latin referring to a sworn statement. From fides, "faith".
age quod agis Do what you are doing. More often translated as "Do well whatever you do", this phrase is used as the motto of several Catholic schools. Literally translated, it means "Drive, because you are driven"; figuratively it means "keep going, because you are inspired or dedicated to do so".
agenda things to be done Originally comparable to a to-do list, an ordered list of things to be done. Now generalized to include any planned course of action. The singular, agendum (thing that must be done), is rarely used.
agere sequitur credere 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 connection among ontology, obligation and ethics.[2]
Agnus Dei Lamb of God Latin translation from John 1:36, where John the Baptist exclaims Ecce Agnus Dei! "Behold the Lamb of God!" upon seeing Jesus, referring both to a lamb's connotations of innocence and to a sacrificial lamb.
alea iacta est the die has been cast 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 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 libertas Light [is] to be nourished where liberty [has] arisen. Or "let learning be cherished..." The motto of Davidson College.
alias at another time, otherwise An assumed name or pseudonym. Similar to alter ego, but more specifically referring to a name, not to a "second self".
alibi elsewhere A legal defense where a defendant attempts to show that he was elsewhere at the time a crime was committed.
His alibi is sound; he gave evidence that he was in another city on the night of the murder.
aliquid stat pro aliquo something stands for something else A foundational definition for semiotics.
alis aquilae on an eagle's wings taken from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. "But those who wait for the Lord shall find 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."
alis grave nil nothing [is] heavy with wings Or "nothing is heavy to those who have wings". Motto of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
alis volat propriis she flies with her own wings State motto of Oregon; adopted in 1987, it replaced "The Union", 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 derived from mater. The term suggests that the students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by the university. The term is also used for a university's traditional school anthem.
alter ego another I Another self, a second persona or alias. Can be used to describe different facets or identities of a single character, or different characters who seem representations of the same personality. Often used of a fictional character's secret identity.
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest Let no man be another's who can be his own Final sentence from Aesop ascribed fable (see also Aesop's Fables) "The Frogs Who Desired a King" as appears in the collection commonly known as the "Anonymus Neveleti" (fable XXIb. 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
alumna pupil graduate or former student of a school, college or university
amicus curiae friend of the court An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to the favour of powerful group, like a Roman Curia. In current U.S. legal usage, an amicus curiae is a third party allowed to submit a legal opinion (in the form of an amicus brief) to the court.
Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas. Plato is my friend, but truth is a better friend. to value truth higher than friendship; attributed to Aristotle (Ethics, 1096a15) and Roger Bacon (Opus Majus, P. I, ch. v)
amittere legem terrae to lose the law of the land An obsolete legal term signifying the forfeiture of the right of swearing in any court or cause, or to become infamous.
Amat victoria curam Victory favors care Motto of Baylor School - Chattanooga, Tennessee; Wellesley College Primary School - Eastbourne, New Zealand; Victoria College- St. Helier Parish, Jersey, the Channel Islands.
amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus love is rich with both honey and venom
amor fati love of fate Nietzscheian alternative world view to memento mori [remember you must die]. Nietzsche believed amor fati to be more life affirming.
amor omnibus idem love is the same for all from Virgil's Georgics III.
amor patriae love of one's country Patriotism.
amor vincit omnia love conquers all written on bracelet worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales
anglice in English Used before the anglicized version of a word or name. For example, "Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland".
anno (an.) in the year Also used in such phrases as anno urbis conditae (see ab urbe condita), 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 Our Lord Jesus Christ), the predominantly used system for dating years across the world, used with the Gregorian calendar, and based on the perceived year of the birth of Jesus Christ. The years before Jesus' birth were once marked with a.C.n (Ante Christum Natum, Before Christ was Born), but now use the English abbreviation BC (Before Christ). Example: Augustus Caesar 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 cœptis He nods at things being begun Or "he approves our undertakings". Motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill.
annus horribilis horrible year A recent pun on annus mirabilis, first used by Queen Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her, and subsequently occasionally used to refer to many other years perceived as "horrible". In Classical Latin, this phrase would actually mean "terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.
annus mirabilis wonderful year Used particularly to refer to the years 1665–1666, during which Isaac Newton made revolutionary inventions and discoveries in calculus, motion, optics and gravitation. Annus Mirabilis is also the title of a poem by John Dryden written in the same year. It has since been used to refer to other years, especially to 1905, when Albert Einstein made equally revolutionary discoveries concerning the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion and the special theory of relativity. (See Annus Mirabilis papers)
annus terribilis dreadful year Used to describe 1348, the year the Black Death began to afflict Europe.
ante bellum before the war As in status quo ante bellum, "as it was before the war". Commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the American Civil War.
ante cibum (a.c.) before food Medical shorthand for "before meals".
ante litteram before the letter Said of an expression or term that describes something which existed before the phrase itself was introduced or became 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 (cf. post meridiem).
ante mortem before death See post mortem (after death).
ante prandium (a.p.) before lunch Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote "before a meal". 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 hand
aqua (aq.) water
aqua 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.
aqua vitae water of life "Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, brandy (eau de vie) in France, and akvavit in Scandinavia.
aquila non capit muscas an eagle doesn't catch flies A noble or important person doesn't deal with insignificant issues.
arare litus to plough the seashore From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Wasted labour.
arbiter elegantiarum judge of tastes One who prescribes, rules on, or is a recognized authority on matters of social behavior and taste. Said of Petronius. Sometimes found in the singular, arbiter elegantiae (judge of taste).
Arcana imperii Invisible power
Arcanum boni tenoris animae The secret behind a good 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 in elderly people.
arduus ad solem Striving towards the sun 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 arguing For the sake of argument. Said when something is done purely in order to discuss a matter or illustrate a point. Example: Let us assume, arguendo, that your claim is correct.
argumentum argument Or "reasoning", "inference", "appeal", "proof". The plural is argumenta. Commonly used in the names of logical arguments and fallacies, preceding phrases such as a silentio (by silence), ad antiquitatem (to antiquity), ad baculum (to the stick), ad captandum (to capturing), ad consequentiam (to the consequence), ad crumenam (to the purse), ad feminam (to the woman), ad hominem (to the person), ad ignorantiam (to ignorance), ad judicium (to judgment), ad lazarum (to poverty), ad logicam (to logic), ad metum (to fear), ad misericordiam (to pity), ad nauseam (to nausea), ad novitatem (to novelty), ad personam (to the character), ad numerum (to the number), ad odium (to spite), ad populum (to the people), ad temperantiam (to moderation), ad verecundiam (to reverence), ex silentio (from silence), in terrorem (into terror), and e contrario (from/to the opposite).
ars [est] celare artem art [is] to conceal art An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural rather than contrived. Of medieval origin, but often incorrectly attributed to Ovid.[3]
ars gratia artis art for art's sake Translated into Latin from Baudelaire's "L'art pour l'art". Motto of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This phrasing is a direct translation of 'art for the sake of art.' While very symmetrical for the MGM logo, the better Latin word order is 'Ars artis gratia.'
ars longa, vita brevis art is long, life is short The Latin translation by Seneca (De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1) of a phrase 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 Bohemiae Amicis Friends of Czech Arts Award of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic for the promotion of the positive reputation of Czech culture abroad.
asinus ad lyram an ass to the lyre From Erasmus's collection of Adages. An awkward or incompetent individual.
asinus asinum fricat the jackass rubs the jackass Used to describe two people lavishing excessive praise on one another.
assecuratus non quaerit lucrum sed agit ne in damno sit the assured does not seek profit but makes [it his profit] that he not be in loss Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity cannot be larger 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.
auctoritas authority The level of prestige a person had in Roman society.
Auctoritas non veritas facit legem authority, not truth, makes law This formula appears in the 1670 Latin translation of the Hobbes' Leviathan, II, 26[4]
audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret slander boldly, something always sticks from Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623)
audax at fidelis bold but faithful Motto of Queensland.
audeamus let us dare Motto of Otago University Students' Association, a direct response to the university's motto of sapere aude "dare to be wise". Also Motto of Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
audemus jura nostra defendere we dare to defend our rights State motto of Alabama, adopted in 1923. Translated into Latin from a paraphrase of the stanza "Men who their duties know / But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain" from the poem "What Constitutes a State?" by 18th-century author William Jones.
audentes fortuna iuvat fortune favors the bold From Virgil, Aeneid X, 284 (where the first word is in the archaic form audentis). Allegedly the last words of Pliny the Elder before he left the docks at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Often quoted as audaces fortuna iuvat. Also the motto of the Portuguese Army Commandos, and the USS Montpelier (SSN-765) in the latter form.
audere est facere to dare is to do motto of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
audi alteram partem hear the other side A legal principle of fairness. Also worded as audiatur et altera pars (let the other side be heard too).
audio hostem I hear the enemy Motto of 845 NAS Royal Navy
audi, vide, tace hear, see, be silent
aurea mediocritas golden mean From Horace's Odes II, 10. Refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes. The golden mean concept is common to many philosophers, chiefly Aristotle.
auri sacra fames accursed hunger for gold From Virgil, Aeneid 3,57. Later quoted by Seneca as quod non mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames "What don't you force mortal hearts [to do], accursed hunger for gold!"
auribus teneo lupum I hold a wolf by the ears A common ancient proverb, this version from Terence. Indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly. A modern version is "To have a tiger by the tail."
aurora australis southern dawn The Southern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Southern Hemisphere. It is less well-known than the Northern Lights, or aurorea borealis. The Aurora Australis is also the name of an Antarctic icebreaker ship.
aurora borealis northern lights The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Northern Hemisphere.
aurora musis amica Dawn is a friend to the Muses Title of a distich by Iohannes Christenius (1599–1672): "Conveniens studiis non est nox, commoda lux est; / Luce labor bonus est et bona 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.
aurum potestas est gold is power Motto of the fictional Fowl family in the Artemis Fowl series, written by Eoin Colfer
auspicium melioris aevi hope/token of a better age Motto of the Order of St Michael and St George and motto of Raffles Institution, a secondary school in Singapore.
aut Caesar aut nihil either Caesar or nothing Indicates that the only valid possibility is to be emperor, or a similarly prominent position. More generally, "all or nothing". Adopted by Cesare Borgia as a personal motto.
aut concilio aut ense either by meeting or the sword Thus, either through reasoned discussion or through war. A former motto of Chile, replaced by post tenebras lux.
aut cum scuto aut in scuto either with shield or on shield "Do or die", "no retreat". A Greek expression said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle. A hoplite would drop his cumbersome shield in order to flee the battlefield; a slain warrior would be borne home atop his shield.
aut neca aut necare either kill or be killed or neca ne neceris (kill lest you be killed)
aut pax aut bellum either peace or war The motto of the Gunn Clan.
aut viam inveniam aut faciam I will either find a way or make one Hannibal.
aut vincere aut mori either to conquer or to die A general pledge of victoria aut mors "victory or death". Motto of the Higgenbotham, and Higginbottom families of Cheshire England; participants in the War of the Roses.
ave atque vale Hail and farewell! From Catullus, carmen 101, addressed to his deceased brother.
ave Europa nostra vera patria Hail, Europe, our true Fatherland! Anthem of Imperium Europa
Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant Hail, Emperor! Those who are about to die salute you! From Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, Claudius 21. A salute and plea for mercy recorded on one occasion by naumachiarii–captives and criminals fated to die fighting during mock naval encounters. Later 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.
Ave Maria Hail, Mary Catholic prayer of intercession asking Mary, the mother of Jesus to pray for the petitioner.
B [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
barba crescit caput nescit beard grows, head doesn't grow wiser
barba non facit philosophum a beard doesn't make one a philosopher
barba tenus sapientes wise as far as the beard Or wise only in appearance. From Erasmus's collection of Adages.
Beata Virgo Maria (BVM) Blessed Virgin 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, appearing with such words as horae (hours), litaniae (litanies) and officium (office).
beatae memoriae of blessed memory See in memoriam.
beati pauperes spiritu Blessed in spirit [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, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens".
beati possidentes blessed [are] those who possess Translated from Euripides.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam blessed is the man who finds wisdom from Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same name by Orlando di Lasso.
bella gerant alii
Protesilaus amet! let others wage war
Protesilaus should love! Originally from Ovid, Heroides 13.84,[5] where Laodamia is writing to her husband Protesilaus who is at the Trojan War. She begs him to stay out of danger, but he was in fact the first Greek to die at Troy. Also used of the Habsburg marriages of 1477 and 1496, written as bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube (let others wage war; you, fortunate Austria, marry). Said by King Matthias.
bellum omnium contra omnes war of all against all A phrase used by Thomas Hobbes to describe the state of nature.
bellum se ipsum alet war feeds itself
bibo ergo sum I drink, therefore I am A play on "cogito ergo sum", "I think therefore I am".
bis dat qui cito dat he gives twice, who gives promptly A gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts.
bis in die (bid) twice in a day Medical shorthand for "twice a day".
bona fide in good faith In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly". In modern contexts, often has connotations 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.
bona notabilia note-worthy goods 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 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.
boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere it is a good shepherd's [job] to shear his flock, not to flay them Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders, as a warning against taxing the populace excessively.
bono malum superate Overcome evil with good Motto of Westonbirt School.
bonum commune communitatis common good of the community 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 Fuzz, this phrase is chanted by an assembled group of people, in which context it is deliberately similar to another phrase that is repeated throughout the film, which is The Greater Good.
bonum commune hominis common good of a man Refers to an individual's happiness, which is not "common" in that it serves everyone, but in that individuals tend to be able to find happiness in similar things.
brutum fulmen harmless (or inert) thunderbolt Used to indicate either an empty threat, or a judgement at law which has no practical effect.
busillis — Pseudo-Latin meaning "baffling puzzle" or "difficult point". John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the word meant. It turns out that the original text said in diebus illis magnis plenae (in those days there were plenty of great things), which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnis plenae (in India there were plenty of large busillis).
C [edit]

Latin Translation Notes
cacoethes scribendi insatiable desire to write Cacoēthes[6] "bad habit", or medically, "malignant disease" is a borrowing of Greek kakóēthes.[7] The phrase is derived from a line in the Satires of Juvenal: Tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes, or "the incurable desire (or itch) for writing affects many". See hypergraphia.
cadavera vero innumera truly countless bodies Used by the Romans to describe the aftermath of the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.
Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. Kill them all. For the Lord knows those who are his. Supposed statement by Abbot Arnaud Amalric before the massacre of Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade, recorded 30 years later, according to Caesar of Heisterbach.
Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt Those who hurry cross the sea change the sky [upon them], not their souls or state of mind Hexameter by Horace (Epistulae I, 11 v.27). Seneca shortens it to Animum debes mutare, non caelum (You must change [your] disposition, not [your] sky) in his Letter to Lucilium XXVIII, 1
Caesar non supra grammaticos Caesar has no authority over the grammarians
caetera desunt the rest is missing Caetera is Medieval Latin spelling for cētera.
calix meus inebrians my cup making me drunk
camera obscura dark chamber An optical device used in drawing, and an ancestor of modern photography. The source of the word camera.
canes pugnaces war dogs or fighting dogs
canis canem edit dog eats dog Refers to a situation where nobody is safe from anybody, each man for himself.
capax infiniti holding the infinite a term referring (at least) to some Christian doctrines of the incarnation of the Son of God when it asserts that humanity is capable of housing full divinity within its finite frame. Related to the Docetic heresy and sometimes a counterpoint to the Reformed 'extracalvinisticum.'
caput inter nubila (condit) (he plunges) [his] head in the clouds So aggrandized as to be beyond practical (earthly) reach or understanding (from Virgil's Aeneid and the shorter form appears in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government)
caput mortuum dead head Originally an alchemical reference to the dead head or worthless residue left over from a reaction. Also used to refer to a freeloader or worthless element.
Caritas Christi The love of Christ It 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 day An exhortation to live for today. From Horace, Odes I, 11.8. Carpere refers to plucking of flowers or fruit. The phrase collige virgo rosas has a similar sense.
carpe noctem seize the night 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 object or conducting a Messier marathon or engaging in social activities after sunset.
carpe vinum seize the wine
Carthago delenda est Carthage must be destroyed The Roman senator Cato the Elder ended every speech after the Second Punic War with ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam, literally "For the rest, I am of the opinion that Carthage is to be destroyed." Before the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon in the European Parliament, Daniel Hannan ended all his speeches in a similar way with Pactio Olisipiensis censenda est "The Treaty of Lisbon must be put to a referendum".
castigat ridendo mores One corrects customs by laughing at them Or, "[Comedy/Satire] criticises customs through humour", is a phrase coined by French New Latin poet Jean de Santeul, 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.
cathedra mea, regulae meae "My chair, my rules" A quote from The Big Bang Theory when Sheldon Cooper is discussing the "state of eternal dibs" in which he placed his favourite chair. Quote from Series 3, Episode 22.
causa latet, vis est notissima The cause is hidden, but the result is well known. 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 to warn each other (e.g.: "cave nephrolithiases" in order to warn about side effects of an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in some British public schools by pupils to warn each other of impending authority.
cave canem Beware of the dog
caveat emptor let the buyer beware The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need. Phrases modeled on this one replace emptor with lector, subscriptor, venditor, utilitor: "reader", "signer", "seller", "user".
cedant arma togae let arms yield to the gown "Let military power yield to civilian power", Cicero, De Officiis I:77. See also Toga
celerius quam asparagi cocuntur more swiftly than asparagus [stem]s are cooked Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". A variant of the Roman phrase velocius quam asparagi coquantur, using a different adverb and an alternative mood and spelling of coquere.
cepi corpus I got the body In law, it is a return made by the sheriff, upon a capias, or other process to the like purpose; signifying, that he has taken the body of the party. See also habeas corpus.
certum est quod certum reddi potest it is certain, whatever can be rendered certain Or "... if it can be rendered certain." Often used in law when something is not known, but can be ascertained (e.g. the purchase price on a sale which is to be determined by a third-party valuer)
cessante ratione legis cessat ipsa lex when the reason for the law ceases, the law itself ceases A rule of law becomes ineffective when the reason for its application has ceased to exist or does not correspond to the reality anymore. 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 se defendendo a paper of pardon to defend oneself The form of a pardon for killing another man in self-defence (see manslaughter).
charta pardonationis utlagariae a paper of pardon to the outlaw The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed. Also called perdonatio utlagariae.
Christianos ad leones [Throw the] Christians to the 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.
circulus in probando circle made in testing Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus vitiosus.
circulus vitiosus vicious circle In logic, begging the question, a fallacy involving the presupposition of a proposition in one of the premises (see petitio principii). In science, a positive feedback loop. In economics, a counterpart to the virtuous circle.
citius altius fortius faster, higher, stronger Motto of the modern Olympics.
clamea admittenda in itinere per atturnatum A writ whereby the king of England could command the justice to admit one's claim by an attorney, who being employed in the king's service, cannot come in person.
clarere audere gaudere [be] bright, daring, joyful Motto of the Geal family.
clausum fregit A legal action for trespass to land; so called, because the writ demands 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.
clavis aurea golden key The means of discovering hidden or mysterious meanings in texts, particularly applied in theology and alchemy.
clerico admittendo for being made a clerk In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the admitting a clerk to a benefice upon a ne admittas, tried, and found for the party who procures the writ.
clerico capto per statutum mercatorum In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk out of prison, who is imprisoned upon the breach of statute merchant.
clerico convicto commisso gaolae in defectu ordinarii deliberando In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his ordinary, that was formerly convicted of felony; by reason that his ordinary did not challenge him according to the privilege of clerks.
clerico intra sacros ordines constituto non eligendo in officium In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc., that have thrust a bailiwick or beadleship upon one in holy orders; charging them to release him.
Codex Iuris Canonici Book of Canon Law The official code of canon law in the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Corpus Iuris Canonici).
Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur "No one suffers punishment for mere intent." 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 René Descartes to attempt to prove his own existence.
coitus interruptus interrupted congress Aborting sexual intercourse prior to ejaculation—the only permitted form of birth control in some religions.
coitus more ferarum congress in the way of beasts A medical euphemism for the doggy-style sexual position.
collige virgo rosas pick, girl, the roses
Exhortation to enjoy fully the youth, similar to Carpe diem, from De rosis nascentibus (also titled Idyllium de rosis) attributed to Ausonius or Virgil. "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may", 1909, by John William Waterhouse
combinatio nova new combination It is frequently abbreviated comb. nov.. It is used in the life sciences literature when a new name is introduced, e.g. Klebsiella granulomatis comb. nov..
communibus annis in common years One year with another; on an average. "Common" here does not mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"
communibus locis in common places A term frequently used among philosophical and other writers, implying some medium, or mean relation between several places; one place with another; on a medium. "Common" here does not mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"
communis opinio common opinion prevailing doctrine, generally accepted view (in an academic field), scientific consensus; originally communis opinio doctorum, "common opinion of the doctors"
compos mentis in control of the mind Describes someone of sound mind. Sometimes used ironically. Also a legal principle, non compos mentis (not in control of one's faculties), used to describe an insane person.
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 crescunt small things grow in harmony Motto of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
condemnant quod non intellegunt They condemn what they do not understand or
They condemn because they do not understand The quod here is ambiguous: it may be the relative pronoun or a conjunction.
condicio sine qua non condition without which not A required, indispensable condition. Commonly mistakenly rendered with conditio ("seasoning" or "preserving") in place of condicio ("arrangement" or "condition").
confer (cf.) confer[8][9] "compare". Used as an abbreviation in text to recommend a comparison with another thing (cf. citation signal).
Confoederatio Helvetica (C.H.) Helvetian Confederation The official name of Switzerland, hence the use of "CH" for its ISO country code, ".ch" for its Internet domain, and "CHF" for the ISO three-letter abbreviation of its currency, the Swiss franc.
Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris C.Ss.R Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer Redemptorists
coniunctis viribus with connected strength Or "with united powers". Sometimes rendered conjunctis viribus. Motto of Queen Mary, University of London.
consuetudo pro lege servatur Custom is held as law. Where there are no specific laws, the matter should be decided by custom;[10] established customs have the force of laws.[11] Also consuetudo est altera lex (custom is another law) and consuetudo vincit communem legem (custom overrules the common law); see also: Consuetudinary.
consummatum est It is completed. The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latin translation of John 19:30.
contemptus mundi/saeculi scorn for the world/times Despising the secular world. The monk or philosopher's rejection of a mundane life and worldly values.
contra bonos mores against good morals Offensive to the conscience and to a sense of justice.
contra legem against the law Especially in civil law jurisdictions, said of an understanding of a statute that directly contradicts its wording and thus is neither valid by interpretation nor by analogy.
contra proferentem against the proferror In contract law, the doctrine of contractual interpretation which provides that an ambiguous term will be construed against the party that imposed its inclusion in the contract – or, more accurately, against the interests of the party who imposed it.
contra spem spero hope against hope Title of a poem by Lesya Ukrainka; also used in the Pentateuch with reference to Abraham the Patriarch.
contra vim mortis non crescit herba (or salvia) in hortis No herb (or sage) grows in the gardens against the power of death there is no medicine against death; from various medieval medicinal texts
contradictio in terminis contradiction in terms A thing or idea that would embody a contradiction, for example, payment for a gift, or a circle with corners. The fallacy of proposing such a thing.
contra principia negantem non est disputandum there can be no debate with those who deny the foundations Debate is fruitless when you don't agree on common rules, facts, presuppositions.
contraria contrariis curantur the opposite is cured with the opposite First formulated by Hippocrates to suggest that the diseases are cured with contrary remedies. Antonym of similia similibus curantur (the diseases are recovered with similar remedies.)
cor ad cor loquitur heart speaks to heart From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a prescribed method of 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.
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 be respected as person of integrity.)
cor meum tibi offero domine prompte et sincere my heart I offer to you Lord promptly and sincerely John Calvin's personal motto, also adopted by Calvin College
cor unum one heart A popular school motto. Often used as names for religious and other organisations such as the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
coram Deo in the Presence of God A phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the Presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.
coram nobis, coram vobis in our presence, in your presence Two kinds of writs of error.
coram populo in the presence of the people Thus, openly.
coram publico in view of the public
Corpus Christi Body of Christ 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, Texas, the name of Colleges at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and a controversial play.
corpus delicti body of the offence The fact that a crime has been committed, a necessary factor in convicting someone of having committed that crime; if there was no crime, there can not have been a criminal.
Corpus Iuris Canonici Body of Canon Law The official compilation of canon law in the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Codex Iuris Canonici).
Corpus Iuris Civilis 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, as in the phrase 'Fiat experimentum in corpore vili.'
corrigenda things to be corrected
corruptio optimi pessima the corruption of the best is the worst
corruptissima re publica plurimae leges When the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous Tacitus
corvus oculum corvi non eruit a raven will not pick out an eye of another raven
corruptus in extremis corrupt to the extreme Motto of the fictional Springfield Mayor Office in The Simpsons TV-Show
cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet May he love tomorrow who has never loved before; And may he who has loved, love tomorrow as well It's the refrain from the 'Pervigilium Veneris', a poem which describes a three day holiday in the cult of Venus, located somewhere in Sicily, involving the whole town in religious festivities joined with a deep sense of nature and Venus as the "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 or philosophical 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.
credo quia absurdum est I believe it because it is absurd 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 reason. The misquoted phrase, however, is commonly used to mock the dogmatic beliefs of the religious (see fideism). This phrase is commonly shortened to credo quia absurdum, and is also sometimes rendered credo quia impossibile est (I believe it because it is impossible) or, as Darwin used it in his autobiography, credo quia incredibile.
crescamus in Illo per omnia May we grow in Him through all things Motto of Cheverus High School.
crescat scientia vita excolatur let knowledge grow, let life be enriched Motto of the University of Chicago.
crescente luce Light ever increasing Motto of James Cook University.
crescit cum commercio civitas Civilization prospers with commerce Motto of Claremont McKenna College.
crescit eundo it grows as it goes State motto of New Mexico, adopted in 1887 as the territory's motto, and kept in 1912 when New Mexico received statehood. Originally from Lucretius' De rerum natura book VI, where it refers in context to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes.
cruci dum spiro fido while I live, I trust in the cross, Whilst I trust in the Cross I have life Motto of the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) and its associated schools.
cucullus non facit monachum The hood does not make the monk William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Scene I, Act V 48–50
cui bono Good for whom? "Who benefits?" An adage in criminal investigation which suggests that considering who would benefit from an unwelcome event is likely to reveal who is responsible for that event (cf. cui prodest). Also the motto of the Crime Syndicate of America, a fictional supervillain group. The opposite is cui malo (Bad for whom?).
cui prodest for whom it advances Short for cui prodest scelus is fecit (for whom the crime advances, he has 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
cuius est solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos Whose the land is, all the way to the sky and to the underworld is his. First coined by Accursius of Bologna in the 13th century. A Roman legal principle of property law that is no longer observed in most situations today. Less literally, "For whosoever owns the soil, it is theirs

[ben]

it is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths."
cuius regio, eius religio whose region, his religion The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of his subjects. A regional prince's ability to choose his people's religion was established at the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.
cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare. Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his 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 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 hoc with this, therefore on account of this Fallacy of assuming that correlation implies causation.
cum laude with praise The standard formula for academic Latin honors in the United States. Greater honors include magna cum laude and summa cum laude.
cum mortuis in lingua mortua with the dead in a dead language Movement from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum with the exclusive right to print Copyright notice used in 16th-century England, used for comic effect in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae let all come who by merit deserve the most reward Motto of University College London.
cupio dissolvi desire to be dissolved From the Bible, locution indicating a will to death ("I want to die").
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 be both fully Divine and fully Human. Often translated "why did God become Man?"
cura personalis care for the whole person Motto of Georgetown University School of Medicine and University of Scranton.
cura te ipsum take care of your own self An exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others.
curriculum vitae course of life An overview of a person's life and qualifications, similar to a résumé.
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
Da Deus fortunae God give happiness or God give luck Traditional Czech brewer’s greeting.
Da mihi factum, dabo tibi ius Give me the fact(s), I'll give you the law also: Da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius; legal principle based on Roman law; parties should present the facts of a case while the judge rules on the law. Related to iura novit curia (the court knows the law).
damnant quod non intelligunt They condemn what they do not understand Used to describe ignorant people.
damnatio ad bestias condemnation to [the] beasts Colloquially "thrown to the lions".
damnatio memoriae damnation of memory A Roman custom in which disgraced Romans (particularly former Emperors) were pretended to have never existed.
damnum absque injuria damage without injury A loss that results from no one's wrongdoing. In Roman law, a man is not responsible for unintended, consequential injury to another resulting from a lawful act. This protection does not necessarily apply to unintended damage by negligence or folly.
dat deus incrementum or
deus dat incrementum God gives growth Motto of several schools
data venia "with due respect" or "given the excuse" Used before disagreeing with someone.
datum perficiemus munus We shall accomplish the mission assigned Motto of Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE), Rio de Janeiro.
de bene esse as well done A de bene esse deposition is used to preserve the testimony of a witness who is expected not to be available to appear at trial and be cross-examined.
de bonis asportatis carrying goods away Trespass de bonis asportatis was the traditional name for larceny (wrongful taking of chattels).
decessit sine prole died without issue Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dsp, to indicate a person who died without having had any children
decessit [sine] vita patris died in the lifetime of the father Used in genealogical records, often in the abbreviated form dvp or dsvp, to indicate a person who predeceased his father
de dato of the date Used in the context of "As we agreed in the meeting d.d. 26th Mai 2006.
de facto by deed 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 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 gustibus non est disputandum there is no disputing about tastes Less literally "there's no accounting for taste". Likely of 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 de iure, the classical form.
de lege ferenda from law to be passed
de lege lata "from law passed" or "by law in force"
de minimis non curat lex The law does not bother with the smallest things. The court does not want to bother with small, trivial things. A case must have importance for the court to hear it. See "de minimis non curat praetor".
de minimis non curat praetor The commander does not bother with the smallest things. Also "The chief magistrate does not concern himself with trifles." Trivial matters are no concern of a high official (cf. aquila non capit muscas, 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 legal term referring to things unworthy of the law's attention.
de mortuis aut bene aut nihil about the dead, either well or nothing Less literally, "speak well of the dead or not at all" (cf. de mortuis nil nisi bonum).
de mortuis nil nisi bonum about the dead, nothing unless a good thing 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 legal contexts, this quotation is used with the opposite meaning, as defaming a deceased person is not a crime. In other contexts, it refers to taboos against criticizing the recently deceased.
de nobis fabula narratur about us is the story told Thus, "their story is our story". Originally referred to the end of Rome's dominance. Now often used when comparing any current situation 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, de novo means newly synthesized, and a de novo mutation is a mutation that 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.
de omni re scibili et quibusdam aliis about every knowable thing, and even certain other things The 15th-century Italian scholar Giovanni Pico della Mirandola wrote the De omni re scibili portion (about every knowable thing), and a wag added et quibusdam aliis (and even certain other things).
de omnibus dubitandum be suspicious of everything, doubt everything Attributed to Rene Descartes. Karl Marx's favorite motto and a title of one of Søren Kierkegaard's works De Omnibus Dubitandum Est
de oppresso liber Free From Having Been Oppressed Commonly mistranslated as "To Liberate the Oppressed". The motto of the United States Army Special Forces.
de profundis from the depths Out of the depths of misery or dejection. From the Latin translation of Psalm 130.
de re about the matter In logic, de dicto statements (about the truth of a proposition) are distinguished from de re statements (about the properties of a thing itself).
decus et tutamen An ornament and a safeguard Inscription on British one-pound coins. Originally on 17th-century coins, it refers to the inscribed edge as a protection against the clipping of precious metal. The phrase originally comes from Virgil's Aeneid.
defendit numerus There is safety in numbers
defunctus vivente patre ("dvp") died with his father (still) living. See also vivente rege[12] Used by genealogists to denote a son who has pre-deceased his father and not lived long enough to inherit his father's title or estate. See also sine prole.
Dei Gratia Regina By the Grace of God, Queen Also Dei Gratia Rex (By the Grace of God, King). Abbreviated as D G REG preceding Fidei Defensor (F D) on British pounds, and as D G Regina on Canadian coins.
Dei sub numine viget under God's Spirit she flourishes Motto of Princeton University.
delectatio morosa peevish delight In Catholic theology, a pleasure taken in sinful thought or imagination, such as brooding on sexual images. It is distinct from actual sexual desire, and involves voluntary and complacent erotic fantasizing, without any attempt to suppress such thoughts.
deliriant isti Romani They are mad, those Romans! A translation into Latin from René Goscinny's ils sont fous, ces romains!, frequently issued by Obelix 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 (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 royal arms.
Deo Optimo Maximo (DOM) To the Best and Greatest God Derived from the Pagan Iupiter Optimo Maximo (To the best and greatest Jupiter). Printed on bottles of Bénédictine liqueur.
Deo vindice with God as protector Motto of the Confederate States of America. An alternate translation is "With an avenging God".
Deo volente God willing 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) 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. The motto of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. See also: Insha'Allah.
descensus in cuniculi cavum The descent into the cave of the rabbit Down the Rabbit Hole (see: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland#Famous lines and expressions.
Deus Caritas Est God is Love The first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI; for other meanings, see Deus Caritas Est (disambiguation)
deus ex machina a god from a machine From the Greek ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεός (apò mēchanēs theós). A contrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot. Refers to the practice in Greek drama of 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.
Deus meumque jus God and my right The principal motto of Scottish Rite Freemasonry; see also Dieu et mon droit.
deus otiosus God at leisure
Deus spes nostra God is our hope The motto of Sir Thomas de Boteler, founder of Boteler Grammar School Warrington in 1526
Deus vult God wills it! The principal slogan of the Crusades.Motto of Bergen Catholic High School, NJ
dictatum erat (dict) as previously stated Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "As previously stated, ...". Literally, has been stated; also translated as "dicta prius" (literally, said previously).
dicto simpliciter [From] a maxim, simply I.e. "From a rule without exception." Short for a dicto simpliciter, the a often being dropped by confusion with the English indefinite article. A dicto simpliciter occurs when an acceptable exception is ignored or eliminated. For instance, the appropriateness of using opiates is dependent on the presence of extreme pain. To justify the recreational use of opiates by referring to a cancer patient or to justify arresting said cancer patient by comparing him to the recreational user would be a dicto simpliciter.
dictum factum what is said is done Motto of U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron VF-194
dictum meum pactum my word [is] my bond Motto of the London Stock Exchange
diem perdidi I have lost the day From the Roman Emperor Titus. Passed down in Suetonius's biography of him in Lives of the Twelve Caesars
Dies Irae Day of Wrath Refers to the Judgment Day in Christian eschatology. The name of a famous 13th-century Medieval Latin hymn by Tommaso da Celano, used in the Mass for the dead.
dies non juridicum Day without judiciary Days under common law (traditionally Sunday) in which no legal process can be served and any judgment is void. This concept was first 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 a comparison of the state of Maine to the star Polaris.
dis aliter visum it seemed otherwise to the gods In other words, the gods have different plans than mortals, and so events do not always play out as people wish them to. Virgil, Aeneid, 2:428.
dis manibus sacrum (D.M.S.) Sacred to the ghost-gods Refers to the Manes, Roman spirits of the dead. Loosely "To the memory of". A conventional inscription preceding the name of the deceased on pagan grave markings, often shortened to dis manibus (D.M.), "for the ghost-gods". Preceded in some earlier monuments by hic situs est (H. S. E.), "he lies here".
disce aut discede Learn or Depart Motto of Royal College Colombo.
disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus Learn as if always going to live; live as if tomorrow going to die. Attributed to St Edmund of Abingdon.
discendo discimus while teaching we learn
disiecta membra scattered limbs That is, "scattered remains". Paraphrased from Horace, Satires, I, 4, 62, where it was written "disiecti membra poetae" (limbs of a scattered poet). Also written as disjecta membra.
ditat Deus God enriches State motto of Arizona, adopted in 1911. Probably derived from the Vulgate's translation of Genesis 14:23.
divide et impera divide and rule A Roman maxim adopted by Julius Caesar, Louis XI and Machiavelli. Commonly rendered "divide and conquer".
dixi I have spoken A 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 thus the argument is settled".
["...", ...] dixit ["...", ...] said Used to attribute a statement or opinion to its author, rather than the speaker.
do ut des I give that you may give Often said or written for sacrifices, when one "gives" and expects something back from the gods.
docendo discitur It is learned by teaching Also translated "One learns by teaching." Attributed to Seneca the Younger.
docendo disco, scribendo cogito I learn by teaching, think by writing.
dolus specialis special intent "The ... concept is particular to a few civil law systems and cannot sweepingly be equated with the notions of ‘special’ or ‘specific intent’ in common law systems. Of course, the same might equally be said of the concept of ‘specific intent,’ a notion used in the common law almost exclusively within the context of the defense of voluntary intoxication."—Genocide scholar William Schabas[13]
Domine dirige nos Lord guide us Motto of the City of London
Dominus Illuminatio Mea the Lord is my light Motto of the University of Oxford.
Dominus fortitudo nostra The Lord is our Strength Motto of the Southland College, Philippines
Dominus vobiscum Lord be with you Phrase used during and at the end of Catholic sermons, and a general greeting form among and towards members of Catholic organizations, such as priests and nuns. See also pax vobiscum.
dona nobis pacem give us peace Often set to music, either by itself or as part of the Agnus Dei prayer of the Mass. Also an ending in the video game Haunting Ground.
donatio mortis causa giving in expectation of death A legal concept where a person in imminent mortal danger need not meet the requisite consideration to create or modify a will.
draco dormiens nunquam titillandus a sleeping dragon is never to be tickled Motto of the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter series; translated more loosely in the books as "never tickle a sleeping dragon".
dramatis personæ the parts of the play More literally, "the masks of the drama"; more figuratively, "cast of characters". The characters represented in a dramatic work.
duae tabulae rasae in quibus nihil scriptum est Two blank slates with nothing written upon them Stan Laurel, inscription for the fanclub logo of The Sons of the Desert.
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
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt The fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling Attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
ductus exemplo leadership by example Motto for the United States Marine Corps' Officer Candidates School located at Marine Corps Base Quantico; Quantico, Virginia.
dulce bellum inexpertis war is sweet to the inexperienced War may seem pleasant to those who have never been involved in it, though the more experienced know better. A phrase from Erasmus in the 16th century.
Dulce est desipere in loco It is sweet on occasion to play the fool. It is pleasant to relax once in a while. From Horace, Odes IV, 12, 28. Used by George Knapton for Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet 1744 portrait.
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori It is sweet and honorable to die for the fatherland. From Horace, Odes III, 2, 13. Used by Wilfred Owen for the title of a poem about World War I, Dulce et Decorum est.
dulce et utile a sweet and useful thing Horace wrote in his Ars Poetica that poetry must be dulce et utile (pleasant and profitable), both enjoyable and instructive.
dulce periculum danger is sweet Horace, Odes III, 25, 16. Motto of the Scottish clan MacAulay.
dulcius ex asperis sweeter after difficulties Motto of the Scottish clan Fergusson.[14]
dum Roma deliberat Saguntum perit while Rome debates, Saguntum is in danger Used when someone has been asked for urgent help, but responds with no immediate action. Similar to Hannibal ante portas, but referring to a less personal danger.
dum spiro spero while I breathe, I hope State motto of South Carolina. From Cicero.
dum vita est, spes est while there is life, there is hope
dum vivimus servimus While we live, we serve motto of Presbyterian College.
dum vivimus, vivamus While we live, let us live! An encouragement to embrace life. Motto inscribed on the sword of the main character in the novel Glory Road.
dura lex sed lex [the] law [is] harsh, but [it is the] law
dura mater tough mother outer covering of the brain
durante munere while in office For example, the Governor General of Canada is durante munere the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada.
dux bellorum war leader

[ben]

death only light earth to heaven

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mortem lux solum tellus coelum

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Latin Phrases & Quotes

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(Conditional Love)
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Latin Phrases >> Latin Quotations >> Latin Expressions: Death, Dying
Latin Quotes About Death & Dying

abiit ad maiores
S/he has gone to the ancestors (i.e., died)

abiit ad plures
S/he has gone to the majority (i.e., died)

ad patres
To the fathers (i.e., dead)

bene decessit
S/he has left (died) well (a natural death)

causa mortis
Cause of death, an anticipation of death

debitum naturae
Debt of nature (death)

corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur
Bodies grow slowly and die quickly (Tacitus)

cogi qui potest nescit mori
S/he who can be forced has not learned how to die

cineri gloria sera est
Glory paid to ashes comes too late (Martial)

cineri gloria sera venit
Fame to the dead comes to late

de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Of the dead [say] nothing but good (Horace)

deficit omne quod nasciture
Everything that is born passes away (Quintillan)

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and proper to die for one's country

morituri te salutamus
We who are about to die salute you.





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[ben]

mortem purgatoria flamma ignis gehennae flammis scrobes diabolus Lucifer Angelus Sanctus

[ben]

Dolores capitis non fero. Eos do
Official Site of the JOHN D. (Addendum I) Photography - YEAR 2001 -(Addendum I)
A

Annoto - I make notes
Ab ovo usque ad mala - From the egg to the apples, from soup to nuts, from A to Z
A bene placito - At one's pleasure
A capite ad calcem - From head to heel
A cappella - In church [style] - i.e. Vocal music only
Accidit in puncto, quod non seperatur in anno - Something that does not happen in years can happen in a single moment.
A contrario - From a contrary position
A cruce salus - From the cross comes salvation
A fortiori - With yet stronger reason
A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi - A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place)
A mari usque ad mare - From sea to sea (Motto of Canada)
A mensa et thoro - From board and bed (legal separation)
A pedibus usque ad caput - From feet to head
A posse ad esse - From possibility to actuality
A posteriori - From what comes after. Inductive reasoning based on observation, as opposed to deductive, or a priori
A priori - from what comes before
A verbis ad verbera - from words to blows
Ab absurdo - From the absurd (establishing the validity of your argument by pointing out the absurdity of your opponent's position)
Ab aeterno - From the beginning of time
Ab asino lanam - Wool from an ass, blood from a stone impossible
Ab imo pectore - From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart)
Ab incunabulis - From the cradle
Ab initio - From the beginning
Ab intestato - Having made no will
Ab ovo usque ad mala - From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish) (Horace)
Ab ovo - From the egg
Ab urbe condita - From the foundation of the city. (Rome)
Ab/Ex uno disce omnes - From one person, learn all people
Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit - He has left, absconded, escaped and disappeared
Absente reo - In absence of the defendant
Absit invidia - No offence intended
Absit omen - May the omen be absent. (may this not be an omen)
Absum! - I'm outta here!
Abusus non tollit usum - Wrong use does not preclude proper use
Abutebaris modo subjunctivo denuo - You've been misusing the subjunctive again
Abyssus abyssum invocat - Hell calls hell; one mistep leads to another
Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam - It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice
Acta est fabula, plaudite! - The play is over, applaud! (Said to have been emperor Augustus' last words)
Acta non verba - Action not words
Actus reus - Wrongful act - as opposed to mens reason - the wrongful intention or guilty mind
Ad absurdum - To the point of absurdity
Ad acta - To archives. Not actual any more
Ad alta - To the summit
Ad astra per aspera - To the stars through difficulty
Ad astra - To the stars
Ad augusta per angusta - To high places by narrow roads
Ad captandum vulgus - To appeal to the crowd -- often used of politicians who make false or insincere promises appealing to popular interest
Ad eundem gradum - To the same level
Ad eundem - Of admission to the same degree at a different university
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit - To boldly go where no man has gone before
Ad hoc - For a particular purpose. (improvised, made up in an instant)
Ad hominem - Appealing to a person's physical and emotional urges, rather than her or his intellect
Ad honorem - In honour. Honour not baring any material advantage
Ad idem - Of the same mind
Ad infinitum - To infinity without end
Ad interim - For the meantime
Ad libitum (ad lib) - At one's pleasure
Ad litem - For a lawsuit or action
Ad locum - At the place
Ad maiorem dei gloriam (AMDG) - For the greater glory of God
Ad majorem dei gloriam - To the greater glory of God
Ad multos annos - To many years!, i.e. Many happy returns!
Ad nauseum - To the point of making one sick
Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora - Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)
Ad referendum - Subject to reference
Ad rem - To the point
Ad valorem - By the value, e.g. Ad valorem tax
Ad vitam aeternam - For all time
Ad vitam paramus - We are preparing for life
Ad vitam - For life
Addendum - A thing to be added
Adeste fideles - Be present, faithful ones
Adsum - I am here
Adversus incendia excubias nocturnas vigilesque commentus est - Against the dangers of fires, he (Augustus) conceived of the idea of night guards and watchmen
Adversus solem ne loquitor - Don't speak against the sun (don't waste your time arguing the obvious)
Advocatus diaboli - The devil's advocate
Aegrescit medendo - The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease
Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur - It is said that for a sick man, there is hope as long as there is life
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem - Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace)
Aeronavis abstractio a prestituto cursu - Hijacking
Aetatis (aet.) - Age
Aeternum vale - Farewell forever
Affidavit - A sworn written statement usable as evidence in court
Age quod agis - Do what you do well, pay attention to what you are doing
Age. Fac ut gaudeam - Go ahead. Make my day!
Agenda - Things to be done
Agnus dei - The Lamb of God
Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est - Yes, that is a very large amount of corn
Alea iacta est - The die has been cast. (Caesar)
Alias - Otherwise
Alibi - Elsewhere
Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent - Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people. (Publilius Syrus)
Alis volat propriis - He flies by his own wings
Alma mater - Nourishing mother. (One's old school or university)
Alter ego - Other I or Other Self
Alter ipse amicus - A friend is another self
Alterum ictum faciam - I'm going to take a mulligan
Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi - The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. (still waters run deep)
Alumnus - Nursling (former pupil)
Amantes sunt amentes - Lovers are lunatics
Amantium irae amoris integratio est - The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love. (Terence)
Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur - Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time
Amat victoria curam - Victory favors those who take pains
Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore - I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting. (Cicero)
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi? - Baby, sweetheart, would I lie to you?
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur - A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter
Amicus curiae - Friend of the court
Amicus humani generis - A friend of the human race (philanthropist)
Amicus verus est rara avis - A true friend is a rare bird
Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur - We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving. (Syrus)
Amor caecus est - Love is blind
Amor est vitae essentia - Love is the essence of life. (Robert B. Mackay)
Amor ordinem nescit - Love does not know order. (St. Jerome)
Amor patriae - Love of country
Amor platonicus - Platonic love
Amor tussisque non celantur - Love, and a cough, are not concealed. (Ovid)
Amor vincit omnia - Love conquers all. (Virgil)
Amoto quaeramus seria ludo - Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters. (Horace)
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur? - Don't you know then, my son, how little wisdom rules the world?
Anguis in herba - A snake in the grass. A treacherous person. (Vergil)
Anicularum lucubrationes - Old wives' tales
Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri? - (At a barbeque) Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face?
Animis opibusque parati - Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything)
Animus facit nobilem - The spirit makes (human) noble
Anno (an.) - Year
Anno domini (AD) - In the year of the Lord
Anno hegirae (AH) - In the year of the hegira
Anno mundi - In the year of the world
Anno regni - In the year of reign
Anno urbis conditae (AUC) - From the year of founding of the city (Rome)
Annuit coeptis - God has favored us
Annus bisextus - Leap year
Annus horribilis - A horrible year
Annus mirabilis - A wonderful year
Ante bellum - Before the war
Ante litteram - Before the letter
Ante meridiem (a.m.) - Before midday
Ante mortem - Before death
Ante prandium (A.p.) - Before a meal
Ante - Before
Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem - In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags
Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus! - Let's all wear mood rings!
Appareo Decet Nihil Munditia? - Is It Not Nifty?
Apudne te vel me? - Your place or mine?
Aqua fortis - Nitric acid
Aqua pura - Pure water
Aqua vitae - Water of life (brandy)
Aquila non captat muscas - The eagle doesn't capture flies (don't sweat the small things)
Arbiter elegantiae - Judge in matters of taste
Arcana imperii - Secrets of the empire
Arduum sane munus - A truly arduous task
Arguendo - For the sake of argument
Argumentum ad hominem - An argument against the man. Directing an argument against an opponent's character rather than the subject at hand
Argumentum ad ignorantiam - Arguing from ignorance
Armis Exposcere Pacem - They demanded peace by force of arms. (An inscription seen on medals)
Ars gratia artis - Art for art's sake. (motto of MGM)
Ars longa, vita brevis - Art (work) is long, but life is short
Ars sine scienta nihil est - Art without science is nothing. (I would also claim that the opposite is true)
Artium baccalaureus - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Artium magister - Master of Arts (MA)
Ascendo tuum - Up yours
Asinus asinum fricat - The ass rubs the ass. (Conceited people flatter each other about qualities they do not possess)
Aspice, officio fungeris sine spe honoris amplioris - Face it, you're stuck in a dead end job
Aspirat primo Fortuna labori - Fortune smiles upon our first effort. (Virgil)
Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit - Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdues both intelligence and skill. (Cicero)
Astra inclinant, non necessitant - The stars incline; they do not determine
Astra non mentiuntur, sed astrologi bene mentiuntur de astris - The stars never lie, but the astrologs lie about the stars
Aude sapere - Dare to know
Audentes fortuna juvat - Fortune favors the bold. (Virgil)
Audere est facere - To dare is to do. (Motto of Tottenham Hotspur)
Audi et alteram partem - Hear the other side too
Audiatur et altera pars! - Let us hear the opposite side!
Auget largiendo - He increases by giving liberally
Aura popularis - The popular breeze. (Cicero)
Aurea mediocritas - The golden mean. (an ethical goal; truth and goodness are generally to be found in the middle.) (Horace)
Auribus teneo lupum - I hold a wolf by the ears. (I am in a dangerous situation and dare not let go.) (Terence)
Aurora australis - The Southern lights
Aurora borealis - The Northern lights
Aurora Musis amica - Dawn is friend of the muses. (Early bird catches the worm.)
Aut disce aut discede - Either learn or leave
Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit - The fellow is either mad or he is composing verses. (Horace)
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - I will either find a way or make one
Aut vincere aut mori - Either conquer or die
Auxilio ab alto - By help from on high
Avarus animus nullo satiatur lucro - A greedy mind is satisfied with no (amount of) gain
Ave atque vale - Hail and farewell. (Catullus)
Ave caesar! Morituri te salutamus - Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you. (gladiators before the fight)
Ave maria - Hail Mary

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B

Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt! - Save the whales!
Beata virgo (Maria) - The Blessed Virgin (Mary)
Beatae memoriae - Of blessed memory
Beati possidentes - Blessed are those who possess. (possession is nine points of the law)
Bella detesta matribus - Wars, the horror of mothers. (Horace)
Bella gerant alii - Let others wage war
Bellum omium contra omnes - Everyman's struggle against everyman. (Thomas Hobbes)
Bene legere saecla vincere - To read well is to master the ages. (Professor Isaac Flagg)
Bene qui latuit, bene vixit - One who lives well, lives unnoticed. (Ovid)
Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare - Well, if you don't understand plain Latin, I'm not going to dirty my hands on you
Bene - Good
Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere - To accept a favour is to sell freedom. (Publilius Syrus)
Bibere venenum in auro - Drink poison from a cup of gold
Bis dat qui cito dat - He gives twice who quickly gives. (Publius Syrus)
Bis in die (B.i.d.) - Twice a day
Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit - He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms. (Syrus)
Bis repetita placent - The things that please are those that are asked for again and again. (Horace)
Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria - He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest conquers himself. (Syrus)
Bis vivit qui bene vivit - He lives twice who lives well
Bona fide - Acting in good faith
Bona fides (noun) - Honest intention
Bona fortuna - Good luck!
Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis - Good wine gladdens a person's heart
Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur! - Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!
Braccae tuae aperiuntur - Your fly is open
Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita - Life is too short to dance with ugly women
Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita - Life is too short to dance with ugly men
Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior - Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus)

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C

Cacoethes scribendi - An insatiable urge to write. (Juvenal)
Cadit quaestio - The question drops
Caeca invidia est - Envy is blind. (Livy)
Caeci caecos ducentes - Blind are led by the blind. Leaders are not more knowledgeable than the ones they lead
Caeli enarrant gloriam dei - The heavens declare the glory of God
Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt - They change the sky, not their soul, who run across the sea. (Horace)
Caelum videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus - He bid them look at the sky and lift their faces to the stars. (Ovid)
Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris - If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar
Camera obscvra - Hidden room - an early photographic or painting technique utilizing optical pinholes
Canis meus id comedit - My dog ate it
Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet - A timid dog barks more violently than it bites. (Curtius Rufus)
Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse! - A wig? I never would have guessed!
Caro putridas es! - You're dead meat
Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the beer!
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero - Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow. (Horace)
Carpe diem - Seize the day (opportunity) (Horace)
Casus belli - An act used to justify war
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam - I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head
Cave canem, te necet lingendo - Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death
Cave cibum, valde malus est - Beware the food, it is very bad
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules - If I were you, I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults
Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui - Beware what you say, when, and to whom
Cave - Beware!
Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware. (He buys at his own risk)
Caveat venditor - Let the seller beware
Caveat - Let him/her beware
Cedant arma togae - Let arms yield to the toga. (Let violence give place to law)
Cedo maiori - I yield to a greater person
Certamen bikini-suicidus-disci mox coepit? - Does the Bikini-Suicide-Frisbee match start soon?
Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse - You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore
Certum est, quia impossibile - It is certain, because it is impossible. (Tertullianus)
Cetera desunt - the rest is missing
Ceteris paribus - All else being equal
Christus rex - Christ the King
Circa (C.) - Approximately
Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis - I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
Clara pacta, boni amici - Clear agreements, good friends
Codex juris canonici - Book of canon law
Cogita ante salis - Think before you leap, or look before you leap
Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur - Nobody should be punished for his thoughts
Cogito ergo doleo - I think therefore I am depressed
Cogito sumere potum alterum - I think I'll have another drink
Cogito, ergo sum - I think, therefore I am. (Ren‚ Descartes)
Commodum ex iniuria sua nemo habere debet - No person ought to have advantage from his own wrong
Commune bonum - The common good
Commune periculum concordiam parit - Common danger brings forth harmony
Communi consilio - By common consent
Compos mentis - Of sound mind (and judgement)
Concordia discors - Discordant harmony
Concordia res parvae crescent - Work together to accomplish more
Conditio sine qua non - Condition without which not, or an essential condition or requirement
Confer (Cf.) - Compare
Coniecturalem artem esse medicinam - Medicine is the art of guessing. (Aulus Cornelius Celsus)
Coniunctis viribus - With united powers
Conlige suspectos semper habitos - Round up the usual suspects
Consensus audacium - An agreement of rash men. (a conspiracy) (Cicero)
Consensu omnium - By the agreement of all
Consuetudinis magna vis est - The force of habit is great. (Cicero)
Consule planco - In the consulship of Plancus (In the good old days) (Horace)
Consummatum est - It is completed
Contra felicem vix deus vires habet - Against a lucky man a god scarcely has power
Contra mundum - against the world
Contraria contrariis curantur - The opposite is cured with the opposite. (Hippocrates)
Coram populo - In the presence of the people. (Horace)
Cornix cornici oculos non effodiet - A crow doesn't rip out the eyes of another crow
Cornucopia - Horn of plenty
Corpus christi - The body of Christ
Corpus delicti - The body of a crime. (The substance or fundamental facts of a crime)
Corpus juris canonici - The body of canon law
Corpus juris civilis - The body of civil law
Corpus vile - Worthless body
Corrigenda - A list of things to be corrected. (in a book)
Corruptio optimi pessima - Corruption of the best is worst
Coruscantes disci per convexa caeli volantes - Flying saucers
Cotidiana vilescunt - Familiarity breeds contempt
Cotidie damnatur qui semper timet - The man who is constantly in fear is every day condemned. (Syrus)
Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit, cras amet - May he love tomorrow who has never loved before
Credidi me felem vidisse! - I tought I taw a puddy tat!
Credite amori vera dicenti - Believe love speaking the truth. (St. Jerome)
Credo elvem etiam vivere - I believe Elvis lives
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse - I think we're on the same wavelength
Credo quia absurdum - I believe it because it is absurd. (contrary to reason) (Tertullian)
Credo ut intelligam - I believe in order that I may understand. (St. Augustine)
Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit - Credulous hope supports our life, and always says that tomorrow will be better. (Tibullus)
Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit - The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew. (Juvenalis)
Crescite et multiplicamini - Increase and multiply
Crimen falsi - Perjury
Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem - It is more cruel to always fear death than to die. (Seneca)
Crux - Puzzle
Cui bono? - For whose benefit is it? (a maxim sometimes used in the detection of crime) (Cicero)
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum? - To whom do I give my new elegant little book? (Catullus)
Cui malo? - Who suffers a detriment?
Cui peccare licet peccat minus - One who is allowed to sin, sins less. (Ovid)
Cuius regio, eius religio - He who rules, his religion
Cuivis dolori remedium est patientia - Patience is the cure for all suffer
Culpa - A sin
Culpam poena premit comes - Punishment closely follows crime as its companion. (Horace)
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt - When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults
Cum grano salis - With a grain of salt. (Pliny the Elder?)
Cum homine de cane debeo congredi - Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog
Cum laude magnum - With great success
Cum laude - With praise
Cum tacent, clamant - When they remain silent, they cry out. (Their silence speaks louder than words) (Cicero)
Cum - With
Cura nihil aliud nisi ut valeas - Pay attention to nothing except that you do well. (Cicero)
Cura posterior - A later concern
Cura ut valeas - Take care
Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent - Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless. (minor losses can be talked away, profound ones strike us dumb)
Curriculum vitae - A summary of a person's career
Cursum perficio - My journey is over, or I finish my journey
Custos morum - Guardian of morals

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D

Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum - Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake
Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam - I'll have a light beer
Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo - I'll have a pizza with everything on it
Damnant quod non intellegunt - They condemn what they do not understand
Data et accepta - Expenditure and receipts
De asini vmbra disceptare - To argue about the shadow of an ass. (petty things for petty mind)
De bene esse - It shall be so, as long as it is well
De die in diem - From day to day
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum - Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen (Thomas Kempis)
De facto - Something that is automatically accepted
De gustibus non est disputandum - There's no accounting for taste
De integro - Repeat again from the start
De jure - By law. According to law
De minimis non curat praetor - The authority or king, or law does not care about trivial things
De minimis - With respect to trifles
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum - Say nothing but good about the dead. (Chilon)
De nihilo nihil - Nothing comes from nothing. (Lucretius)
De novo - Anew
De profundis - Up from the depths (of misery)
De rervm natvra - On the nature of things. (title of Marcus Aurelius's magnum opus)
Decrevi - I have decreed
Dei gratia - By the grace of God
Delenda est carthago - Carthage must be destroyed
Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit - The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn. (Horace)
Deo adiuvante - With God's help
Deo favente - With God's favour
Deo gratias - Thanks be to God
Deo optimo maximo - To God, the Best, the Greatest
Deo vindice - God will prove us right. (motto of the Confederate States of America)
Deo volente - God willing
Desunt cetera - The rest is missing
Deus absconditus - A god who is hidden from man
Deus commodo muto consisto quem meus canis sententia existo - Which, in a very ham-fisted way, with generosity, comes close to being
Deus et natua non faciunt frusta - God and nature do not work together in vain
Deus ex machina - A contrived or artificial solution. (literally, 'a god from a machine')
Deus vobiscum - God be with you
Deus volent - (as) God will
Deus vult! - God wills it! (Slogan of the Crusades)
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit! - God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!
Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem! - The devil made me do it!
Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am
Dictum sapienti sat est - A word to a wise person is sufficient
Die dulci freure - Have a nice day
Diem perdidi - I have lost a day (another day wasted) (Titus)
Dies felices - Happy Days
Dies irae - The Day of Wrath, or Judgment Day
Dies natalis - Birthday
Dies non - Business free day
Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem - It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. (Catullus)
Difficile est saturam non scribere - It is hard not to write satire. (Juvenalis)
Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas - It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it. (Pliny the Younger)
Diis aliter visum - The Gods decided otherwise
Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium - Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence. (Seneca)
Diligite justitiam, o judices terrae - Cherish justice, o judges of the earth
Dimidium facti qui coepit habet - Half is done when the beginning is done. (Horace)
Dira necessitas - The dire necessity. (Horace)
Discere docendo - To learn through teaching
Disiecti membra poetae - Limbs of a dismembered poet. (Horace)
Disjecta membra - The scattered remains
Divide et impera - Divide and conquer
Dixi - I have spoken. (I will say no more on the matter, and no one else may speak further)
Do ut des - I give so that you give back
Docendo discitur - It is learned by teaching. (Seneca)
Doli capax - Capable of crime
Docendo discimus - ITeach in order to learn<
Dolores capitis non fero. Eos do - II don't get headaches. I give them.
Domine, dirige nos - Lord, direct us
Dominus illuminatio mea - The Lord is my light
Dominus tecum - May the Lord be with you (Singular)
Dominus vobiscum - May the Lord be with you (Plural)
Domus dulcis domus - (home) Sweet home
Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos - As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends (when you are successful, everyone wants to be your friend)
Donna nobis pacem - Grant us peace
Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus - Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon. (This is the motto of Harry Potter's alma mater)
Dramatis personae - Characters of the play
Duc, sequere, aut de via decede - Lead, follow, or get out of the way
Dulce bellum inexpertis - War is sweet for those who haven't experienced it. (Pindaros)
Dulce est desipere in loco - It is sweet to relax at the proper time
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country. (Horace)
Dulcius ex asperis - Through difficulty, sweetness
Dum excusare credis, accusas - When you believe you are excusing yourself, you are accusing yourself. (St. Jerome)
Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem - As long as we are among humans, let us be humane. (Seneca)
Dum spiramus tuebimur - While we breathe, we shall defend
Dum spiro, spero - While I breathe, I hope. (Cicero)
Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum - While we have the time, let us do good
Dum vita est spes est - While life is, hope is. / While there is life there is hope
Dum vivimus, vivamus - While we live, let us live (Epicurean philosophy)
Dura lex, sed lex - The law is harsh, but it is the law

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E contrario - From a contrary position
E pluribus unum - From many, one (Motto of the USA)
E re nata - As circumstances dictate
E vestigio - From where one stands
Ecce homo - behold the man
Ecce signum - behold the proof
Editio princeps - first printed edition
Ego et rex meus - I and my King
Ego me bene habeo - With me all is well. (last words) (Burrus)
Ego nolo caesar esse - I don't want to be Caesar. (Florus)
Ego spem pretio non emo - I do not purchase hope for a price. (I do not buy a pig in a poke.)
Ego - Consciousness of one's own identity
Eheu fugaces labuntur anni - Alas, the fleeting years slip by. (Horace)
Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum - Unfortunately, I can't find those particular documents
Eiusdem generis - Of the same kind
Elizabeth Regina/Eduardus Rex (E.R.) - Queen Elizabeth/King Edward
Emeritus - Honorary; by merit
Emitte lucem et veritatem - Send out light and truth
Ense et aratro - With sword and plow. (citizen-soldier, one who serves in war and peace)
Eo ipso - By that very act
Eo nomine - Under that name
Epistula non erubescit - A letter doesn't blush. (Cicero)
Eppur si muove - But it does move... (Galileo)
Eram quod es, eris quod sum - I was what you are, you will be what I am. (grave inscription)
Ergo bibamus - Therefore, let us drink
Ergo - Therefore
Errare humanum est - To err is human. / It is human to err. (Seneca)
Errata - A list of errors (in a book)
Erratum (errata) - error (errors)
Escariorium lavator - Dishwashing machine
Esse est percipi - Being is perception. (It is a standardmetaphysical) (Mauser)
Esse quam videri - To be rather than to seem
Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre quod credis - Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. (St. Augustine)
Est deus in nobis - The is a god inside us
Est modus in rebus - There is a middle ground in things. (Horace)
Est queadam fiere voluptas - There is a certain pleasure in weeping. (Ovid)
Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima? - Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat?
Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre? - Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?
Esto perpetua - Let it be forever
Esto perpetue - May you last for ever
Et alii/aliae - Other persons/things
Et cetera/etcetera (etc.) - And the rest.
Et in arcadia ego - I, also, am in Arcadia
Et sequens (et seq.) - And the following
Et sequentes (et seq. Or seqq.) - And those that follow
Et sic de ceteris - And so to of the rest
Et tu, brute! - You too, Brutus! Even you have betrayed me! (Caesar's last words)
Et uxor (abbreviated et ux.) - And wife
Etiam capillus unus habet umbram - Even one hair has a shadow. (Publilius Syrus)
Eventus stultorum magister - Events are the teacher of the stupid persons. Stupid people learn by experience, bright people calculate what to do
Ex abrupto - Without preparation
Ex abundancia cordis, os loquitor - From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
Ex animo - From the heart (sincerely)
Ex ante - Before the event, beforehand. (economics: based on prior assumptions)
Ex cathedra - From the chair. With authority (without argumentation)
Ex cearulo - Out of the blue
Ex curia - Out of court
Ex gratia - Purely as a favour
Ex hypothesi - From the hypothesis. (i.e. The one under consideration)
Ex libris - From the Library (of)
Ex mea sententia - In my opinion
Ex more - According to custom
Ex nilhilo nihil fit - From, or out of, nothing, nothing comes; nothing begetes nothing.)
Ex officio - By virtue of his office
Ex parte - By only one party to a dispute in the absence of the other
Ex post facto - After the fact, or Retrospectively
Ex proprio motu - Voluntarily
Ex silentio - From silence. (from lack of contrary evidence)
Ex tempore - Off the cuff, without preparation
Ex uno disce omnes - From one person learn all persons. (From one we can judge the rest)
Ex voto - According to one's vow
Ex - Out of
Excelsior - Ever upward
Exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis - An exception establishes the rule as to things not excepted
Exceptis excipiendis - excepting what is to be excepted
Excitabat fluctus in simpulo - He was stirring up billows in a ladle. (He was raising a tempest in a teapot) (Cicero)
Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta - He who excuses himself, accuses himself (qui s'excuse, s'accuse)
Exeat - Permission for a temporary absence
Exegi monumentum aere perennius - I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze. (Horace)
Exempli gratia (e.g) - For the sake of example
Exeunt omnes - All go out. (A common stage direction in plays)
Exeunt - They go out
Exit - He/she goes out
Exitus acta probat - The outcome proves the deeds. (the end justifies the means) (Ovid)
Experientia docet stultos - Experience teaches fools
Experientia docet - Experience is the best teacher
Extempore - Without premeditation
Exterioris pagina puella - Cover Girl
Extinctus amabitur idem - The same [hated] man will be loved after he's dead. How quickly we forget. (Horace)
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus - Outside the Church [there is] No Salvation. (A phrase of much disputed significance in Roman Catholic theology)

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F

Fabas indulcet fames - Hunger sweetens the beans, or hunger makes everything taste good!
Faber est suae quisque fortunae - Every man is the artisan of his own fortune. (Appius Claudius Caecus)
Faber quisque fortunae suae - Each man (is) the maker of his own fortune
Fabricati diem - Make my day
Fac me cocleario vomere! - Gag me with a spoon!
Fac ut nemo me vocet - Hold my calls
Fac ut vivas - Get a life
Facile princeps - Acknowledged leader
Facilis descensvs averno - The descent to Avernus (Hell) it's easy to fall, hard to rise
Facilius est multa facere quam diu - It is easier to do many things than to do one for a long time. (Quintilianus)
Facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur - We are more easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole. (Seneca)
Facito aliquid operis, ut te semper diabolus inveniat occupatum - Always do something, so that the devil always finds you occupied. (St. Jerome)
Facta, non verba - Deeds, not words. (Actions speak louder than words)
Factum est - It is done
Fallaces sunt rerum species - The appearances of things are deceptive. (Seneca)
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus - False in one thing, false in all
Fama crescit eundo - The rumour grows as it goes. (Vergil)
Fama nihil est celerius - Nothing is swifter than rumor
Fama semper vivat - May his/her fame last forever
Fama volat - The rumour has wings. (Vergil)
Fames est optimus coquus - Hunger is the best cook
Farrago fatigans! - Thuffering thuccotash!
Fas est et ab hoste doceri - It's proper to learn even from an enemy. (Ovid)
Favete linguis - To keep a (religious) silence. (Horace)
Fax mentis incedium gloriae - The passion of glory is the torch of the mind
Fecit (fec.) - Made by
Feles mala! cur cista non uteris? stramentum novum in ea posui - Bad kitty! Why don't you use the cat box? I put new litter in it
Feles mala! - Bad kitty!
Felis qvi nihil debet - Happy [is] he who owes nothing
Felix culpa - Happy fault
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas - Happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things. (Vergil)
Felo de se - Suicide
Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt - Men readily believe what they want to believe. (Caesar)
Festina lente - Make haste slowly
Fiat justitia (et ruat caelum) - Let justice be done. (though the heavens fall)"
Fiat lux - Let there be light
Fiat volvntas tva - Let Thy will [be done] (Biblical)
Fiat - Let it be done
Fide, non armis - By faith, not arms
Fidei defensor - Defender of the faith
Fides punica - Treachery. (Livy)
Fides quaerens intellectum - Faith seeking understanding
Fidus Achates - faithful Achates (friend)
Filioque - and from the son
Filius nullius - a bastard
Finem respice - Look to the end [before setting forth]
Finis coronat opus - The ending crowns the work. (Ovid)
Finis - the end
Flagrante delicto - Literally while the crime is blazing. Caught red-handed, in the very act of a crime
Flamma fumo est proxima - Flame follows smoke. (there is no smoke without fire) (Plautus)
Floreat regina regina - May it flourish. (The motto of the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada)
Floruit - Flourished
Fluctuat nec mergitur - It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink
Fons et origo - The source and origin
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit - Perhaps someday we will look back upon these things with joy
Forsan miseros meliora sequentur - For those in misery perhaps better things will follow. (Virgil)
Fortes et liber - Strong and free. (Alberta)
Fortes fortuna adiuvat - Fortune favors the brave. (Terence)
Fortes fortuna iuvat - fortune favours the brave
Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter - Bravely, faithfully, perhaps successfully
Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo - Resolutely in action, gently in manner. (To do unhesitatingly what must be done but accomplishing it as inoffensively as possible)
Fortitudine vincimus - By endurance we conquer
Fortuna amicos parat, inopia amicos probat - The fortune is preparing friends, the abundance is testing them
Fortuna caeca est - Fortune is blind. (Cicero)
Fortunatus sum! Pila mea de gramine horrido modo in pratum lene recta volvit! - Isn't that lucky! My ball just rolled out of the rough and onto the fairway!
Frangar non flectar - I am broken, I am not deflected
Frater, ave atque vale - Brother, hello and good-bye. (Catullus)
Fronti nulla fides - No reliance can be placed on appearance. (don't judge a book by its cover)
Fugit hora - The hour flies
Functus officio - Having discharged his duty and thus ceased to have any authority over a matter
Furnulum pani nolo - I don't want a toaster

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G

Gaudeamus igitur (iuvenes dum sumus) - Therefore, let us rejoice. (while we are young)
Genius loci - The guardian spirit of the place
Gens togata - The toga-clad race; the romans
Genus irritabile vatum - The irritable race of poets. (Horace)
Gladiator in arena consilium capit - The gladiator is formulating his plan in the arena (i.e., too late) (Seneca)
Gloria in excelsis deo - Glory to God in the highest
Gloria patri - Glory to the Father
Gloria virtutis umbra - Glory (is) the shadow of virtue
Gloria - Glory
Gloriosum est iniurias oblivisci - It is glorious to forget the injustice
Gnothe seauton (Greek) - Know thyself
Graeca sunt, non leguntur - It is Greek, you don't read that
Gramen artificiosum odi - I hate Astroturf
Gratia placenti - For the sake of pleasing
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit - Captive Greece conquered her savage victor. (Horace)
Graviora manent - greater dangers await
Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo - The drop excavates the stone, not with force but by falling often. (Ovid)

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H

Habeas corpus - You must have the body", i.e. You must justify an imprisonment
Habemus papam - We have a pope. (used at the announcement of a new pope)
Hac lege - with this law
Haec olim meminisse ivvabit - Time heals all things, i.e. Wounds, offenses
Haec trutina errat - There is something wrong with this scale
Hannibal ante portas! - Hannibal is at the doors! The enemy/danger is at the doors!
Haud ignota loquor - I say things that are known
Helluo librorum - A glutton for books. (bookworm)
Heu! Tintinnuntius meus sonat! - Darn! There goes my beeper!
Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt! - Hey, we're all in line here!
Hic et nunc - Here and now
Hic habitat felicitas - Here dwells happiness
Hic jacet sepultus (HJS) - Here lies buried
Hic jacet (HJ) - Here lies. (written on gravestones or tombs)
Hic puer est stultissimus omnium! - This boy is the stupidest of all!
Hinc illae lacrimae - Hence these tears. (Terence)
Historia est vitae magistra - The history is the tutor of life
Hoc erat in votis - This was among my prayers
Hoc est in votis - This is in my prayers
Hoc est verum et nihili nisi verum - This is the truth and nothing but the truth
Hoc est vivere bis vita posse priore frvi - To live twice is to make useful profit from one's past. Experience is the best teacher, so learn from it
Hoc natura est insitum, ut quem timueris, hunc semper oderis - It's an innate thing to always hate the one we've learnt to fear
Hoc tempore obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit - In these days friends are won through flattery, the truth gives birth to hate. (Terence)
Hocine bibo aut in eum digitos insero? - Do I drink this or stick my fingers in it?
Hodie mihi, cras tibi - Today for me, tomorrow for you
Homines libenter quod volunt credunt - Men believe what they want to. (Terentius)
Homines, dum docent, discunt - Men learn while they teach. (Seneca)
Homo doctvs is se semper divitias habet - A learned man always has wealth within himself
Homo homini lupus - Man is a wolf to man
Homo nudus cum nuda iacebat - Naked they lay together, man and woman
Homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus - One is innocent until proven guilty
Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto - I am human, therefore nothing human is strange to me
Homo sum - I am a man
Homo vitae commodatus non donatus est - Man has been lent to life, not given. (Pubilius Syrus)
Honor virutis preamium - Honour is the reward of virtue
Honores mutant mores - The honours change the customs. (Power corrupts)
Honoris causa (h.c.) - As in doctorate, an honorary degree
Horas non numero nisi serenas - I count only the bright hours. (Inscription on ancient sundials)
Horribile dictu - Horrible to tell
Horror vacui - Fear of empty places
Hostis hvmani generis - Enemy of the human race
Huc accedit zambonis! - Here comes the Zamboni!
Humum mandere - To bite the dust
Hunc tu caveto - Beware of this man

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I

Ibidem (Ib.) - In the same place. (in a book)
Id certum est quod certum reddi potest - That is certain that can be made certain
Id est (i.e.) - That is to say
Id est mihi, id non est tibi! - It is mine, not yours!
Id imperfectum manet dum confectum erit - It ain't over until it's over
Id tibi praebet speciem lepidissimam! - It looks great on you!
Idem quod (i.q.) - The same as
Idem - The same
Iesus nazarenus rex iudaeorum (INRI) - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
Ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes viros - Life is not a bowl of cherries, or, literally, Fire tests gold; adversity tests strong men
Ignis fatuus - Foolish fire (will-o-the-wisp)
Ignorantia juris neminem excusat - Ignorance of the law excuses no one
Ignoratio elenchi - An ignorance of proof
Ignotus (ign.) - Unknown
Ille dolet vere, qui sine teste dolet - He mourns honestly who mourns without witnesses. (Martialis)
Ille mi par esse deo videtur - He seems to me to be equal to a god. (Catullus)
Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down
Illiud latine dici non potest - You can't say that in Latin
Illius me paenitet, dux - Sorry about that, chief
Imitatores, servum pecus! - Imitators, you slavish crowd! (Horace)
Imperator/Imperatrix (Imp.) - Emperor/Empress
Imperator - Emperor
Imperium et libertas - Empire and liberty. (Cicero)
Imperium in imperio - An empire within an empire, i.e. A fifth column, a group of people within an nation's territory who owe allegiance to some other leader
Imperium - Absolute power
Impossibilium nulla obligatio est - Nobody has any obligation to the impossible. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Imprimatur - Let it be printed
Imprimis - In first place
In absentia - In one's absence
In actu - In practice
In aere aedificare - Build (castles) in the air. (St. Augustine)
In aeternum - For eternity
In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides - You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself. (Petronius)
In articulo mortis - At the moment of death
In banco - On the bench
In camera - In private chamber
In capite - In chief
In cavda venenvm - In the tail [is the] poison. Watch out for what you don't see
In curia - In court
In dentibus anticis frustrum magnum spiniciae habes - You have a big piece of spinach in your front teeth
In distans - At a distance
In dubiis non est agendum - In dubious cases, you should not act
In dubio pro reo - In doubt in favor of the accused. If there is a doubt about guiltiness, the judgement has to be in favour of the accused
In dubio - In doubt
In esse - In existence
In excelsis - In the highest
In extenso - At full length
In extremis - In extremity
In fine - At the end
In flagrante delicto - In the very act of committing an offence
In forma pauperis - In the form of a poor person; in a humble or abject manner
In futuro - In the future
In gremio legis - In the protection of the law
In his ordo est ordinem non servare - In this case the only rule is not obeying any rules
In hoc signo vinces - In this sign, you will be victorious. (Eusebios)
In infinitum - To infinity; without end
In libris libertas - In books (there is) freedom
In limine - On the threshold, at the very outset
In loco parentis - In the place of a parent
In loco - In the place of
In magnis et voluisse sat est - To once have wanted is enough in great deeds. (Propertius)
In media res - In or into the middle of a sequence of events. (Horace)
In medio stat virtus - Virtue stands in the middle. Virtue is in the moderate, not the extreme position. (Horace)
In medio tutissimus ibis - In the middle of things you will go most safe. (Ovid)
In memoriam - To the memory of
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas - In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity
In nomine patris et filii et spiritus santi - In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
In nubibus - In the clouds
In nuce - In a nutshell
In omnia paratus - Prepared for all things
In ovo - In the egg
In pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello - In peace, like a wise man, he appropriately prepares for war
In pace - In peace
In pari materia - Of like kind
In partibus infidelium - In parts inhabited by unbelievers
In parvo - In miniature
In perpetuum - To all time
In personam - Against the person
In pleno - In full
In pontificalibus - In the proper vestments of a pope or cardinal
in posse - In possibility
In posterum - Till the next day
In praesenti - At the present time
In principio - In the beginning
In propria persona - In person
In puris naturalibus - Completely naked
In quaestione versare - To be under investigation
In re - Refering to
In rem - Against the matter (property)
In rerum natura - In the nature of things
In saecvla saecvlorvm - For ages of ages forever
In se - In itself
In silico - By means of a computer simulation
In silvam ne ligna feras - Don't carry logs into the forest. (Horace)
In situ - In position
In specie - In kind; (a) in its own form and not in an equivalent (b) in coins and not in paper money
In spiritu et veritate - In spirit and truth. (Versio Vulgata)
In statu quo - In the same state
In terrorem - As a warning; in order to terrify others
In totidem verbis - in so many words
In toto - As a whole, absolutely, Completely
In transitu - In passing, on the way
In usu - in use
In vacuo - In a vacuum or empty space
In vinculis etiam audax - In chains yet still bold (free)
In vino veritas - The truth is in wine. A drunk person tells the truth
In virtute sunt multi ascensus - There are many degrees in excellence. (Cicero)
In vitro - In a test tube (literally glass)
In vivo - In the living (thing)
Incipit - Begin here
Incredibile dictu - Incredible to say
Index librorum prohibitorum - Official list of forbidden books not to be read by Catholics
Indulgentiam quaeso - I ask your indulgence
Infinitus est numerus stultorum - Infinite is the number of fools
Infra dignitatem (dig.) - Undignified; beneath one's dignity
Infra - Below, underneath
Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est - Inhumanity is harmful in every age. (Cicero)
Iniqua nunquam regna perpetuo manent - Stern masters do not reign long. (Seneca Philosophus)
Iniuria non excusat iniuriam - One wrong does not justify another
Insanabile cacoethes scribendi - An incurable passion to write. (Juvenal)
Insculpsit - He/she engraved it
Instrumentum aeri temperando - Airconditioner
Insula gilliganis - Gilligan's Island
Integer vitae scelerisque purus - Blameless of life and free from crime
Intellectum valde amat - Love the intellect strongly. (St. Augustine)
Intelligenti pauca - Few words suffice for he who understands
Intelligo me intelligere - I understand that I understand. (St. Augustine)
Inter alios - Amongst other people
Inter arma silent leges - In time of war, laws are silent
Inter caecos regnat strabo - Among blinds the squinting rules. (Erasmus)
Inter caesa et porrecta - There's many a slip twixt cup and lip
Inter canum et lupum - Between a dog and a wolf
Inter nos - Between ourselves
Inter partes - Made between two parties
Inter se - Amongst themselves
Inter spem et metum - Between hope and fear
Inter vivos - Between living (people)
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum - Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe
Interfice errorem, diligere errantem - Kill the sin, love the sinner. (St. Augustine)
Interregnvm - Period between rules anarchy, lawlessnes
Intra muros - Within the walls
Intra vires - Within the power
Inventas vitam iuvat excoluisse per artes - Let us improve life through science and art. (Vergil)
Ipsa qvidem pretivm virtvs sibi - Virtue is its own reward
Ipsa scientia potestas est - Knowledge itself is power. (Bacon)
Ipse dixit - He himself said it. (Cicero)
Ipsissima verba - the exact words
Ipso facto - By the fact itself
Ipso iure - By operation of the law
Ira furor brevis est - Anger is a brief insanity. (Horace)
Isto pensitaris? - You get paid for this crap?
Ita erat quando hic adveni - It was that way when I got here
Ita est - Yes./It is so
Ite, misse est - Go, the Mass is finished
Iubilate Deo - Rejoice in God
Iunctis viribus - By united efforts
Iure divino - By divine law
Iure humano - By human law
Ius civile - Civil law
Ius gentium - The law of nations
Ius primae noctis - The right for the first night
Ivs est ars boni et aeqvi - Law is the art of the good and the just
Ivs gentivm - Right of tribes law of nations

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J

Justitia omnibus - Justice for all

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K

Koming soon - Sorry, bad joke

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L

Labor omnia vincit - Work conquers all things. (Virgil)
Labra lege - Read my lips
Lachryma christi - Christ's tears
Lapsus alumni - Error made
Lapsus linguae - A slip of the tongue
Lapsus memoriae - A slip of the memory
Lapsus nivium! - Avalanche!!
Lapsus stili - A slip of the pen
Lares et penates - Household gods
Latet anguis in herba - A snake lies in the grass. (Vergil)
Latine dictum - Spoken in Latin
Latine loqui coactus sum - I have this compulsion to speak Latin
Latro! fremo! - Woof woof! Grrrr!
Laudant illa, sed ista legunt - Some (writing) is praised, but other is read. (Martialis)
Laudatores temporis acti - Praisers of time past
Laus Deo - Praise be to God
Lavdem virtvtis necessitati damvs - We give to necessity the praise of virtue finding the benefit in what's needful
Lectio brevior lectio potior - The shortest reading is the more probable reading
Lector benevole - Kind reader
Lege atque lacrima - Read 'em and weep
Lege et lacrima - Read it and weep
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus - We are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free. (Cicero)
Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus - The burden is made light which is borne well. (Ovid)
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est - The designated hitter rule has got to go
Lex domicilii - The law of a person's home country
Lex fori - The law of the forum (country)
Lex loci - The law of the place
Lex malla, lex nulla - A bad law is no law. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Lex non scripta - The unwritten (common) law
Lex scripta - The written law
Lex talionis - The law of revenge
Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt - Men gladly believe that which they wish for. (Caesar)
Liberae sunt nostrae cogitationes - Our thoughts are free. (Cicero)
Liberate te ex inferis - Save yourself from hell
Libertas inaestimabilis res est - Liberty is a thing beyond all price. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Liberum arbitrium - Free will
Libra solidus denarius (L.S.D.) - Pounds, shillings, pence
Licentia liquendi - Liberty of speaking
Licentia poetica - Poetic licence. (Seneca)
Licet - It is allowed
Lingua franca - French tongue - the common or universal language
Literati - Men of letters
Litoralis - Beach bum
Litterae humaniores - The humanities
Loco citato (Lc) - In the passage just quoted
Locum tenens - One occupying the place (used as an English noun meaning 'deputy')
Locus classicus - The most authoritative source, Classical passage
Locus delicti - The scene of the crime
Locus desperatus - A hopeless passage
Locus enim est principum generationis rerum - For place is the origin of things. (Roger Bacon)
Locus in quo - The place in which something happens
Locus poenitentiae - A place for repentance
Locus sigilli (l.s.) - The place of the seal
Locus standi - The right to be heard in court
Longo intervallo - After a long gap
Loquitur (Loq.) - He/she speaks
Luctor et emergo - I struggle but I'll survive
Lumen naturale - Natural light
Lupus est homo homini - Man is wolf to man
Lupus in fabula - The wolf in the tale (i.e. Speak of the wolf, and he will come) (Terence)
Lusus naturae - A freak of nature
Lux et veritas - Light and Truth
Lux mundi - The light of the world

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M

Machina improba! Vel mihi ede potum vel mihi redde nummos meos! - You infernal machine! Give me a beverage or give me my money back!
Maecenas atavis edite regibus - Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors. (Horace)
Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter - Necessity is the mother of all invention
Magister artium (MA) - Master of arts
Magister mundi sum! - I am the master of the universe!
Magna charta - Great paper
Magna cum laude - With great honour or academic distinction
Magnas inter oper inops - A pauper in the midst of wealth. (Horace)
Magnificat - It magnifies
Magnum bonum - a great good
Magnum opus - Great work, the major work of one's life
Magnus frater spectat te - Big Brother is watching you
Mala fide - In bad faith (something which is done fraudulently)
Male parta male dilabuntur - What has been wrongly gained is wrongly lost. (Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.) (Cicero)
Malum consilium quod mutari non potest - It's a bad plan that can't be changed. (Publilius Syrus)
Malum prohibitum - A prohibited wrong. A crime that society decides is wrong for some reason, not inherently evil
Malum quidem nullum esse sine aliquo bono - There is, to be sure, no evil without something good. (Pliny the Elder)
Manus in mano - Hand in hand
Manus manum lavat - One hand washes the other. The favor for the favor. (Petronius)
Mare clausum - A closed sea
Mare liberum - An open sea
Mare nostrum - Our sea. (Mediterranean)
Margaritas ante porcos - Pearls before swine. To give something valuable to someone not respecting it
Mater artium necessitas - Necessity is the mother of invention
Mater dolorosa - Sorrowful mother. (Virgin Mary)
Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus - Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries
Mater - Mother
Materfamilias - Mother of family
Materia medica - Medical matter
Materiam superabat opus - The workmanship was better than the subject matter. (Ovid)
Maxima debetur puero reverentia - We owe the greatest respect to a child
Maximus in minimis - Great in little things
Me fallit - I do not know
Me iudice - I being judge; in my judgement
Me oportet propter praeceptum te nocere - I'm going to have to hurt you on principle
Me transmitte sursum, caledoni! - Beam me up, Scotty!
Mea culpa - Through my fault
Mea maxima culpa - Through my very great fault
Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo - My conscience means more to me than all speech. (Cicero)
Medice, cura te ipsum! - Physician, heal thyself! (Versio Vulgata)
Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant - Doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies. (Curtius Rufus)
Medicus curat, natura sanat - The physician treats, nature cures
Medio tutissimus ibis - You will go safest in the middle. (Moderation in all things) (Ovid)
Meliora cogito - I strive for the best
Melitae amor - Love of Malta
Melius est praevenire quam praeveniri - Better to forestall than to be forestalled
Melius frangi quam flecti - It is better to break than to bend
Melius tarde, quam nunquam - Better late than never
Mellita, domi adsum - Honey, I'm home
Memento mori - Remember that you will die
Memento vivere - A reminder of life (literally remember that you have to live)
Memorabilia - Memorable things
Memorandum - A note of; a thing to be remembered
Memoria in aeterna - In everlasting remembrance
Memoriter - From memory
Mendacem memorem esse oportet - A liar needs a good memory. (Quintilianus)
Mens agitat molem - The mind moves the matter. (Vergil)
Mens rea - Guilty mind
Mens regnum bona possidet - An honest heart is a kingdom in itself. (Seneca)
Mens sana in corpore sano - A sound mind in a sound body. (Juvenalis)
Mens sibi conscia recti - A mind conscious of its rectitude
Meum pactum dictum - My word is my bond
Mihi cura futuri - My concern is the future
Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi - Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog
Millennium (millennia) - A thousand year period
Minime senuisti! - You haven't aged a bit!
Minus habens - Absentminded
Mirabile dictu - Wonderful to say/relate. (Vergil)
Mirabile visu - Wonderful to behold
Miserere - Have mercy
Missa solemnis - Solemn Mass. (high Mass)
Mittimus - We send (to prison)
Modus agendi - Manner of operation
Modus operandi (m.o.) - Way of operating
Modus vivendi - Way of living
Monstra mihi pecuniam! - Show me the money!
Moratorium - A delay
Morituri te salutant - Those who are about to die salute you
Mors ultima linea rerum est - Death is everything's final limit. (Horace)
Mortvi non mordant - Dead me don't bite; Dead men tell no tale
Motu proprio - Of one's own initiative
Mulier taceat in ecclesia - Let the woman be silent in church. (Paul)
Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur - Many fear their reputation, few their conscience. (Pliny)
Multis post annis - Many years later
Multum in parvo - Much in little. (small but significant)
Multun, non multa - Much, not many (quality not quantity)
Mundas vult decipi - The world wants to be deceived
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur - The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
Munit haec et altera vincit - One defends and the other conquers
Mus uni non fidit antro - A mouse does not rely on just one hole. (Plautus)
Musica delenit bestiam feram - Music soothes the savage beast
Mutatis mutandis - The necessary changes having been made
Mutato nomine - The name being changed
Mvlti svnt vocati, pavci vero electi - Many are called [but] few are chosen
Mvndvs vvlt decipi - The world wishes to be deceived there's a sucker born every minute
Mvtatis mvtandis - The things that ought to have changed having been changed with the necessary substitutions having been made

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N

Nam et ipsa scientia potestas es - Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis Bacon)
Nascentes morimur - From the moment we are born, we begin to die
Natale solum - Native soil
Natura abhorret a vacua - Nature abhors a vacuum
Natura in minima maxima - Nature is the greatest in the smallest things
Natura nihil fit in frustra - Nature does nothing in vain
Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret - You can drive nature out with a pitchfork but she always comes back
Navigare necesse est - To sail is necessary
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum! - Don't you dare erase my hard disk!
Ne cede malis - Do not yield to misfortune
Ne feceris ut rideam - Don't make me laugh
Ne humanus crede - Trust no human
Ne nimium - Not too much
Ne plus ultra - No further. Impassable obstacle
Ne quid nimis - Nothing in excess. (Terence)
Nec possum tecum vivere, nec sine te - I am able to live / I can live neither with you, nor without you. (Martial)
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres - As a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word. (Horace)
Necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent - He must fear many, whom many fear. (Laberius)
Necessitatis non habet legem - Necessity knows no law
Negotium populo romano melius quam otium committi - The Roman people understand work better than leisure
Nemine contradicente (Nem. Con.) - With no one speaking in opposition. Unanimously
Nemine dissentiente (Nem. Diss.) - With no one disagreeing
Nemo ante mortem beatus - Nobody is blessed before his death. We never know what is future preparing for us!
Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi - Moreover, there is no one who can rule unless he can be ruled. (Seneca)
Nemo dat quod non habet - No one gives what he does not have
Nemo gratis mendax - No man lies freely. A person with no reason to lie is telling the truth
Nemo hic adest illius nominis - There is no one here by that name
Nemo liber est qui corpori servit - No one is free who is a slave to his body
Nemo malus felix - No bad man is lucky. (Juvenal)
Nemo me impune lacessit - No one provokes me with impunity. (motto of the kings of Scotland)
Nemo nisi mors - Nobody except death (will part us). (Inscription in the wedding ring of the Swedish Queen Katarina Jagellonica)
Nemo propheta in patria sua - No one is considered a prophet in his hometown/homeland
Nemo repente fuit turpiss

[ben]

Nemo repente fuit turpissimus - No one ever became thoroughly bad in one step. (Juvenal)
Nemo risum praebuit, qui ex se coepit - Nobody is laughed at, who laughs at himself. (Seneca)
Nemo saltat sobrius - No man dances sober
Nemo sine vitio est - No one is without fault. (Seneca the Elder)
Nemo surdior est quam is qui non audiet - No man is more deaf than he who will not hear
Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum - No man by fearing reaches the top. (Syrus)
Nervos belli, pecuniam. (Nervus rerum.) - The nerve of war, money. (The nerve of things.) (Cicero)
Nescio quid dicas - I don't know what you're talking about
Neutiquam erro - I am not lost
Nihil ad rem - Nothing to do with the point
Nihil agere delectat - It is pleasant to do nothing. (Cicero)
Nihil aliud scit necessitas quam vincere - Necesssity knows nothing else but victory. (Syrus)
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione - I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult
Nihil declaro - I have nothing to declare
Nihil est ab omni parte beatum - Nothing is good in every part. (Horace)
Nihil est incertius volgo - Nothing is more uncertain than the (favour of the) crowd. (Cicero)
Nihil est miserum nisi cum putes - Nothing is unfortunate if you don't consider it unfortunate. (Boethius)
Nihil est--In vita priore ego imperator romanus fui - That's nothing--in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor
Nihil obstat - Nothing stands in the way
Nihil sub sole novum - Nothing new under the sun
Nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecunia possit - No fort is so strong that it cannot be taken with money. (Cicero)
Nihil - Nothing
Nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum - Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done. (Lucan)
Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendum - Thinking nothing done, while anything was yet to do
Nil admirari - To admire nothing. (Horace)
Nil agit exemplum, litem quod lite resolvit - Not much worth is an example that solves one quarrel with another. (Horace)
Nil desperandum! - Never despair! (Horace)
Nil homini certum est - Nothing is certain for man. (Ovid)
Nil sine numine - Nothing without providence
Nill illigitimi carborundum - Do not let the bastards get you down
Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis - Unless you will have believed, you will not understand. (St. Augustine)
Nisi prius - Unles previously
Nisi - Unless
Nolens volens - Whether one likes it or not; willing or unwilling
Noli equi dentes inspicere donati - Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. (St. Jerome)
Noli me tangere! - Don't touch me! (Versio Vulgata)
Noli me voca, ego te vocabo - Don't call me. I'll call you
Noli nothis permittere te terere - Don't let the bastards get you down
Noli turbare circulos meos! - Don't upset my calculations! (Archimedes)
Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem - Don't force it, get a bigger hammer
Nolle prosequi - Do not pursue
Nolo contendere - I do not wish to contend
Nomen est omen - The name is the sign
Nomina stultorum parietibus haerent - The names of foolish persons adhere to walls (Fools names and fools faces are often seen in public places.)
Nominatim - By name
Non bis in idem - Not twice for the same thing
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat - It's not the heat, it's the humidity
Non compos mentis - Not in possession of one's senses
Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema - I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem
Non erravi perniciose! - I did not commit a fatal error!
Non est ad astra mollis e terris via - There is no easy way from the earth to the stars. (Seneca)
Non est ei similis - There is no one like him
Non est mea culpa - It's not my fault
Non est vivere sed valere vita est - Life is not being alive but being well (life is more than just being alive)
Non Gradus Anus Rodentum! - Not Worth A Rats Ass!
Non ignara mals, miseris svccvrrere disco - No stranger to misfortune [myself] I learn to relieve the sufferings [of others
Non illigitamus carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down
Non licet - It is not allowed
Non liquet - It is not clear
Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis - Not for you, not for me, but for us - the foundation of a good relationship
Non mortem timemus, sed cogitationem mortis - We do not fear death, but the thought of death. (Seneca)
Non multa, sed multum - Not many, but much. (Meaning, not quantity but quality) (Plinius)
Non nobis, Domine - Not unto us, O Lord
Non omne quod licet honestum est - Not everything that is permitted is honest. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Non omne quod nitet aurum est - Not all that glitters is gold
Non omnes qui habemt citharam sunt citharoedi - Not all those who own a musical instrument are musicians. (Bacon)
Non omnia moriar - Not all of me will die. (Horace)
Non omnia possumus omnes - Not all of us are able to do all things (We can't all do everything.) (Virgil)
Non omnis moriar - Not all of me will die. (his works would live forever) (Horace)
Non placet - it does not please
Non plus ultra! (Nec plus ultra!) - Nothing above that!
Non prosequitur - He does not proceed
Non quis, sed quid - Not who, but what
Non scholae sed vitae discimus - We do not learn for school, but for life. (Seneca)
Non semper erit aestas - It will not always be summer (be prepared for hard times)
Non sequitur - It does not follow
Non serviam - I will not serve
Non sibi sed suis - Not for one's self but for one's people
Non sibi, sed patriae - Not for you, but for the fatherland
Non sum pisces - I am not a fish
Non sum qualis eram - I am not what / of what sort I was (I'm not what I used to be.)
Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum - Do not take as gold everything that shines like gold
Non timetis messor - Don't Fear the Reaper
Non uno die roma aedificata est - Rome was not built in one day (either)
Non ut edam vivo, sed vivam edo - I do not live to eat, but eat to live. (Quintilianus)
Non, mihi ignosce, credo me insequentem esse - No, excuse me, I believe I'm next
Nonne amicus certus in re incerta cernitur? - A friend in need is a friend in deed. (our equivalent)
Nonne de novo eboraco venis? - You're from New York, aren't you?
Nonne macescis? - Have you lost weight?
Nosce te ipsum - Know thyself. (Inscription at the temple of Apollo in Delphi.)
Nota bene (Nb.) - Note well. Observe carefully
Novus homo - A new Man; a man who was the first in his family to be elected to an office
Novus ordo seclorum - A new order for the ages. (appears on the U.S. one-dollar bill)
Nulla avarita sine poena est - There is no avarice without penalty. (Seneca)
Nulla dies sine linea - Not a day without a line. Do something every day! (Apeles, Greek painter)
Nulla regula sine exceptione - There is no rule/law without exception
Nulla res carius constat quam quae precibus empta est - Nothing is so expensive as that which you have bought with pleas. (Seneca)
Nulli secundus - Second to none
Nullius in verba - (Rely) on the words on no one. (Horace)
Nullo metro compositum est - It doesn't rhyme
Nullum crimen sine lege, nulla poena sine lege - No crime and no punishment without a (pre-existing) law
Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius - Nothing is said that hasn't been said before. (Terence)
Nullum gratuitum prandium - There is no free lunch!
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae - There is no one great ability without a mixture of madness
Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est - No generation is closed to great talents. (Seneca)
Nullus est instar domus - There is no place like home
Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - There is no book so bad that it is not profitable on some part. (Pliny the Younger)
Numen - Divine power
Numero pondere et mensura Deus omnia condidit - God created everything by number, weight and measure (Isaac Newton)
Numerus clausus - A restricted number
Nummus americanus - Greenback. ($US)
Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit - Never does nature say one thing and wisdom say another
Numquam non paratus - Never unprepared
Numquam se minus solum quam cum solus esset - You are never so little alone as when you are alone. (Cicero)
Nunc dimittis - Now let depart
Nunc est bibendum - Now we must drink. (Horace)
Nvdvm pactvm - A nude pact an invalid agreement a contract with illusory benefits or without consideration hence unenforceable
Nvllvm qvod tetiget non ornavit - He touched none he did not adorn - not simply 'the Midas touch', or 'he left things better than he found them', but a tribute to a Renaissance man
Nvnc avt nvnqvam - Now or never
Nvnc dimittis - Now let [thy servant] depart - generally any permission to go, specifically to express one's readiness to depart or die
Nvnc pro tvnc - Now for then retroactive

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O

O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! - Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world! (Lucilius)
O di immortales! - Good heavens! (uttered by Cicero on the Senate floor)
O diem praeclarum! - Oh, what a beautiful day!
O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum! - An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf! (Cicero)
O quam cito transit gloria mundi! - O how quickly passes the glory of the world!
O sancta simplicitas! - Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)
O tempora, O mores! - Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero)
O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem! - Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
Obesa cantavit - The fat lady has sung
Obiit (Ob.) - He/she died
Obiter (Ob.) - In passing
Obiter dictum - Something said in passing - parenthetical remark
Oblitus sum perpolire clepsydras! - I forgot to polish the clocks!
Obscurum per obscurius - The obscure by means of the more obscure
Obsta principiis - Resist the beginnings - Nip it in the bud
Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur - Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease. (Publius Syrus)
Occasio facit furem - Opportunity makes a thief
Oderint dum metuant - Let them hate provided that they fear. (Seneca)
Odi et amo - I hate (her), and I love (her) (Catullus)
Odium theologicum - Theological hatred. (a special name for the hatred generated in theological disputes)
Olevm addere camino - To pour fuel on the stove adding gasoline to a fire
Olevm perdisti - You have lost oil you've wasted your time on this criticism for a misallocation of resources
Olim - Formerly
Omne ignotum pro magnifico est - We have great notions of everything unknown. (Tacitus)
Omne initium est difficile - Every beginning is difficult
Omne trium perfectum - Everything that comes in threes is perfect
Omne tvlit pvnctvm qvi miscvit vtile dvlci - [he] has gained every point who has combined [the] useful [with the] agreeable
Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant - All men cheerfully obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus)
Omnes deteriores svmvs licentia - Too much freedom debases us
Omnes lagani pistrinae gelate male sapiunt - All frozen pizzas taste lousy
Omnes una manet nox - The same night awaits us all. (Horace)
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat - All (hours) wound, the last kills. (inscription on solar clocks)
Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - Everything which I used to say could not happen will happen now. (Ovid)
Omnia mea mecum porto - All that is mine, I carry with me. (My wisdom is my greatest wealth) (Cicero)
Omnia mihi lingua graeca sunt - It's all Greek to me
Omnia mors aequat - Death equals all things
Omnia munda mundis - Everything is pure to pure ones
Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis - All things change, and we change with them
Omnia mutantur, nihil interit - Everything changes, nothing perishes. (Ovid)
Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis - All things are changing, and we are changing with them
Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori - Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. (Vergil)
Omnium gatherum - Assortment
Omnium rerum principia parva sunt - Everything has a small beginning. (Cicero)
Onus probandi - The burden of proof
Opere citato (op. Cit.) - In the work just quoted
Optimis parentibus - To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book
Optimus magister, bonus liber - The best teacher is a good book
Opus dei - The work of God
Ora et labora - Pray and work. (St. Benedict)
Ora pro nobis - Pray for us
Oratvr fit, poeta nascitvr - An orator is made [but] a poet is born
Orbes volantes exstare - Flying saucers are real
Orbiter dictum/dicta - Said by the way (miscellaneous remarks)
Ore rotundo - With full voice
Osculare pultem meam! - Kiss my grits!

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P

Pace tua - With your consent
Pace - Be at peace
Pacta sunt servanda - Agreements are to be kept. (Cicero)
Pactum serva - Keep the faith
Pallida mors - Pale Death. (Horace)
Palmam qui meruit ferat - Let him who has earned it bear the reward
Panem et circenses - Bread and circuses. Food and games to keep people happy. (Juvenalis)
Par pare refero - I return like for like tit for tat retaliation
Parens patriae - Parent of the country
Pares cvm paribvs - Like persons with like persons. Birds of a feather flock together
Pari passu - With equal step - moving together
Pars maior lacrimas ridet et intus habet - You smile at your tears but have them in your heart. (Martialis)
Particeps criminis - Partner in crime
Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus - Mountains will be in labour, and an absurd mouse will be born. (all that work and nothing to show for it)
Parva leves capiunt animas - Small things occupy light minds (small things amuse small minds)
Parva scintilla saepe magnam flamam excitat - The small sparkle often initiates a large flame
Pater familias - Father of the family
Pater historiae - The father of history
Pater Noster - Our Father. The first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin
Pater patriae - Father of the country
Patria est communis omnium parens - Our native land is the common parent of us all. (Cicero)
Patris est filius - He is his father's son
Paucis verbis, quid est deconstructionismus? - What, in a nutshell, is deconstructionism?
Paucis verbis - In a few words
Pavesco, pavesco - I'm shaking, I'm shaking
Pavpertas omnivm artivm repertrix - Poverty [is the] inventor of all the arts necessity is the mother of invention
Pax et bonum! - Peace and salvation!
Pax tecum - May peace be with you (Singular)
Pax vobiscum - May peace be with you (Plural)
Pax - Peace
Peccatum tacituritatis - Sin of silence
Peccavi - I have sinned
Peculium - Property
Pecunia in arbotis non crescit - Money does not grow on trees
Pecunia non olet - Money has no smell. Money doesn't stink. (don't look a gift horse in the mouth) (Vespasianus)
Pecvniate obedivnt omnia - All things obey money. Money makes the world go round
Pede poena claudo - Punishment comes limping. Retribution comes slowly, but surely. (Horace)
Pendente lite - While a suit is pending
Penetalia mentis - The innermost recesses of the mind. Heart of hearts
Per accidens - By Accident
Per angusta in augusta - Through difficulties to great things
Per annum - Yearly
Per ardua ad astra - Through difficulties to the stars
Per aspera ad astra - Through the thorns to the stars
Per capita - Per head
Per cent (per centum) - Per hundred
Per contra - On the contrary
Per diem - Per day; daily allowance
Per fas et nefas - Through right or wrong
Per impossibile - As is impossible a way to qualify a proposition that cannot ever be true
Per mensem - Monthly
Per procurationem (per pro) - By delegation to
Per se - By or in itself
Per varios usus artem experientia fecit - Through different exercises practice has brought skill. (Manilius)
Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim - Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. (Ovid)
Periculum in mora - There is danger in delay. (Livy)
Perpetuo vincit qui utitur clementia - He is forever victor who employs clemency. (Syrus)
Perpetuum mobile - Something in perpetual motion
Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est - The check is in the mail
Persona (non) grata - (un)welcome person
Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes - Flatterers are the worst type of enemies
Pessimus inimicorum genus, laudantes - The worst kind of enemies, those who can praise. (Tacitus)
Petitio principii - An assumption at the start
Philosophum non facit barba! - The beard does not define a philosopher. (Plutarch)
Pictor ignotus - Painter unknown
Pinxit - He/she painted it
Pistrix! Pistrix! - Shark! Shark!
Placebo - I will please. Medical expression for remedies with no medical effect, which improve one's medical condition only because one believes they do
Placet - It pleases
Pleno iure - With full authority
Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate - Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily
Plusque minusque - More or less
Plvres crapvla qvam gladivs - Drunkeness [kills] more than the sword. As true today on the road as it ever was
Poeta nascitur, non fit - The poet is born, not made
Poli, poli, di umbuendo - Slowly, Slowly we will get there
Pone ubi sol non lucet! - Put it where the sun don't shine!
Possunt quia posse videntur - They can because they think they can
Post bellum - After the war
Post coitem - After sexual intercourse
Post factum - After the fact
Post hoc ergo propter hoc - After this, therefore because of this
Post hoc - After this
Post meridiem (p.m.) - After midday
Post mortem - After death. (nowadays, the autopsy performed by a coroner)
Post obitum - After death
Post partum - After childbirth
Post proelia praemia - After the battles come the rewards
Post scriptum (P.S) - After what has been written
Post tenebras lux - After the darkness, light
Postatem obscuri lateris nescitis - You do not know the power of the dark side
Potes currere sed te occulere non potes - You can run, but you can't hide
Potest ex casa magnus vir exire - A great man can come from a hut. (Seneca)
Potius mori quam foedari - rather to die than to be dishonoured (death before dishonour)
Potius sero quam numquam - It's better late than never. (Livy)
Praemonitus pramunitus - Forewarned, forearmed
Praetio prudentia praestat - Prudence supplies a reward
Prehende uxorem meam, sis! - Take my wife, please!
Prescriptio in manibus tabellariorium est - The check is in the mail
Pretium iustum est - The Price is Right
Prima facie - At first sight; on the face of it. (in law, an obvious case that requires no further proof)
Primum mobile - Prime mover
Primum non nocere - The first thing is to do no harm. (Hippocratic oath)
Primum viveri deinde philosophari - Live before you philosophize, or Leap before you look
Primus inter pares - First among his equals
Principiis obsta - Resist the beginnings
Pro bono (pro bono publico) - For the good of the public
Pro di immortales! - Good Heavens!
Pro et contra - For and against
Pro forma - As a matter of formality
Pro hac vice - For this occaision
Pro memoria - For a memorial
Pro nunc - For now
Pro opportunitate - As circumstances allow
Pro patria - For one's country
Pro rata - In proportion to the value. (per hour for example)
Pro re nata (Prn) - For an occasion as it arises
Pro se - On one's own behalf
Pro tanto - So far
Pro tempore (pro tem.) - For the time being
Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae enitent - A good seed, planted even in poor soil, will bear rich fruit by its own nature. (Accius)
Probatum est - It has been proved
Probitas laudatur et alget - Honesty is praised and left in the cold. (Juvenal)
Promoveatur ut amoveatur - Let him be promoted to get him out of the way
Propino fibi salutem! - Cheers!
Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris - It is human nature to hate a person whom you have injured
Proxime accessit - He/she came close
Proximo (prox.) - Of the next month
Proximus sum egomet mihi - I am closest to myself. (Charity begins at home.) (Terence)
Pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant - Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things
Pulvis et umbra sumus - We are dust and shadow. (Horace)
Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum - Garbage in, garbage out
Puris omnia pura - To the pure all things are pure
Puri sermonis amator - A lover of pure speech. (Terence)

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Q

Qua - In the capacity of
Quad nesciunt eos non interficiet - What they don't know won't kill them
Quae nocent, saepe docent - What hurts, often instructs. One learns by bitter/adverse experience
Quae vide (Qqv) - See these things
Quaere verum - Seek the truth
Quaere - (You might) ask. . ." Used to introduce questions, usually rhetorical or tangential questions
Qualis pater talis filius - As is the father, so is the son; like father, like son
Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu - The important thing isn't how long you live, but how well you live. (Seneca)
Quam se ipse amans-sine rivali! - Himself loving himself so much-without a rival! (Cicero)
Quam terribilis est haec hora - How fearful is this hour
Quandam - Formally
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari? - How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Quantum meruit - As much as he/she deserved
Quantum sufficit (Qs) - As much as suffices
Quaque mane (Qm) - Every morning
Quaque nocte (Qn) - Every night
Quasi - As if
Quater in die (Q.I.D) - Take four times a day
Quem di diligunt, adolescens moritur - Whom the gods love die young. (only the good die young)
Quemadmodum possums scire utrum vere simus an solum sentiamus nos esse? - How are we to know whether we actually exist or only think we exist?
Quemadmoeum gladis nemeinum occidit, occidentis telum est - A sword is never a killer, it's a tool in the killer's hands. (Seneca)
Qui bene cantat, bis orat - He who sings well, prays twice
Qui dedit benificium taceat; narret qui accepit - Let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it. (Seneca)
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum - Let him who wishes for peace prepare for war. (Vegetius)
Qui docet discit - He who teaches learns
Qui dormit, non peccat - One who sleeps doesn't sin
Qui habet aures audiendi audiat - He who has ears, let him understand how to listen
Qui ignorabat, ignorabitur - One who is ignorant will remain unnoticed
Qui me amat, amet et canem meum - Who loves me, loves my dog too
Qui multum habet, plus cupit - He who has much desires more. (Seneca)
Qui nimium probat, nihil probat - One who proves too much, proves nothing
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit - He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow. (Ovid)
Qui omnes insidias timet in nullas incidit - He who fears every ambush falls into none. (Pubilius Syrus)
Qui potest capere capiat - Let him accept it who can. Freely: If the shoe fits, wear it
Qui pro innocente dicit, satis est eloquens - He who speaks for the innocent is eloquent enough. (Publius Syrus)
Qui scribit bis legit - He who writes reads twice
Qui tacet consentire videtur - He that is silent is thought to consent
Qui tacet, consentit - Silence gives consent
Qui vir odiosus! - What a bore!
Qui vivat atque floreat ad plurimos annos - May he live and flourish for many years
Qui vult dare parva non debet magna rogare - He who wishes to give little shouldn't ask for much
Quia natura mutari non potest idcirco verae amicitiae sempiternae sunt - Since nature cannot change, true friendships are eternal. (Horace)
Quid agis, medice? - What's up, Doc?
Quid est illa in auqua? - What's that in the water?
Quid Novi - What's New?
Quid nunc - What now?! (a nosy busybody)
Quid pro quo - Something for something. i.e. A favor for a favor
Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur - Anything said in Latin sounds profound
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur - What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke's on you. (Horace)
Quidnunc? Or Quid nunc? - What now? As a noun, a quidnunc is a busybody or a gossip
Quidquid agis, prudenter agas et respice finem! - Whatever you do, do cautiously, and look to the end
Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes - Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even bearing gifts. (Vergil)
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur - Anything said in Latin sounds profound
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum - Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
Quieta non movere - Don't move settled things, or Don't rock the boat
Quique amavit, cras amet - May he love tomorrow who has never loved before;
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who shall keep watch over the guardians? (Luvenalis)
Quis separabit? - Who shall separate us?
Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando? - Who, what, where, with what, why, how, when?
Quo ad hoc - As much as this (to this extent)
Quo animo? - With what spirit? (or intent?)
Quo fas et gloria docunt - Where right and glory lead
Quo iure? - By what law?
Quo signo nata es? - What's your sign?
Quo usque tandem abutere, catilina, patientia nostra? - How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline? (Cicero)
Quo vadis? - Where are you going? / Whither goest thou?
Quod bonum, felix faustumque sit! - May it be good, fortunate and prosperous! (Cicero)
Quod differtur, non aufertur - That which is postponed is not dropped. Inevitable is yet to happen. (Sir Thomas More)
Quod erat demonstrandum (QED) - Which was to be demonstrated
Quod erat faciendum (QEF) - Which was to be done
Quod erat in veniendum - Which was to be found
Quod est (Qe) - Which is
Quod incepimus conficiemus - What we have begun we shall finish
Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi - What Jupiter (supreme God) is allowed to do, cattle (people) are not
Quod natura non sunt turpia - What is natural cannot be bad
Quod vide (Qv) - See this thing
Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri? - How do you get your hair to do that?
Quomodo vales - How are you?
Quorum - Of whom
Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit - True love will hold on to those whom it has held. (Seneca)
Quot homines, tot sententiae - As many men, so as many opinions
Qvae nocent docent - Things that hurt, teach. School of Hard Knocks
Qvaerenda pecvnia primvm est, virtvs post nvmmos - Money is the first thing to be sought [then] virtue after wealth
Qvalis artifex pereo - Such an artist dies in me - Emperor Nero's famous last words
Qvalis pater talis filivs - Like father like son. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree
Qvandoqve bonvs dormitat homervs - Sometimes [even the] good Homer sleeps. You win some, you lose some
Qvi bene amat bene castigat - Who loves well castigates well. Spare the rod and spoil the child
Qvi desiderat pacem praeparat bellvm - Who desires peace [should] prepare [for] war
Qvi docent discit - He who teaches, learns. (George Bernard Shaw)
Qvi fvgiebat rvrsvs proeliabitvr - He who has fled will do battle once more. He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day
Qvi me amat, amat et canem meam - Who loves me loves my dog as well. Love me love my dog
Qvi nescit dissimlare nescit regnare - He who doesn't know how to lie doesn't know how to rule
Qvid novi? - What's new? 'What's up?'
Qvis cvstodiet iposos cvstodes - Who will guard those selfsame guardians? Don't assign a fox to guard the henhouse
Qvod cibvs est aliis, aliis est wenenum - What is food to some is poison to others. One man's meat is another poison
Qvod cito acqviritvr cito perit - [that] which is quickly acquired [is] quickly lost. Eeasy come, easy go
Qvod erat demonstrandvm - [that] which has been demonstrated - a statement of logical proof, especially in mathematics and law, abbreviated Q.E.D
Qvod vive (q.v) - Which see - a scholarly cross-reference

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R

Radicitus, comes! - Really rad, dude!
Radix lecti - Couch potato
Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas - the love of money is the root of all evil. Avarice is the problem, money itself is not evil
Raptus regaliter - Royally screwed
Rara avis - A rare bird, i.e. An extraodinary or unusual thing. (Juvenal)
Ratio decidendi - The reason for the decision
Ratio et consilium propriae ducis artes - Reason and deliberation are the proper skills of a general
Ratio legis est anima legis - The reason of the law is the soul of the law
Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert - Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
Re vera, potas bene - Say, you sure are drinking a lot
Re - Concerning
Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem! - Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business!
Recto - On the right
Redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris - Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's
Redivivus - Come back to life
Redolet lvcernam - [it] smells of the lamp - critical remark that one worked too hard on something
Reductio ad absurdum - Reduction to the absurd. (proving the truth of a proposition by proving the falsity of all its alternatives)
Referendum - Something to be referred
Regina - Queen
Regnat non regitur qui nihil nisi quod vult facit - He is a king and not a subject who does only what he wishes. (Syrus)
Regnat populus - Let the People rule
Relata refero - I tell what I have been told. (Herodotos)
Religious loci - The (religious) spirit of the place
Rem tene, verba sequentur - Keep to the subject and the words will follow. (Cato Senior)
Repetitio est mater memoriae/ studiorum/ - Repetition is the mother of memory/studies
Requiescat in pace (RIP) - May he/she rest in peace
Requiescat in pace - Let him/her rest in peace. (May he/she rest in peace)
Rerum concordia discors - The concord of things through discord. (Horace)
Res firma mitescere nescit - A firm resolve does not know how to weaken
Res gestae - Things done
Res in cardine est - The matter is on a door hinge things are balanced on a knife's edge
Res inter alios - A matter between others it's not our busines
Res ipsa loquitur - The thing speaks for itself
Res judicata - Thing already judged upon
Res melius evinissent cum coca - Things go better with Coke
Res publica - The public thing
Res severa est verum gaudium - True joy is a serious thing. (Seneca)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest - A thing is worth only what someone else will pay for it
Respice finem - Look to the end
Respice post te, mortalem te esse memento - Look around you, remember that you are mortal. (Tertullianus)
Respice, adspice, prospice - Examine the past, examine the present, examine the future (look to the past, the present, the future)
Respondeat superior - Let the superior answer (a supervisor must take responsibility for the quality of a subordinate's work)
Resurgam - I shall rise again
Revelare pecunia! - Show me the money!
Revera linguam latinam vix cognovi - I don't really know all that much Latin
Rex non potest peccare - The king cannot sin
Rex regnant sed non gubernat - The king reigns but does not govern
Rex - King
Rident stolidi verba latina - Fools laugh at the Latin language. (Ovid)
Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat? - What forbids a laughing man from telling the truth? (Horace)
Rigor mortis - The rigidity of death
Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est - There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh. (Catullus)
Risus abundat in ore stultorum - Abundant laughs in the mouth of the foolish - too much hilarity means foolishness
Roma locuta est. Causa finita est - Rome has spoken. The cause is finished
Romani ite domum - Romans go home!
Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt - You know, the Romans invented the art of love
Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior - Redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee
Rumores volant. / Rumor volat - Rumors fly. / Rumor flies

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S

Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas - Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses. (Ovid)
Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit - Often it is not even advantageous to know what will be. (Cicero)
Saepe stilum vertas - May you often turn the stylus (You should make frequent corrections.)
Salus populi suprema lex - The safety of the people is the supreme law. (Cicero)
Salva veritate - With truth preserved
Salve (plural salvete) - Hail; welcome
Salve sis - May you be well
Salve veritate - Saving the truth
Salve(te) - Greetings!
Salve - Hello
Sanctum sanctorum - The holy of holies
Sane ego te vocavi. forsitan capedictum tuum desit - I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken
Sapere aude! - Dare to be wise! (Horace)
Sapiens nihil affirmat quod non probat - A wise man states as true nothing he does not prove (don't swear to anything you don't know firsthand)
Sartor resartus - The tailor patched
Sat sapienti - Enough for a wise man. (Plautus)
Satis - Enough
Satius est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis, quam innocentem damnari - It is better that a crime is left unpunished than that an innocent man is punished. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Scala naturae - The ladder of nature
Scandalum magnatum - Scandal of magnates
Schola cantorum - School of singers
Scientia est potentia - Knowledge is power
Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem - Science has no enemies but the ignorants
Scilicet (Sc.) - That is to say
Scio cur summae inter se dissentiant! Numeris Romanis utor! - I know why the numbers don't agree! I use Roman numerals!
Scio me nihil scire - I know that I know nothing. Certain knowledge cannot be obtained. (Socrates)
Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter - Your knowledge is nothing when no one else knows that you know it
Sciri facias - Cause (him) to know
Scito te ipsum - Know yourself
Scribere est agere - To write is to act
Scripsit - He/she wrote it
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet - He who feared he would not succeed sat still. (For fear of failure, he did nothing.) (Horace)
Semper fidelis - Always faithful
Semper idem - Always the same thing. (Cicero)
Semper inops quicumque cupit - Whoever desires is always poor. (Claudian)
Semper letteris mandate - Always get it in writing!
Semper paratus - Always prepared
Semper ubi sub ubi ubique - Always wear underwear everywhere
Senatus populusque romanus (SPQR) - The Senate and the Roman people
Senatus populusque romanus - The senate and Roman people
Sensu lato - Broadly speaking
Sensu stricto, nullo metro compositum est - Strictly speaking, it doesn't rhyme
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare - I think some people in togas are plotting against me
Sequens (seq.) - The following (one)
Sequens mirabitur aetas - The following age will be amazed
Sequentia (seqq.) - The following (ones)
Seriatim - One after another in order
Serva me, servabo te - Save me and I will save you. (Petronius Arbiter)
Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos - If God is with us who is against us
Si fallatis officium, quaestor infitias eat se quicquam scire de factis vestris - If you fail, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your activities
Si fecisti nega! - If you did it, deny it (stonewall!)
Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit - If the end is good, everything will be good (all's well that ends well)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere - If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes - Essentially it says, 'if you can read this, you're overeducated.'
Si monumentum requiris circumspice - If you seek a monument, look around
Si post fata venit gloria non propero - If glory comes after death, I'm not in a hurry (if one must die to be recognised, I can wait)
Si sapis, sis apis - If you are wise, be a bee
Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses - If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher. (Boethius)
Si tu id aeficas, ei venient. Ager somnia - If you build it, they will come
Si vis amari, ama - If you wish to be loved, love. (Seneca)
Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for the war. (Vegetius)
Sic ad nauseam - And so on to the point of causing nausea
Sic erat in fatis - So it was fated
Sic faciunt omnes - Everyone is doing it
Sic itur ad astra - Such is the path to the stars (i.e. Gain reputation) (Vergil)
Sic passim - Thus everywhere
Sic semper tyrannis - Thus always to tyrants - a statement often accompanying a regicide
Sic transit gloria mundi - So passes the glory of the world
Sic volo, sic iubeo - I want this, I order this. (Juvenalis)
Sic - Thus, just so
Silent enim leges inter arma - Laws are silent in times of war. (Cicero)
Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis! - How like us is that very ugly beast the monkey. (Cicero)
Simplex munditiis - Unaffected by manners. (Horace)
Simpliciter - Naturally; without qualification
Sine cura - Without a care
Sine die - Without a day (being set)
Sine ira et studio - Without anger or bias. (Tacitus)
Sine loco (Sl) - Without place
Sine nobilitatis - Without nobility (SNOB)
Sine prole (Sp) - Without issue
Sine qua non - Something/someone indispensable
Sine sole sileo - Without the sun I'm silent. (sundial inscription)
Siste, viator - Wait, traveler - inscription on Roman tombstones
Sit tibi terra levis - May the earth be light upon you - tombstone inscription
Sit vis nobiscum - May the Force be with you
Sobria inebrietas - Sober intoxication
Sol omnibus lucet - The sun shines upon us all. (Petronius)
Sola lingua bona est lingua mortua - The only good language is a dead language
Solitudinem fecerunt, pacem appelunt - They made a desert and called it peace. (Tacitus)
Solum potestis prohibere ignes silvarum - Only you are can prevent forest fires
Sona si latine loqueris - Honk if you speak Latin
Sotto voce - In soft voice
Spectaculorum procedere debet - The show must go on
Spectatvm venivnt, venivnt spectentvr vt ipsae - They come to see, they come that they themselves be seen 'to see and be seen
Spemque metumque inter dubiis - Hover between hope and fear. (Vergil)
Spero melior - I hope for better things
Spero nos familiares mansuros - I hope we'll still be friends
Spiritus asper - Rough breathing
Spiritus lenis - Smooth breathing
Splendide mendax - Splendidly false. (Horace)
Splendor sine occasu - Splendour without end
Stabat Mater - The mother was standing
Stare decisis - To stand by things decided
Status quo - The present state of affairs
Stercus accidit - Shit happens
Stet - Let it stand
Struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat - When a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears. (Dionysius Cato)
Studium discendi voluntate quae cogi non potest constat - Study depends on the good will of the student, a quality which cannot be secured by compulsion
Stultorum calami carbones moenia chartae - Chalk is the pen of fools, walls (their) paper No Graffiti please. Showing that graffiti is nothing new
Stultorum infinitus est numerus - Infinite is the number of fools. (Bible)
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes - It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid. (Publilius Syrus)
Sua cuique voluptas - Everyone has his own pleasures
Sub dio - Under the open sky
Sub iudice - Under a judge
Sub judice - Before a court
Sub lite - In dispute
Sub poena - Under penalty of law
Sub rosa - Under the rose. Secretly or in confidence
Sub secreto - In secret
Sub silentio - In silence
Sub sole nihil novi est - There's nothing new under the sun
Sub voce (Sv) - Under the voice
Subucula tua apparet - Your slip is showing
Suggestio falsi - Suggestion of something false
Suggestio veri, suggestio falsi - An intimation of truth, an intimation of falcity
Sui generis - Of one's own kind
Sui iuris - Of one's own right
Summa cum laude - With highest honor
Summam scrutemur - Let's look at the bottom line
Summum bonum - The highest good
Summum ius, summa iniuria - The extreme law is the greatest injustice. (Cicero)
Sumptus censum ne superet - Let not your spending exceed your income (live within your means)
Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt - These are the tears of things, and our mortality cuts to the heart. (Vergil)
Sunt pueri pueri, puerilia tractant - Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things
Suo jure - In one's rightful place
Suos cuique mos - Everyone has his customs. (Gellius)
Supra - Above or on an earlier page
Sursum corda - (lift) up (your) hearts
Suum cuique pulchrum est - To each his own is beautiful. (Cicero)
Svi generis - Of its own kind unique

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T

Tabula rasa - A clean slate. Person that knows nothing
Tacet - Silence
Tam diu minime visu! - Long time, no see!
Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio - I am as dead as the nehru jacket
Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas - We should learn as long as we may live. (We live and learn.) (Seneca Philosophus)
Tamquam alter idem - As if a second self. (Cicero)
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum - So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds. (Lucretius)
Tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est - Delay and procrastination is hateful. (Cicero)
Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure - I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear
Te capiam, cunicule sceleste! - i'll get you, you wascally wabbit!
Te Deum - Thee, God
Te igitur - Thee, therefore
Te nosce - Know thyself
Te precor dulcissime supplex! - Pretty please with a cherry on top!
Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis - The times change, and we change with them. (John Owen)
Tempore - In the time of
Tempus edax rerum - Time is the devourer of things (time flies)
Tempus fugit - Time flees
Tempus incognitum - Time unknown
Tempus neminem manet - Time waits for no one
Ter in die (T.I.D) - Take thrice a day
Terminus a quo - The end from which
Terminus ad quem - The end to which
Terra firma - Solid ground
Terra incognita - Unknown land
Terra nullius - Uninhabited land
Tertium quid - A third something
Tetigisti acu - You have hit the nail on the head. (Plautus)
Theatrum mundi - The theatre of the world
Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas - Thank you for not smoking
Timendi causa est nescire - Ignorance is the cause of fear. (Seneca)
Timeo danaos et dona ferentes - I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts. (Virgil)
Timor mortis conturbat me - The fear of death confounds me
Tintinnuntius meus sonat! - There goes my beeper!
Tolerabiles ineptiae - Bearable absurdities
Totidem verbis - In so many words
Totum dependeat! - Let it all hang out!
Trahimur omnes laudis studio - We are all led on by our eagerness for praise. (Cicero)
Transit umbra, lux permanet - Shadow passes, light remains (On a sun dial)
Tu autem - You, also
Tu fui, ego eris - What you are, I was. What I am, you will be. (This is found on graves and burial sites)
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito - Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them
Tu quoque - You likewise
Tu, rattus turpis! - You dirty rat!
Tuis pugis pignore! - You bet your bippy!
Tum podem extulit horridulum - You are talking shit

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U

Uberrimae fidei - Of the utmost good faith
Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where love is, there is insight
Ubi bene, ibi patria - Where you feel good, there is your home
Ubi concordia, ibi victoria - Where is the unity, there is the victory. (Publius Syrus)
Ubi dubium ibi libertas - Where there is doubt, there is freedom
Ubi fumus, ibi ignis - Where there's smoke, there's fire
Ubi maior, minor cessat - The weak (minor) capitulates before the strong (major)
Ubi mel ibi apes - Where honey, there bees, i.e., if you want support, you must offer something in return
Ubi revera (Ubi re vera) - When, in reality
Ubi spiritus est cantus est - Where there is spirit there is song
Ubi sunt? - Where are they (the good old days)?
Ubi supra - Where (cited) above
Ubicumque homo est, ibi benefici locus est - Wherever there is a man, there is a place of/for kindness/service
Ubique - Everywhere
Ultima ratio regum - The final argument of kings
Ultima ratio - Last reason. The last resort
Ultima Thule - The most distant Thule
Ultimo (ult.) - Of the previous month
Ultimus Romanorum - The last of the Romans
Ultra posse nemo obligatur - No one is obligated beyond what he is able to do
Ultra vires - Beyond the powers or legal authority
Un idea perplexi na - The idea is strange to us
Una hirundo non facit ver - One Swallow does not make Summer. (Horace)
Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem - The one safety for the vanquished is to abandon hope of safety knowing there is no hope can give one the courage to fight and win
Una voce - With one voice, unanimously
Unitam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant - May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy
Unitas mirabile vinculum - The wonderful bond of unity
Unum necessarium - The one necessary
Unus multorum - One of many. (Horace)
Urbanus et instructus - A gentleman and a scholar
Urbem lateritiam invenit, marmoream reliquit - He found a city [Rome] of bricks and left a city of marble. (Augustus)
Urbi et orbi - To the city [Rome] and to the globe - a blessing of the pope
Ut ameris, ama! - To be loved, love!
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas - Although the power is lacking, the will is commendable. (Ovid)
Ut dictum (Ut dict.) - As directed
Ut humiliter opinor - In my humble opinion
Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet - As loyal as she began, so she remains
Ut infra - As below
Ut sementem feceris, ita metes - As you sow, so shall you reap. (Cicero)
Ut si! - As if!
Ut supra (Ut sup.) - As above
Uti foro - To play the market
Uti possidetis - As you possess
Uti, non abuti - To use, not abuse
Utile et dulce - Useful and pleasant
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant! - May barbarians invade your personal space!
Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant! - May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant! - May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
Utinam populus romanus unam cervicem haberet! - If only the Roman people had one neck!
Uva uvam videndo varia fit - A grape changes color in seeing another grape. A bad/good friend makes you a bad/good person

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V

Vacca foeda - Stupid cow
Vacca, vacca, vacca - Cow, cow, cow
Vade in pace - Go in peace. (Roman way of saying goodbye)
Vade mecum - Come with me. A constant companion
Vae victis! - Woe to the conquered! (vanquished) (Livy)
Vagans - Cruising
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur - Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out
Vale, lacerte! - See you later, alligator!
Vale - Farewell
Valui ad satanam in computatrum meum invocandum - I succeeded in summoning satan into my computer
Vanitas vanitatvm, omnis vanitas - Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
Varia lecto (v.l.) - Variant reading
Variatio delectat - There's nothing like change! (Cicero)
Variorum - Of various people
Velle est posse - To be willing is to be able
Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire - I came, I saw, I want to go home
Venienti occurrite morbo - Meet the misfortune as it comes. (Persius)
Venire facias - You must make come
Ventis secundis, tene cursum - Go with the flow
Ventis secundis, tene/tenete cursum - The winds being favorable, hold the course
Verba de futuro - Words about the future
Verba movent, exempla trahunt - Words move people, examples draw/compel them. Deeds, not words, give the example
Verba volant, (littera) scripta manet - Words fly away, the written (letter) remains
Verbatim et litteratim - Word for word and letter for letter
Verbatim - Exactly as said
Verbum sapienti satis est - A word to the wise is sufficient. Enough said
Veritas Lux Mea - The truth enlightens me / The truth is my light
Veritas numquam perit - Truth never perishes. (Seneca)
Veritas odit moras - Truth hates delay. (Seneca)
Veritas vincit - Truth conquers
Veritas vos liberabit - The truth will set you free
Verso - Reverse
Versus - Against
Verum et factum convertuntur - The true and the made are interchangeable. One can know with certainty only what he have created himself
Verveces tui similes pro ientaculo mihi appositi sunt - I have jerks like you for breakfast
Vescere bracis meis - Eat my shorts
Vestigia terrent - The footprints frighten me. (Horace)
Vestis virum reddit - The clothes make the man. (Quintilianus)
Veto - I forbid
Vi et armis - By force and arms
Via crucis - The Way of the Cross
Via dolorosa - The Way of Sorrow
Via lactea - The Milky Way
Via media - A middle way or course
Via - By way of
Vice versa - In reverse order
Vice - In place of
Victis honor - Honour to the vanquished
Victoria Imperatrix Regina (VIR) - Victoria, Empress and Queen
Victoria Regina (VR) - Queen Victoria
Victoria Regina et Imperatrix (VRI) - Victoria, Queen and Empress
Victoria, non praeda - Victory, not loot
Victurus te saluto - He who is about to win salutes you
Vide et credere - See and believe
Vide ut supra - See the above
Vide - See
Videlicet (viz.) - That is to say; To wit; Namely
Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor - I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse way
Videre est credere - Seeing is believing
Videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit? - How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic? (Cicero)
Vidistine nuper imagines moventes bonas? - Seen any good movies lately?
Vigilando, agendo, bene consulendo, prospera omnia cedunt - By watching, by doing, by counsulting well, these things yield all things prosperous. (Sallust)
Vincere est totum - To win is everything
Vincit omnia amor - Love conquers all
Vincit omnia veritas - Truth conquers all
Vincit qui se vincit - He conquers who conquers himself
Vinculum unitatis - The bond of unity
Vinum bellum iucunumque est, sed animo corporeque caret - It's a nice little wine, but it lacks character and depth
Vinum et musica laetificant cor - Wine and music gladden the heart
Vir bonus, dicendi peritus - A good man, skilled in speaking. (definition of an orator) (Cato the Elder)
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit - A wise man does not urinate against the wind
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur - That man is wise who talks little (know when to hold your tongue)
Vires acquirit eundo - It gains strength by going / as it goes. (Virgil)
Virginibus puerisque - For maidens and youths
Virgo intacta - Intact virgin
Viri sunt viri - Men are slime
Virtus in medio stat - Virtue stands in the middle
Virtute et armis - By courage and by arms
Virtvs probata florescit - Manly excellence in trial flourished
Virtvtis fortvna comes - Good luck is the companion of courage
Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum - Tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man. (Livius Andronicus)
Virus - Poison or slime
Vis comica - Sense of humour
Vis consili expers mole ruit sua - Brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight. (Discretion is the better part of valor) (Horace)
Vis inertiae - The power of inertia - why things never change
Vis maior - Higher force
Vis medicatrix naturae - The healing power of nature
Visa - Things seen
Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio - Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway
Visne saltare? - Do you want to dance?
Vita brevis, ars lunga - Life is short, art is long
Vita luna! - Crazy life!
Vita mutatur, non tollitur - Life is changed, not taken away
Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est - Life is more than merely staying alive
Vita sine libris mors est - Life without books is death
Vitam impendere vero - To risk one's life for the truth
Vitam regit fortuna, non sapientia - Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives. (Cicero)
Vitanda est improba siren desidia - One must avoid that wicked temptress, Laziness. (Horace)
Vitiis nemo sine nascitur - No-one is born without faults. (Horace)
Viva voce - With living voice
Vivat regina - long live the queen
Vivat rex - long live the king
Vivat, crescat, floreat! - May he/she/it live, grow, and flourish!
Vive hodie - Live today (not tomorrow)
Vive vt vivas - Live that you may live
Vivere disce, cogita mori - Learn to live; Remember death. (sundial inscription)
Vivos voco, mortuos plango - I call the living, I mourn the dead. (church bell inscription)
Vixere fortes ante agamemnona - Brave men lived before Agamemnon. (heroism exists even if it's not recorded)
Vix ulla tam iniqua pax, quin bello vel aequissimo sit potior - Scarcely is there any peace so unjust that it is better than even the fairest war. (Erasmus)
Vixit - He/she has lived
Vltima ratio regvm - The final argument of kings. (motto of Louis XIV on his cannon)
Vltra vires - Beyond [one's] authority outside the jurisdiction
Volens et potens - Willing and able
Volente Deo - God willing
Volenti non fit iniuria - A person who consents does not suffer injustice
Volo, non valeo - I am willing but unable
Volvptates commendat rarior vsvs - Infrequent use commends pleasure. (moderation in all things)
Vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite mores - You cling to your own ways and leave mine to me. (Petrarch)
Vox clamantis in deserto - Voice crying in the desert. (voice in the wilderness unheeded warning, an opinion not in the mainstream
Vox populi, vox Dei - The voice of the people is the voice of God. (Public oppinion is obligatory)
Vox populi - The voice of the people
Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat - Every (hour) wounds, the last kills. (sundial inscription)
Vulpem pilum mutat, non mores - A fox may change its hair, not its tricks. (People change behaviour but not their aims)
Vultus est index animi - The face is the index of the soul/mind

[ben]

Lux caelum et solum mortem corporis capacitatem
corpus
corpore
corpori
cavum
cavitatem
concauitatem
cavitatus

[ben]

aqua
water, aqua
lympha
water, lymph, aqua, water-nymph
liquidum
liquid, water, aqua, fluid, clearness, certainty
unda
wave, ripple, billow, surf, water, fluid
nympha
nymph, water, bride, mistress
ros
dew, moisture, clamminess, damp, dampness, humidity
verb
inroro
wet, moisten, bedew, besprinkle, water, rain
irroro
wet, moisten, bedew, besprinkle, water, rain
lavo
bathe, bath, wash, wash away, moisten, wet
tago
touch, touch on, touch upon, palp, feel, eat
tango
touch, touch on, touch upon, palp, feel, eat

[ben]

lympha mortem lux solum tellus coelum

[ben]

lignum
Alpha
noun
silva
forest, wood, woodland, silva, bush, park
sylva
forest, silva, wood, woodland, park, garden
lucus
wood, forest, weald, sacred grove
lignum
wood, forest, silva, weald, log, stock
materia
matter, material, stuff, substance, wood, timber
materies
lumber, subject matter, timber, material, stuff, matter
calpar
fudder, wood, new wine, green wine, must
adjective
lymphaticus
crazy, crazed, bats, brainsick, bughouse, crackpot
lymphatus
crazy, crazed, bats, brainsick, bughouse, crackpot

[ben]

ignis
Alpha
noun
ignis
fire, flame, conflagration, beacon, torch, firebrand
mulciber
fire, fire, fire, fire
mulciber
fire, fire, fire, fire
flamma
flame, blaze, fire, heat, passion, love
impes
attack, assault, charge, onset, onslaught, tilt
impetus
attack, assault, charge, onset, onslaught, tilt
inpes
attack, assault, charge, onset, onslaught, tilt
inpetus
attack, assault, charge, onset, onslaught, tilt
ustrina
fire
foculus
brazier, fire, stove, fire-pan, chafing-dish
incaendium
wildfire, fire, conflagration, burning, arson, firebrand
batillus
shovel, fire, chafing-dish
ambustio
burn, fire, conflagration
tragicum
inspiration, fervour, fervor, fire
incoendium
wildfire, fire, conflagration, burning, arson, firebrand
incendium
fire, wildfire, conflagration, burning, arson, firebrand
verb
accendo
light, fire, set on fire, ignify, ignite, kindle
inflammo
fire, kindle, torch, excite, inflame
incaendo
light, fire, kindle, light up, burn, heat
incaendefacio
fire, kindle, conflagrate, torch
incandesco
whiten, incandesce, fire, heat
incendefacio
fire, kindle, conflagrate, torch
incendo
fire, light, heat, kindle, light up, burn
incoendefacio
fire, kindle, conflagrate, torch
succendo
fire, kindle, inflame, flush, redden, vermilion
incoendo
light, fire, kindle, light up, burn, heat
lustro
light, fire, enkindle, range, survey, observe
inardesco
fire, conflagrate, kindle, light, glow, flush
peruro
burn, fire, inflame, burn up, scorch, gall