Latin Quotes
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
A contrario – From a contrary position
A cruce salus – From the cross comes salvation
A Deo et Rege – From God and the King
A fortiori – With yet stronger reason
A
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
A contrario – From a contrary position
A cruce salus – From the cross comes salvation
A Deo et Rege – From God and the King
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 hinc – From here on
Ab imo pectore – From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart) (Julius Caesar)
Ab incunabulis – From the cradle
Ab initio – From the beginning
Ab intestato – Having made no will
Ab origine – From the origin
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
Acta sanctorum – Deeds of the saints
Actus reus – Wrongful act – as opposed to mens rea – 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 clerum – To the clergy
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 fontes – To the sources (motto of Renaissance Humanism)
Ad fundum – To the bottom / To the end (said during a generic toast, like bottoms up!)
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 (Acronym ‘ad lib’) – At one’s pleasure
Ad Libitur – As Desired
Ad limina apostolorum – To the thresholds of the Apostles
Ad litem – For a lawsuit or action
Ad locum – At the place
Ad lucem – Towards the light (motto of the University of Lisbon)
Ad maiorem dei gloriam (AMDG) – For 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 perpetuam rei memoriam – For the perpetual remembrance of the thing
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 – Here! present!
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
Aegri somnia – A sick man’s dreams (Horace)
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 propiis – She flies with her own wings (state motto of Oregon)
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 – Year of wonders
Ante litteram – Before the letter
Ante meridiem (a.m.) – Before midday
Ante mortem – Before death
Ante prandium (A.p.) – Before a meal
Ante – Before
Antebellum – Before the war
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!
Apage Satanas – Begone, Satan
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
Audaces fortuna iuvat – 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!
Audio, video, disco – I hear, I see, I learn
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 tenere 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 Caesar aut nihil – Caesar or nothing i.e., all or nothing
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
B
Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt! – Save the whales!
Beata Virgo (Maria) – The Blessed Virgin (Mary)
Beatae memoriae – Of blessed memory
Beati pacifici – Blessed are the peacemakers
Beati pauperes spiritu – Blessed are the poor in spirit
Beati possidentes – The happy who possess. (possession is nine points of the law) (Euripides)
Beatus – The blessed one
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)
Belua multorum es capitum – The people are a many-headed beast
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 (bid) – 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 – In good faith. i. e. well-intentioned, fairly
Bona fides (noun) – Honest intention
Bona fortuna – Good luck!
Bona officia – Good services’s
Bonum commune communitatis – General welfare. Literally, common good of the community
Bonum commune hominis – Common good of man
Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis – Good wine gladdens a person’s heart
Bovina Sancta! – Holy cow!
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 esse latoro obscurus fio – When I try to be brief, I speak gobbledegook
Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior – Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus)
Busillis – Baffling puzzle or difficult point
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
Casus belli – Event (that is the justification for, or the cause) of war
Causarum justia et misericordia – For the causes of justice and mercy
Causa mortis – Death Cause
Cave ab homine unius libri – Beware of anyone who has just one book. (Latin Epigram)
Cave canem, te necet lingendo – Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death
Cave canem – Beware of the dog
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
Cineri gloria sera venit – Fame comes too late to the dead
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. (Reni 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
Confiteor – I confess
Congregatio de Propaganda Fide – Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
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
Consensu omnium – By the agreement of all
Consensus audacium – An agreement of rash men. (a conspiracy) (Cicero)
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 (Christ’s last words, John 19:30)
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)
Corripe Cervisiam – Seize the beer!
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)
Crapulam terriblem habeo – I have a terrible hangover
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
Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare – Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one
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
Cur etiam hic es – Why are you still here?
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 – The course of one’s life
Cursum perficio – My journey is over, or I finish my journey
Custos morum – Guardian of morals
D
Da mihi basilia mille – Kiss me with a thousand kisses
Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo! – Make me chaste and pure, but not yet!
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 a Kempis)
De facto – Something that is automatically accepted
De gustibus non est disputandum – There’s no accounting for taste
De inimico non loquaris sed cogites – Don’t wish ill for your enemy; plan it
De integro – Repeat again from the start
De iure – 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 nil 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 – [We give] thanks 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 Misereatur – May God Have Mercy
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 – 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
Domine, dirige nos – Lord, direct us
Domino optimo maximo – To the Lord, the best and greatest
Dominus illuminatio mea – The Lord is my light
Dominus providebit – The Lord will provide
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. (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
Ducator meus nihil agit sine lagunculae leynidae accedunt – My calculator does not work without batteries
Duco ergo sum – I calculate therefore I am
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
E
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)
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 standard metaphysical) (Mauser)
Esse quam videri – To be, rather than to seem (state motto of North Carolina)
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 – And you, Brutus
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 dolo – Intentionally
Ex gratia – Purely as a favour
Ex hypothesi – From the hypothesis. (i.e. The one under consideration)
Ex libris – From the Library (of)
Ex luna, scientia – From the moon, knowledge. (motto of Apollo 13)
Ex mea sententia – In my opinion
Ex more – According to custom
Ex nilhilo nihil fit – Nothing comes from nothing
Ex officio – By virtue of his office
Ex opere operato – By the work having been worked
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 vi termini – By definition
Ex voto – According to one’s vow
Ex – Out of
Excelsior – Ever upward. (state motto of New York)
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
Experimentum crucis – Critical experiment
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius – The mention of one thing may exclude others
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)
Extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur – The judgment (or the authority) of one who is exceeding his territorial jurisdiction is disobeyed with impunity
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 tua – 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. (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
Fortius quo fidelius – Strength through loyalty
Fortuna amicos parat, inopia amicos probat – The fortune is preparing friends, the abundance is testing them
Fortuna vitrea est; tum cum splendet frangitur – Fortune is glass; just when it gleams brightest it shatters
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)
Frustra laborant quotquot se calculationibus fatigant pro inventione quadraturae circuli – Futile is the labor of those who fatigue themselves with calculations to square the circle. (Michael Stifel, 1544)
Fugit hora – The hour flies
Fugit inreparabile tempus – Irretrievable time flies. (Virgil)
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
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 filiorum patres – The glory of sons is their fathers
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)
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)
Habetis bona deum – Have a nice day
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 (HJ) – Here lies. (written on gravestones or tombs)
Hic jacet sepultus (HJS) – Here lies buried
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 proponit, sed Deus disponit – Man proposes, but God disposes
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
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 medias res – Into the midst of things
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 Domini – In the name of the Lord
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 – For ever
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 utero – In the womb
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 alia – Among other things
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 – Between 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)
Ipsi dixit – He himself said it. (Cicero)
Ipsissima verba – The exact words
Ipso facto – By that very fact
Ipso iure – By operation of the law
Ira furor brevis est – Anger is a brief insanity. (Horace)
Ire fortiter quo nemo ante iit – To boldly go where no man has gone before. (Star Trek)
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 of 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
J
Justitia omnibus – Justice for all
L
Labera lege – Read my lips
Labor omnia vincit – Work conquers all things. (Virgil)
Labra lege – Read my lips
Lachryma Christi – Christ’s tears
Lapsus alumni – Error made
Lapsus calami – A slip of the pen
Lapsus linguae – A slip of the tongue
Lapsus memoriae – A slip of the memory
Lapsus nivium! – Avalanche!!
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
Lectori Salutem (L.S.) – Greetings to the reader
Lectio brevior lectio potior – The shortest reading is the more probable reading
Lector benevole – Kind reader
Legatus a latere – Advisor from the side
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 – Place of standing
Longo intervallo – After a long gap
Loquitur (loq.) – He/she speaks
Luctor et emergo – I struggle but I’ll survive
Luke sum ipse patrem te – Luke, I am your father. (Star Wars)
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
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
Magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum – The great thing is to know when to speak and when to keep quiet
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
Maior risus, acrior ensis: quadragesima octava regula quaesitus – The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife: the 48th rule of acquisition
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 memento mori – Remember your mortality
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)
Mei capilli sunt flagrantes – My hair is on fire
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 must 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 cerebrum nocet – My brain hurts
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)
Mors ultima ratio – Death is the final accounting
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)
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur – The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
Mundus vult decipi – The world wants to 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
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
Natura, artis magistra – Nature, the mistress of art
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 – Yield not to evils
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 laudas nisi mortuos poetas: tanti non est, ut placeam, perire – If only dead poets are praised, I’d rather go unsung
Nec mortem effugere quisquam nec amorem potest – No one is able to flee from death or love
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)
Necessitas 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 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 nisi forte insanit – Nobody dances sober unless he’s insane
Nemo saltat sobrius – No man dances sober
Nemo sine iudex – No one is a judge of himself
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 credens dum quid superesset agendum – Thinking nothing done, while anything was yet to do
Nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum – Don’t consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done. (Lucan)
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 the Divine Will
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 simul flare sobereque – Don’t whistle and drink at the same time
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 plaudite. Modo pecuniam jacite – Don’t applaud. Just throw money
Non plus ultra! (Nec plus ultra!) – Nothing above that!
Non prosequitur – He does not proceed
Non quis, sed quid – Not who, but what
Non rape me si placet – Please don’t rob me
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 vereor ne illam me amare hic potuerit resciscere; quippe haud etiam quicquam inepte feci – I don’t think anyone knows I love the girl; I haven’t done anything really silly yet
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 saeculorum – A new order of ages
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)
Nulla vit melior quam bona – There’s no life better than a good life
Nulli expugnabilis hosti – Conquered By No Enemy. (motto of Gibraltar)
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
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 habeas eorum pecuniam, numquam eam reddis: prima regula quaesitus – Once you have their money, you never give it back: the 1st rule of acquisiton
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 – Love conquers all
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)
Orcae ita – Pretty straightforward
Ore rotundo – With full voice
Osculare pultem meam! – Kiss my grits!
P
Pace tua – With your consent
Pace – By leave of
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 pace – 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
Passim – All through
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 (p.a.) – 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 – 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!
Posse (posse comitatus) – The power of the country
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 (ps) – 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)
Potestatem obscuri lateris nescis – You don’t know the power of the dark side. (Star Wars)
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 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)
Promotor fidei – Promoter of the faith
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)
Q
Qua – In so far as
Quad nesciunt eos non interficiet – What they don’t know won’t kill them
Quandoquidem inter nos sanctissima divitiarum maiestas, esti funesta pecunia templo nondum habitas – Among us, the god most revered is Wealth, but so far it has no temple of its own
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
Qualem blennum! – What a doofus!
Qualem muleirculam! – What a bimbo!
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
Quando omni flunkus moritatus – When all else fails play dead
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 bono? – Who benfits?
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 – Love me, love my dog
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
Quinon proficit deficit – He who does not advance, go backwards
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) Don’t assign a fox to guard the henhouse
Quis separabit? – Who shall separate us?
Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando? – Who, what, where, with what, why, how, when?
Quisque comoedum est – Everybody is a comedian
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 foetet? – What’s that bad smell?
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 minimum specimen in te ingenii? – What microscopic evidence of wit can be found in you?
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?’
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
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
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
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 Caeli – The ladder of heaven
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
Sculpsit – He/she engraved 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 superne nitens – Always striving upwards
Semper ubi sub ubi ubique – Always wear underwear everywhere
Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) – The Senate and the Roman people
Sensu lato – Broadly speaking
Sensu stricto – Strictly 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 hoc non legere potes tu asinus es – If you can’t read this, you’re an ass
Si minor plus est ergo nihil sunt omnia – If less is more, then nothing is everything
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 friatur crustum dulce – That’s the way the cookie crumbles
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 (indefinitely)
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 vobiscum – May the Force be with you. (Star Wars)
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 current state of being
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
Stultior stulto fuisti, qui tabellis crederes! – Idiot of idiots, to trust what is written!
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)
Stultus est sicut stultus facit – Stupid is as stupid does
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 his/her/its kind
Sui iuris – Of one’s own right
Sum, ergo edo – I am, therefore I eat
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
Suntne vacci laeti – Are your cows happy?
Suo iure – In one’s own right
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 (to God)
Suum cuique pulchrum est – To each his own is beautiful. (Cicero)
Svi generis – Of its own kind unique
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)
Tanta stultitia mortalium est – What fools these mortals be
Tantum eruditi sunt liberi – Only the educated are free. (Epictetus)
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 [we praise]
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, non autem memoria – Time flies, but not memory
Tempus fugit – Time flees
Tempus incognitum – Time unknown
Tempus neminem manet – Time waits for no one
Tempus omnia sed memorias privat – Time deprives all but memories
Ter in die (t.i.d.) – Three times 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)
Transire suum pectus mundoque potiri – To overcome one’s human limitations and become master of the universe
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 Brute, file mi! – You too Bruto, my son! (Caesar’s last words)
Tu quoque – You likewise
Tu stupidus es – You are dumb
Tu, rattus turpis! – You dirty rat!
Tua mater tam antiquior ut linguam latine loquatur – Your mother is so old she speaks Latin
Tua toga suspina est – Your toga is backwards
Tuis pugis pignore! – You bet your bippy!
Tum podem extulit horridulum – You are talking shit
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 est mea anaticula cumminosa? – Where s my rubber ducky?
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 – Ultimate sanction
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’s voice
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 sit magna, tamen certe lenta ira deorum est – The wrath of the gods may be great, but it certainly is slow
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 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
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 duci – I came, I saw, I calculated
Veni, vidi, vici – I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
Veni, Vidi, Visa – I Came, I Saw, I Shopped
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 (verb. sap.) – 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
Vesanum poetam qui sapiunt fugiunt – Anyone with a brain flees a versifying poet
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 loquitor – It is a wise man who speaks little
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 contin git. Vive com eo – Life happens. Live with it
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 commune est, sed non commune mereri – Everybody lives; not everybody deserves to
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)
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)
Vixere fortes ante agamemnona – Brave men lived before Agamemnon. (heroism exists even if it’s not recorded)
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 anaticulam cumminosam meam! – I want my rubber ducky!
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 opinion is obligatory)
Vox populi – The voice of the people
Vrbi et orbi – To the city and to the world. (preface of Papal documents)
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
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