1. ab ovo usque ad mala-- “from the egg even to the apple;” from start to finish; from the beginning
to the end of the Roman dinner. “Your plan ab ovo usque ad mala was terrible.”
2. ad absurdum-- “to absurdity;” disproof of a principle or proposition by showing that it leads to an
absurdity when followed to its logical conclusion.
3. ad hoc-- “for this (purpose)”; an ad hoc committee is a temporary committee established to
accomplish a particular task.
4. ad libitum/ad lib-- “extemporaneously’; literally meaning “at pleasure”; this expression is popularly
used in English in the form of “ad lib” to express absence of planning.
5. ad nauseum-- “to the point of (causing) nausea”; anything unpleasureable that appears to go on
endlessly may be said to be proceeding ad nauseum, literally “to seasickness.”; such activity has
reached the point at which it seems almost more than a body can bear.
6. alibi-- “elsewhere”; proof of innocence; if you have an alibi for a crime, it means that you can
prove that you were elsewhere when the crime took place.
7. festina lente-- “hurry, slowly”; make haste, not waste; in other words, work quickly, but not so
quickly that you make careless mistakes.
8. Adeste Fideles!-- “O come, all ye faithful”; a Christmas hymn written in Latin, date and author
uncertain.
9. alias dictus-- “otherwise called”; in English, meaning “an assumed name”; while our own use of
alias usually refers to circumstances less than honorable, the Romans did not intend this; they used
alias dictus in referring to someone’s nickname, used with no deception.
10. alma mater-- “nourishing mother”; Roman poets referred to the country of their birth as alma
mater; today, the expression is used to refer to one’s college/university; the symbolism is clear: the
college nourishes all its graduates.
11. alumnus/a-- “nursling, foster child”; we all know the English word alumnus as a graduate/former
student of a university/college.
12. de minimis-- “about small issues”; this is usually a legal term. For example: “The Recording
Industry Association of America recently said that they will not prosecute de minimis cases in respect
to the music file-sharing over the Internet.”
13. alter ego-- “bosom pal”; literally translated as “another I”; the intention is that an alter ego may be
considered as speaking or acting for the other person.
14. alia iacta est-- “the die is cast”; Julius Caesar, preparing to enter Rome from Gaul, came to the
Rubicon River. Caesar knew once he crossed the Rubicon he would be defying his government and
in great danger. When Caesar finally made up his mind, he said this common phrase of the time.
Today it means that a bold and irretrievable decision has been made.
15. memento mori-- “be mindful of death”
16. amicus curiae-- “an impartial spokesperson in a court of law”; literally “a friend of the court”; a
person not party to litigation who volunteers or is invited by the court to give advice on a matter
pending before it.
17. amor patria-- “patriotism”; literally “love of country”
18. anno Domini (A.D.)-- “in the year of our Lord”; passage of time from the Christ’s birth; the
commencement of the Christian era.
19. amor omnia vincit-- “love conquers all”; this famous line of Virgil’s is quoted by Chaucer in The
Canterbury Tales.
20. annuit coeptis-- “He (God) has favored our undertaking”; this saying from the Aeneid appears on
the reverse of the seal of the US which is on the reverse of the one-dollar bill. It suggests that God
takes special interest in particular societies.
21. ante bellum-- “before the war”; the period before any war may be called ante bellum, but in the
US the phrase generally is applied to the period before the Civil War.
22. ante meridiem (A.M.)-- “before mid-day”; the English abbreviation refers to the time prior to noon
and after midnight.
23. ars gratia artis-- “art for art’s sake”; the motto of a true artist and MGM uses it as part of its
trademark.
24. ad astra per aspera-- “to the stars through rough spots”; overcoming adversity to reach a goal.
25. ars poetica-- “the art of poetry”; also the title of a poem by Horace.
26. bona fide-- “in good faith”; this phrase can also mean “honestly, sincerely” or any other
expression denoting “without deception.”
27. circa (ca.)-- “about”; this term indicates uncertainty about a date; “It is generally assumed that
Chaucer was born ca. A.D. 1340.”
28. carpe diem-- “seize the day”; this phrase has been advice often: Enjoy yourself while you have
the chance; eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.
29. caveat emptor-- “let the buyer beware”; the rule of law warning potential buyers of
goods/services that they are not protected against failure of the seller to live up to his bargain. The
buyer is responsible for protecting himself.
30. cave canem-- “beware of the dog”; this friendly warning was commonly inscribed on doors of
Roman houses.
31. confer/cf.-- “compare”; this phrase invites readers to compare an author’s discussion with that
presented in another work.
32. gloria in excelsis deo-- “glory to God in the highest”; as heard in the Christmas carol “Angels We
Have Heard on High.”
33. corpus delicti-- “the evidence that a crime has been committed”; literally “the body of the crime”;
the facts needed to establish that a crime has been committed.
34. curriculum vitae (C.V.)-- “a resume”; literally “the course of (one’s) life”; An academic who is
asked to submit a written account of his qualifications usually compiles his curriculum vitae. Using
the Latin expression instead of the French resume avoids association with the world of commerce.
35. (magna, summa) cum laude-- “with (great, greatest) praise”; A university degree can be awarded
with these distinctions.
36. de facto-- “in reality”; literally “from the fact”; It differentiates that which exists in fact from that
which exists legally. De facto rulers may be in charge even though they dont have legal power. De
facto segregation occurs even though it is illegal.
37. de jure-- “sanctioned by law”; This is the opposite of de facto. It distinguishes what exists
legally.
38. deus ex machina-- “unlikely intervention”; literally “god out of a machine”; This describes
unexpected occurrences that rescue someone from an apparently hopeless predicament. This
expression comes from Greek theater. When characters were in a sticky situation, a god was sent
down on stage by a mechanical crane to solve the problem.
39. Carthago delenda est-- “Carthage must be destroyed”; Cato the Elder repeatedly egged on the
Senate with this phrase. The result was the Roman victory over Carthage in the 3rd Punic War.
40. dramatis personae-- “cast of characters’; literally “the persons of the drama”; Primarily meaning
actors in a play, but can also mean characters in a novel, poem, film or an event in everyday life.
41. dum spiro spero-- “while I breathe, I hope”; motto of South Carolina
42. exempli gratia (e.g.)-- “for instance”; literally “for the sake of example”; It is used correctly to
introduce an example; incorrectly to mean “that is.”
43. emeritus-- “having served his time”; This word has its origin in Roman military tradition. Today, it
is applied to a person who is rewarded for faithful service. It carries no obligation but entitles the
person the use of facilities and to attend ceremonies. Example: professor emeritus
44. e pluribus unum-- “one out of many” Motto of the USA indicating that a single nation was made
by uniting many states.
45. ergo-- “therefore”
46. et. al. (et alii)-- “and other men (people)” This abbreviation is used to avoid a lenghty listing.
Educated people dont pronounce the et al. “And others” is said for et al.
47. et cetera (etc.)-- “and so on”; literally “and the rest”; used only when speaking of things, not
people. In speech its abbreviation is given the pronunciation of the full phrase.
48. ex post facto-- “from what is done afterward”; We are all ex post facto experts who can always
give the correct answers to all problems once we know how things have worked out.
49. habeas corpus-- “you may have the body”; a feature of British and US law that protects an
individual against arbitrary imprisonment by requiring that any person arrested be brought before a
court for formal charge.
50. errare humanum est-- “to err is human”; everyone makes mistakes
51. et tu, Brute-- “You too, Brutus”; According to tradition, these are the final words of Caesar.
Caesar resisted his attackers until he realized that Brutus, his ally, had joined the attack. Et tu, Brute
has become the classic recognition of betrayal by a trusted friend.
52. exit (sing)/ exeunt (pl)-- “he/they leave the stage”; literally “he/they go out”; a stage direction in
old plays.
53. ex officio-- “by virtue of an office”; Officers of an institution usually serve on many of its
committees because they hold certain offices. Thus, the CEO of a corporation usually is a member
ex officio of all the important committees of the corporation.
54. ex tempore-- “extemporaneously”; literally “without preparation”; in other words, “to wing it.”
55. facta non verba-- “actions speak louder than words”; literally “deeds, not words”
56. gaudeamus igitur-- “let us therefore rejoice”; The opening words of a student song of German
origin, sung sometimes at academic exercises.
57. ibidem/ibid.-- “in the same place”; makes reference to an identical source cited in an immediately
preceding footnote.
58. idem (id.)-- “the same”; this term appears in footnotes containing more than one reference to
works by the same author. It is used in place of the author’s name after the inital reference.
59. id est (i.e.)-- “that is”; this term is used in identical fashion as its English translation: to clarify a
statement just made.
60. in absentia-- “in one’s absence”; one may be awarded a university degree in absentia because
of an inability to appear for the ceremony or convicted of a crime in absentia because one is beyond
the reach of the law.
61. de mortuis nil nisi bonum-- “nothing about the dead except good”; Dont talk bad about dead
people after they’re gone. Have respect for the dead.
62. in flagrante delicto-- “red-handed”; literally “while the crime is blazing”; this phrase is used when
someone is caught in the act of committing a crime.
63. in loco parentis-- “in the place of a parent”; anyone who serves in loco parentis may be
considered to have responsibilities of guardianship over minors.
64. in medias res-- “in the thick of it”; literally “into the middle of things”; Authors who plunge right
into the action put their readers in medias res.
65. in memoriam-- “to the memory of”; literally “in memory”; this expression is widely used in
inscriptions, epitaphs, etc.
66. in situ-- “in its natural location”; literally “in place”; this is an expression used by scholars who
may say that an observation or experiment was performed in the natural or original location of the
material or process under study.
67. in toto-- “entirely”; “on the whole”; “altogether”
68. ipso facto-- “by that very fact”; Ipso facto has the meaning of “absolutely”; For example: By
ordering troops into the presidential palace, the general was ipso facto guilty of treason.
69. lapsus linguae-- “a slip of the tongue”
70. lapsus memoriae-- “a lapse of memory”
71. magnum opus-- “one’s crowning achievement”; literally “a great work”; an artist’s masterpiece
may be called his magnum opus.
72. mea culpa-- “I am to blame”; literally “through or by my fault”; this phrase is heard in
confessionals or in certain Christian prayers.
73. medicinae doctor-- “doctor of medicine”; this familiar university degree is abbreviated M.D.
74. modus operandi-- “manner of working”; the police abbreviation, M.O., designates the pattern a
criminal typically follows. But it is not restricted to police use. Any plan for doing a job may be termed
modus operandi.
75. modus vivendi-- “a way of getting along together”; literally “a way of living”; when people must
manage to get along despite perhaps not being on the best of terms, they reach a modus vivendi
which makes the relationship possible.
76. manus manum lavat-- “one hand washes the other”; Similar to quid pro quo, though not used as
often in English.
77. nolo contendere-- “I do not wish to contend”; the plea of a defendant in a criminal proceeding
who does not admit guilt but states that he will offer no defense against the charges. The defendant
may then be declared guilty, yet retain the right to deny the validity of that finding in related
proceedings.
78. non sequitur-- “it does not follow”; a familiar way of indicating a logical fallacy.
79. nota bene/N.B.-- “take notice”; literally “note well”; the familiar way of calling attention to
something of importance in a letter or other document.
80. novus ordo seclorum-- “a new order of the ages (is created)”; motto on the great seal of the US.
See any one-dollar bill.
81. per annum-- “annually”; literally “by the year”
82. per capita-- “individually”; literally “by the head”
83. non omnia possumus omnes-- “we are all not able (to do) everything”
84. O tempora! O mores!-- “These are bad times!”; literally “Oh the times! Oh the habits!”; Speaking
to the Roman Senate, Cicero opened an attack on Catiline with this phrase. It has become a legacy
for all who wish to complain about the times they live in.
85. panem et circenses-- “bread and circus games”; Juvenal said that the Romans had come to care
for nothing but handouts and spectacles. Free food and gladiatorial games was the favorite formula
for keeping the masses happy.
86. pater patriae-- “father of his country”; the Romans sometimes used this expression to designate
distinguished statesmen.
87. per centum-- “on each hundred”; literally “by the hundred”
88. per diem-- “daily”; literally “by the day”
89. per mensem-- “monthly”
90. per se-- “intrinsically”; literally “by or in itself”
91. persona grata-- “an acceptable person”; while this term can be taken to mean “a welcome
guest,” it is most generally used to describe a diplomatic representative who is acceptable to the
government to which he is accredited.
92. post meridiem/P.M.-- “after noon”; literally “after midday”
93. post mortem-- “an autopsy”; literally “after death”
94. post partum-- “after childbirth” The period after delivery of a child. In English, we may hear of
post partum depression.
95. post scriptum/P.S.-- “written afterwards”
96. non compos mentis-- “not sound of mind”; crazy
97. pro bono (publico)-- “for the public good”; Some attorneys devote a portion of their time to pro
bono cases in which they represent the poor or seek to remedy publc grievances for free.
98. pro forma-- “as a formality”; literally “for form”; For example: They made a pro forma appeal for
a stay of execution, knowing their client had little chance.
99. pro rata-- “in proportion”
100. pro tempore (pro tem)-- “temporarily”; a chairperson pro tempore serves until a permanent
chairperson is selected.
101. quando cadet Roma, cadet et (iam) mundus-- “when Rome falls, the world will fall too”; In a
sense, this prediction was true. After the fall of Rome, Europe suffered through the Dark Ages for
some 5 centuries.
102. quid pro quo-- “something given in return for something”; For example: I will not give up that
privilege without a quid pro quo.
103. quorum-- literally “of whom”; the minimum number of people that must be present at a meeting
before its proceedings are to be regarded as valid.
104. quo vadis-- “Where are you going?”; According to legend, Paul was leaving Rome when he met
the apparition of Jesus and asked him this question. Jesus said he was going to Rome so Paul
turned around and went back........where he was executed for his Christian beliefs.
105. rara avis-- “a rarity”; literally “a rare bird”; Juvenal coined this phrase calling a black swan a
rara avis. Black swans were unknown to Romans at the time.
106. requiescat in pace/RIP-- “may he rest in peace”
107. res publica-- “the commonwealth”; literally “the affairs of the people”; Romans used this phrase
when referring to their own state or republic.
108. rigor mortis-- “stiffness of death”; rigidity of muscles occurring after death
109. scripsit-- “he/she wrote it”; with the author’s name given first, a way to sign a literary work
110. sic-- “thus”; this phrase is used by writers and editors to indicate an apparent misspelling
111. Sic semper tyrannis-- “thus ever to tyrants”; motto of Virginia, and said to be the words shouted
by John Wilkes Booth after assassinating Lincoln.
112. multum non multa-- “much, not many”; that is, quality over quantity
113. semper paratis-- “always ready”; motto of the US Coast Guard
114. semper fidelis-- “always faithful”; motto of the US Marine Corps.
115. sequitur/seq.-- “it follows”; this word can be used to mean “it follows logically” or to mean “the
following remark.”
116. sine qua non-- “an indispensable condition”; literally “without which not”; anything that may be
described accurately as sine qua non is absolutely necessary. For example: “Warm outer clothing is
a sine qua non at the North Pole.”
117. SPQR (senatus populusque romanus)-- “the Roman Senate and People”; emblematic of their
constitution
118. sub rosa-- “in strict confidence or secretly”; literally “under the rose”; The rose is a symbol of
secrecy from the story involving Cupid giving a rose to Harpocrates, god of silence, as a bribe.
Roman dining room ceilings were decorated with roses to remind guests not to make public things
that might be discussed. The US President often walks in the rose garden with visitors to gain
privacy.
119. sub poena-- “under penalty”; a writ commanding a person to appear in a law court
120. scientia est potestas-- “knowledge is power”
121. sine die-- “until an unspecified date”; literally “without a day”; when a meeting adjourns sine
die, there is no set day for the next meeting.
122. status quo-- “as things were before”; For example: “Even though the couple reunited, things
would never be status quo.”
123. tabula rasa-- “a clean slate”; literally “a scraped writing tablet”; Used most often to denote a
mind devoid of preconceptions. A newborn child is presumed to be a tabula rasa.
124. tempus fugit-- “time flies”
125. tacet-- “be silent”; literally “it is silent”; a musical notation directing a singer or instrumentalist to
maintain silence during a portion of a score so marked.
126. terra incognita-- “unknown territory”; used to designate a subject or place about which nothing
is known.
127. terra firma-- “dry land”; literally “solid land”; It is used to differentiate land from sea.
128. ultima ratio-- “the final agreement”; For example: “We find many reasons for denying your loan
application, but your four bankruptcies are the ultima ratio.”
129. in hoc signo vinces-- “in this sign, you will conquer”; Constantine saw a cross in the sky and
heard a voice saying this phrase before going into battle. He had his soldiers put crosses on their
shields, and victory followed. He later legalized Christianity.
130. veni, vidi, vici-- “I came, I saw, I conquered”; Julius Caesar’s way of reporting his defeat of the
king of Pontus
131. una voce-- “unanimously”; literally “with one voice”
132. vice versa-- “conversely”; literally “the change being turned”
133. INRI (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum)-- “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; Roman
soldiers put these letters over Jesus’ head to mock him on the cross
134. vox populi-- “voice of the people”
135. versus/vs.-- “against”
136. vade in pace-- “go in peace”; a Roman way to say goodbye
137. veritas-- “truth”; motto of Harvard
138. via-- “way”; in English, this phrase is used to mean “by way of” or “through”
139. ipse dixit-- “he himself said it”; an assertion as opposed to something that has been proven
140. placebo-- literally “I will please”; an inert medication used for psychological reasons or as a
control in an experiment.
141. mores-- “customs”; the fixed morally binding customs of a particular group; a habitual behavior
142. erratum-- “error”; an error in printing or writing is given this name. An errata is a list of errors.
143. Rx/recipe-- “take”; used on prescriptions
144. in libris libertas-- “in books there is freedom”
145. fortes fortuna iuvat-- “fortune favors the brave”; this was supposedly said by Pliny the Elder as
he sailed across the Bay of Naples to get a better look at the eruption of Vesuvius. He didnt survive.
146. soli deo gloria-- “glory to God alone”
147. Dei gratia-- “by the grace of God”; usually used with regina (queen) or imperator (emperor) to
imply direct acces to the Divinity
148. primus inter pares-- “the first among equals”; teachers within a certain department are a good
example. While all are equal, the chairman may be said to be primus inter pares. He has extra
responsibilities but also extra perks.
149. profanum vulgus-- “the common people”; literally “the profane multitude”
150. rus in urbe-- “country in city”; used most often to describe a city building, garden, or view that
suggests the countryside.
151. supra-- “above”; used to make references to an earlier portion of text, usually in the phrase vide
supra, “see above.”
152. vade mecum-- “go with me”; usually a small manual or reference book that is regularly carried in
one’s pocket. A vade mecum may also be a pocket calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc.
153. ave Maria-- “hail Mary”; the angel’s salutation to the Virgin. Used in the church from a very
early period.
154. ex libris-- “from the library of”; literally “from the book”; commonly appears on book plates,
followed by the owner’s name
155. dulce et decorum est pro patria mori-- “it is sweet and fitting to die for the fatherland”; these
words are from Horace.
156. Veritatem cognoscetis et veritas vos liberabit-- “You shall know the truth and the truth shall
make you free”; motto of the University of Tennessee
157. ubi fumus ibi ignis-- “where there is smoke, there is fire”
158. Regnant populi-- “the people rule”; motto of Arkansas
159. Virtute et armis-- “by courage and weapons”; motto of Mississippi
160. re-- “concerning or regarding”; used on legal documents and notices
161. syllabus-- a summary outline (as of a course of study)
162. in vino veritas-- “wine loosens the tongue”; literally “in wine the truth”; this Roman proverb tells
us that people under influence of alcohol will say things ordinarily they try to conceal.
163. mirabile dictu-- “wonderful to tell”; used when one wishes to express astonishment while
recounting an event of overwhelming significance, accomplishment, or irony. For example: “As he
left the prison after serving his sentence, he announced, mirabile dictu, that he would be a candidate
for the US Senate.”
164. mirabile visu-- “wonderful to behold”; for example: “There before me, mirabile visu, stood
Bethleham itself. My dream had been fulfilled.”
165. Hannibal ad portas-- “the country is in danger”; literally “Hannibal at the gates”; used to alert
the Roman citizens to imminent danger. Hannibal was so feared by the Romans that the phrase
became an expression meaning “the country is in danger.”
166. hic et nunc-- “here and now”; a person who demands immediate action, such as repayment of
a debt, would say he wants it hic et nunc.
167. hora fugit-- “the hour flies”; one of several Latin expressions reminding us that life passes too
quickly.
168. in pleno-- “in full”; payment in pleno is payment in full.
169. in pectore-- “in secret”; literally “in the breast”; used to decribe an action done secretly.
170. in saecula seculorum-- “forever and ever”; literally “for ages and ages”; Anything that has
continued for a very long time can be said to have existed in saecula saeculorum.
171. lux et veritas-- “light and truth”; motto of Yale University
172. mens sana in corpore sano-- “a sound mind in a sound body”; Juvenal’s phrase that we need to
train the body as well as the mind.
173. addendum-- a supplement to a book; literally “a thing to be added”
174. memorabilia-- “things worthy of remembrance”; for example: a ticket stub from a concert,
pictures from a trip, etc.
175. vae victis-- “it is hard to be a loser”; literally “Woe to the Vanquished”; after the Gauls defeated
the Romans, the Romans were complaining about the money they had to pay the Gauls. The leader
of the Gauls said this phrase to the Romans.
176. Cogito ergo sum-- “I think, therefore, I am”; called the basis of the philosophy of the French
philosopher, Descartes.
177. a vinculo matrimonii-- “from the bond of marriage”; used in a divorce decree; Vinculo also
means “noose” or “chain.”
178. labor omnia vincit-- “work conquers all things”; motto of Oklahoma
179. mare nostrum-- “our sea”; refers to the Mediterranean Sea which the Romans considered
theirs.
180. diem perdidi-- “I have lost a day”; this phrase is said to have been the exclamation of Emperor
Titus when a day had passed without his doing some good deed.
181. ab aeterno-- since the beginning of time; literally “from eternity;” “Wars have been fought ab
aeterno.”
182. ab asino lanam-- blood from a stone; literally “wool from an ass;” Anyone who tries to achieve
the impossible is doomed to failure. Thus an attempt to get ab asino lanam will fail.
183. ab extra-- from the outside; “We are mistaken in believing that peace will come to the Middle
East through efforts ab extra of world powers.”
184. ab imo pectore-- from the heart; literally “from the bottom of the breast (or chest);” “When we
speak from the heart, we speak sincerely, but the Romans spoke ab imo pectore.”
185. ab incunabulis-- from infancy; The Latin word incunabula means “cradle, infancy, origin;” The
English incunabula refers to the earliest stage of anything but most often to copies of books that date
back to the period before 1500 AD; the Latin phrase has nothing to do with books.
186. ab initio-- from the beginning; “Lack of adequate capital doomed the company to failure ab
initio.”
187. ab irato-- unfair, unprovoked; literally “from an angry man;” “Orders to fire subordinates were
given ab irato and therefore were not carried out until the President had a chance to reconsider.”
188. ab intra-- from within; “The only hope for reform of an institution is through efforts expended ab
intra.”
189. ab ovo-- from the very beginning; literally “from the egg.” A thorough search is a search ab
ovo.
190. absit invidia-- no offense intended; literally “let ill will be absent;” This expression reflects the
power that Romans attributed to animosity. They believed that ill feelings toward someone could
cause that person great harm so they absolved themselves by saying absit invidia.
191. absit omen-- may this not be an omen; literally “may the omen be absent;” used to invoke
divine protection against evil when something foreboding occurred like a black cat crossing your path.
192. absolvo-- I acquit; A judge acquitting a person after a trial may say this phrase.
193. ab urbe condita/ AUC-- since the founding of our city; Romans dated years from the founding of
Rome.
194. a capite ad calcem-- thoroughly; literally “from head to heel;” “The candidate, claiming that the
entire city government was rotten, promised a reorganization a capite ad calcem.”
195. accessit-- honorable mention; literally “he came near;” In European schools, it is the
recognition given to the runner-up in a competition for a medal.
196. Acheruntis pabulum-- food for the gallows; literally “food of Acheron;” Acheron was one of the
7 rivers of the Underworld. Thus, any person judged to be evil may be said to be Acheruntis
pabulum.
197. a cruce salus-- salvation (comes) from the cross; The cross is the symbol of the death of Christ
and his death meant redemption for his followers.
198. acta est fabula-- it’s all over; literally “the drama has been acted out;” In classical theater, with
no curtain to draw across the stage, this phrase signified the end of a performance. Also said to be
Augustus’ last words.
199. acta sanctorum-- deeds of the saints; accounts of the lives of Christian martyrs and saints are
used in teaching the faith.
200. ad arbitrium-- at pleasure; “In this life, how many actions are really taken ad arbitrium?”
201. ad augusta per angusta-- to honors through difficulties. Augusta refers to holy places, angusta
to narrow spaces. Therefore we reach our goals by suffering which is represented here by squeezing
through narrow spaces.
202. ad captandum vulgus-- in order to win over the masses; Actions taken ad captandum vulgus
are intended to please the common people.
203. ad clerum-- to the clergy; A statement made by a church leader and intended only for the
clergy is made ad clerum.
204. ad gloriam-- for the glory
205. ad gustum-- to one’s taste; a cookbook expression. “Add salt ad gustum.”
206. ad hominem-- against the man
207. adhuc sub iudice lis est-- the case is still before the court; People under indictment may invoke
adhuc sub iudice lis est as a means of avoiding public discussion of their problems.
208. ad interim-- in the meantime; often abbreviated ad int.
209. ad maiorem Dei gloriam-- for the greater glory of God; motto of the Society of Jesuits; the
abbreviation AMDG appears as an epigraph in books produced by the Jesuits.
210. ad patres-- dead; literally “to the fathers;” to go ad patres is to die; to send someone ad patres
is to kill that person
211. ad referendum-- for further consideration; literally “for referring” Referendum has come over
directly into English with the mean of “a vote by all qualified voters on a matter of public concern.”
212. ad rem-- to the matter at hand; literally “to the thing;” “The attorney was admonished to make
only ad rem comments or be silent.”
213. adsum-- present!; literally “I am here!” a formal answer to roll call.
214. ad unguem-- perfectly; literally “to a fingernail;” used to convey doing something well; A
sculptor in ancient time would test the smoothness of a finished surface by running a fingernail over it.
215. ad unum omnes-- unanimously; literally “all to one;” “The delegates accepted the resolution ad
unum omnes.”
216. ad usum Delphini-- expurgated; literally “for the Dauphin’s use;” A book prepared for the
Dauphin, Louis XIV of France, had the title ad usum Delphini. The works were cleansed to avoid
offending the royal young man.
217. ad utrumque paratus-- prepared for the worst; literally “ready for either;” The Romans
described a person ready to cope with any situation as ad utrumque paratus.
218. adversa-- things noted; A scholarly expression referring to observations one has made.
219. adversaria--a journal; used to record one’s observations as well as for collecting poems,
essays, and other material one finds worth keeping.
220. adversus solem ne loquitor--dont waste your time arguing the obvious; literally “dont speak
against the sun;” When confronted by an irrefutable fact, there is no point in disputing it.
221. ad vitam-- for life; a legal term sometimes found in wills, with the meaning of “for use during a
person’s life only.”
222. ad vitam aut culpam-- for life or until a misdeed; This phrase comes from the feudal times when
property or privilege could not be taken away until a person’s death or improper behavior. Today any
gift given with strings attached is made ad vitam aut culpam.
223. aeger--sick; In British universities, aeger is the traditional term used on students’ medical
excuses for failing to appear for an exam.
224. aegrescit medendo-- the remedy is worse than the disease; literally “the disease worsens with
the treatment;” Virgil’s phrase
225. aegrotat-- a note from the doctor; literally “he is sick;” In British universities, it is an official
medical excuse. But it is also an unclassified degree granted to a student who has completed all
requirements but who is too sick to sit for the final exams.
226. aeternum vale-- farewell forever; A suitable inscription for a tombstone or for ending a love
affair.
227. a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi-- between a rock and a hard place; literally “a precipice in
front, wolves behind”
228. age quod agis-- pay attention to what you are doing; literally “do what you are doing”
229. Agnus Dei-- Lamb of God; the epithet applied to Christ by John the Baptist
230. albae gallinae filius-- lucky devil; literally “son of a white hen;” An eagle supposedly dropped a
white hen into Livia’s (Augustus’ wife) lap. It was seen as a good omen since white hens bring good
luck.
231. amantes sunt amentes-- lovers are lunatics
232. amicus humani generis-- a philanthropist; literally “a friend of the human race.”
233. amicus usque ad aras-- a friend to the end; literally “a friend as far as to the altars;” It is
interpreted as a friend up to the point where friendship conflicts with religious beliefs. Supposedly
Pericles of Athens said this when refusing to swear falsely for a friend.
234. amor proximi-- love of one’s neighbor
235. anguis in herba-- a hidden danger; literally “a snake in the grass;”
236. anno regni/AR-- in the year of the reign; used to mark the passage of years in the reign of a
monarch.
237. anno urbis conditae-- in the year since Rome was founded; refers to the number of years since
753 BC.
238. annus mirabilis-- a remarkable year; any year in which great events occur may be called this.
239. ante partum-- before childbirth
240. arma virumque cano-- “arms and the man I sing;” the opening words of Virgil’s epic poem, the
Aeneid.
241. Ars Amatoria-- The Art of Love; the title of Ovid’s work on love, with full accounts of how to find
and keep a lover.
242. artes, scientia, veritas-- arts, science, truth; motto of the University of Michigan
243. bonis avibus-- under favorable signs; literally “under good birds;” The Romans relied heavily
on birds as tools of divination.
244. caput mundi-- “the head of the world;” The Romans called Rome this.
245. cedant arma togae-- military power may be subordinate to civil authority; literally “let arms yield
to the gown;” motto of Wyoming
246. codex-- a manuscript parchment; a code of laws
247. crescite et multiplicamini-- increase and multiply; motto of Maryland
248. cum tacent clamant-- silence is the admission of guilt; literally “when they are silent they shout;”
the popular view that silence is an admission of guilt
249. currente calamo-- with the pen running on; anything written without care can be described with
this phrase
250. dabit deus his quoque finem-- God will grant an end to even these (troubles); This saying from
the Aeneid counsels hope, even in the darkest hour.
251. damnum absque iniuria-- sorry, no basis for a lawsuit; literally “loss without harm;” refers to the
loss of property or violation of a right without possibility of legal redress.
252. deceptio visus-- an optical illusion; literally “a deception of vision”
253. de nihilo nihil-- nothing comes from nothing; this phrase tells us that effort is required to
produce anything of value.
254. Deus vobiscum (tecum)-- God be with you; used when someone is taking leave
255. Deus vult-- God wills it; battle cry of the First Crusade at the end of the 11th century which
recovered the Holy Land from the Muslims.
256. dies faustus-- an auspicious day; literally “a day bringing good fortune; Romans paid much
attention to omens like meteors or birds
257. dii penates-- guardians of the household
258. ditat Deus-- God enriches; motto of Arizona
259. Domine, dirige nos-- Lord, direct us; motto of London
260. Dominus illuminatio mea-- the Lord is my light; motto of Oxford University
261. ducit amor patriae-- love of country guides me; motto of the patriot; literally “love of country
guides.”
262. dum tacent clamant-- their silence speaks volumes; Silence may have great significance even
an admission of guilt.
263. dux femina facti-- literally “a woman was the leader in the deed;” from Virgil’s Aeneid
264. dura lex sed lex-- the law is hard but it is the law; this phrase is about all we can say about laws
considered unfair or harsh.
265. esse quam videri-- to be rather seem; motto of North Carolina.
266. esto perpetua-- may she live forever; motto of Idaho; originally said about Venice.
267. et nunc et semper-- from now on; literally “now and forever.”
268. et ux.-- and wife; the lawyer’s abbreviation for et uxor.
269. exitus acta probat-- the end justifies the means; literally “the results validates the deeds;” motto
of Magistra’s high school
270. ex parte-- from one side only; literally “from a part;” a legal expression applied to a proceeding
in which only one side is presented and the other side is absent.
271. experto credite-- trust me; literally “believe the one who has experience”
272. fabas indulcet fames-- hungers makes everything taste better; literally “hunger sweetens
beans”
273. fama volat-- rumor travels fast; In the Aeneid, Virgil tells us nothing travels faster than scandal.
274. fata obstant-- the gods willed otherwise; literally “the fates opposed;” The Fata were the 3
Roman goddesses of fate. Any human action that went amiss was blamed on opposing the Fata;
this phrase is from the Aeneid.
275. Fidei Defensor/F.D.-- Defender of the Faith; one of the many titles of British monarchs; Henry
VIII was the first to have this one.
276. flourit/fl.-- he flourished; used to date the period of a person’s prime, particularly when exact
birth and death dates are unknown; “Somadeva (fl. 11th century) was a Sanskrit author.”
277. fluctuat ne mergitur-- unsinkable; literally “it is tossed by waves but does not sink;” motto of
Paris which has a ship as its emblem.
278. Gloria in Excelsis Deo-- Glory to God on High; first words of the familiar hymn from Luke.
279. hic iacet-- here lies; the opening words of many old tombstone inscriptions
280. in cauda venenum-- watch out for the part you cant see; literally “in the tail is the poison;”
Romans knew the scorpion’s sting was in its tail, so look beyond the obvious for potential danger.
281. in hoc signo vinces-- in this sign you will conquer; Constantine is said to have seen a cross in
the sky with these words before going to a battle. He won and later converted to Christianity.
282. in saecula seculorum-- forever and ever; literally “for ages of ages”
283. intelligenti pauca-- a word to the wise; literally “to the intelligent, few words”
284. intra muros-- within the walls; In ancient times, sturdy walls built around a city was a defense
against invasions, and the daily life was conducted intra muros.
285. intra vires-- within the powers; A matter that is intra vires is within the legal power or authority of
an institution or individual.
286. in utrumque paratus-- ready, come what may; literally “prepared for either alternative;” the wise
person is in utrumque paratus.
287. in vino veritas-- wine loosens the tongue; literally “in wine the truth;” A Roman proverb telling
us that people under the influence of alcohol may say things they normally would conceal.
288. invita Minerva-- uninspired; literally “Minerva being unwilling;” Minerva is also the patroness of
the arts. If the artist is uninspired it is because Minerva is being unwilling.
289. ira furor brevis est-- anger is brief madness; Horace used these word to say that anger is a
momentary departure from rationality.
290. iustitia omnibus-- justice for all; motto of the District of Columbia
291. lacrima Christi--tear of Christ; a mournful expression; Lachryma Christi is also a sweet wine
from Italy.
292. lapsus calami-- a slip of the pen; an error made in writing; a calamus was a reed used in a
pen.
293. lex talionis-- an eye for an eye; literally “the law of retaliation”
294. licet-- it is allowed; the formal expression used in granting permission.
295. loco citato/loc. cit.-- in the place cited; used in footnotes to refer the reader to a passage
previously cited. “Morrison, loc. cit.”
296. loquitur/loq.-- he/she speaks; a stage direction
297. lupus est homo homini-- man is a wolf to man; the wolf epitomizes predatory behavior and this
phrase from Horace recognizes man’s inhumanity to man.
298. macte virtute-- well done; literally “be increased in merit;” equivalent to “bravo” or “hooray”
299. mala fide-- in bad faith; anything done mala fide is done fraudulently
300. malis avibus-- under unfavorable signs; literally “with bad birds;” The Romans relied heavily on
birds as tools of divination.
301. mare clausum-- a closed sea; describes a body of water entirely within the jurisdiction of a
nation, therefore closed to foreign shipping.
302. mare liberum-- an open sea; a body of water open to ships of all nations.
303. materfamilias-- matriarch; used to describe the mistress of a household or a matron.
304. memoriter-- by rote; literally “by or from memory”
305. mendacem memorem esse oportet-- liars should have good memories; literally “it is fitting that
a liar be a man of good memory;” this phrase shows the difficulty liars face keeping up with their lies.
306. montani semper liberi-- mountaineers are always freemen; motto of West Virginia
307. mox nox in rem-- let’s get on with it; literally “soon night, to the business;” a call to action when
things are moving too slowly.
308. nefasti dies-- legal holidays; certain days in the Roman religious calendar in which official
business was forbidden.
309. nil sine numine-- nothing without divine will; motto of Colorado
310. non compos mentis-- not of sound mind; the legal expression used for any form of mental
unsoundness.
311. non semper erit aestas-- be prepared for hard times; literally “it will not always be summer”
312. nosce te ipsum-- know thyself
313. novissima verba-- final words; Latin for a person’s last utterance.
314. omne trinum est perfectum-- everything in threes is perfect; reflects the mystical powers of
three: 3 fates, 3 graces, the trinity, 3 kings, Jonah in the whale’s belly for 3 days, 3 cheers......
315. opere citato/op. cit.-- in the work cited; used in a footnote to indicate reference to a work
previously cited. “Flexner, op.cit. p. 242”
316. pecunia non olet-- money doesnt smell; this phrase tells us to not concern ourselves with the
source of money.
317. per fas et nefas-- justly or unjustly; literally “through right and wrong; “This is what I plan to do,
per fas et nefas.”
318. per Iovem (Jovem)-- by Jupiter or by Jove; Jove was another name for Jupiter.
319. plaudite, cives-- applaud, citizens; this phrase was the call to the audience at the end of a
Roman play.
320. pollice verso-- thumbs down; literally “with thumb turned;” When a gladiator had the
opportunity to kill his opponent, he looked to the audience to make the decision. If they turned turned
their thumbs toward their chests, kill him. If they kept their thumb in their fist, save him. Our phrase
of “thumbs up/down” may be derived from this practice.
321. post festum venisti-- sorry, too late!; literally “you have arrived after the feast;” this phrase may
be said when the overly cautious let opportunity slip through their fingers.
322. pro patria-- for one’s country; literally “for the country”
323. Punica fides-- treachery; literally “Punic faith;” this ironic
phrase reflects the Roman attitude toward their rivals in the Punic
Wars.
324. qui bene amat bene castigat-- he who loves well chastises
well; the Latin argument opposing permissiveness in raising
children and favoring frankness in dealing with all people one loves
or respects.
325. quid novi-- what’s new?
326. qui docet discit-- the best way to learn is to teach it; literally
“he who teaches learns;” every experienced teacher know the truth
in this phrase.
327. qui me amat, amat et canem meam-- love me, love my dog;
literally “who loves me loves my dog as well;” Latin words for telling
the world that it will have to take you as you are.
328. qui scribit bis legit-- he who writes read twice: this phrase recognizes the effectiveness of
writing out something you want to learn thoroughly.
329. qui tacet consentit-- silence implies consent; literally “he who remains silent consents”
330. quodmodo vales?-- how are you?; a Roman greeting
331. quod vadis-- where are you going?; the well known question that Peter asked the apparition of
Jesus.
332. re-- concerning or regarding; used in a memo.
333. retro Satana!-- get behind me, Satan!
334. Saturnalia-- a really fun time; Saturnalia was a December festival including banquets, presents,
debauchery all in honor of Saturnus, the god of planting and harvest.
335. scientia est potentia-- knowledge is power
336. seniores priores-- elders first
337. si dis placet-- if it pleases the gods; the equivalent of “God willing.”
338. sine ira-- without anger
339. sine prole-- without children; a legal term, often translated as “without issue,” encountered in
some wills.
340. sit non doctissima coniux (conjux)-- “may my wife not be very learned;” a Roman formula for a
happy marriage; Martial’s phrase reveals the Roman attitude toward women.
341. socius criminis-- a partner in crime
342. spolia opima-- “the choicest spoils;” Livy’s phrase to denote the booty personally taken by a
victorious general.
343. stet-- let it stand; an editor’s mark canceling a deletion or other change previously made in a
manuscript.
344. sumptus censum ne superet-- live within your means; literally “let not your spending exceed
your income”
345. supremum vale-- farewell for the last time; before death, that is.
346. sursum corda-- lift up your hearts; heard in mass
347. suum cuique pulchrum-- love is blind; literally “to everyone, his own is beautiful”
348. tacent, satis laudent-- silence is prase enough; literally “they are silent, they praise enough;”
meaning rapt attention in an audience can be more flattering than applause.
349. tacet-- be silent; literally “it is silent;” a musical notation directing a singer or instrumentalist to
maintain silence during the portion of the score so marked.
350. tangere ulcus-- to touch a sore; this expression is used like “to hit a nail on the head” and “to
touch a sore spot.”
351. tempus ludendi-- a time for playing. Workaholics, take heed.
352. tempus omni revelat-- times reveals all things. So wait.
353. tenere lupum auribus-- to take a bull by the horns; literally “to hold a wolf by the ears;” implies
fearlessness in confronting difficult situations.
354. teres atque rotundus-- well-rounded; literally “polished and round;” describes the Stoics’
conception of a wise man as one who rolls smoothly through life.
355. tu quoque-- you too; a retort to an accusation; in other words, “it takes one to know one.”
356. ubi bene ibi patria-- I owe my allegiance to the country in which I prosper; a patriotic Roman
sentiment
357. una voce-- unanimously; literally “with one voice”
358. urbs in horto-- a city in a garden; motto of Chicago
359. vae victis-- “it is hard to be a loser”; literally “Woe to the Vanquished”; after the Gauls defeated
the Romans, the Romans were complaining about the money they had to pay the Gauls. The leader
of the Gauls said this phrase to the Romans.
360. valete ac plaudite-- let’s hear it for the cast; literally “farewell and applaud;” this phrase was
said at the end of a Roman play because there were no curtains in the theaters.