Common Latin Phrases

A

a fortiori = with yet stronger reason.

a posse ad esse = from possibility to actuality.

a posteriori = derived by reasoning from observed facts.

a priori = from what was before.

ab incunablis = from the origin.

ab initio = from the beginning.

ab intra = from within.

ab urbe condita (AUC) = from the founding of the city (Rome in 753 BC).

ad absurdum = to the point of absurdity.

ad eundem = to the same level.

ad eundem gradum = to the same level.

ad hoc = for this special purpose.

ad hominem = denoting an argument made personally against an opponent, rather than logically against an issue (literally, "to the person").

ad idem = of the same mind.

ad infinitum = without limit.

ad libitum = according to pleasure.

ad litem = for the suit.

ad locum (ad loc.) = at the place.

ad nauseam = to a disgusting extent.

ad valorem = according to value.

addenda = things to be added.

advocatus diaboli = devil's advocate.

affidavit = a sworn written statement usable as evidence in court.

agenda = things to be done (used especially for a list of items to be discussed at a meeting).

alea iacta est = the die is cast (Caesar).

alma mater = one's old school or university.

alter ego = other self.

amicus curiae = friend of the court.

amicus omnibus, amicus nemini = a friend to all is a friend to none.

anno domini (AD) = in the year of the Lord.

annus horribilis = a terrible year.

annus mirabilis = a wonderful year.

ante bellum = before the war.

ante meridiem (a.m.) = before midday.

aqua fortis = nitric acid.

aqua pura = pure water.

ars gratia artis = art for art's sake.

aude sapere = dare know.

audi alteram partem = hear the other side (a principle of natural justice).

B

bella gerant alii = let others wage war.

bona fide (adjective) = genuine, sincere.

bona fide (adverb) = genuinely, sincerely.

bona fides (noun) = honest intention.

C

cadit quaestio (cq) = the question falls; the matter admits no further argument (the facts have been double checked).

caret = it is lacking (used in editing to indicate that something is to be inserted).

carpe diem = seize the day.

casus belli = the circumstances justifying war.

cave canem = beware of the dog.

caveat emptor = let the buyer beware.

caveat lector = let the reader beware.

caveat venditor = let the seller beware.

ceteris paribus = other things being equal or unchanged.

circa (c, followed by a date) = about.

cogito, ergo sum = I think, therefore I am (Descartes).

compos mentis = sane.

confer (cf.) = compare.

cor unum = one heart.

corpus delicti = the facts of a crime.

corrigenda = a list of things to be corrected (in a book).

cui bono? = who benefits?

cui malo? = who suffers a detriment unjust?

cum grano salis = with a grain of salt (not literally).

curriculum vitae = a summary of a person's career and working life.

D

de facto = in fact (especially in contradistinction to "de jure").

de gustibus non est disputandum = there is no accounting for taste.

de jure = by right

de minimis = with respect to trifles.

de novo = anew.

delectatio morosa = peevish delight.

deo duce = with God for a leader.

deo gratias = thanks be to God.

deo volente = God willing.

deus ex machina = a god from a machine, a contrived, artificial event that resolves a problem at the last moment.

dictum meum pactum = my word is my bond.

dictum sapienti sat est = a word to the wise is sufficient.

dramatis personae = the list of characters in a play.

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori = it is sweet and proper to die for one's country (Horace).

dum spiro, spero = as long as I breathe, I hope (Cicero).

dum vires annique sinunt, tolerate labores = while strength and years permit, endure labor (Ovid).

dura lex, sed lex = the law is harsh, but it is the law.

E

ecce homo = behold the man.

ego = consciousness of one's own identity.

eiusdem generis = of the same kind.

emeritus = retired after distinguished service and holding an honorary title (for example, emeritus professor).

ergo = therefore.

errata = a list of errors (in a document or book).

et alia = and other things.

et alii (et al.) = and others.

et cetera (etc.) = and so on.

et sequentes (et seq. or seqq.) = and those that follow.

et uxor (abbreviated et ux.) = and wife.

ex cathedra = formally, with official authority.

ex curia = out of court.

ex gratia = purely as a favour.

ex libris = from the library of.

ex nihilo = out of nothing.

ex officio = by virtue of his office.

ex parte = by only one party to a dispute in the absence of the other.

ex post facto = retrospectively.

excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta = he who excuses himself, accuses himself (qui s'excuse, s'accuse).

exeat = permission for a temporary absence.

exempli gratia (e.g.) = for example.

F

fama nihil est celerius = nothing is swifter than a rumour.

fiat = let it be done.

floruit = he flourished.

functus officio = having discharged his duty and thus ceased to have any authority over a matter.

G

gaudeamus igitur = so let us rejoice.

H

habeas corpus = you may have the body. (The opening words of a prerogative writ requiring a person holding another person to bring that person before a court.)

hic jacet = here lies.

honoris causa = as a mark of esteem.

I

ibidem (ibid. in citations, etc.) = in the same place.

id est (i.e.) = that is.

idem = the same.

imperator = emperor.

imprimatur = let it be printed.

in absentia = while absent.

in camera = in private session.

in casu = in this case.

in casu extremae necessitatis = in case of extreme necessity.

in curia = in court.

in deo speramus = in God we trust.

in extenso = at full length.

in extremis = near death.

in flagrante delicto = in the very act of committing an offence.

in illo tempore = at that time.

in loco extremis = in the farthest place.

in loco parentis = in place of a parent.

in medias res = in the midst of things.

in memoriam = in memory.

in re = in the matter of.

in silico = by means of a computer simulation.

in situ = in its original situation.

in specie = in kind; (a) in its own form and not in an equivalent (b) in coins and not in paper money.

in toto = entirely.

in vino veritas = in wine there is truth.

in vitro = observable in a glass test tube; outside the living body and in an artificial environment.

in vivo = happening within a living organism.

index librorum prohibitorum = official list of the books not to be read by Catholics.

infra = below or on a later page.

infra dig = unbecoming (slang).

inter alia = among other things.

inter se = among themselves.

inter vivos = during life.

intra muros = within the walls.

intra vires = within the power.

ipso facto = by that very fact.

L

latine dictum = spoken in Latin.

loco citato (loc. cit.) = in the passage just quoted.

locum tenens = one occupying the place. assistent, deputy                                             

locus sigilli (l.s.) = the place of the seal.

locus standi = the right to be heard in court.

M

magna carta = Great Charter

magna cum laude = with great honour or academic distinction.

magnum opus = great work.

Mater semper certa = the mother is always certain; the identity of the mother of the child is always certain.

me judice = I being the judge; in my opinion

mea culpa = by my fault

memento mori = remember that you have to die.

memorandum = a note of a something to be remembered.

mens rea = guilty mind.

mens sana in corpore sano = a sound mind in a sound body.

mirabile dictu = wonderful to relate.

modus operandi = the manner of working.

monumentum aere perennius = an immortal work of art or literature (literally, "a monument more lasting than bronze") (Horace).

multi multa; nemo omnia novit = many know many things; no one knows everything.

multum in parvo = much in a small compass.

multus amicus, nullus amicus = a friend to all is a friend to none.

mutatis mutandis = the necessary changes being made.

N

ne plus ultra = the highest standard of excellence.

nemine contradicente (nem. con.) = unanimously.

nemine dissentiente (nem. dis.) = unanimously.

nihil obstat = nothing stands in the way.

nil desperandum = there is no cause for despair (Horace).

nisi = unless.

nolens volens = whether one likes it or not; willing or unwilling.

nolle prosequi = to be unwilling to prosecute.

non compos mentis = insane.

non sequitur = it does not follow, a conclusion which does not accord with the premises".

noscitur a sociis = the meaning of a word can be known from the context.

nota bene (NB) =  note well, important

numero pondere et mensura deus omnia condidit = God created everything by number, weight and measure (Isaac Newton).

O

o tempora, o mores! = oh, the times! oh, the morals! (Cicero).

obiter dictum = a saying by the way.

omne ignotum pro magnifico est = all things unknown seem grand (Tacitus the Elder).

omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis = all things are changing, and we are changing with them.

omnia vincit amor, nos et cedamus amori = love conquers all things, let us too yield to love (Virgil).

opere citato (op. cit.) = in the work just quoted.

P

pari passu = equally.

parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus = the mountains are in labour; a ridiculous mouse will be born (Horace); great promises, but no result or only a insignificant result

passim = in various places (in a quoted work).

pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant = the father is whom the marriage (vows) demonstrate; the father is indicated by marriage.

pax intrantibus = peace to those who enter.

pax vobiscum = peace be with you.

pedente lite = pending the suit.

per annum = per year.

per ardua ad alta = through difficulties to the heights.

per ardua ad astra = through difficulties to the stars.

per capita = by the head.

per centum = per hundred.

per diem = per day.

per mensem = per month.

per omnia saecula saeculorum = for ever and ever.

per procurationem (per pro or pp) = as agent for.

per se = taken alone.

persona non grata = a non-acceptable person.

post hoc ergo propter hoc = after this, therefore because of this (a logical fallacy).

post meridiem (p.m.) = after midday.

post mortem = after death (also figuratively).

prima facie = on a first view.

primus inter pares = first among equals.

pro bono publico = in the public good.

pro bono = done without charge in the public interest.

pro forma = for the sake of form.

pro hac vice = for this occasion.

pro rata = according to the rate.

pro se = on one's own behalf.

pro tanto = to that extent.

pro tempore (pro tem) = for the time being.

proximo (prox.) = of the next month.

Q

qua = in the capacity of.

quantum in me fuit = I have done my best.

quasi = as if.

qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum = let him who desires peace prepare for war (Vegetius).

quid pro quo = something for something.

quis custodiet ipsos custodes? = who is guarding the guards?

quo in casu = in which case.

quo vadis? = where are you going?

quod erat demonstrandum (QED) = which was to be proved.

quod erat faciendum (QEF) = which was to be done.

quod vide (q.v.) = which see.

R

ratio decidendi = the reason for the decision.

ratio legis est anima legis = the reason of the law is the soul of the law.

re = in the matter of.

reductio ad absurdum = reduction to the absurd (proving the truth of a proposition by proving the falsity of all its alternatives).

regina = queen.

requiescat in pace = rest in peace.

res ipsa loquitur = the thing speaks for itself.

res tantum valet quantum vendi potest = a thing is worth only what someone else will pay for it.

rex = king.

rigor mortis = the stiffening of a body after death.

S

salve, salvete = be greeted, hail, welcome.

semel in anno licet insanire = one can act the fool once a year.

semper fidelis = always faithful.

senatus populusque Romanus (SPQR ) = the Senate and the people of Rome.

sensu stricto = in a narrow or strict sense.

seqq = and those that follow.

seriatim =  one after another in order.

si vis pacem, para bellum = if you want peace, prepare for war.

sic = thus, used in quoted passages to indicate that an error  

sic transit gloria mundi = thus passes the glory of the world.

silentium est aureum = silence is golden.

silva rerum = an assorted collection of facts.

simpliciter = naturally; without qualification.

sine anno (s.a.) = year not known.

sine die = without stipulating a day.

sine qua non = an indispensable condition.

status quo = the existing condition.

stet = let it stand

sub judice = before a court.

sub rosa = in confidence.

sub verbo = under the word, heading

sui generis = of its own kind.

supra = above or on an earlier page.

suum cuique = to each his own.

T

tabula rasa = a clean paper                                                                                            

tempus fugit = time flies.

tempus fugit, mors venit = time passes, death advances.

terra firma = dry land.

terra incognita = unknown land.

terra nullius = uninhabited land.

timeo danaos et dona ferentes = I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts (Virgil).

U

uberrimae fidei = of the utmost good faith.

ultimo (ult.) = of the previous month.

ultra vires = beyond the power.

V

vade mecum = a constant companion.

vale, valete = farewell.

velle est posse = where there is a will, there is a way.

veni, vidi, vici = I came, I saw, I conquered (Caesar).

verbatim = exactly as said.

verbum sat sapienti (verb.sub) = a word to the wise is sufficient.

versus = against.

vi et armis = by force and arms.

vice = in place of.

vice versa = the order being reversed.

vide = see.

videlicet (viz.) = namely.

vires acquirit eundo = we gather strength as we go (Virgil).

virgo intacta = virgin, the virginity is still intact, present

volenti non fit injuria = that to which a man consents cannot be considered an injury.

vox populi = voice of the people.