a fortiori. "with even stronger
reason," which applies to a situation in which if one thing is true then
it can be deduced that a second thing is even more certainly true.
a posteriori. relating to or originating by
reasoning from the observation of facts
a priori. from what was before.
ab incunablis. from infancy
ab initio. from the beginning
ab intra. from within.
ab urbe condita from when the city was founded. The city considered in the
quote is the city of Rome.
ad absurdum. to the point of
preposterousness.
ad eundem. to the same level.
ad eundem gradum. to the same degree.
ad hoc. for this special intent.
ad hominem. represents an argument made
personally against an opponent, rather than a logical argument against an
issue.
ad idem. of the same mind.
ad infinitum. without limit.
ad libitum. according to pleasure.
ad litem. for the suit.
ad locum at the place.
ad nauseam. to a repulsive extent.
History
of the Latin Language.
Latin started as a language of
farmers and shopkeepers. It was used primarily in Rome and its territories.
Regardless of its humble
beginnings, Latin soon became the language of the higher echelons of
civilization. It quickly spread throughout the complete Western area of
the Roman empire.
There are not many languages
that have become so successful. Even more amazing is the spread of the
Latin language after the Roman empire fell.
Latin that was verbally spoken,
continued to remain stable for a long time. In fact it never died, it was
simply altered through each generation. The language branched out into
many different directions forming the foundation of the Romance languages.
Written Latin remained in
use. It was used as the primary means of communications within churches
and schools, where not only was it spoken but it was also written as
well.
Eventually medieval Latin was
not a language which belonged to any Nation, its use consisted primarily of the
higher educated members of society.
ad valorem. corresponding to value.
addenda. things to be attached.
advocatus diaboli. devil's advocate.
affidavit. a sworn written statementthat
can be used as evidence in court.
agenda. things to be done (This usually
consists of points to be addressed during a meeting.)
alea iacta est. the die is cast .
alma mater. someone's old school or
university.
alter ego. seperate self.
amicus curiae. ally of the court.
amicus omnibus, amicus nemini. a friend to everyone is a
friend to none.
anno domini (abbreviated AD).
in the year of the Lord.
annus horribilis. a horrible year.
annus mirabilis. a fantastic year.
ante bellum. prior to the war.
ante meridiem (abbreviated a.m.).
before noon.
aqua fortis. nitric acid.
aqua pura. pure water.
ars gratia artis. art for the sake of art.
aude sapere. have the courage to know.
audi alteram partem. to listen to the other side
(one of the standards of natural justice).
bella gerant alii. let wars be waged by others
bona fide (adjective). authentic, honest.
bona fide (adverb). authentic, honestly.
bona fides (noun). honest purpose.
cadit quaestio (abbr. cq). the
question falls; the matter admits no further argument, the facts have been
verified.
caret. it is lacking (used in editing
to point out that something is to be appended ).
carpe diem. seize the day.
casus belli. the consideration rationalizing
war.
cave canem. beware of the canine.
caveat emptor. the buyer should beware.
caveat lector. the reader should beware.
caveat venditor.the seller should beware.
ceteris paribus. other things being equivalent
or untouched.
circa (abbr.c. and
followed by a date). around ex. circa 1989.
cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am.
compos mentis. stable, lucid, sane.
confer (abbr. cf.). put
side by side.
cor unum. one heart.
corpus delicti. the facts of a wrongdoing.
corrigenda. a list of things to be
rectified (as in a book).
cui bono? who benefits?
cui malo? who suffers a disadvantage?
cum grano salis. with a grain of salt (not to be
taken literally)
curriculum vitae. a summation of a person's
career.
de facto. in fact (especially in marked
differentiation to "de jure")
de gustibus non est disputandum. there is no explaining for
taste.
de jure.by right (in particular in
marked differentiation to "de facto").
de minimis. with respect to triviality.
de novo. afresh
delectatio morosa. grouchy gladness.
deo duce. having God as a leader.
deo gratias. give thanks to God.
deo volente. God willing.
deus ex machina. a manufactured event that
determines a problem at the last moment (taken literally as, "a god from a
machine").
dictum meum pactum. my word is my oath.
dictum sapienti sat est. a word to the wise is
satisfactory.
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
dum spiro, spero. as long as I breathe, I hope
dum vires annique sinunt,
tolerate labores.
while strength and years allow, tolerate labor.
dura lex, sed lex. the law is cruel, but it is the
law.
ecce homo. observe the man.
ego. realization of one's own
identity.
eiusdem generis. of the same kind.
emeritus. retired after notable service
and retaining an honorary title (example, emeritus professor).
ergo. therefore.
errata. a list of mistakes(in a book).
et alia. among other things.
et
alii (abbr, et al.). and others.
et cetera (abbr. etc.). and
so on.
et sequentes (abbr. et seq. or
seqq.). and those that follow.
et uxor (abbr. et ux.).
and wife.
ex cathedra. (of a proclamation)
ceremoniously, with official authority.
ex curia. outside of the court.
ex delicto. arising out of wrongs.
ex
gratia. completely as a favour.
ex libris. from the library of.
ex nihilo. out of nothing.
ex officio. by benefit of his office.
ex parte. by only one party to a
disagreement in the absence of the other.
ex post facto. with hindsight.
excusatio non petita, accusatio
manifesta.he
who excuses himself, accuses himself
exeat. authorization for a momentary
absence.
exempli gratia (abbr. e.g.). for example.
fama nihil est celerius. nothing is quicker than a
rumour.
fiat. let it be done.
floruit. he flourished.
functus officio. having satisfied his duty and
as a consequence ceased to have any authority over a matter.
gaudeamus igitur. so let us celebrate.
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 honor.
ibidem (abbr. ibid. in
quotations of books, etc.). in the same place.
id est (abb. 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 a corresponding form (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.
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.
latine dictum. spoken in Latin.
loco citato (abbr. loc. cit.).
in the passage just
quoted.
locum tenens. one occupying the place.
locus sigilli (abbr.l.s.). the place of the seal.
locus standi. the right to be heard in court.
magna carta. Great Charter (issued by King
John in 1215, permitting various liberties).
magna cum laude. with great honour or academic
distinction.
magnum opus. great work.
me judice. I being the judge; in my
opinion
mea culpa. by my fault (used as a
recognition of one's error).
memento mori. remember that you have to die.
memorandum. a thing 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.
modus vivendi . A manner of living; a way of
life.
monumentum aere perennius. an immortal work of art or
literature.
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.
ne plus ultra. the highest standard of
excellence.
nemine contradicente (abbr. nem. con.).
unanimously.
nemine dissentiente (abbr. nem. dis.).
unanimously.
nihil obstat. nothing stands in the way.
nil desperandum. there is no cause for despair.
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.
noscitur a sociis. the meaning of a word can be
known from the context.
nota bene (abbr. NB). note
well.
numero pondere et mensura deus omnia condidit. God created
everything by number, weight and measure
o tempora, o mores! oh, the times! oh, the morals!
obiter dictum. a saying by the way.
omne ignotum pro magnifico est. all things unknown seem grand.
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.
opere citato (abbr.op. cit.).
in the work just quoted.
pari passu. equally.
parturiunt montes, nascetur
ridiculus mus.
great promises, but no result or only a ludicrous result.
passim. in various places.
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 (abbr. 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 (abbr. p.m.).
after noon.
post mortem. after death.
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 (abbr. pro tem).
for the time being.
proximo (abbr. prox.). of
the next month.
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.
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 (abbr. QED). which
was to be proved.
quod erat faciendum (abbr. QEF). which
was to be done.
quod vide (abbr. q.v.). which see.
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.
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.
salve (plural salvete). hail;
welcome.
semel in anno licet insanire. one can act the fool once a
year.
semper fidelis. always faithful.
senatus populusque Romanus (abbr. 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 has been intentionally reproduced).
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 (abbr. 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 (used in editing
to signify that something crossed out is to remain).
sub judice. before a court.
sub rosa. in confidence.
sub verbo. under the word.
sui generis. of its own kind.
supra. above or on an earlier page.
suum cuique. to each his own.
tabula rasa. a clean slate; an opportunity
to start from the beginning.
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.
uberrimae fidei. of the utmost good faith.
ultimo (abbr. ult.). of
the previous month.
ultra vires. beyond the power.
vade mecum. a constant companion.
vale (plural valete).
farewell.
velle est posse. where there is a will, there is
a way.
veni, vidi, vici. I came, I saw, I conquered.
verbatim. exactly as said.
verbum sat sapienti (abbr. verb. sap.).
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 (abbr. viz.).
namely.
vires acquirit eundo. we gather strength as we go.
virgo intacta. virgin.
volenti non fit injuria. that to which a man consents
cannot be considered an injury.
vox populi. voice of the people
