YUNI: Latin Quotes, Phrases, Mottos and Quotations (1837 items)
A Deo et Rege
From God and the King
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 fortiori
With yet stronger reason
A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi
A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place)
A mari usque ad mare
From sea to sea (Motto of Canada)
A mensa et thoro
From board and bed (legal separation)
A pedibus usque ad caput
From feet to head
A posse ad esse
From possibility to actuality
A posteriori
From what comes after. Inductive reasoning based on observation, as opposed to deductive, or a priori
A priori
from what comes before
A verbis ad verbera
from words to blows
Ab absurdo
From the absurd (establishing the validity of your argument by pointing out the absurdity of your opponent's position)
Ab aeterno
From the beginning of time
Ab asino lanam
Wool from an ass, blood from a stone impossible
Ab imo pectore
From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart)
Ab incunabulis
From the cradle
Ab initio
From the beginning
Ab intestato
Having made no will
Ab ovo
From the egg
Ab ovo usque ad mala
From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish) (Horace)
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 reason; the wrongful intention or guilty mind
Ad Libitur
As Desired
Ad absurdum
To the point of absurdity
Ad acta
To archives. Not actual any more
Ad alta
To the summit
Ad astra
To the stars
Ad astra per aspera
To the stars through difficulty
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
Of admission to the same degree at a different university
Ad eundem gradum
To the same level
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit
To boldly go where no man has gone before
Ad hoc
For a particular purpose. (improvised, made up in an instant)
Ad hominem
Appealing to a person's physical and emotional urges, rather than her or his intellect
Ad honorem
In honour. Honour not baring any material advantage
Ad idem
Of the same mind
Ad infinitum
To infinity without end
Ad interim
For the meantime
Ad libitum (Acronym 'ad lib')
At one's pleasure
Ad limina apostolorum
To the thresholds of the Apostles
Ad litem
For a lawsuit or action
Ad locum
At the place
Ad maiorem dei gloriam (AMDG)
For the greater glory of God
Ad majorem dei gloriam
To the greater glory of God
Ad multos annos
To many years!, i.e. Many happy returns!
Ad nauseum
To the point of making one sick
Ad 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
For life
Ad vitam aeternam
For all time
Ad vitam paramus
We are preparing for life
Addendum
A thing to be added
Adeste Fideles
Be present, faithful ones
Adsum
I am here
Adversus incendia excubias nocturnas vigilesque commentus est
Against the dangers of fires, he (Augustus) conceived of the idea of night guards and watchmen
Adversus solem ne loquitor
Don't speak against the sun (don't waste your time arguing the obvious)
Advocatus diaboli
The devil's advocate
Aegrescit medendo
The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease
Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur
It is said that for a sick man, there is hope as long as there is life
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace)
Aeronavis abstractio a prestituto cursu
Hijacking
Aetatis (aet.)
Age
Aeternum vale
Farewell forever
Affidavit
A sworn written statement usable as evidence in court
Age quod agis
Do what you do well, pay attention to what you are doing
Age. Fac ut gaudeam
Go ahead. Make my day!
Agenda
Things to be done
Agnus Dei
The Lamb of God
Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est
Yes, that is a very large amount of corn
Alea iacta est
The die has been cast. (Caesar)
Alias
Otherwise
Alibi
Elsewhere
Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent
Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people. (Publilius Syrus)
Alis volat propriis
He flies by his own wings
Alma Mater
Nourishing mother. (One's old school or university)
Alter ego
Other 'I' or 'Other Self'
Alter ipse amicus
A friend is another self
Alterum ictum faciam
I'm going to take a mulligan
Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi
The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. (still waters run deep)
Alumnus
Nursling (former pupil)
Amantes sunt amentes
Lovers are lunatics
Amantium irae amoris integratio est
The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love. (Terence)
Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time
Amat victoria curam
Victory favors those who take pains
Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore
I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting. (Cicero)
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Baby, sweetheart, would I lie to you?
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur
A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter
Amicus curiae
Friend of the court
Amicus humani generis
A friend of the human race (philanthropist)
Amicus verus est rara avis
A true friend is a rare bird
Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur
We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving. (Syrus)
Amor caecus est
Love is blind
Amor est vitae essentia
Love is the essence of life. (Robert B. Mackay)
Amor ordinem nescit
Love does not know order. (St. Jerome)
Amor patriae
Love of country
Amor platonicus
Platonic love
Amor tussisque non celantur
Love, and a cough, are not concealed. (Ovid)
Amor vincit omnia
Love conquers all. (Virgil)
Amoto quaeramus seria ludo
Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters. (Horace)
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur?
Don't you know then, my son, how little wisdom rules the world?
Anguis in herba
A snake in the grass. A treacherous person. (Vergil)
Anicularum lucubrationes
Old wives' tales
Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri?
(At a barbeque) Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face?
Animis opibusque parati
Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything)
Animus facit nobilem
The spirit makes (human) noble
Anno (an.)
Year
Anno domini (AD)
In the year of the Lord
Anno hegirae (AH)
In the year of the hegira
Anno mundi
In the year of the world
Anno regni
In the year of reign
Anno urbis conditae (AUC)
From the year of founding of the city (Rome)
Annuit coeptis
God has favored us
Annus bisextus
Leap year
Annus horribilis
A horrible year
Annus mirabilis
A wonderful year
Ante
Before
Ante bellum
Before the war
Ante litteram
Before the letter
Ante meridiem (a.m.)
Before midday
Ante mortem
Before death
Ante prandium (A.p.)
Before a meal
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
Audentes fortuna juvat
Fortune favors the bold. (Virgil)
Audere est facere
To dare is to do. (Motto of Tottenham Hotspur)
Audi et alteram partem
Hear the other side too
Audiatur et altera pars!
Let us hear the opposite side!
Auget largiendo
He increases by giving liberally
Aura popularis
The popular breeze. (Cicero)
Aurea mediocritas
The golden mean. (an ethical goal; truth and goodness are generally to be found in the middle.) (Horace)
Auribus teneo lupum
I hold a wolf by the ears. (I am in a dangerous situation and dare not let go.) (Terence)
Aurora Musis amica
Dawn is friend of the muses. (Early bird catches the worm.)
Aurora australis
The Southern lights
Aurora borealis
The Northern lights
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
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
Blessed are those who possess. (possession is nine points of the law)
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)
Bene
Good
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
Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere
To accept a favour is to sell freedom. (Publilius Syrus)
Bibere venenum in auro
Drink poison from a cup of gold
Bis dat qui cito dat
He gives twice who quickly gives. (Publius Syrus)
Bis in die (B.i.d.)
Twice a day
Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit
He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms. (Syrus)
Bis repetita placent
The things that please are those that are asked for again and again. (Horace)
Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria
He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest conquers himself. (Syrus)
Bis vivit qui bene vivit
He lives twice who lives well
Bona fide
Acting in good faith
Bona fides (noun)
Honest intention
Bona fortuna
Good luck!
Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis
Good wine gladdens a person's heart
Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!
Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!
Braccae tuae aperiuntur
Your fly is open
Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita
Life is too short to dance with ugly women
Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita
Life is too short to dance with ugly men
Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior
Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus)
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
Seize the day (opportunity) (Horace)
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow. (Horace)
Casus belli
An act used to justify war
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head
Cave
Beware!
Cave canem, te necet lingendo
Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death
Cave cibum, valde malus est
Beware the food, it is very bad
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules
If I were you, I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults
Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui
Beware what you say, when, and to whom
Caveat
Let him/her beware
Caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware. (He buys at his own risk)
Caveat venditor
Let the seller beware
Cedant arma togae
Let arms yield to the toga. (Let violence give place to law)
Cedo maiori
I yield to a greater person
Certamen bikini-suicidus-disci mox coepit?
Does the Bikini-Suicide-Frisbee match start soon?
Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse
You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore
Certum est, quia impossibile
It is certain, because it is impossible. (Tertullianus)
Cetera desunt
the rest is missing
Ceteris paribus
All else being equal
Christus rex
Christ the King
Circa (C.)
Approximately
Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
Clara pacta, boni amici
Clear agreements, good friends
Codex juris canonici
Book of canon law
Cogita ante salis
Think before you leap, or look before you leap
Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur
Nobody should be punished for his thoughts
Cogito ergo doleo
I think therefore I am depressed
Cogito sumere potum alterum
I think I'll have another drink
Cogito, ergo sum
I think, therefore I am. (Renˇ 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)
Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit, cras amet
May he love tomorrow who has never loved before
Credidi me felem vidisse!
I tought I taw a puddy tat!
Credite amori vera dicenti
Believe love speaking the truth. (St. Jerome)
Credo elvem etiam vivere
I believe Elvis lives
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse
I think we're on the same wavelength
Credo quia absurdum
I believe it because it is absurd. (contrary to reason) (Tertullian)
Credo ut intelligam
I believe in order that I may understand. (St. Augustine)
Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit
Credulous hope supports our life, and always says that tomorrow will be better. (Tibullus)
Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit
The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew. (Juvenalis)
Crescite et multiplicamini
Increase and multiply
Crimen falsi
Perjury
Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem
It is more cruel to always fear death than to die. (Seneca)
Crux
Puzzle
Cui bono?
For whose benefit is it? (a maxim sometimes used in the detection of crime) (Cicero)
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? (Catullus)
Cui malo?
Who suffers a detriment?
Cui peccare licet peccat minus
One who is allowed to sin, sins less. (Ovid)
Cuius regio, eius religio
He who rules, his religion
Cuivis dolori remedium est patientia
Patience is the cure for all suffer
Culpa
A sin
Culpam poena premit comes
Punishment closely follows crime as its companion. (Horace)
Cum
With
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
With praise
Cum laude magnum
With great success
Cum tacent, clamant
When they remain silent, they cry out. (Their silence speaks louder than words) (Cicero)
Cura nihil aliud nisi ut valeas
Pay attention to nothing except that you do well. (Cicero)
Cura posterior
A later concern
Cura ut valeas
Take care
Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless. (minor losses can be talked away, profound ones strike us dumb)
Curriculum vitae
A summary of a person's career
Cursum perficio
My journey is over, or I finish my journey
Custos morum
Guardian of morals
Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum
Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake
Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam
I'll have a light beer
Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo
I'll have a pizza with everything on it
Damnant quod non intellegunt
They condemn what they do not understand
Data et accepta
Expenditure and receipts
De asini vmbra disceptare
To argue about the shadow of an ass. (petty things for petty mind)
De bene esse
It shall be so, as long as it is well
De die in diem
From day to day
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen (Thomas ‡ Kempis)
De facto
Something that is automatically accepted
De gustibus non est disputandum
There's no accounting for taste
De integro
Repeat again from the start
De jure
By law. According to law
De minimis
With respect to trifles
De minimis non curat praetor
The authority or king, or law does not care about trivial things
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum
Say nothing but good about the dead. (Chilon)
De nihilo nihil
Nothing comes from nothing. (Lucretius)
De novo
Anew
De profundis
Up from the depths (of misery)
De rervm natvra
On the nature of things. (title of Marcus Aurelius's magnum opus)
Decrevi
I have decreed
Dei gratia
By the grace of God
Delenda est carthago
Carthage must be destroyed
Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn. (Horace)
Deo adiuvante
With God's help
Deo favente
With God's favour
Deo gratias
[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 Misereatur
May God Have Mercy
Deus absconditus
A god who is hidden from man
Deus commodo muto consisto quem meus canis sententia existo
Which, in a very ham-fisted way, with generosity, comes close to being
Deus et natua non faciunt frusta
God and nature do not work together in vain
Deus ex machina
A contrived or artificial solution. (literally, 'a god from a machine')
Deus vobiscum
God be with you
Deus volent
(as) God will
Deus vult!
God wills it! (Slogan of the Crusades)
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!
Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem!
The devil made me do it!
Dic mihi solum facta, domina
Just the facts, ma'am
Dictum sapienti sat est
A word to a wise person is sufficient
Die dulci freure
Have a nice day
Diem perdidi
I have lost a day (another day wasted) (Titus)
Dies Irae
The Day of Wrath, or Judgment Day
Dies felices
Happy Days
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. (This is the motto of Harry Potter's alma mater)
Dramatis personae
Characters of the play
Duc, sequere, aut de via decede
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
Dulce bellum inexpertis
War is sweet for those who haven't experienced it. (Pindaros)
Dulce est desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country. (Horace)
Dulcius ex asperis
Through difficulty, sweetness
Dum excusare credis, accusas
When you believe you are excusing yourself, you are accusing yourself. (St. Jerome)
Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem
As long as we are among humans, let us be humane. (Seneca)
Dum spiramus tuebimur
While we breathe, we shall defend
Dum spiro, spero
While I breathe, I hope. (Cicero)
Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum
While we have the time, let us do good
Dum vita est spes est
While life is, hope is. / While there is life there is hope
Dum vivimus, vivamus
While we live, let us live (Epicurean philosophy)
Dura lex, sed lex
The law is harsh, but it is the law
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
Consciousness of one's own identity
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.)
Eheu fugaces labuntur anni
Alas, the fleeting years slip by. (Horace)
Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum
Unfortunately, I can't find those particular documents
Eiusdem generis
Of the same kind
Elizabeth Regina/Eduardus Rex (E.R.)
Queen Elizabeth/King Edward
Emeritus
Honorary; by merit
Emitte lucem et veritatem
Send out light and truth
Ense et aratro
With sword and plow. (citizen-soldier, one who serves in war and peace)
Eo ipso
By that very act
Eo nomine
Under that name
Epistula non erubescit
A letter doesn't blush. (Cicero)
Eppur si muove
But it does move... (Galileo)
Eram quod es, eris quod sum
I was what you are, you will be what I am. (grave inscription)
Ergo
Therefore
Ergo bibamus
Therefore, let us drink
Errare humanum est
To err is human. / It is human to err. (Seneca)
Errata
A list of errors (in a book)
Erratum (errata)
error (errors)
Escariorium lavator
Dishwashing machine
Esse est percipi
Being is perception. (It is a standardmetaphysical) (Mauser)
Esse quam videri
To be rather than to seem
Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre quod credis
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. (St. Augustine)
Est deus in nobis
The is a god inside us
Est modus in rebus
There is a middle ground in things. (Horace)
Est queadam fiere voluptas
There is a certain pleasure in weeping. (Ovid)
Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima?
Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat?
Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?
Esto perpetua
Let it be forever
Esto perpetue
May you last for ever
Et alii/aliae
Other persons/things
Et cetera/etcetera (etc.)
And the rest.
Et in arcadia ego
I, also, am in Arcadia
Et sequens (et seq.)
And the following
Et sequentes (et seq. Or seqq.)
And those that follow
Et sic de ceteris
And so to of the rest
Et tu, brute!
You too, Brutus! Even you have betrayed me! (Caesar's last words)
Et uxor (abbreviated et ux.)
And wife
Etiam capillus unus habet umbram
Even one hair has a shadow. (Publilius Syrus)
Eventus stultorum magister
Events are the teacher of the stupid persons. Stupid people learn by experience, bright people calculate what to do
Ex
Out of
Ex abrupto
Without preparation
Ex abundancia cordis, os loquitor
From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
Ex animo
From the heart (sincerely)
Ex ante
Before the event, beforehand. (economics: based on prior assumptions)
Ex cathedra
From the chair. With authority (without argumentation)
Ex cearulo
Out of the blue
Ex curia
Out of court
Ex gratia
Purely as a favour
Ex hypothesi
From the hypothesis. (i.e. The one under consideration)
Ex libris
From the Library (of)
Ex mea sententia
In my opinion
Ex more
According to custom
Ex nilhilo nihil fit
From, or out of, nothing, nothing comes; nothing begetes nothing.)
Ex officio
By virtue of his office
Ex parte
By only one party to a dispute in the absence of the other
Ex post facto
After the fact, or Retrospectively
Ex proprio motu
Voluntarily
Ex silentio
From silence. (from lack of contrary evidence)
Ex tempore
Off the cuff, without preparation
Ex uno disce omnes
From one person learn all persons. (From one we can judge the rest)
Ex voto
According to one's vow
Excelsior
Ever upward
Exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis
An exception establishes the rule as to things not excepted
Exceptis excipiendis
excepting what is to be excepted
Excitabat fluctus in simpulo
He was stirring up billows in a ladle. (He was raising a tempest in a teapot) (Cicero)
Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta
He who excuses himself, accuses himself (qui s'excuse, s'accuse)
Exeat
Permission for a temporary absence
Exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze. (Horace)
Exempli gratia (e.g)
For the sake of example
Exeunt
They go out
Exeunt omnes
All go out. (A common stage direction in plays)
Exit
He/she goes out
Exitus acta probat
The outcome proves the deeds. (the end justifies the means) (Ovid)
Experientia docet
Experience is the best teacher
Experientia docet stultos
Experience teaches fools
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)
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!
Bad kitty!
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
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
Let it be done
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)
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
the end
Finis coronat opus
The ending crowns the work. (Ovid)
Flagrante delicto
Literally while the crime is blazing. Caught red-handed, in the very act of a crime
Flamma fumo est proxima
Flame follows smoke. (there is no smoke without fire) (Plautus)
Floreat regina regina
May it flourish. (The motto of the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada)
Floruit
Flourished
Fluctuat nec mergitur
It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink
Fons et origo
The source and origin
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit
Perhaps someday we will look back upon these things with joy
Forsan miseros meliora sequentur
For those in misery perhaps better things will follow. (Virgil)
Fortes et liber
Strong and free. (Alberta)
Fortes fortuna adiuvat
Fortune favors the brave. (Terence)
Fortes fortuna iuvat
fortune favours the brave
Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter
Bravely, faithfully, perhaps successfully
Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo
Resolutely in action, gently in manner. (To do unhesitatingly what must be done but accomplishing it as inoffensively as possible)
Fortitudine vincimus
By endurance we conquer
Fortuna amicos parat, inopia amicos probat
The fortune is preparing friends, the abundance is testing them
Fortuna caeca est
Fortune is blind. (Cicero)
Fortunatus sum! Pila mea de gramine horrido modo in pratum lene recta volvit!
Isn't that lucky! My ball just rolled out of the rough and onto the fairway!
Frangar non flectar
I am broken, I am not deflected
Frater, ave atque vale
Brother, hello and good-bye. (Catullus)
Fronti nulla fides
No reliance can be placed on appearance. (don't judge a book by its cover)
Fugit hora
The hour flies
Functus officio
Having discharged his duty and thus ceased to have any authority over a matter
Furnulum pani nolo
I don't want a toaster
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
Glory
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
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
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit
Captive Greece conquered her savage victor. (Horace)
Gramen artificiosum odi
I hate Astroturf
Gratia placenti
For the sake of pleasing
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)
Habeas corpus
You must have the body", i.e. You must justify an imprisonment
Habemus papam
We have a pope. (used at the announcement of a new pope)
Hac lege
with this law
Haec olim meminisse ivvabit
Time heals all things, i.e. Wounds, offenses
Haec trutina errat
There is something wrong with this scale
Hannibal ante portas!
Hannibal is at the doors! The enemy/danger is at the doors!
Haud ignota loquor
I say things that are known
Helluo librorum
A glutton for books. (bookworm)
Heu! Tintinnuntius meus sonat!
Darn! There goes my beeper!
Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt!
Hey, we're all in line here!
Hic et nunc
Here and now
Hic habitat felicitas
Here dwells happiness
Hic jacet (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
I am a man
Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto
I am human, therefore nothing human is strange to me
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
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
The same
Idem quod (i.q.)
The same as
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
Emperor
Imperator/Imperatrix (Imp.)
Emperor/Empress
Imperium
Absolute power
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
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
In doubt
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 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
In the place of
In loco parentis
In the place of a parent
In magnis et voluisse sat est
To once have wanted is enough in great deeds. (Propertius)
In media res
In or into the middle of a sequence of events. (Horace)
In medio stat virtus
Virtue stands in the middle. Virtue is in the moderate, not the extreme position. (Horace)
In medio tutissimus ibis
In the middle of things you will go most safe. (Ovid)
In memoriam
To the memory of
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas
In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity
In nomine 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
In peace
In pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello
In peace, like a wise man, he appropriately prepares for war
In pari materia
Of like kind
In partibus infidelium
In parts inhabited by unbelievers
In parvo
In miniature
In perpetuum
To all time
In personam
Against the person
In pleno
In full
In pontificalibus
In the proper vestments of a pope or cardinal
In posse
In possibility
In posterum
Till the next day
In praesenti
At the present time
In principio
In the beginning
In propria persona
In person
In puris naturalibus
Completely naked
In quaestione versare
To be under investigation
In re
Refering to
In rem
Against the matter (property)
In rerum natura
In the nature of things
In saecvla saecvlorvm
For ages of ages forever
In se
In itself
In silico
By means of a computer simulation
In silvam ne ligna feras
Don't carry logs into the forest. (Horace)
In situ
In position
In specie
In kind; (a) in its own form and not in an equivalent (b) in coins and not in paper money
In spiritu et veritate
In spirit and truth. (Versio Vulgata)
In statu quo
In the same state
In terrorem
As a warning; in order to terrify others
In totidem verbis
in so many words
In toto
As a whole, absolutely, Completely
In transitu
In passing, on the way
In usu
in use
In vacuo
In a vacuum or empty space
In vinculis etiam audax
In chains yet still bold (free)
In vino veritas
The truth is in wine. A drunk person tells the truth
In virtute sunt multi ascensus
There are many degrees in excellence. (Cicero)
In vitro
In a test tube (literally glass)
In vivo
In the living (thing)
Incipit
Begin here
Incredibile dictu
Incredible to say
Index librorum prohibitorum
Official list of forbidden books not to be read by Catholics
Indulgentiam quaeso
I ask your indulgence
Infinitus est numerus stultorum
Infinite is the number of fools
Infra
Below, underneath
Infra dignitatem (dig.)
Undignified; beneath one's dignity
Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est
Inhumanity is harmful in every age. (Cicero)
Iniqua nunquam regna perpetuo manent
Stern masters do not reign long. (Seneca Philosophus)
Iniuria non excusat iniuriam
One wrong does not justify another
Insanabile cacoethes scribendi
An incurable passion to write. (Juvenal)
Insculpsit
He/she engraved it
Instrumentum aeri temperando
Airconditioner
Insula gilliganis
Gilligan's Island
Integer vitae scelerisque purus
Blameless of life and free from crime
Intellectum valde amat
Love the intellect strongly. (St. Augustine)
Intelligenti pauca
Few words suffice for he who understands
Intelligo me intelligere
I understand that I understand. (St. Augustine)
Inter alios
Amongst other people
Inter arma silent leges
In time of war, laws are silent
Inter caecos regnat strabo
Among blinds the squinting rules. (Erasmus)
Inter caesa et porrecta
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip
Inter canum et lupum
Between a dog and a wolf
Inter nos
Between ourselves
Inter partes
Made between two parties
Inter se
Amongst themselves
Inter spem et metum
Between hope and fear
Inter vivos
Between living (people)
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum
Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe
Interfice errorem, diligere errantem
Kill the sin, love the sinner. (St. Augustine)
Interregnvm
Period between rules anarchy, lawlessnes
Intra muros
Within the walls
Intra vires
Within the power
Inventas vitam iuvat excoluisse per artes
Let us improve life through science and art. (Vergil)
Ipsa qvidem pretivm virtvs sibi
Virtue is its own reward
Ipsa scientia potestas est
Knowledge itself is power. (Bacon)
Ipse dixit
He himself said it. (Cicero)
Ipsissima verba
the exact words
Ipso facto
By the fact itself
Ipso iure
By operation of the law
Ira furor brevis est
Anger is a brief insanity. (Horace)
Isto pensitaris?
You get paid for this crap?
Ita erat quando hic adveni
It was that way when I got here
Ita est
Yes./It is so
Ite, misse est
Go, the Mass is finished
Iubilate Deo
Rejoice in God
Iunctis viribus
By united efforts
Iure divino
By divine law
Iure humano
By human law
Ius civile
Civil law
Ius gentium
The law of nations
Ius primae noctis
The right for the first night
Ivs est ars boni et aeqvi
Law is the art of the good and the just
Ivs gentivm
Right of tribes law of nations
Justitia omnibus
Justice for all
Koming soon
Sorry, bad joke
Labor omnia vincit
Work conquers all things. (Virgil)
Labra lege
Read my lips
Lachryma christi
Christ's tears
Lapsus alumni
Error made
Lapsus linguae
A slip of the tongue
Lapsus memoriae
A slip of the memory
Lapsus nivium!
Avalanche!!
Lapsus stili
A slip of the pen
Lares et penates
Household gods
Latet anguis in herba
A snake lies in the grass. (Vergil)
Latine dictum
Spoken in Latin
Latine loqui coactus sum
I have this compulsion to speak Latin
Latro! fremo!
Woof woof! Grrrr!
Laudant illa, sed ista legunt
Some (writing) is praised, but other is read. (Martialis)
Laudatores temporis acti
Praisers of time past
Laus Deo
Praise be to God
Lavdem virtvtis necessitati damvs
We give to necessity the praise of virtue finding the benefit in what's needful
Lectio brevior lectio potior
The shortest reading is the more probable reading
Lector benevole
Kind reader
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
The right to be heard in court
Longo intervallo
After a long gap
Loquitur (Loq.)
He/she speaks
Luctor et emergo
I struggle but I'll survive
Lumen naturale
Natural light
Lupus est homo homini
Man is wolf to man
Lupus in fabula
The wolf in the tale (i.e. Speak of the wolf, and he will come) (Terence)
Lusus naturae
A freak of nature
Lux et veritas
Light and Truth
Lux mundi
The light of the world
Machina improba! Vel mihi ede potum vel mihi redde nummos meos!
You infernal machine! Give me a beverage or give me my money back!
Maecenas atavis edite regibus
Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors. (Horace)
Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter
Necessity is the mother of all invention
Magister artium (MA)
Master of arts
Magister mundi sum!
I am the master of the universe!
Magna charta
Great paper
Magna cum laude
With great honour or academic distinction
Magnas inter oper inops
A pauper in the midst of wealth. (Horace)
Magnificat
It magnifies
Magnum bonum
a great good
Magnum opus
Great work, the major work of one's life
Magnus frater spectat te
Big Brother is watching you
Mala fide
In bad faith (something which is done fraudulently)
Male parta male dilabuntur
What has been wrongly gained is wrongly lost. (Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.) (Cicero)
Malum consilium quod mutari non potest
It's a bad plan that can't be changed. (Publilius Syrus)
Malum prohibitum
A prohibited wrong. A crime that society decides is wrong for some reason, not inherently evil
Malum quidem nullum esse sine aliquo bono
There is, to be sure, no evil without something good. (Pliny the Elder)
Manus in mano
Hand in hand
Manus manum lavat
One hand washes the other. The favor for the favor. (Petronius)
Mare clausum
A closed sea
Mare liberum
An open sea
Mare nostrum
Our sea. (Mediterranean)
Margaritas ante porcos
Pearls before swine. To give something valuable to someone not respecting it
Mater
Mother
Mater artium necessitas
Necessity is the mother of invention
Mater dolorosa
Sorrowful mother. (Virgin Mary)
Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries
Materfamilias
Mother of family
Materia medica
Medical matter
Materiam superabat opus
The workmanship was better than the subject matter. (Ovid)
Maxima debetur puero reverentia
We owe the greatest respect to a child
Maximus in minimis
Great in little things
Me fallit
I do not know
Me iudice
I being judge; in my judgement
Me oportet propter praeceptum te nocere
I'm going to have to hurt you on principle
Me transmitte sursum, caledoni!
Beam me up, Scotty!
Mea culpa
Through my fault
Mea maxima culpa
Through my very great fault
Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo
My conscience means more to me than all speech. (Cicero)
Medice, cura te ipsum!
Physician, heal thyself! (Versio Vulgata)
Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant
Doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies. (Curtius Rufus)
Medicus curat, natura sanat
The physician treats, nature cures
Medio tutissimus ibis
You will go safest in the middle. (Moderation in all things) (Ovid)
Meliora cogito
I strive for the best
Melitae amor
Love of Malta
Melius est praevenire quam praeveniri
Better to forestall than to be forestalled
Melius frangi quam flecti
It is better to break than to bend
Melius tarde, quam nunquam
Better late than never
Mellita, domi adsum
Honey, I'm home
Memento mori
Remember that you will die
Memento vivere
A reminder of life (literally remember that you have to live)
Memorabilia
Memorable things
Memorandum
A note of; a thing to be remembered
Memoria in aeterna
In everlasting remembrance
Memoriter
From memory
Mendacem memorem esse oportet
A liar needs a good memory. (Quintilianus)
Mens agitat molem
The mind moves the matter. (Vergil)
Mens rea
Guilty mind
Mens regnum bona possidet
An honest heart is a kingdom in itself. (Seneca)
Mens sana in corpore sano
A sound mind in a sound body. (Juvenalis)
Mens sibi conscia recti
A mind conscious of its rectitude
Meum pactum dictum
My word is my bond
Mihi cura futuri
My concern is the future
Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi
Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog
Millennium (millennia)
A thousand year period
Minime senuisti!
You haven't aged a bit!
Minus habens
Absentminded
Mirabile dictu
Wonderful to say/relate. (Vergil)
Mirabile visu
Wonderful to behold
Miserere
Have mercy
Missa solemnis
Solemn Mass. (high Mass)
Mittimus
We send (to prison)
Modus agendi
Manner of operation
Modus operandi (m.o.)
Way of operating
Modus vivendi
Way of living
Monstra mihi pecuniam!
Show me the money!
Moratorium
A delay
Morituri te salutant
Those who are about to die salute you
Mors ultima linea rerum est
Death is everything's final limit. (Horace)
Mortvi non mordant
Dead me don't bite; Dead men tell no tale
Motu proprio
Of one's own initiative
Mulier taceat in ecclesia
Let the woman be silent in church. (Paul)
Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur
Many fear their reputation, few their conscience. (Pliny)
Multis post annis
Many years later
Multum in parvo
Much in little. (small but significant)
Multun, non multa
Much, not many (quality not quantity)
Mundas vult decipi
The world wants to be deceived
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
Munit haec et altera vincit
One defends and the other conquers
Mus uni non fidit antro
A mouse does not rely on just one hole. (Plautus)
Musica delenit bestiam feram
Music soothes the savage beast
Mutatis mutandis
The necessary changes having been made
Mutato nomine
The name being changed
Mvlti svnt vocati, pavci vero electi
Many are called [but] few are chosen
Mvndvs vvlt decipi
The world wishes to be deceived there's a sucker born every minute
Mvtatis mvtandis
The things that ought to have changed having been changed with the necessary substitutions having been made
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas es
Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis Bacon)
Nascentes morimur
From the moment we are born, we begin to die
Natale solum
Native soil
Natura abhorret a vacua
Nature abhors a vacuum
Natura in minima maxima
Nature is the greatest in the smallest things
Natura nihil fit in frustra
Nature does nothing in vain
Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret
You can drive nature out with a pitchfork but she always comes back
Navigare necesse est
To sail is necessary
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum!
Don't you dare erase my hard disk!
Ne cede malis
Do not yield to misfortune
Ne feceris ut rideam
Don't make me laugh
Ne humanus crede
Trust no human
Ne nimium
Not too much
Ne plus ultra
No further. Impassable obstacle
Ne quid nimis
Nothing in excess. (Terence)
Nec possum tecum vivere, nec sine te
I am able to live / I can live neither with you, nor without you. (Martial)
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
As a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word. (Horace)
Necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent
He must fear many, whom many fear. (Laberius)
Necessitatis non habet legem
Necessity knows no law
Negotium populo romano melius quam otium committi
The Roman people understand work better than leisure
Nemine contradicente (Nem. Con.)
With no one speaking in opposition. Unanimously
Nemine dissentiente (Nem. Diss.)
With no one disagreeing
Nemo ante mortem beatus
Nobody is blessed before his death. We never know what is future preparing for us!
Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi
Moreover, there is no one who can rule unless he can be ruled. (Seneca)
Nemo dat quod non habet
No one gives what he does not have
Nemo gratis mendax
No man lies freely. A person with no reason to lie is telling the truth
Nemo hic adest illius nominis
There is no one here by that name
Nemo liber est qui corpori servit
No one is free who is a slave to his body
Nemo malus felix
No bad man is lucky. (Juvenal)
Nemo me impune lacessit
No one provokes me with impunity. (motto of the kings of Scotland)
Nemo nisi mors
Nobody except death (will part us). (Inscription in the wedding ring of the Swedish Queen Katarina Jagellonica)
Nemo propheta in patria sua
No one is considered a prophet in his hometown/homeland
Nemo repente fuit turpissimus
No one ever became thoroughly bad in one step. (Juvenal)
Nemo risum praebuit, qui ex se coepit
Nobody is laughed at, who laughs at himself. (Seneca)
Nemo saltat sobrius
No man dances sober
Nemo sine vitio est
No one is without fault. (Seneca the Elder)
Nemo surdior est quam is qui non audiet
No man is more deaf than he who will not hear
Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum
No man by fearing reaches the top. (Syrus)
Nervos belli, pecuniam. (Nervus rerum.)
The nerve of war, money. (The nerve of things.) (Cicero)
Nescio quid dicas
I don't know what you're talking about
Neutiquam erro
I am not lost
Nihil
Nothing
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)
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 providence
Nill illigitimi carborundum
Do not let the bastards get you down
Nisi
Unless
Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis
Unless you will have believed, you will not understand. (St. Augustine)
Nisi prius
Unles previously
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
DonÕt let the bastards get you down
Noli turbare circulos meos!
Don't upset my calculations! (Archimedes)
Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem
Don't force it, get a bigger hammer
Nolle prosequi
Do not pursue
Nolo contendere
I do not wish to contend
Nomen est omen
The name is the sign
Nomina stultorum parietibus haerent
The names of foolish persons adhere to walls (Fools names and fools faces are often seen in public places.)
Nominatim
By name
Non Gradus Anus Rodentum!
Not Worth A Rats Ass!
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 ignara mals, miseris svccvrrere disco
No stranger to misfortune [myself] I learn to relieve the sufferings [of others
Non illigitamus carborundum
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Non licet
It is not allowed
Non liquet
It is not clear
Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis
Not for you, not for me, but for us; the foundation of a good relationship
Non mortem timemus, sed cogitationem mortis
We do not fear death, but the thought of death. (Seneca)
Non multa, sed multum
Not many, but much. (Meaning, not quantity but quality) (Plinius)
Non nobis, Domine
Not unto us, O Lord
Non omne quod licet honestum est
Not everything that is permitted is honest. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Non omne quod nitet aurum est
Not all that glitters is gold
Non omnes qui habemt citharam sunt citharoedi
Not all those who own a musical instrument are musicians. (Bacon)
Non omnia moriar
Not all of me will die. (Horace)
Non omnia possumus omnes
Not all of us are able to do all things (We can't all do everything.) (Virgil)
Non omnis moriar
Not all of me will die. (his works would live forever) (Horace)
Non placet
it does not please
Non plus ultra! (Nec plus ultra!)
Nothing above that!
Non prosequitur
He does not proceed
Non quis, sed quid
Not who, but what
Non scholae sed vitae discimus
We do not learn for school, but for life. (Seneca)
Non semper erit aestas
It will not always be summer (be prepared for hard times)
Non sequitur
It does not follow
Non serviam
I will not serve
Non sibi sed suis
Not for one's self but for one's people
Non sibi, sed patriae
Not for you, but for the fatherland
Non sum pisces
I am not a fish
Non sum qualis eram
I am not what / of what sort I was (I'm not what I used to be.)
Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum
Do not take as gold everything that shines like gold
Non timetis messor
Don't Fear the Reaper
Non uno die roma aedificata est
Rome was not built in one day (either)
Non ut edam vivo, sed vivam edo
I do not live to eat, but eat to live. (Quintilianus)
Non, mihi ignosce, credo me insequentem esse
No, excuse me, I believe I'm next
Nonne amicus certus in re incerta cernitur?
A friend in need is a friend in deed. (our equivalent)
Nonne de novo eboraco venis?
You're from New York, aren't you?
Nonne macescis?
Have you lost weight?
Nosce te ipsum
Know thyself. (Inscription at the temple of Apollo in Delphi.)
Nota bene (Nb.)
Note well. Observe carefully
Novus homo
A new Man; a man who was the first in his family to be elected to an office
Novus ordo seclorum
A new order for the ages. (appears on the U.S. one-dollar bill)
Nulla avarita sine poena est
There is no avarice without penalty. (Seneca)
Nulla dies sine linea
Not a day without a line. Do something every day! (Apeles, Greek painter)
Nulla regula sine exceptione
There is no rule/law without exception
Nulla res carius constat quam quae precibus empta est
Nothing is so expensive as that which you have bought with pleas. (Seneca)
Nulli secundus
Second to none
Nullius in verba
(Rely) on the words on no one. (Horace)
Nullo metro compositum est
It doesn't rhyme
Nullum crimen sine lege, nulla poena sine lege
No crime and no punishment without a (pre-existing) law
Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius
Nothing is said that hasn't been said before. (Terence)
Nullum gratuitum prandium
There is no free lunch!
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae
There is no one great ability without a mixture of madness
Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est
No generation is closed to great talents. (Seneca)
Nullus est instar domus
There is no place like home
Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit
There is no book so bad that it is not profitable on some part. (Pliny the Younger)
Numen
Divine power
Numero pondere et mensura Deus omnia condidit
God created everything by number, weight and measure. (Isaac Newton)
Numerus clausus
A restricted number
Nummus americanus
Greenback. ($US)
Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit
Never does nature say one thing and wisdom say another
Numquam non paratus
Never unprepared
Numquam se minus solum quam cum solus esset
You are never so little alone as when you are alone. (Cicero)
Nunc dimittis
Now let depart
Nunc est bibendum
Now we must drink. (Horace)
Nvdvm pactvm
A nude pact an invalid agreement a contract with illusory benefits or without consideration hence unenforceable
Nvllvm qvod tetigit 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 curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!
Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world! (Lucilius)
O di immortales!
Good heavens! (uttered by Cicero on the Senate floor)
O diem praeclarum!
Oh, what a beautiful day!
O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum!
An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf! (Cicero)
O quam cito transit gloria mundi!
O how quickly passes the glory of the world!
O sancta simplicitas!
Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)
O tempora, O mores!
Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero)
O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem!
Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
Obesa cantavit
The fat lady has sung
Obiit (Ob.)
He/she died
Obiter (Ob.)
In passing
Obiter dictum
Something said in passing; parenthetical remark
Oblitus sum perpolire clepsydras!
I forgot to polish the clocks!
Obscurum per obscurius
The obscure by means of the more obscure
Obsta principiis
Resist the beginnings; Nip it in the bud
Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur
Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease. (Publius Syrus)
Occasio facit furem
Opportunity makes a thief
Oderint dum metuant
Let them hate provided that they fear. (Seneca)
Odi et amo
I hate (her), and I love (her) (Catullus)
Odium theologicum
Theological hatred. (a special name for the hatred generated in theological disputes)
Olevm addere camino
To pour fuel on the stove adding gasoline to a fire
Olevm perdisti
You have lost oil you've wasted your time on this criticism for a misallocation of resources
Olim
Formerly
Omne ignotum pro magnifico est
We have great notions of everything unknown. (Tacitus)
Omne initium est difficile
Every beginning is difficult
Omne trium perfectum
Everything that comes in threes is perfect
Omne tvlit pvnctvm qvi miscvit vtile dvlci
[he] has gained every point who has combined [the] useful [with the] agreeable
Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant
All men cheerfully obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus)
Omnes deteriores svmvs licentia
Too much freedom debases us
Omnes lagani pistrinae gelate male sapiunt
All frozen pizzas taste lousy
Omnes una manet nox
The same night awaits us all. (Horace)
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat
All (hours) wound, the last kills. (inscription on solar clocks)
Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam
Everything which I used to say could not happen will happen now. (Ovid)
Omnia mea mecum porto
All that is mine, I carry with me. (My wisdom is my greatest wealth) (Cicero)
Omnia mihi lingua graeca sunt
It's all Greek to me
Omnia mors aequat
Death equals all things
Omnia munda mundis
Everything is pure to pure ones
Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis
All things change, and we change with them
Omnia mutantur, nihil interit
Everything changes, nothing perishes. (Ovid)
Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis
All things are changing, and we are changing with them
Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori
Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. (Vergil)
Omnium gatherum
Assortment
Omnium rerum principia parva sunt
Everything has a small beginning. (Cicero)
Onus probandi
The burden of proof
Opere citato (op. Cit.)
In the work just quoted
Optimis parentibus
To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book
Optimus magister, bonus liber
The best teacher is a good book
Opus dei
The work of God
Ora et labora
Pray and work. (St. Benedict)
Ora pro nobis
Pray for us
Oratvr fit, poeta nascitvr
An orator is made [but] a poet is born
Orbes volantes exstare
Flying saucers are real
Orbiter dictum/dicta
Said by the way (miscellaneous remarks)
Ore rotundo
With full voice
Osculare pultem meam!
Kiss my grits!
Pace
Be at peace
Pace tua
With your consent
Pacta sunt servanda
Agreements are to be kept. (Cicero)
Pactum serva
Keep the faith
Pallida mors
Pale Death. (Horace)
Palmam qui meruit ferat
Let him who has earned it bear the reward
Panem et circenses
Bread and circuses. Food and games to keep people happy. (Juvenalis)
Par pare refero
I return like for like tit for tat retaliation
Parens patriae
Parent of the country
Pares cvm paribvs
Like persons with like persons. Birds of a feather flock together
Pari passu
With equal step; moving together
Pars maior lacrimas ridet et intus habet
You smile at your tears but have them in your heart. (Martialis)
Particeps criminis
Partner in crime
Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus
Mountains will be in labour, and an absurd mouse will be born. (all that work and nothing to show for it)
Parva leves capiunt animas
Small things occupy light minds (small things amuse small minds)
Parva scintilla saepe magnam flamam excitat
The small sparkle often initiates a large flame
Pater Noster
Our Father (The first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin)
Pater familias
Father of the family
Pater historiae
The father of history
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
In a few words
Paucis verbis, quid est deconstructionismus?
What, in a nutshell, is deconstructionism?
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
Peace
Pax et bonum!
Peace and salvation!
Pax tecum
May peace be with you (Singular)
Pax vobiscum
May peace be with you (Plural)
Peccatum tacituritatis
Sin of silence
Peccavi
I have sinned
Peculium
Property
Pecunia in arbotis non crescit
Money does not grow on trees
Pecunia non olet
Money has no smell. Money doesn't stink. (don't look a gift horse in the mouth) (Vespasianus)
Pecvniate obedivnt omnia
All things obey money. Money makes the world go round
Pede poena claudo
Punishment comes limping. Retribution comes slowly, but surely. (Horace)
Pendente lite
While a suit is pending
Penetalia mentis
The innermost recesses of the mind. Heart of hearts
Per accidens
By Accident
Per angusta in augusta
Through difficulties to great things
Per annum
Yearly
Per ardua ad astra
Through difficulties to the stars
Per aspera ad astra
Through the thorns to the stars
Per capita
Per head
Per cent (per centum)
Per hundred
Per contra
On the contrary
Per diem
Per day; daily allowance
Per fas et nefas
Through right or wrong
Per impossibile
As is impossible a way to qualify a proposition that cannot ever be true
Per mensem
Monthly
Per procurationem (per pro)
By delegation to
Per se
By or in itself
Per varios usus artem experientia fecit
Through different exercises practice has brought skill. (Manilius)
Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim
Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. (Ovid)
Periculum in mora
There is danger in delay. (Livy)
Perpetuo vincit qui utitur clementia
He is forever victor who employs clemency. (Syrus)
Perpetuum mobile
Something in perpetual motion
Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est
The check is in the mail
Persona (non) grata
(un)welcome person
Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes
Flatterers are the worst type of enemies
Pessimus inimicorum genus, laudantes
The worst kind of enemies, those who can praise. (Tacitus)
Petitio principii
An assumption at the start
Philosophum non facit barba!
The beard does not define a philosopher. (Plutarch)
Pictor ignotus
Painter unknown
Pinxit
He/she painted it
Pistrix! Pistrix!
Shark! Shark!
Placebo
I will please. Medical expression for remedies with no medical effect, which improve one's medical condition only because one believes they do
Placet
It pleases
Pleno iure
With full authority
Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate
Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily
Plusque minusque
More or less
Plvres crapvla qvam gladivs
Drunkeness [kills] more than the sword. As true today on the road as it ever was
Poeta nascitur, non fit
The poet is born, not made
Poli, poli, di umbuendo
Slowly, Slowly we will get there
Pone ubi sol non lucet!
Put it where the sun don't shine!
Possunt quia posse videntur
They can because they think they can
Post bellum
After the war
Post coitem
After sexual intercourse
Post factum
After the fact
Post hoc
After this
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
After this, therefore because of this
Post meridiem (p.m.)
After midday
Post mortem
After death. (nowadays, the autopsy performed by a coroner)
Post obitum
After death
Post partum
After childbirth
Post proelia praemia
After the battles come the rewards
Post scriptum (P.S)
After what has been written
Post tenebras lux
After the darkness, light
Postatem obscuri lateris nescitis
You do not know the power of the dark side
Potes currere sed te occulere non potes
You can run, but you can't hide
Potest ex casa magnus vir exire
A great man can come from a hut. (Seneca)
Potius mori quam foedari
rather to die than to be dishonoured (death before dishonour)
Potius sero quam numquam
It's better late than never. (Livy)
Praemonitus pramunitus
Forewarned, forearmed
Praetio prudentia praestat
Prudence supplies a reward
Prehende uxorem meam, sis!
Take my wife, please!
Prescriptio in manibus tabellariorium est
The check is in the mail
Pretium iustum est
The Price is Right
Prima facie
At first sight; on the face of it. (in law, an obvious case that requires no further proof)
Primum mobile
Prime mover
Primum non nocere
The first thing is to do no harm. (Hippocratic oath)
Primum viveri deinde philosophari
Live before you philosophize, or Leap before you look
Primus inter pares
First among his equals
Principiis obsta
Resist the beginnings
Pro bono (pro bono publico)
For the good of the public
Pro di immortales!
Good Heavens!
Pro et contra
For and against
Pro forma
As a matter of formality
Pro hac vice
For this occaision
Pro memoria
For a memorial
Pro nunc
For now
Pro opportunitate
As circumstances allow
Pro patria
For one's country
Pro rata
In proportion to the value. (per hour for example)
Pro re nata (Prn)
For an occasion as it arises
Pro se
On one's own behalf
Pro tanto
So far
Pro tempore (pro tem.)
For the time being
Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae enitent
A good seed, planted even in poor soil, will bear rich fruit by its own nature. (Accius)
Probatum est
It has been proved
Probitas laudatur et alget
Honesty is praised and left in the cold. (Juvenal)
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
Puri sermonis amator
A lover of pure speech. (Terence)
Puris omnia pura
To the pure all things are pure
Qua
In the capacity of
Quad nesciunt eos non interficiet
What they don't know won't kill them
Quae nocent, saepe docent
What hurts, often instructs. One learns by bitter/adverse experience
Quae vide (Qqv)
See these things
Quaere
(You might) ask. . ." Used to introduce questions, usually rhetorical or tangential questions
Quaere verum
Seek the truth
Qualis pater talis filius
As is the father, so is the son; like father, like son
Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu
The important thing isn't how long you live, but how well you live. (Seneca)
Quam se ipse amans-sine rivali!
Himself loving himself so much-without a rival! (Cicero)
Quam terribilis est haec hora
How fearful is this hour
Quandam
Formally
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Quantum meruit
As much as he/she deserved
Quantum sufficit (Qs)
As much as suffices
Quaque mane (Qm)
Every morning
Quaque nocte (Qn)
Every night
Quasi
As if
Quater in die (Q.I.D)
Take four times a day
Quem di diligunt, adolescens moritur
Whom the gods love die young. (only the good die young)
Quemadmodum possums scire utrum vere simus an solum sentiamus nos esse?
How are we to know whether we actually exist or only think we exist?
Quemadmoeum gladis nemeinum occidit, occidentis telum est
A sword is never a killer, it's a tool in the killer's hands. (Seneca)
Qui bene cantat, bis orat
He who sings well, prays twice
Qui dedit benificium taceat; narret qui accepit
Let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it. (Seneca)
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
Let him who wishes for peace prepare for war. (Vegetius)
Qui docet discit
He who teaches learns
Qui dormit, non peccat
One who sleeps doesn't sin
Qui habet aures audiendi audiat
He who has ears, let him understand how to listen
Qui ignorabat, ignorabitur
One who is ignorant will remain unnoticed
Qui me amat, amet et canem meum
Who loves me, loves my dog too
Qui multum habet, plus cupit
He who has much desires more. (Seneca)
Qui nimium probat, nihil probat
One who proves too much, proves nothing
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit
He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow. (Ovid)
Qui omnes insidias timet in nullas incidit
He who fears every ambush falls into none. (Pubilius Syrus)
Qui potest capere capiat
Let him accept it who can. Freely: If the shoe fits, wear it
Qui pro innocente dicit, satis est eloquens
He who speaks for the innocent is eloquent enough. (Publius Syrus)
Qui scribit bis legit
He who writes reads twice
Qui tacet consentire videtur
He that is silent is thought to consent
Qui tacet, consentit
Silence gives consent
Qui vir odiosus!
What a bore!
Qui vivat atque floreat ad plurimos annos
May he live and flourish for many years
Qui vult dare parva non debet magna rogare
He who wishes to give little shouldn't ask for much
Quia natura mutari non potest idcirco verae amicitiae sempiternae sunt
Since nature cannot change, true friendships are eternal. (Horace)
Quid Novi
What's New?
Quid agis, medice?
What's up, Doc?
Quid est illa in auqua?
What's that in the water?
Quid nunc
What now?! (a nosy busybody)
Quid pro quo
Something for something. i.e. A favor for a favor
Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur
Anything said in Latin sounds profound
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur
What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke's on you. (Horace)
Quidnunc? Or Quid nunc?
What now? As a noun, a quidnunc is a busybody or a gossip
Quidquid agis, prudenter agas et respice finem!
Whatever you do, do cautiously, and look to the end
Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even bearing gifts. (Vergil)
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur
Anything said in Latin sounds profound
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
Quieta non movere
Don't move settled things, or Don't rock the boat
Quique amavit, cras amet
May he love tomorrow who has never loved before;
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who shall keep watch over the guardians? (Luvenalis)
Quis separabit?
Who shall separate us?
Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando?
Who, what, where, with what, why, how, when?
Quo ad hoc
As much as this (to this extent)
Quo animo?
With what spirit? (or intent?)
Quo fas et gloria docunt
Where right and glory lead
Quo iure?
By what law?
Quo signo nata es?
What's your sign?
Quo usque tandem abutere, catilina, patientia nostra?
How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline? (Cicero)
Quo vadis?
Where are you going? / Whither goest thou?
Quod bonum, felix faustumque sit!
May it be good, fortunate and prosperous! (Cicero)
Quod differtur, non aufertur
That which is postponed is not dropped. Inevitable is yet to happen. (Sir Thomas More)
Quod erat demonstrandum (QED)
Which was to be demonstrated
Quod erat faciendum (QEF)
Which was to be done
Quod erat in veniendum
Which was to be found
Quod est (Qe)
Which is
Quod incepimus conficiemus
What we have begun we shall finish
Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi
What Jupiter (supreme God) is allowed to do, cattle (people) are not
Quod natura non sunt turpia
What is natural cannot be bad
Quod vide (Qv)
See this thing
Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?
How do you get your hair to do that?
Quomodo vales
How are you?
Quorum
Of whom
Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit
True love will hold on to those whom it has held. (Seneca)
Quot homines, tot sententiae
As many men, so as many opinions
Qvae nocent docent
Things that hurt, teach. School of Hard Knocks
Qvaerenda pecvnia primvm est, virtvs post nvmmos
Money is the first thing to be sought [then] virtue after wealth
Qvalis artifex pereo
Such an artist dies in me; Emperor Nero's famous last words
Qvalis pater talis filivs
Like father like son. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree
Qvandoqve bonvs dormitat homervs
Sometimes [even the] good Homer sleeps. You win some, you lose some
Qvi bene amat bene castigat
Who loves well castigates well. Spare the rod and spoil the child
Qvi desiderat pacem praeparat bellvm
Who desires peace [should] prepare [for] war
Qvi docent discit
He who teaches, learns. (George Bernard Shaw)
Qvi fvgiebat rvrsvs proeliabitvr
He who has fled will do battle once more. He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day
Qvi me amat, amat et canem meam
Who loves me loves my dog as well. Love me love my dog
Qvi nescit dissimlare nescit regnare
He who doesn't know how to lie doesn't know how to rule
Qvid novi?
What's new? 'What's up?'
Qvis cvstodiet iposos cvstodes
Who will guard those selfsame guardians? Don't assign a fox to guard the henhouse
Qvod cibvs est aliis, aliis est wenenum
What is food to some is poison to others. One man's meat is another poison
Qvod cito acqviritvr cito perit
[that] which is quickly acquired [is] quickly lost. Eeasy come, easy go
Qvod erat demonstrandvm
[that] which has been demonstrated; a statement of logical proof, especially in mathematics and law, abbreviated Q.E.D
Qvod vide (q.v)
Which see; a scholarly cross-reference
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
Concerning
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
Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem!
Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business!
Recto
On the right
Redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris
Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's
Redivivus
Come back to life
Redolet lvcernam
[it] smells of the lamp; critical remark that one worked too hard on something
Reductio ad absurdum
Reduction to the absurd. (proving the truth of a proposition by proving the falsity of all its alternatives)
Referendum
Something to be referred
Regina
Queen
Regnat non regitur qui nihil nisi quod vult facit
He is a king and not a subject who does only what he wishes. (Syrus)
Regnat populus
Let the People rule
Relata refero
I tell what I have been told. (Herodotos)
Religious loci
The (religious) spirit of the place
Rem tene, verba sequentur
Keep to the subject and the words will follow. (Cato Senior)
Repetitio est mater memoriae/ studiorum/
Repetition is the mother of memory/studies
Requiescat in pace (RIP)
May he/she rest in peace
Requiescat in pace
Let him/her rest in peace. (May he/she rest in peace)
Rerum concordia discors
The concord of things through discord. (Horace)
Res firma mitescere nescit
A firm resolve does not know how to weaken
Res gestae
Things done
Res in cardine est
The matter is on a door hinge things are balanced on a knife's edge
Res inter alios
A matter between others it's not our busines
Res ipsa loquitur
The thing speaks for itself
Res judicata
Thing already judged upon
Res melius evinissent cum coca
Things go better with Coke
Res publica
The public thing
Res severa est verum gaudium
True joy is a serious thing. (Seneca)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest
A thing is worth only what someone else will pay for it
Respice finem
Look to the end
Respice post te, mortalem te esse memento
Look around you, remember that you are mortal. (Tertullianus)
Respice, adspice, prospice
Examine the past, examine the present, examine the future (look to the past, the present, the future)
Respondeat superior
Let the superior answer (a supervisor must take responsibility for the quality of a subordinate's work)
Resurgam
I shall rise again
Revelare pecunia!
Show me the money!
Revera linguam latinam vix cognovi
I donÕt really know all that much Latin
Rex
King
Rex non potest peccare
The king cannot sin
Rex regnant sed non gubernat
The king reigns but does not govern
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
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
Hello
Salve sis
May you be well
Salve veritate
Saving the truth
Salve(te)
Greetings!
Sanctum sanctorum
The holy of holies
Sane ego te vocavi. forsitan capedictum tuum desit
I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken
Sapere aude!
Dare to be wise! (Horace)
Sapiens nihil affirmat quod non probat
A wise man states as true nothing he does not prove (don't swear to anything you don't know firsthand)
Sartor resartus
The tailor patched
Sat sapienti
Enough for a wise man. (Plautus)
Satis
Enough
Satius est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis, quam innocentem damnari
It is better that a crime is left unpunished than that an innocent man is punished. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
Scala naturae
The ladder of nature
Scandalum magnatum
Scandal of magnates
Schola cantorum
School of singers
Scientia est potentia
Knowledge is power
Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem
Science has no enemies but the ignorants
Scilicet (Sc.)
That is to say
Scio cur summae inter se dissentiant! Numeris Romanis utor!
I know why the numbers don't agree! I use Roman numerals!
Scio me nihil scire
I know that I know nothing. Certain knowledge cannot be obtained. (Socrates)
Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter
Your knowledge is nothing when no one else knows that you know it
Sciri facias
Cause (him) to know
Scito te ipsum
Know yourself
Scribere est agere
To write is to act
Scripsit
He/she wrote it
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet
He who feared he would not succeed sat still. (For fear of failure, he did nothing.) (Horace)
Semper fidelis
Always faithful
Semper idem
Always the same thing. (Cicero)
Semper inops quicumque cupit
Whoever desires is always poor. (Claudian)
Semper letteris mandate
Always get it in writing!
Semper paratus
Always prepared
Semper ubi sub ubi ubique
Always wear underwear everywhere
Senatus populusque romanus (SPQR)
The Senate and the Roman people
Senatus populusque romanus
The senate and Roman people
Sensu lato
Broadly speaking
Sensu stricto, nullo metro compositum est
Strictly speaking, it doesn't rhyme
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare
I think some people in togas are plotting against me
Sequens (seq.)
The following (one)
Sequens mirabitur aetas
The following age will be amazed
Sequentia (seqq.)
The following (ones)
Seriatim
One after another in order
Serva me, servabo te
Save me and I will save you. (Petronius Arbiter)
Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos
If God is with us who is against us
Si fallatis officium, quaestor infitias eat se quicquam scire de factis vestris
If you fail, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your activities
Si fecisti nega!
If you did it, deny it (stonewall!)
Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit
If the end is good, everything will be good (all's well that ends well)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes
Essentially it says, 'if you can read this, you're overeducated.'
Si monumentum requiris circumspice
If you seek a monument, look around
Si post fata venit gloria non propero
If glory comes after death, I'm not in a hurry (if one must die to be recognised, I can wait)
Si sapis, sis apis
If you are wise, be a bee
Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses
If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher. (Boethius)
Si tu id aeficas, ei venient. Ager somnia
If you build it, they will come
Si vis amari, ama
If you wish to be loved, love. (Seneca)
Si vis pacem, para bellum
If you want peace, prepare for the war. (Vegetius)
Sic
Thus, just so
Sic ad nauseam
And so on to the point of causing nausea
Sic erat in fatis
So it was fated
Sic faciunt omnes
Everyone is doing it
Sic itur ad astra
Such is the path to the stars (i.e. Gain reputation) (Vergil)
Sic passim
Thus everywhere
Sic semper tyrannis
Thus always to tyrants; a statement often accompanying a regicide
Sic transit gloria mundi
So passes the glory of the world
Sic volo, sic iubeo
I want this, I order this. (Juvenalis)
Silent enim leges inter arma
Laws are silent in times of war. (Cicero)
Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis!
How like us is that very ugly beast the monkey. (Cicero)
Simplex munditiis
Unaffected by manners. (Horace)
Simpliciter
Naturally; without qualification
Sine cura
Without a care
Sine die
Without a day (being set)
Sine ira et studio
Without anger or bias. (Tacitus)
Sine loco (Sl)
Without place
Sine nobilitatis
Without nobility (SNOB)
Sine prole (Sp)
Without issue
Sine qua non
Something/someone indispensable
Sine sole sileo
Without the sun I'm silent. (sundial inscription)
Siste, viator
Wait, traveler; inscription on Roman tombstones
Sit tibi terra levis
May the earth be light upon you; tombstone inscription
Sit vis nobiscum
May the Force be with you
Sobria inebrietas
Sober intoxication
Sol omnibus lucet
The sun shines upon us all. (Petronius)
Sola lingua bona est lingua mortua
The only good language is a dead language
Solitudinem fecerunt, pacem appelunt
They made a desert and called it peace. (Tacitus)
Solum potestis prohibere ignes silvarum
Only you are can prevent forest fires
Sona si latine loqueris
Honk if you speak Latin
Sotto voce
In soft voice
Spectaculorum procedere debet
The show must go on
Spectatvm venivnt, venivnt spectentvr vt ipsae
They come to see, they come that they themselves be seen 'to see and be seen
Spemque metumque inter dubiis
Hover between hope and fear. (Vergil)
Spero melior
I hope for better things
Spero nos familiares mansuros
I hope we'll still be friends
Spiritus asper
Rough breathing
Spiritus lenis
Smooth breathing
Splendide mendax
Splendidly false. (Horace)
Splendor sine occasu
Splendour without end
Stabat Mater
The mother was standing
Stare decisis
To stand by things decided
Status quo
The present state of affairs
Stercus accidit
Shit happens
Stet
Let it stand
Struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat
When a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears. (Dionysius Cato)
Studium discendi voluntate quae cogi non potest constat
Study depends on the good will of the student, a quality which cannot be secured by compulsion
Stultorum calami carbones moenia chartae
Chalk is the pen of fools, walls (their) paper No Graffiti please. Showing that graffiti is nothing new
Stultorum infinitus est numerus
Infinite is the number of fools. (Bible)
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes
It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid. (Publilius Syrus)
Sua cuique voluptas
Everyone has his own pleasures
Sub dio
Under the open sky
Sub iudice
Under a judge
Sub judice
Before a court
Sub lite
In dispute
Sub poena
Under penalty of law
Sub rosa
Under the rose. Secretly or in confidence
Sub secreto
In secret
Sub silentio
In silence
Sub sole nihil novi est
There's nothing new under the sun
Sub voce (Sv)
Under the voice
Subucula tua apparet
Your slip is showing
Suggestio falsi
Suggestion of something false
Suggestio veri, suggestio falsi
An intimation of truth, an intimation of falcity
Sui generis
Of one's own kind
Sui iuris
Of one's own right
Summa cum laude
With highest honor
Summam scrutemur
Let's look at the bottom line
Summum bonum
The highest good
Summum ius, summa iniuria
The extreme law is the greatest injustice. (Cicero)
Sumptus censum ne superet
Let not your spending exceed your income (live within your means)
Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt
These are the tears of things, and our mortality cuts to the heart. (Vergil)
Sunt pueri pueri, puerilia tractant
Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things
Suo jure
In one's rightful place
Suos cuique mos
Everyone has his customs. (Gellius)
Supra
Above or on an earlier page
Sursum corda
(lift) up (your) hearts
Suum cuique pulchrum est
To each his own is beautiful. (Cicero)
Svi generis
Of its own kind unique
Tabula rasa
A clean slate. Person that knows nothing
Tacet
Silence
Tam diu minime visu!
Long time, no see!
Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio
I am as dead as the nehru jacket
Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas
We should learn as long as we may live. (We live and learn.) (Seneca Philosophus)
Tamquam alter idem
As if a second self. (Cicero)
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum
So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds. (Lucretius)
Tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est
Delay and procrastination is hateful. (Cicero)
Te Deum
Thee, God [we praise]
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 igitur
Thee, therefore
Te nosce
Know thyself
Te precor dulcissime supplex!
Pretty please with a cherry on top!
Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis
The times change, and we change with them. (John Owen)
Tempore
In the time of
Tempus edax rerum
Time is the devourer of things (time flies)
Tempus fugit
Time flees
Tempus incognitum
Time unknown
Tempus neminem manet
Time waits for no one
Ter in die (T.I.D)
Take thrice a day
Terminus a quo
The end from which
Terminus ad quem
The end to which
Terra firma
Solid ground
Terra incognita
Unknown land
Terra nullius
Uninhabited land
Tertium quid
A third something
Tetigisti acu
You have hit the nail on the head. (Plautus)
Theatrum mundi
The theatre of the world
Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas
Thank you for not smoking
Timendi causa est nescire
Ignorance is the cause of fear. (Seneca)
Timeo danaos et dona ferentes
I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts. (Virgil)
Timor mortis conturbat me
The fear of death confounds me
Tintinnuntius meus sonat!
There goes my beeper!
Tolerabiles ineptiae
Bearable absurdities
Top of Page
Totidem verbis
In so many words
Totum dependeat!
Let it all hang out!
Trahimur omnes laudis studio
We are all led on by our eagerness for praise. (Cicero)
Transit umbra, lux permanet
Shadow passes, light remains (On a sun dial)
Tu autem
You, also
Tu fui, ego eris
What you are, I was. What I am, you will be. (This is found on graves and burial sites)
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito
Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them
Tu quoque
You likewise
Tu, rattus turpis!
You dirty rat!
Tuis pugis pignore!
You bet your bippy!
Tum podem extulit horridulum
You are talking shit
Uberrimae fidei
Of the utmost good faith
Ubi amor, ibi oculus
Where love is, there is insight
Ubi bene, ibi patria
Where you feel good, there is your home
Ubi concordia, ibi victoria
Where is the unity, there is the victory. (Publius Syrus)
Ubi dubium ibi libertas
Where there is doubt, there is freedom
Ubi fumus, ibi ignis
Where there's smoke, there's fire
Ubi maior, minor cessat
The weak (minor) capitulates before the strong (major)
Ubi mel ibi apes
Where honey, there bees, i.e., if you want support, you must offer something in return
Ubi revera (Ubi re vera)
When, in reality
Ubi spiritus est cantus est
Where there is spirit there is song
Ubi sunt?
Where are they (the good old days)?
Ubi supra
Where (cited) above
Ubicumque homo est, ibi benefici locus est
Wherever there is a man, there is a place of/for kindness/service
Ubique
Everywhere
Ultima Thule
The most distant Thule
Ultima ratio
Last reason. The last resort
Ultima ratio regum
The final argument of kings
Ultimo (ult.)
Of the previous month
Ultimus Romanorum
The last of the Romans
Ultra posse nemo obligatur
No one is obligated beyond what he is able to do
Ultra vires
Beyond the powers or legal authority
Un idea perplexi na
The idea is strange to us
Una hirundo non facit ver
One Swallow does not make Summer. (Horace)
Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem
The one safety for the vanquished is to abandon hope of safety knowing there is no hope can give one the courage to fight and win
Una voce
With one voice, unanimously
Unitam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy
Unitas mirabile vinculum
The wonderful bond of unity
Unum necessarium
The one necessary
Unus multorum
One of many. (Horace)
Urbanus et instructus
A gentleman and a scholar
Urbem lateritiam invenit, marmoream reliquit
He found a city [Rome] of bricks and left a city of marble. (Augustus)
Urbi et orbi
To the city [Rome] and to the globe; a blessing of the pope
Ut ameris, ama!
To be loved, love!
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas
Although the power is lacking, the will is commendable. (Ovid)
Ut dictum (Ut dict.)
As directed
Ut humiliter opinor
In my humble opinion
Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet
As loyal as she began, so she remains
Ut infra
As below
Ut sementem feceris, ita metes
As you sow, so shall you reap. (Cicero)
Ut si!
As if!
Ut supra (Ut sup.)
As above
Uti foro
To play the market
Uti possidetis
As you possess
Uti, non abuti
To use, not abuse
Utile et dulce
Useful and pleasant
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
May barbarians invade your personal space!
Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant!
May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
Utinam populus romanus unam cervicem haberet!
If only the Roman people had one neck!
Uva uvam videndo varia fit
A grape changes color in seeing another grape. A bad/good friend makes you a bad/good person
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
Farewell
Vale, lacerte!
See you later, alligator!
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, volo in domum redire
I came, I saw, I want to go home
Veni, vidi, vici
I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
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
Exactly as said
Verbatim et litteratim
Word for word and letter for letter
Verbum sapienti satis est
A word to the wise is sufficient. Enough said
Veritas Lux Mea
The truth enlightens me / The truth is my light
Veritas numquam perit
Truth never perishes. (Seneca)
Veritas odit moras
Truth hates delay. (Seneca)
Veritas vincit
Truth conquers
Veritas vos liberabit
The truth will set you free
Verso
Reverse
Versus
Against
Verum et factum convertuntur
The true and the made are interchangeable. One can know with certainty only what he have created himself
Verveces tui similes pro ientaculo mihi appositi sunt
I have jerks like you for breakfast
Vescere bracis meis
Eat my shorts
Vestigia terrent
The footprints frighten me. (Horace)
Vestis virum reddit
The clothes make the man. (Quintilianus)
Veto
I forbid
Vi et armis
By force and arms
Via
By way of
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
Vice
In place of
Vice versa
In reverse order
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
See
Vide et credere
See and believe
Vide ut supra
See the above
Videlicet (viz.)
That is to say; To wit; Namely
Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor
I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse way
Videre est credere
Seeing is believing
Videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit?
How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic? (Cicero)
Vidistine nuper imagines moventes bonas?
Seen any good movies lately?
Vigilando, agendo, bene consulendo, prospera omnia cedunt
By watching, by doing, by counsulting well, these things yield all things prosperous. (Sallust)
Vincere est totum
To win is everything
Vincit omnia amor
Love conquers all
Vincit omnia veritas
Truth conquers all
Vincit qui se vincit
He conquers who conquers himself
Vinculum unitatis
The bond of unity
Vinum bellum iucunumque est, sed animo corporeque caret
It's a nice little wine, but it lacks character and depth
Vinum et musica laetificant cor
Wine and music gladden the heart
Vir bonus, dicendi peritus
A good man, skilled in speaking. (definition of an orator) (Cato the Elder)
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
A wise man does not urinate against the wind
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur
That man is wise who talks little (know when to hold your tongue)
Vires acquirit eundo
It gains strength by going / as it goes. (Virgil)
Virginibus puerisque
For maidens and youths
Virgo intacta
Intact virgin
Viri sunt viri
Men are slime
Virtus in medio stat
Virtue stands in the middle
Virtute et armis
By courage and by arms
Virtvs probata florescit
Manly excellence in trial flourished
Virtvtis fortvna comes
Good luck is the companion of courage
Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum
Tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man. (Livius Andronicus)
Virus
Poison or slime
Vis comica
Sense of humour
Vis consili expers mole ruit sua
Brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight. (Discretion is the better part of valor) (Horace)
Vis inertiae
The power of inertia; why things never change
Vis maior
Higher force
Vis medicatrix naturae
The healing power of nature
Visa
Things seen
Visne saltare?
Do you want to dance?
Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio
Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway
Vita brevis, ars lunga
Life is short, art is long
Vita luna!
Crazy life!
Vita mutatur, non tollitur
Life is changed, not taken away
Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est
Life is more than merely staying alive
Vita sine libris mors est
Life without books is death
Vitam impendere vero
To risk one's life for the truth
Vitam regit fortuna, non sapientia
Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives. (Cicero)
Vitanda est improba siren desidia
One must avoid that wicked temptress, Laziness. (Horace)
Vitiis nemo sine nascitur
No-one is born without faults. (Horace)
Viva voce
With living voice
Vivat regina
long live the queen
Vivat rex
long live the king
Vivat, crescat, floreat!
May he/she/it live, grow, and flourish!
Vive hodie
Live today (not tomorrow)
Vive vt vivas
Live that you may live
Vivere disce, cogita mori
Learn to live; Remember death. (sundial inscription)
Vivos voco, mortuos plango
I call the living, I mourn the dead. (church bell inscription)
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, 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
The voice of the people
Vox populi, vox Dei
The voice of the people is the voice of God. (Public opinion is obligatory)
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