| latin phrase | english translation |
| |
| A bene placito |
At one's pleasure |
| A capite ad calcem |
From head to heel |
| A cappella |
In church [style]i.e. Vocal music only |
| A contrario |
From a contrary position |
| A cruce salus |
From the cross comes salvation |
| A Deo et Rege |
From God and the King |
| A fortiori |
With yet stronger reason |
| A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi |
A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place) |
| A mari usque ad mare |
From sea to sea (Motto of Canada) |
| A mensa et thoro |
From board and bed (legal separation) |
| A pedibus usque ad caput |
From feet to head |
| A posse ad esse |
From possibility to actuality |
| A posteriori |
From what comes after. Inductive reasoning based on observation, as opposed to deductive, or a priori |
| A priori |
From what comes before |
| A verbis ad verbera |
From words to blows |
| Ab absurdo |
From the absurd (establishing the validity of your argument by pointing out the absurdity of your opponent's position) |
| Ab aeterno |
From the beginning of time |
| Ab asino lanam |
Wool from an ass, blood from a stone impossible |
| Ab hinc |
From here on |
| Ab imo pectore |
From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart) (Julius Caesar) |
| Ab incunabulis |
From the cradle |
| Ab initio |
From the beginning |
| Ab intestato |
Having made no will |
| Ab origine |
From the origin |
| Ab ovo usque ad mala |
From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish) (Horace) |
| Ab ovo |
From the egg |
| Ab urbe condita |
From the foundation of the city. (Rome) |
| Ab/Ex uno disce omnes |
From one person, learn all people |
| Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit |
He has left, absconded, escaped and disappeared |
| Absente reo |
In absence of the defendant |
| Absit invidia |
No offence intended |
| Absit omen |
May the omen be absent. (may this not be an omen) |
| Absum! |
I'm outta here! |
| Abusus non tollit usum |
Wrong use does not preclude proper use |
| Abutebaris modo subjunctivo denuo |
You've been misusing the subjunctive again |
| Abyssus abyssum invocat |
Hell calls hell; one mistep leads to another |
| Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam |
It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice |
| Acta est fabula, plaudite! |
The play is over, applaud! (Said to have been emperor Augustus' last words) |
| Acta non verba |
Action not words |
| Acta sanctorum |
Deeds of the saints |
| Actus reus |
Wrongful actas opposed to mens reathe wrongful intention or guilty mind |
| Ad absurdum |
To the point of absurdity |
| Ad acta |
To archives. Not actual any more |
| Ad alta |
To the summit |
| Ad astra per aspera |
To the stars through difficulty |
| Ad astra |
To the stars |
| Ad augusta per angusta |
To high places by narrow roads |
| Ad captandum vulgus |
To appeal to the crowd -- often used of politicians who make false or insincere promises appealing to popular interest |
| Ad clerum |
To the clergy |
| Ad eundem gradum |
To the same level |
| Ad eundem |
Of admission to the same degree at a different university |
| Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit |
To boldly go where no man has gone before |
| Ad fontes |
To the sources (motto of Renaissance Humanism) |
| Ad fundum |
To the bottom / To the end (said during a generic toast, like bottoms up!) |
| Ad hoc |
For a particular purpose. (improvised, made up in an instant) |
| Ad hominem |
Appealing to a person's physical and emotional urges, rather than her or his intellect |
| Ad honorem |
In honour. Honour not baring any material advantage |
| Ad idem |
Of the same mind |
| Ad infinitum |
To infinity without end |
| Ad interim |
For the meantime |
| Ad libitum (Acronym "ad lib") |
At one's pleasure |
| Ad Libitur |
As Desired |
| Ad limina apostolorum |
To the thresholds of the Apostles |
| Ad litem |
For a lawsuit or action |
| Ad locum |
At the place |
| Ad lucem |
Towards the light (motto of the University of Lisbon) |
| Ad maiorem dei gloriam (AMDG) |
For the greater glory of God |
| Ad multos annos |
To many years!, i.e. Many happy returns! |
| Ad nauseum |
To the point of making one sick |
| Ad perpetuam rei memoriam |
For the perpetual remembrance of the thing |
| Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora |
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush) |
| Ad referendum |
Subject to reference |
| Ad rem |
To the point |
| Ad valorem |
By the value, e.g. Ad valorem tax |
| Ad vitam aeternam |
For all time |
| Ad vitam paramus |
We are preparing for life |
| Ad vitam |
For life |
| Addendum |
A thing to be added |
| Adeste Fideles |
Be present, faithful ones |
| Adsum |
Here! present! |
| Adversus incendia excubias nocturnas vigilesque commentus est |
Against the dangers of fires, he (Augustus) conceived of the idea of night guards and watchmen |
| Adversus solem ne loquitor |
Don't speak against the sun (don't waste your time arguing the obvious) |
| Advocatus diaboli |
The devil's advocate |
| Aegrescit medendo |
The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease |
| Aegri somnia |
A sick man's dreams (Horace) |
| Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur |
It is said that for a sick man, there is hope as long as there is life |
| Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem |
Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace) |
| Aeronavis abstractio a prestituto cursu |
Hijacking |
| Aetatis (aet.) |
Age |
| Aeternum vale |
Farewell forever |
| Affidavit |
A sworn written statement usable as evidence in court |
| Age quod agis |
Do what you do well, pay attention to what you are doing |
| Age. Fac ut gaudeam |
Go ahead. Make my day! |
| Agenda |
Things to be done |
| Agnus Dei |
The Lamb of God |
| Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est |
Yes, that is a very large amount of corn |
| Alea iacta est |
The die has been cast. (Caesar) |
| Alias |
Otherwise |
| Alibi |
Elsewhere |
| Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent |
Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people. (Publilius Syrus) |
| Alis volat propiis |
She flies with her own wings (state motto of Oregon) |
| Alma Mater |
Nourishing mother. (One's old school or university) |
| Alter ego |
Other "I" or "Other Self" |
| Alter ipse amicus |
A friend is another self |
| Alterum ictum faciam |
I'm going to take a mulligan |
| Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi |
The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. (still waters run deep) |
| Alumnus |
Nursling (former pupil) |
| Amantes sunt amentes |
Lovers are lunatics |
| Amantium irae amoris integratio est |
The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love. (Terence) |
| Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur |
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time |
| Amat victoria curam |
Victory favors those who take pains |
| Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore |
I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting. (Cicero) |
| Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi? |
Baby, sweetheart, would I lie to you? |
| Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur |
A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter |
| Amicus curiae |
Friend of the court |
| Amicus humani generis |
A friend of the human race (philanthropist) |
| Amicus verus est rara avis |
A true friend is a rare bird |
| Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur |
We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving. (Syrus) |
| Amor caecus est |
Love is blind |
| Amor est vitae essentia |
Love is the essence of life. (Robert B. Mackay) |
| Amor ordinem nescit |
Love does not know order. (St. Jerome) |
| Amor patriae |
Love of country |
| Amor platonicus |
Platonic love |
| Amor tussisque non celantur |
Love, and a cough, are not concealed. (Ovid) |
| Amor vincit omnia |
Love conquers all. (Virgil) |
| Amoto quaeramus seria ludo |
Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters. (Horace) |
| An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur? |
Don't you know then, my son, how little wisdom rules the world? |
| Anguis in herba |
A snake in the grass. A treacherous person. (Vergil) |
| Anicularum lucubrationes |
Old wives' tales |
| Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri? |
(At a barbeque) Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face? |
| Animis opibusque parati |
Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything) |
| Animus facit nobilem |
The spirit makes (human) noble |
| Anno (an.) |
Year |
| Anno domini (AD) |
In the year of the Lord |
| Anno hegirae (AH) |
In the year of the hegira |
| Anno mundi |
In the year of the world |
| Anno regni |
In the year of reign |
| Anno urbis conditae (AUC) |
From the year of founding of the city (Rome) |
| Annuit coeptis |
God has favored us |
| Annus bisextus |
Leap year |
| Annus horribilis |
A horrible year |
| Annus mirabilis |
Year of wonders |
| Ante litteram |
Before the letter |
| Ante meridiem (a.m.) |
Before midday |
| Ante mortem |
Before death |
| Ante prandium (A.p.) |
Before a meal |
| Ante |
Before |
| Antebellum |
Before the war |
| Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem |
In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags |
| Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus! |
Let's all wear mood rings! |
| Apage Satanas |
Begone, Satan |
| Appareo Decet Nihil Munditia? |
Is It Not Nifty? |
| Apudne te vel me? |
Your place or mine? |
| Aqua fortis |
Nitric acid |
| Aqua pura |
Pure water |
| Aqua vitae |
Water of life (brandy) |
| Aquila non captat muscas |
The eagle doesn't capture flies (don't sweat the small things) |
| Arbiter elegantiae |
Judge in matters of taste |
| Arcana imperii |
Secrets of the empire |
| Arduum sane munus |
A truly arduous task |
| Arguendo |
For the sake of argument |
| Argumentum ad hominem |
An argument against the man. Directing an argument against an opponent's character rather than the subject at hand |
| Argumentum ad ignorantiam |
Arguing from ignorance |
| Armis Exposcere Pacem |
They demanded peace by force of arms. (An inscription seen on medals) |
| Ars gratia artis |
Art for art's sake. (motto of MGM) |
| Ars longa, vita brevis |
Art (work) is long, but life is short |
| Ars sine scienta nihil est |
Art without science is nothing. (I would also claim that the opposite is true) |
| Artium baccalaureus |
Bachelor of Arts (BA) |
| Artium magister |
Master of Arts (MA) |
| Ascendo tuum |
Up yours |
| Asinus asinum fricat |
The ass rubs the ass. (Conceited people flatter each other about qualities they do not possess) |
| Aspice, officio fungeris sine spe honoris amplioris |
Face it, you're stuck in a dead end job |
| Aspirat primo Fortuna labori |
Fortune smiles upon our first effort. (Virgil) |
| Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit |
Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdues both intelligence and skill. (Cicero) |
| Astra inclinant, non necessitant |
The stars incline; they do not determine |
| Astra non mentiuntur, sed astrologi bene mentiuntur de astris |
The stars never lie, but the astrologs lie about the stars |
| Aude sapere |
Dare to know |
| Audaces fortuna iuvat |
Fortune favors the bold. (Virgil) |
| Audere est facere |
To dare is to do. (Motto of Tottenham Hotspur) |
| Audi et alteram partem |
Hear the other side too |
| Audiatur et altera pars! |
Let us hear the opposite side! |
| Audio, video, disco |
I hear, I see, I learn |
| Auget largiendo |
He increases by giving liberally |
| Aura popularis |
The popular breeze. (Cicero) |
| Aurea mediocritas |
The golden mean. (an ethical goal; truth and goodness are generally to be found in the middle.) (Horace) |
| Auribus tenere lupum |
I hold a wolf by the ears. (I am in a dangerous situation and dare not let go.) (Terence) |
| Aurora australis |
The Southern lights |
| Aurora borealis |
The Northern lights |
| Aurora Musis amica |
Dawn is friend of the muses. (Early bird catches the worm.) |
| Aut Caesar aut nihil |
Caesar or nothing i.e., all or nothing |
| Aut disce aut discede |
Either learn or leave |
| Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit |
The fellow is either mad or he is composing verses. (Horace) |
| Aut viam inveniam aut faciam |
I will either find a way or make one |
| Aut vincere aut mori |
Either conquer or die |
| Auxilio ab alto |
By help from on high |
| Avarus animus nullo satiatur lucro |
A greedy mind is satisfied with no (amount of) gain |
| Ave atque vale |
Hail and farewell. (Catullus) |
| Ave caesar! Morituri te salutamus |
Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you. (gladiators before the fight) |
| Ave maria |
Hail Mary |
| Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt! |
Save the whales! |
| Beata Virgo (Maria) |
The Blessed Virgin (Mary) |
| Beatae memoriae |
Of blessed memory |
| Beati pacifici |
Blessed are the peacemakers |
| Beati pauperes spiritu |
Blessed are the poor in spirit |
| Beati possidentes |
The happy who possess. (possession is nine points of the law) (Euripides) |
| Beatus |
The blessed one |
| Bella detesta matribus |
Wars, the horror of mothers. (Horace) |
| Bella gerant alii |
Let others wage war |
| Bellum omium contra omnes |
Everyman's struggle against everyman. (Thomas Hobbes) |
| Belua multorum es capitum |
The people are a many-headed beast |
| Bene legere saecla vincere |
To read well is to master the ages. (Professor Isaac Flagg) |
| Bene qui latuit, bene vixit |
One who lives well, lives unnoticed. (Ovid) |
| Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare |
Well, if you don't understand plain Latin, I'm not going to dirty my hands on you |
| Bene |
Good |
| Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere |
To accept a favour is to sell freedom. (Publilius Syrus) |
| Bibere venenum in auro |
Drink poison from a cup of gold |
| Bis dat qui cito dat |
He gives twice who quickly gives. (Publius Syrus) |
| Bis in die (bid) |
Twice a day |
| Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit |
He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms. (Syrus) |
| Bis repetita placent |
The things that please are those that are asked for again and again. (Horace) |
| Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria |
He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest conquers himself. (Syrus) |
| Bis vivit qui bene vivit |
He lives twice who lives well |
| Bona fide |
In good faith. i. e. well-intentioned, fairly |
| Bona fides (noun) |
Honest intention |
| Bona fortuna |
Good luck! |
| Bona officia |
Good services's |
| Bonum commune communitatis |
General welfare. Literally, common good of the community |
| Bonum commune hominis |
Common good of man |
| Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis |
Good wine gladdens a person's heart |
| Bovina Sancta! |
Holy cow! |
| Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur! |
Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket! |
| Braccae tuae aperiuntur |
Your fly is open |
| Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita |
Life is too short to dance with ugly women |
| Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita |
Life is too short to dance with ugly men |
| Brevis esse latoro obscurus fio |
When I try to be brief, I speak gobbledegook |
| Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior |
Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes. (Publilius Syrus) |
| Busillis |
Baffling puzzle or difficult point |
| 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 rooman early photographic or painting technique utilizing optical pinholes |
| Canis meus id comedit |
My dog ate it |
| Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet |
A timid dog barks more violently than it bites. (Curtius Rufus) |
| Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse! |
A wig? I never would have guessed! |
| Caro putridas es! |
You're dead meat |
| Carpe Cerevisi |
Seize the beer! |
| Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero |
Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow. (Horace) |
| Carpe diem |
Seize the day. (opportunity) (Horace) |
| Casus belli |
An act used to justify war |
| Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam |
I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head |
| Casus belli |
Event (that is the justification for, or the cause) of war |
| Causarum justia et misericordia |
For the causes of justice and mercy |
| Causa mortis |
Death Cause |
| Cave ab homine unius libri |
Beware of anyone who has just one book. (Latin Epigram) |
| Cave canem, te necet lingendo |
Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death |
| Cave canem |
Beware of the dog |
| Cave cibum, valde malus est |
Beware the food, it is very bad |
| Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules |
If I were you, I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults |
| Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui |
Beware what you say, when, and to whom |
| Cave |
Beware! |
| Caveat emptor |
Let the buyer beware. (He buys at his own risk) |
| Caveat venditor |
Let the seller beware |
| Caveat |
Let him/her beware |
| Cedant arma togae |
Let arms yield to the toga. (Let violence give place to law) |
| Cedo maiori |
I yield to a greater person |
| Certamen bikini-suicidus-disci mox coepit? |
Does the Bikini-Suicide-Frisbee match start soon? |
| Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse |
You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore |
| Certum est, quia impossibile |
It is certain, because it is impossible. (Tertullianus) |
| Cetera desunt |
The rest is missing |
| Ceteris paribus |
All else being equal |
| Christus rex |
Christ the King |
| Cineri gloria sera venit |
Fame comes too late to the dead |
| Circa (c.) |
Approximately |
| Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis |
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream |
| Clara pacta, boni amici |
Clear agreements, good friends |
| Codex Juris Canonici |
Book of canon law |
| Cogita ante salis |
Think before you leap, or look before you leap |
| Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur |
Nobody should be punished for his thoughts |
| Cogito ergo doleo |
I think therefore I am depressed |
| Cogito sumere potum alterum |
I think I'll have another drink |
| Cogito, ergo sum |
I think, therefore I am. (Reni Descartes) |
| Commodum ex iniuria sua nemo habere debet |
No person ought to have advantage from his own wrong |
| Commune bonum |
The common good |
| Commune periculum concordiam parit |
Common danger brings forth harmony |
| Communi consilio |
By common consent |
| Compos mentis |
Of sound mind (and judgement) |
| Concordia discors |
Discordant harmony |
| Concordia res parvae crescent |
Work together to accomplish more |
| Conditio sine qua non |
Condition without which not, or an essential condition or requirement |
| Confer (cf.) |
Compare |
| Confiteor |
I confess |
| Congregatio de Propaganda Fide |
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith |
| Coniecturalem artem esse medicinam |
Medicine is the art of guessing. (Aulus Cornelius Celsus) |
| Coniunctis viribus |
With united powers |
| Conlige suspectos semper habitos |
Round up the usual suspects |
| Consensu omnium |
By the agreement of all |
| Consensus audacium |
An agreement of rash men. (a conspiracy) (Cicero) |
| Consuetudinis magna vis est |
The force of habit is great. (Cicero) |
| Consule planco |
In the consulship of Plancus (In the good old days) (Horace) |
| Consummatum est |
It is completed (Christ's last words, John 19:30) |
| Contra felicem vix deus vires habet |
Against a lucky man a god scarcely has power |
| Contra mundum |
Against the world |
| Contraria contrariis curantur |
The opposite is cured with the opposite. (Hippocrates) |
| Coram populo |
In the presence of the people. (Horace) |
| Cornix cornici oculos non effodiet |
A crow doesn't rip out the eyes of another crow |
| Cornucopia |
Horn of plenty |
| Corpus christi |
The body of Christ |
| Corpus delicti |
The body of a crime. (The substance or fundamental facts of a crime) |
| Corpus Juris Canonici |
The body of canon law |
| Corpus Juris Civilis |
The body of civil law |
| Corpus vile |
Worthless body |
| Corrigenda |
A list of things to be corrected. (in a book) |
| Corripe Cervisiam |
Seize the beer! |
| Corruptio optimi pessima |
Corruption of the best is worst |
| Coruscantes disci per convexa caeli volantes |
Flying saucers |
| Cotidiana vilescunt |
Familiarity breeds contempt |
| Cotidie damnatur qui semper timet |
The man who is constantly in fear is every day condemned. (Syrus) |
| Crapulam terriblem habeo |
I have a terrible hangover |
| Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit, cras amet |
May he love tomorrow who has never loved before |
| Credidi me felem vidisse! |
I tought I taw a puddy tat! |
| Credite amori vera dicenti |
Believe love speaking the truth. (St. Jerome) |
| Credo elvem etiam vivere |
I believe Elvis lives |
| Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse |
I think we're on the same wavelength |
| Credo quia absurdum |
I believe it because it is absurd. (contrary to reason) (Tertullian) |
| Credo ut intelligam |
I believe in order that I may understand. (St. Augustine) |
| Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit |
Credulous hope supports our life, and always says that tomorrow will be better. (Tibullus) |
| Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit |
The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew. (Juvenalis) |
| Crescite et multiplicamini |
Increase and multiply |
| Crimen falsi |
Perjury |
| Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem |
It is more cruel to always fear death than to die. (Seneca) |
| Crux |
Puzzle |
| Cui bono? |
For whose benefit is it? (a maxim sometimes used in the detection of crime) (Cicero) |
| Cui dono lepidum novum libellum? |
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? (Catullus) |
| Cui malo? |
Who suffers a detriment? |
| Cui peccare licet peccat minus |
One who is allowed to sin, sins less. (Ovid) |
| Cuius regio, eius religio |
He who rules, his religion |
| Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare |
Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one |
| Cuivis dolori remedium est patientia |
Patience is the cure for all suffer |
| Culpa |
A sin |
| Culpam poena premit comes |
Punishment closely follows crime as its companion. (Horace) |
| Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt |
When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults |
| Cum grano salis |
With a grain of salt. (Pliny the Elder?) |
| Cum homine de cane debeo congredi |
Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog |
| Cum laude magnum |
With great success |
| Cum laude |
With praise |
| Cum tacent, clamant |
When they remain silent, they cry out. (Their silence speaks louder than words) (Cicero) |
| Cum |
With |
| Cur etiam hic es |
Why are you still here? |
| Cura nihil aliud nisi ut valeas |
Pay attention to nothing except that you do well. (Cicero) |
| Cura posterior |
A later concern |
| Cura ut valeas |
Take care |
| Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent |
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless. (minor losses can be talked away, profound ones strike us dumb) |
| Curriculum vitae |
The course of one's life |
| Cursum perficio |
My journey is over, or I finish my journey |
| Custos morum |
Guardian of morals |
| Da mihi basilia mille |
Kiss me with a thousand kisses |
| Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo! |
Make me chaste and pure, but not yet! |
| Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum |
Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake |
| Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam |
I'll have a light beer |
| Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo |
I'll have a pizza with everything on it |
| Damnant quod non intellegunt |
They condemn what they do not understand |
| Data et accepta |
Expenditure and receipts |
| De asini vmbra disceptare |
To argue about the shadow of an ass. (petty things for petty mind) |
| De bene esse |
It shall be so, as long as it is well |
| De die in diem |
From day to day |
| De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum |
Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen (Thomas a Kempis) |
| De facto |
Something that is automatically accepted |
| De gustibus non est disputandum |
There's no accounting for taste |
| De inimico non loquaris sed cogites |
Don't wish ill for your enemy; plan it |
| De integro |
Repeat again from the start |
| De iure |
By law. According to law |
| De minimis non curat praetor |
The authority or king, or law does not care about trivial things |
| De minimis |
With respect to trifles |
| De mortuis nil nisi bonum |
Say nothing but good about the dead. (Chilon) |
| De nihilo nihil |
Nothing comes from nothing. (Lucretius) |
| De novo |
Anew |
| De profundis |
Up from the depths (of misery) |
| De rervm natvra |
On the nature of things. (title of Marcus Aurelius's magnum opus) |
| Decrevi |
I have decreed |
| Dei gratia |
By the grace of God |
| Delenda est carthago |
Carthage must be destroyed |
| Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit |
The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn. (Horace) |
| Deo adiuvante |
With God's help |
| Deo favente |
With God's favour |
| Deo gratias |
[We give] thanks to God |
| Deo Optimo Maximo |
To God, the Best, the Greatest |
| Deo vindice |
God will prove us right. (motto of the Confederate States of America) |
| Deo volente |
God willing |
| Desunt cetera |
The rest is missing |
| Deus absconditus |
A god who is hidden from man |
| Deus commodo muto consisto quem meus canis sententia existo |
Which, in a very ham-fisted way, with generosity, comes close to being |
| Deus et natua non faciunt frusta |
God and nature do not work together in vain |
| Deus ex machina |
A contrived or artificial solution. (literally, "a god from a machine") |
| Deus Misereatur |
May God Have Mercy |
| Deus vobiscum |
God be with you |
| Deus volent |
(as) God will |
| Deus vult! |
God wills it! (Slogan of the Crusades) |
| Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit! |
God, look at the time! My wife will kill me! |
| Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem! |
The devil made me do it! |
| Dic mihi solum facta, domina |
Just the facts, ma'am |
| Dictum sapienti sat est |
A word to a wise person is sufficient |
| Die dulci freure |
Have a nice day |
| Diem perdidi |
I have lost a day (another day wasted) (Titus) |
| Dies felices |
Happy Days |
| Dies Irae |
Day of Wrath, or Judgment Day |
| Dies natalis |
Birthday |
| Dies non |
Business free day |
| Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem |
It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. (Catullus) |
| Difficile est saturam non scribere |
It is hard not to write satire. (Juvenalis) |
| Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas |
It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it. (Pliny the Younger) |
| Diis aliter visum |
The Gods decided otherwise |
| Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium |
Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence. (Seneca) |
| Diligite justitiam, o judices terrae |
Cherish justice, o judges of the earth |
| Dimidium facti qui coepit habet |
Half is done when the beginning is done. (Horace) |
| Dira necessitas |
The dire necessity. (Horace) |
| Discere docendo |
To learn through teaching |
| Disiecti membra poetae |
Limbs of a dismembered poet. (Horace) |
| Disjecta membra |
The scattered remains |
| Divide et impera |
Divide and conquer |
| Dixi |
I have spoken. (I will say no more on the matter, and no one else may speak further) |
| Do ut des |
I give so that you give back |
| Docendo discitur |
It is learned by teaching. (Seneca) |
| Doli capax |
Capable of crime |
| Domine, dirige nos |
Lord, direct us |
| Domino optimo maximo |
To the Lord, the best and greatest |
| Dominus illuminatio mea |
The Lord is my light |
| Dominus providebit |
The Lord will provide |
| Dominus tecum |
May the Lord be with you (Singular) |
| Dominus vobiscum |
May the Lord be with you (Plural) |
| Domus dulcis domus |
Home sweet home |
| Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos |
As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends (when you are successful, everyone wants to be your friend) |
| Donna nobis pacem |
Grant us peace |
| Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus |
Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon. (motto of Harry Potter's alma mater) |
| Dramatis personae |
Characters of the play |
| Duc, sequere, aut de via decede |
Lead, follow, or get out of the way |
| Ducator meus nihil agit sine lagunculae leynidae accedunt |
My calculator does not work without batteries |
| Duco ergo sum |
I calculate therefore I am |
| Dulce bellum inexpertis |
War is sweet for those who haven't experienced it. (Pindaros) |
| Dulce est desipere in loco |
It is sweet to relax at the proper time |
| Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori |
It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country. (Horace) |
| Dulcius ex asperis |
Through difficulty, sweetness |
| Dum excusare credis, accusas |
When you believe you are excusing yourself, you are accusing yourself. (St. Jerome) |
| Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem |
As long as we are among humans, let us be humane. (Seneca) |
| Dum spiramus tuebimur |
While we breathe, we shall defend |
| Dum spiro, spero |
While I breathe, I hope. (Cicero) |
| Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum |
While we have the time, let us do good |
| Dum vita est spes est |
While life is, hope is. / While there is life there is hope |
| Dum vivimus, vivamus |
While we live, let us live (Epicurean philosophy) |
| Dura lex, sed lex |
The law is harsh, but it is the law |
| E contrario |
From a contrary position |
| E pluribus unum |
From many, one (motto of the USA) |
| E re nata |
As circumstances dictate |
| E vestigio |
From where one stands |
| Ecce homo |
Behold the man |
| Ecce signum |
Behold the proof |
| Editio princeps |
First printed edition |
| Ego et rex meus |
I and my King |
| Ego me bene habeo |
With me all is well. (last words) (Burrus) |
| Ego nolo caesar esse |
I don't want to be Caesar. (Florus) |
| Ego spem pretio non emo |
I do not purchase hope for a price. (I do not buy a pig in a poke.) |
| Ego |
Consciousness of one's own identity |
| Eheu fugaces labuntur anni |
Alas, the fleeting years slip by. (Horace) |
| Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum |
Unfortunately, I can't find those particular documents |
| Eiusdem generis |
Of the same kind |
| Elizabeth Regina/Eduardus Rex (E.R.) |
Queen Elizabeth/King Edward |
| Emeritus |
Honorary; by merit |
| Emitte lucem et veritatem |
Send out light and truth |
| Ense et aratro |
With sword and plow. (citizen-soldier, one who serves in war and peace) |
| Eo ipso |
By that very act |
| Eo nomine |
Under that name |
| Epistula non erubescit |
A letter doesn't blush. (Cicero) |
| Eram quod es, eris quod sum |
I was what you are, you will be what I am. (grave inscription) |
| Ergo bibamus |
Therefore, let us drink |
| Ergo |
Therefore |
| Errare humanum est |
To err is human. / It is human to err. (Seneca) |
| Errata |
A list of errors (in a book) |
| Erratum (errata) |
Error (errors) |
| Escariorium lavator |
Dishwashing machine |
| Esse est percipi |
Being is perception. (It is a standard metaphysical) (Mauser) |
| Esse quam videri |
To be, rather than to seem (state motto of North Carolina) |
| Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre quod credis |
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. (St. Augustine) |
| Est deus in nobis |
The is a god inside us |
| Est modus in rebus |
There is a middle ground in things. (Horace) |
| Est queadam fiere voluptas |
There is a certain pleasure in weeping. (Ovid) |
| Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima? |
Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat? |
| Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre? |
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me? |
| Esto perpetua |
Let it be forever |
| Esto perpetue |
May you last for ever |
| Et alii/aliae |
Other persons/things |
| Et cetera/etcetera (etc.) |
And the rest |
| Et in arcadia ego |
I, also, am in Arcadia |
| Et sequens (et seq.) |
And the following |
| Et sequentes (et seq. Or seqq.) |
And those that follow |
| Et sic de ceteris |
And so to of the rest |
| Et tu, Brute |
And you, Brutus |
| Et uxor (abbreviated et ux.) |
And wife |
| Etiam capillus unus habet umbram |
Even one hair has a shadow. (Publilius Syrus) |
| Eventus stultorum magister |
Events are the teacher of the stupid persons. Stupid people learn by experience, bright people calculate what to do |
| Ex abrupto |
Without preparation |
| Ex abundancia cordis, os loquitor |
From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks |
| Ex animo |
From the heart (sincerely) |
| Ex ante |
Before the event, beforehand. (economics: based on prior assumptions) |
| Ex cathedra |
From the chair. With authority (without argumentation) |
| Ex cearulo |
Out of the blue |
| Ex curia |
Out of court |
| Ex dolo |
Intentionally |
| Ex gratia |
Purely as a favour |
| Ex hypothesi |
From the hypothesis. (i.e. The one under consideration) |
| Ex libris |
From the Library (of) |
| Ex luna, scientia |
From the moon, knowledge. (motto of Apollo 13) |
| Ex mea sententia |
In my opinion |
| Ex more |
According to custom |
| Ex nilhilo nihil fit |
Nothing comes from nothing |
| Ex officio |
By virtue of his office |
| Ex opere operato |
By the work having been worked |
| Ex parte |
By only one party to a dispute in the absence of the other |
| Ex post facto |
After the fact, or Retrospectively |
| Ex proprio motu |
Voluntarily |
| Ex silentio |
From silence. (from lack of contrary evidence) |
| Ex tempore |
Off the cuff, without preparation |
| Ex uno disce omnes |
From one person learn all persons. (From one we can judge the rest) |
| Ex vi termini |
By definition |
| Ex voto |
According to one's vow |
| Ex |
Out of |
| Excelsior |
Ever upward. (state motto of New York) |
| Exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis |
An exception establishes the rule as to things not excepted |
| Exceptis excipiendis |
Excepting what is to be excepted |
| Excitabat fluctus in simpulo |
He was stirring up billows in a ladle. (He was raising a tempest in a teapot) (Cicero) |
| Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta |
He who excuses himself, accuses himself (qui s'excuse, s'accuse) |
| Exeat |
Permission for a temporary absence |
| Exegi monumentum aere perennius |
I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze. (Horace) |
| Exempli gratia (e.g) |
For the sake of example |
| Exeunt omnes |
All go out. (A common stage direction in plays) |
| Exeunt |
They go out |
| Exit |
He/she goes out |
| Exitus acta probat |
The outcome proves the deeds. (the end justifies the means) (Ovid) |
| Experientia docet stultos |
Experience teaches fools |
| Experientia docet |
Experience is the best teacher |
| Experimentum crucis |
Critical experiment |
| Expressio unius est exclusio alterius |
The mention of one thing may exclude others |
| Extempore |
Without premeditation |
| Exterioris pagina puella |
Cover Girl |
| Extinctus amabitur idem |
The same [hated] man will be loved after he's dead. How quickly we forget. (Horace) |
| Extra ecclesiam nulla salus |
Outside the Church [there is] No Salvation. (A phrase of much disputed significance in Roman Catholic theology) |
| Extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur |
The judgment (or the authority) of one who is exceeding his territorial jurisdiction is disobeyed with impunity |
| Fabas indulcet fames |
Hunger sweetens the beans, or hunger makes everything taste good! |
| Faber est suae quisque fortunae |
Every man is the artisan of his own fortune. (Appius Claudius Caecus) |
| Faber quisque fortunae suae |
Each man (is) the maker of his own fortune |
| Fabricati diem |
Make my day |
| Fac me cocleario vomere! |
Gag me with a spoon! |
| Fac ut nemo me vocet |
Hold my calls |
| Fac ut vivas |
Get a life |
| Facile princeps |
Acknowledged leader |
| Facilis descensvs averno |
The descent to Avernus (Hell) it's easy to fall, hard to rise |
| Facilius est multa facere quam diu |
It is easier to do many things than to do one for a long time. (Quintilianus) |
| Facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur |
We are more easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole. (Seneca) |
| Facito aliquid operis, ut te semper diabolus inveniat occupatum |
Always do something, so that the devil always finds you occupied. (St. Jerome) |
| Facta, non verba |
Deeds, not words. (Actions speak louder than words) |
| Factum est |
It is done |
| Fallaces sunt rerum species |
The appearances of things are deceptive. (Seneca) |
| Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus |
False in one thing, false in all |
| Fama crescit eundo |
The rumour grows as it goes. (Vergil) |
| Fama nihil est celerius |
Nothing is swifter than rumor |
| Fama semper vivat |
May his/her fame last forever |
| Fama volat |
The rumour has wings. (Vergil) |
| Fames est optimus coquus |
Hunger is the best cook |
| Farrago fatigans! |
Thuffering thuccotash! |
| Fas est et ab hoste doceri |
It's proper to learn even from an enemy. (Ovid) |
| Favete linguis |
To keep a (religious) silence. (Horace) |
| Fax mentis incedium gloriae |
The passion of glory is the torch of the mind |
| Fecit (fec.) |
Made by |
| Feles mala! cur cista non uteris? stramentum novum in ea posui |
Bad kitty! Why don't you use the cat box? I put new litter in it |
| Feles mala! |
Bad kitty! |
| Felis qvi nihil debet |
Happy [is] he who owes nothing |
| Felix culpa |
Happy fault |
| Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas |
Happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things. (Vergil) |
| Felo de se |
Suicide |
| Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt |
Men readily believe what they want to believe. (Caesar) |
| Festina lente |
Make haste slowly |
| Fiat justitia (et ruat caelum) |
Let justice be done. (though the heavens fall) |
| Fiat lux |
Let there be light |
| Fiat volvntas tua |
Let Thy will [be done] (Biblical) |
| Fiat |
Let it be done |
| Fide, non armis |
By faith, not arms |
| Fidei defensor |
Defender of the faith |
| Fides punica |
Treachery. (Livy) |
| Fides quaerens intellectum |
Faith seeking understanding |
| Fidus Achates |
Faithful Achates (friend) |
| Filioque |
And from the son |
| Filius nullius |
A bastard |
| Finem respice |
Look to the end [before setting forth] |
| Finis coronat opus |
The ending crowns the work. (Ovid) |
| Finis |
The end |
| Flagrante delicto |
Literally while the crime is blazing. Caught red-handed, in the very act of a crime |
| Flamma fumo est proxima |
Flame follows smoke. (there is no smoke without fire) (Plautus) |
| Floreat regina regina |
May it flourish. (motto of the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada) |
| Floruit |
Flourished |
| Fluctuat nec mergitur |
It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink |
| Fons et origo |
The source and origin |
| Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit |
Perhaps someday we will look back upon these things with joy |
| Forsan miseros meliora sequentur |
For those in misery perhaps better things will follow. (Virgil) |
| Fortes et liber |
Strong and free. (Alberta) |
| Fortes fortuna adiuvat |
Fortune favors the brave. (Terence) |
| Fortes fortuna iuvat |
Fortune favours the brave |
| Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter |
Bravely, faithfully, perhaps successfully |
| Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo |
Resolutely in action, gently in manner. (To do unhesitatingly what must be done but accomplishing it as inoffensively as possible) |
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