Latin Phrases for Academic Use

• ad majorem Dei gloriam – to the greater glory of God (SJ motto)

 

 

• a posteriori – from what comes later

 

• a priori – from what comes before

 

• a verbis ad verbera – from words to blows

 

• ad absurdum – taken to absurd lengths, to an absurd extreme

 

• ad hoc – to this particular purpose

 

• ad hominem – according to the person (argumentum ad hominem is argument directed against a person, attacking their character, rather than the subject matter)

 

• ad infinitum – going on forever

 

• ad interim – for the meantime

 

• ad libitum (ad lib) – as one pleases

 

• ad locum – at the place

 

• ad nauseam – to the point of making one sick

 

• addendum – an item to be added

 

• advocatus diaboli – devil’s advocate (Someone takes a position solely for the sake of a discussion or argument.)

 

• alea iacta est – “The die is cast” (Julius Caesar)

 

• alias – otherwise

 

• alibi – elsewhere

 

• alma mater – nurturing or nourishing mother (refers to the university one has attended)

 

• alter ego – another “I” or another self

 

• alumnus – from the word “alere” meaning to nurture, a graduate of a school or university Feminine form is alumna, plural – alumni.

 

• amicus curiae – friend of the court

 

• amor patriae – love of country

 

• Amor vincit omnia. – love conquers all

 

• anno – year

 

• Anno Domini (A.D.) -in the year of the Lord

 

• anno mundi – in the year of the world

 

• annus horribilis – a horrible year (So Queen Elizabeth II described 1992)

 

• annus mirabilis – year of wonders

 

• ante – before

 

• ante cibum – before meals

 

• ante meridiem (a.m.) – before noon in the period from midnight to noon.

 

• ante mortem – before death

 

• ante prandium – before a meal, especially lunch

 

• antebellum – before the war

 

• aqua vitae – water of life (spirits, wine/brandy)

 

• argumentum ad populum – A fallacious argument; because many people believe something it is not necessarily true

 

• ars gratia artis – art for art’s sake

 

• Artium Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Arts (BA)

 

• Artium Magister – Master of Arts (MA)

 

• Audaces fortuna iuvat – fortune favours the bold

 

• aurora borealis – northern lights

 

• Aut vincere aut mori – either conquer or die

 

• ave atque vale – hello and goodbye

 

• bona fide -in good faith

 

• Carpe diem – seize the day

 

• casus belli – an act used to justify war

 

• causa mortis – cause of death

 

• Caveat – let him/her beware

 

• Caveat emptor – let the buyer beware

 

• Caveat lector – Let the reader beware

 

• circa (ca.) – around or approximately, as used with dates.

 

• circulus vitiosus – vicious circle

 

• citius altius fortius – faster, higher, stronger (the Olympic motto)

 

• cogito ergo sum. – “I think therefore I am” (Rene Descartes)

 

• commune bonum – the common good

 

• compos mentis – of sound mind

 

• consensu omnium – by the agreement of all

 

• consummatum est – it is completed

 

• cui prodest scelus, is fecit. – The one who derives advantage from the crime is the one most likely to have committed it (Seneca).

 

• culpa – a sin

 

• cum – with

 

• cum grano salis – with a grain of salt

 

• cum laude – with praise

 

• curriculum vitae – the course of one’s life (official resumé)

 

• de facto – in fact

 

• de iure – according to law

 

• De mortuis nil nisi bonum – say only good about the dead.

 

• Deo gratias -thanks be to God

 

• deus ex machina – god from the machine (contrived solution to a plot)

 

• de gustibus non est disputandum – there is no arguing tastes

 

• Deus vobiscum – God be with you

 

• divide et impera – divide and conquer

 

• dominus vobiscum – the Lord be with you

 

• dulce et decorum est pro patria mori – it is sweet and honourable to die for one’s country” (Horace)

 

• dum spiro, spero – while I breathe, I hope

 

• e pluribus unum – out of many, the one – motto of the USA

 

• Ecce homo – behold the man

 

• editio princeps – first printed edition

 

• eiusdem generis – of the same kind

 

• emeritus – from merit (used to refer to a retired professor or other office)

 

• eo ipso – by that very act

 

• ergo – therefore ( to show a logical conclusion)

 

• errare humanum est – to err is human

 

• erratum – error

 

• esse quam videri – to be rather than to seem

 

• et alii (et al.) – and others (used to abbreviate a list of names)

 

• et cetera (etc.) – and the rest, and others, and so on or and more

 

• et sequens – and the following

 

• et tu, Brute – “And you, Brutus?” (quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar – supposedly the final words of the assassinated Roman dictator)

 

• ex – out of

 

• ex animo – from the heart (sincerely)

 

• ex cathedra – with authority

 

• ex Deo – from God

 

• ex dolo – intentionally

 

• ex gratia – from kindness or from grace (refers to someone performing an act out of kindness as opposed to being forced to do it)

 

• ex libris -from the books or library of

 

• ex more – according to custom

 

• ex officio – from the office (when one position is held by virtue of holding another, for example, the president of a country is the commander in chief of the armed forces. In the U.S., the vice president is ex officio president of the Senate)

 

• ex post facto – from what is done afterward, of a law with retroactive effect

 

• ex tempore – right away, immediately

 

• excelsior – higher, ever upward (NYS motto)

 

• Exceptio probat regulam -the exception proves the rule

 

• extempore – without premeditation

 

• exempli gratia (e.g.) – for the sake of example, usually translated “for example.”

 

• – They leave.

 

• He/she leaves.

 

• extempore – without premeditation

 

• facile princeps – acknowledged leader

 

• – Make a similar one. (origin of the word fax)

 

• facta, non verba – deeds, not words

 

• Factum est. – It is done.

 

• Fiat – Let it be done.

 

• Fiat lux. – Let there be light.

 

• finis – the end

 

• flagrante delicto – in the act of committing a crime

 

• Flamma fumo est proxima. – There is no smoke without fire.

 

• Fugit hora. – The hour flies.

 

• gloria – glory

 

• gloria in excelsis Deo – glory to God in the highest

 

• Habeas corpus. – You must have the body. (You must justify an imprisonment.)

 

• hic et nunc – here and now

 

• hic iacet – here lies

 

• Homo sum. – I am a man.

 

• honoris causa – for the sake of honor

 

• Horas non numero nisi serenas. – I only count the sunny hours. (common inscription on sundials)

 

• hora somni (h.s.) – at bedtime, literally at the hour of sleep

 

 

• ibidem (ibid.) – in the same place, usually in bibliographic citations.

 

• id est (i.e.) – that is to say, sometimes “in this case,” depending on the context

 

• Ignorantia legis neminem excusat. – Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

 

• imago Dei – image of God

 

• imperium – absolute power

 

• – Let it be printed.
• imprimis – in first place

 

• inter arma silent leges – There is no law on the battlefield”.

 

• in absentia – in the absence of

 

• in articulo mortis – at the moment of death

 

• In camera -in secret (literally “in the chamber”)

 

• Incipit – Begin here.

 

• index librorum prohibitorum – list of forbidden books

 

• in dubio – in doubt

 

• in duplo – in two

 

• in effigie – in (the form of) an image

 

• in esse – in existence

 

• in excelsis – in the highest

 

• in extenso – in long (form) that is complete, unabridged.

 

• in extremis – in extremity

 

• In fidem – to faith

 

• in fine – at the end

 

• In flagrante delicto – In flaming crime (caught in the act)

 

• in flore – in bloom

 

• in foro – in forum (in court)

 

• infra – below, underneath

 

• in futuro – in the future

 

• in infinitum – to infinity

 

• In loco – at the place

 

• in loco parentis – in the place of a parent

 

• In medias res – into the middle of things

 

• in memoriam – in memory of

 

• In nuce – in a nutshell

 

• in perpetuum – for ever

 

• in personam – against the person

 

• in pleno – in full

 

• in praesenti – at the present time

 

• in principio – in the beginning

 

• in propria persona – in person

 

• in puris naturalibus – completely naked

 

• in rem – against the matter (property)

 

• in rerum natura – in the nature of things

 

• In salvo – in safety

 

• in se – in itself

 

• in situ – in position

 

• in totidem verbis – in so many words

 

• in toto – totally,completely

 

• in transitu – in passing

 

• In triplo – in three (copies)

 

• in usu – in use

 

• in utero – in the womb

 

• in vacuo – in a vacuum

 

• in vino veritas. – In wine is truth.

 

• in vitro – in glass

 

• in vivo – in the living (thing)

 

• incredibile dictu – incredible to say

 

• inter alia – among other things

 

• inter alios – among other people

 

• inter se – between themselves

 

• inter spem et metum – between hope and fear

 

• inter vivos – between living (people)

 

• intra muros – within the walls, not public

 

• intra vires – within the powers

 

• Ipsi dixit. – He himself said it.

 

• ipsissima verba – the exact words

 

• ipso facto – by the fact itself

 

• ipso iure – by operation of the law

 

• ius gentium – the law of nations

 

 

• justitia omnibus – justice for all

 

• Not used in Latin

 

• lapsus linguae – a slip of the tongue

 

• lapsus memoriae – a slip of the memory

 

• Laus Deo – Praise be to God.

 

• lex domicilii – the law of a person’s home country

 

• Lex lata – the law as it exists

 

• lex loci – the law of the place

 

• lex non scripta – the unwritten (common) law

 

• lex scripta – the written law

 

• Licentia poetica – Poetic license

 

• literati – men of letters

 

• locus delicti – the scene of the crime

 

• locus in quo – the place in which something happens

 

• Loquitur – He/She speaks.

 

• lumen naturale – natural light

 

• lusus naturae – a freak of nature

 

• lux et veritas – light and truth

 

• lux mundi – the light of the world

 

• Magister Artium (MA) – master of arts

 

• magna cum laude – with great distinction

 

• – It magnifies.

 

• magnum opus – the greatest piece of work

 

• mala fide – in bad faith

 

• manu propria (m.p.) – with one’s own hand

 

• mater – mother

 

• materfamilias – mother of family

 

• mea culpa – through my fault

 

• Memento mori. – Remember that you must die.

 

• memorabilia – memorable things

 

• mens sana in corpore – a healthy mind in a healthy body

 

• millennium (millennia) – a thousand year period

 

• mirabile visu – wonderful to behold

 

• – Have mercy.

 

• modus operandi (m.o.) – way of operating

 

• modus vivendi – way of living

 

• moratorium – a delay

 

• Morituri te salutant. – Those who are about to die salute you.
• Nascentes morimur. – From the moment we are born, we die.

 

• Natura abhorret a vacuo. – Nature abhors a vacuum

 

• ne plus ultra (also non plus ultra) “nothing more beyond” literally, the best or most extreme example of something.

 

• nihil – nothing

 

• nihil per os (n.p.o.) – nothing by mouth

 

• nolens volens – whether unwilling or willing

 

• Noli me tangere. – Touch me not.

 

• nolle prosequi – not willing to prosecute (a legal motion to drop legal charges, usually in exchange for a diversion program or out-of-court settlement)

 

• Nolo contendere – I do not wish to contend. (no contest – a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states the accused doesn’t admit guilt but will accept punishment for a crime.)

 

• non mihi solum �not for myself alone

 

• non sequitur – it does not follow

 

• Nota bene (n.b.) Note it well.

 

• nulli secundus – second to none

 

• nunc pro tunc – now for then (effective from an earlier date)

 

• tempora, O mores! – “Oh the times! Oh the morals!” (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

 

• oculus dexter (O.D.) – right eye

 

• oculus sinister (O.S.) – left eye

 

• Oderint dum metuant ~ Let them hate so long as they fear. Lucius Accius Better known perhaps as one of Caligula’s favorite sayings

 

• Odi et amo. I hate (her) and I love (her) (-Catullus)

 

• Omnia vincit amor – Love conquers all.

 

• onus probandi – the burden of proof

 

• opera omnia – all works (the collected works of an author)

 

• opere citato (op.cit) – in the cited work

 

• ophidia in herba – a snake in the grass (hidden danger or unknown risk)

 

• opus Dei – the work of God

 

• panem et circenses – bread and circuses

 

• pari passu – with equal step (moving together, simultaneously)

 

• pater noster – our father

 

• paterfamilias – father of the family

 

• paucis verbis – in a few words

 

• pax – peace

 

• Pax vobiscum. – Peace be with you.

 

• per annum – yearly

 

• per capita – per head (per person)

 

• per cent – per hundred

 

• per diem – daily

 

• per os (p.o.) – by mouth

 

• per se – by itself

 

• per qod – by virtue of and depending on external facts e.g. a libel would only be valid if the accuser were truly of good character. Opposite of per se.

 

• per stirpes – per branch (used in wills to indicate that each branch of the testator’s family should inherit equally)

 

• persona non grata – person not wanted,

 

• post bellum – after the war

 

• post cibum (p.c.) – after meals

 

• post facto – after the fact

 

• post hoc – after this

 

• Post hoc ergo procter hoc – A logical fallacy of ascribing causatiuon when it is not justified.

 

• post meridiem (pm) – after midday, from noon to midnight

 

• post mortem – after death

 

• post partum – after childbirth

 

• Post prandial – after eating.

 

• post scriptum (ps) – written later, used to mark additions to a letter after the signature.

 

• prima facie – at first sight

 

• Primum non nocere. “First, do no harm.” (Hippocrates)

 

• primus inter pares – first among equals

 

• pro bono (pro bono publico) – for the good of the public said of a lawyer’s work that is not charged for.

 

• pro forma – as a matter of form, formality

 

• pro nunc – for now

 

• pro patria – for one’s country

 

• pro rata – for the rate, (in proportion to the value)

 

• pro re nata (prn) – as needed

 

• pro tempore – for the time being, (temporary)

 

• Probatum est – It has been proved.

 

• punctum saliens – the outstanding (essential or most notable) point

 

• qua – in so far as

 

• Quaere verum. – Seek the truth.

 

• quaque die (qd) – every day

 

• quaque hora (qh) – every hour

 

• quaque mane (qm) – every morning

 

• quaque nocte (qn) – every night

 

• quater in die (qid) – four times a day

 

• Quem deus vult perdere, dementat prius – Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad

 

• Qui tacet consentit. – Who keeps silent, consents.

 

• quid pro quo – this for that (a favor for a favor)

 

• Quidnunc? or Quid nunc? – What now? (noun: a busybody or a gossip)

 

• Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Who will guard the guardians?

 

• quo iure – by what law

 

• Quo vadis – Where are you going?

 

• quod erat demonstrandum (QED) – which was to be demonstrated

 

• Quod est (qe) – which is

 

• quorum – of whom

 

• re – concerning

 

• redivivus – come back to life

 

• reductio ad absurdum – reduction to the absurd

 

• referendum – something to be referred

 

• regina – queen

 

• Requiescat in pace. – (RIP) May he/she rest in peace.

 

• Res ipsa loquitur. – The thing speaks for itself.

 

• res iudicata- a judged thing (Legal concept: once a matter has been finally decided by the courts, it cannot be litigated again.)

 

• rex – king

 

• rigor mortis – the rigidity of death

 

• salve – hello

 

• satis – enough

 

• scilicet (s.c.) – that is to say

 

• – He/She wrote it.

 

• semper fidelis (Semper Fi) always faithful

 

• semper paratus – always prepared.

 

• sequens (seq) – the following (one)

 

• sic – thus (this is the way it was put – when quoting someone)

 

• Si vis pacem, para bellum – if you wish for peace, prepare for war

 

• Sic vita est – such is life.

 

• Signetur (sig) – let it be labeled.

 

• sine anno (s.a.) – without year (unknown publication date)

 

• sine cura – without a care

 

• sine die – without a day (indefinitely)

 

• sine qua non – something/someone indispensable

 

• sine loco (sl) – without place

 

• sine prole (sp) – without issue

 

• statim (stat) – immediately

 

• Sola scriptura – the idea that the holy book is doctrinally infallible and all required knowledge is to be found therein (theological concept.)

 

• solum Deum prae oculis habentes – having only God before your eyes

 

• status quo – the current state of affairs

 

• Stet – Let it stand. (marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or marked for deletion should be retained)

 

• stricto sensu – in the strict sense

 

• stupor mundi – wonder of the world

 

• sub poena – under penalty of law

 

• sub rosa – under the rose (secretly)

 

• sui generis – of his/her/its own kind

 

• sui juris – of one’s own right (capable of legal responsibility)

 

• summa cum laude – with highest praise

 

• summum bonum – the highest good

 

• summum malum – the supreme evil

 

• Sunt omnes unum. – They are all one.

 

• suo iure – in one’s own right

 

• suo loco – in a person’s rightful place

 

• supra – above

 

• tabula rasa – blank tablet or slate

 

• tacet – silence

 

• tempore – in the time of

 

• Tempus fugit. – Time flees.

 

• terra firma – solid ground

 

• terra incognita – unknown land

 

• ter in die (t.i.d.) – three times a day

 

 

• ut dictum – as directed

 

• unus multorum – one of many (an average person)

 

• Vade in pace. – Go in peace.

 

• vale – farewell

 

• Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas. – “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes, 1:2)

 

• Veni, vidi, vici. – I came, I saw, I conquered.

 

• vera causa – the true cause (of)

 

• verbatim et litteratim – word for word and letter for letter

 

• verbum sapienti sat est – A word is enough to the wise.

 

• veritas – truth

 

 

• veritas lux mundi – truth is light of the world

 

• veritas nunquam perit – truth never dies.

 

• veritas vos liberabit – the truth will set you free.

 

• versus (vs.) – against

 

• veto – I forbid (a right to unilaterally stop a certain piece of legislation)

 

• via – by way of

 

• vice – in place of

 

• vice versa – with places exchanged (in reverse order)

 

• vide – see

 

• Vis legis – force of the law

 

• Vivat regina – Long live the queen.

 

• Vivat rex – Long live the king.

 

• vox populi – voice of the people