a posteriori
|
from the latter -- knowledge or justification is dependent
on experience or empirical evidence
|
a priori
|
from what comes before -- knowledge or justification is
independent of experience
|
faber est suae quisque fortunae
|
every man is the artisan of his own fortune --
quote by Appius Claudius Caecus |
acta non verba
|
deeds, not words
|
ad hoc
|
to this -- improvised or made up
|
ad hominem
|
to the man -- below-the-belt personal attack rather than a
reasoned argument
|
ad honorem
|
for honor
|
ad infinitum
|
to infinity
|
ad nauseam
|
used to describe an argument that has been taking place to
the point of nausea
|
ad victoriam
|
to victory -- more commonly
translated into "for victory," this was a battle cry of the Romans
|
alea iacta est
|
the die has been cast
|
alias
|
at another time -- an assumed name or pseudonym
|
alibi
|
elsewhere
|
alma mater
|
nourishing mother -- used to denote one's
college/university
|
amor patriae
|
love of one's country
|
amor vincit omnia
|
love conquers all
|
annuit cœptis
|
He (God) nods at things being
begun -- or "he approves our undertakings," motto on the reverse of
the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States
one-dollar bill
|
ante bellum
|
before the war -- commonly
used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period
preceding the American Civil War
|
ante meridiem
|
before noon -- A.M., used in timekeeping
|
aqua vitae
|
water of life -- used to refer to various native distilled
beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in
Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in France
|
arte et marte
|
by skill and valour
|
astra inclinant, sed non obligant
|
the stars incline us, they do
not bind us -- refers to the strength of free will over astrological
determinism
|
audemus jura nostra defendere
|
we dare to defend our rights -- state motto of Alabama
|
audere est facere
|
to dare is to do
|
audio
|
I hear
|
aurea mediocritas
|
golden mean -- refers to the
ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes
|
auribus teneo lupum
|
I hold a wolf by the ears --
a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation
where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version is,
"to have a tiger by the tail"
|
aut cum scuto aut in scuto
|
either with shield or on shield -- do or die, "no
retreat"; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for
battle
|
aut neca aut necare
|
either kill or be killed
|
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
|
I will either find a way or make one -- said by Hannibal,
the great ancient military commander
|
barba non facit philosophum
|
a beard doesn't make one a philosopher
|
bellum omnium contra omnes
|
war of all against all
|
bis dat qui cito dat
|
he gives twice, who gives
promptly -- a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts
|
bona fide
|
good faith
|
bono malum superate
|
overcome evil with good
|
carpe diem
|
seize the day
|
caveat emptor
|
let the buyer beware -- the purchaser is responsible for checking
whether the goods suit his need
|
circa
|
around, or approximately
|
citius altius fortius
|
faster, higher, stronger -- modern Olympics motto
|
cogito ergo sum
|
"I think therefore I am" -- famous quote by Rene
Descartes
|
contemptus mundi/saeculi
|
scorn for the world/times --
despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher's rejection of a mundane
life and worldly values
|
corpus christi
|
body of Christ
|
corruptissima re publica plurimae leges
|
when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most
numerous -- said by Tacitus
|
creatio ex nihilo
|
creation out of nothing -- a concept about creation, often
used in a theological or philosophical context
|
cura te ipsum
|
take care of your own self --
an exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own
problems before addressing those of others
|
curriculum vitae
|
the course of one's life -- in business, a lengthened
resume
|
de facto
|
from the fact -- distinguishing what's supposed to be from
what is reality
|
deo volente
|
God willing
|
deus ex machina
|
God out of a machine -- a term meaning a conflict is
resolved in improbable or implausible ways
|
dictum factum
|
what is said is done
|
disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus
|
learn as if you're always going to live; live as if
tomorrow you're going to die
|
discendo discimus
|
while teaching we learn
|
docendo disco, scribendo cogito
|
I learn by teaching, think by writing
|
ductus exemplo
|
leadership by example
|
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt
|
the fates lead the willing
and drag the unwilling -- attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca
|
dulce bellum inexpertis
|
war is sweet to the inexperienced
|
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
|
it is sweet and fitting to die for your country
|
dulcius ex asperis
|
sweeter after difficulties
|
e pluribus unum
|
out of many, one -- on the U.S. seal, and was once the
country's de facto motto
|
emeritus
|
veteran -- retired from office
|
ergo
|
therefore
|
et alii
|
and others -- abbreviated et al.
|
et cetera
|
and the others
|
et tu, Brute?
|
last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus
in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," used today to convey utter
betrayal
|
ex animo
|
from the heart -- thus,
"sincerely"
|
ex libris
|
from the library of -- to mark books from a library
|
ex nihilo
|
out of nothing
|
ex post facto
|
from a thing done afterward
-- said of a law with retroactive effect
|
fac fortia et patere
|
do brave deeds and endure
|
fac simile
|
make alike -- origin of the word "fax"
|
flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo
|
if I cannot move heaven I
will raise hell -- Virgil's Aeneid
|
fortes fortuna adiuvat
|
fortune favors the bold
|
fortis in arduis
|
strong in difficulties
|
gloria in excelsis Deo
|
glory to God in the highest
|
habeas corpus
|
you should have the body -- a
legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general
term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their
detention
|
habemus papam
|
we have a pope -- used after
a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to
elect a new pope
|
historia vitae magistra
|
history, the teacher of life
-- from Cicero; also "history is the mistress of life"
|
hoc est bellum
|
this is war
|
homo unius libri (timeo)
|
(I fear) a man of one book --
attributed to Thomas Aquinas
|
honor virtutis praemium
|
esteem is the reward of virtue
|
hostis humani generis
|
enemy of the human race --
Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general
|
humilitas occidit superbiam
|
humility conquers pride
|
igne natura renovatur integra
|
through fire, nature is
reborn whole
|
ignis aurum probat
|
fire tests gold -- a phrase
referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances
|
in absentia
|
in the absence
|
in aqua sanitas
|
in water there is health
|
in flagrante delicto
|
in flaming crime -- caught red-handed, or in the act
|
in memoriam
|
into the memory -- more commonly "in memory of"
|
in omnia paratus
|
ready for anything
|
in situ
|
in position -- something that
exists in an original or natural state
|
in toto
|
in all or entirely
|
in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus
|
then we will fight in the shade -- made famous by Spartans
in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300
|
in utero
|
in the womb
|
in vitro
|
in glass -- biological process that occurs in the lab
|
incepto ne desistam
|
may I not shrink from my purpose
|
intelligenti pauca
|
few words suffice for he who understands
|
invicta
|
unconquered
|
invictus maneo
|
I remain unvanquished
|
ipso facto
|
by the fact itself -- something is true by its very nature
|
labor omnia vincit
|
hard work conquers all
|
laborare pugnare parati sumus
|
to work, (or) to fight; we are ready
|
labore et honore
|
by labor and honor
|
leges sine moribus vanae
|
laws without morals [are] vain
|
lex parsimoniae
|
law of succinctness -- also
known as Occam's Razor, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one
|
lex talionis
|
the law of retaliation
|
magna cum laude
|
with great praise
|
magna est vis consuetudinis
|
great is the power of habit
|
magnum opus
|
great work -- said of
someone's masterpiece
|
mala fide
|
in bad faith -- said of an
act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or
mislead someone; opposite of bona fide
|
malum in se
|
wrong in itself -- a legal
term meaning that something is inherently wrong
|
malum prohibitum
|
wrong due to being prohibited -- a legal term meaning that
something is only wrong because it is against the law
|
mea culpa
|
my fault
|
meliora
|
better things -- carrying the
connotation of "always better"
|
memento mori
|
remember that [you will] die -- was whispered by a servant
into the ear of a victorious Roman general to check his pride as he paraded
through cheering crowds after a victory; a genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of
his death
|
memento vivere
|
remember to live
|
memores acti prudentes futuri
|
mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be
|
modus operandi
|
method of operating -- abbreviated M.O.
|
montani semper liberi
|
mountaineers [are] always free -- state motto of West
Virginia
|
morior invictus
|
death before defeat
|
morituri te salutant
|
those who are about to die salute you -- popularized as a
standard salute from gladiators to the emperor, but only recorded once in
Roman history
|
morte magis metuenda senectus
|
old age should rather be feared than death
|
mulgere hircum
|
to milk a male goat -- to attempt the impossible
|
multa paucis
|
say much in few words
|
nanos gigantum humeris insidentes
|
dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants -- commonly
known by the letters of Isaac Newton: "If I have seen further it is by
standing on the shoulders of giants"
|
nec aspera terrent
|
they don't terrify the rough ones -- frightened by no
difficulties, less literally "difficulties be damned"
|
nec temere nec timide
|
neither reckless nor timid
|
nil volentibus arduum
|
nothing [is] arduous for the willing
|
nolo contendere
|
I do not wish to contend -- that is, "no
contest"; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court
that states that the accused doesn't admit guilt, but will accept punishment
for a crime
|
non ducor, duco
|
I am not led; I lead
|
non loqui sed facere
|
not talk but action
|
non progredi est regredi
|
to not go forward is to go backward
|
non scholae, sed vitae discimus
|
we learn not for school, but for life -- from Seneca
|
non sequitur
|
it does not follow -- in general, a comment which is
absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather than due to being
inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent), often used in humor
|
non sum qualis eram
|
I am not such as I was -- or
"I am not the kind of person I once was"
|
nosce te ipsum
|
know thyself -- from Cicero
|
novus ordo seclorum
|
new order of the ages -- from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal
of the United States
|
nulla tenaci invia est via
|
for the tenacious, no road is impassable
|
obliti privatorum, publica curate
|
forget private affairs, take
care of public ones -- Roman political saying which reminds that common good
should be given priority over private matters for any person having a
responsibility in the State
|
panem et circenses
|
bread and circuses --
originally described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman
mob; today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public
attention from more important matters
|
para bellum
|
prepare for war -- if you want peace, prepare for war—if a
country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack
|
parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus
|
when you are steeped in little
things, you shall safely attempt great things -- sometimes translated as,
"once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones
safely"
|
pater familias
|
father of the family -- the eldest male in a family
|
pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina
|
if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you
don't, money is your master
|
per angusta ad augusta
|
through difficulties to greatness
|
per annum
|
by the year
|
per capita
|
by the person
|
per diem
|
by the day
|
per se
|
through itself
|
persona non grata
|
person not pleasing -- an unwelcome, unwanted or
undesirable person
|
pollice verso
|
with a turned thumb -- used by Roman crowds to pass
judgment on a defeated gladiator
|
post meridiem
|
after noon -- P.M., used in timekeeping
|
post mortem
|
after death
|
postscriptum
|
thing having been written afterward -- in writing,
abbreviated P.S.
|
praemonitus praemunitus
|
forewarned is forearmed
|
praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes
|
lead in order to serve, not in order to rule
|
primus inter pares
|
first among equals -- a title
of the Roman Emperors
|
pro bono
|
for the good -- in business, refers to services rendered
at no charge
|
pro rata
|
for the rate
|
quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu
|
it is how well you live that matters, not how long -- from
Seneca
|
quasi
|
as if or as though
|
qui totum vult totum perdit
|
he who wants everything loses everything -- attributed to
Seneca
|
quid agis
|
what's going on? -- what's up, what's happening, etc.
|
quid pro quo
|
this for that -- an exchange of value
|
quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur
|
whatever has been said in Latin seems deep -- or
"anything said in Latin sounds profound"; a recent ironic Latin
phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations
only to make themselves sound more important or "educated"
|
quis custodiet ipsos
custodes?
|
who will guard the guards themselves? -- commonly
associated with Plato
|
quorum
|
of whom -- the number of
members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting
constitutional
|
requiescat in pace
|
let him rest in peace -- abbreviated R.I.P.
|
rigor mortis
|
stiffness of death
|
scientia ac labore
|
knowledge through hard work
|
scientia ipsa potentia est
|
knowledge itself is power
|
semper anticus
|
always forward
|
semper fidelis
|
always faithful -- U.S. Marines motto
|
semper fortis
|
always brave
|
semper paratus
|
always prepared
|
semper virilis
|
always virile
|
si vales, valeo
|
when you are strong, I am strong
|
si vis pacem, para bellum
|
if you want peace, prepare for war
|
sic parvis magna
|
greatness from small beginnings -- motto of Sir Frances
Drake
|
sic semper tyrannis
|
thus always to tyrants -- attributed to Brutus at the time
of Julius Caesar's assassination, and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of
Abraham Lincoln's assassination; whether it was actually said at either of
these events is disputed
|
sic vita est
|
thus is life -- the ancient version of "it is what it
is"
|
sola fide
|
by faith alone
|
sola nobilitat virtus
|
virtue alone ennobles
|
solvitur ambulando
|
|
spes bona
|
good hope
|
statim (stat)
|
immediately -- medical shorthand
|
status quo
|
the situation in which or current condition
|
subpoena
|
under penalty
|
sum quod eris
|
I am what you will be -- a gravestone inscription to
remind the reader of the inevitability of death
|
summa cum laude
|
with highest praise
|
summum bonum
|
the supreme good
|
suum cuique
|
to each his own
|
tabula rasa
|
scraped tablet -- "blank slate"; John Locke used
the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any
knowledge
|
tempora heroica
|
Heroic Age
|
tempus edax rerum
|
time, devourer of all things
|
tempus fugit
|
time flees -- commonly mistranslated "time
flies"
|
terra firma
|
firm ground
|
terra incognita
|
unknown land -- used on old maps to show unexplored areas
|
vae victis
|
woe to the conquered
|
vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas
|
vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity -- from the
Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)
|
veni vidi vici
|
I came, I saw, I conquered -- famously said by Julius
Caesar
|
verbatim
|
repeat exactly
|
veritas et aequitas
|
truth and equity
|
versus
|
against
|
veto
|
I forbid
|
vice versa
|
to change or turn around
|
vincit qui patitur
|
he conquers who endures
|
vincit qui se vincit
|
he conquers who conquers himself
|
vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
|
[a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind
|
virile agitur
|
the manly thing is being done
|
viriliter agite
|
act in a manly way
|
viriliter agite estote fortes
|
quit ye like men, be strong
|
virtus tentamine gaudet
|
strength rejoices in the challenge
|
virtute et armis
|
by virtue and arms -- or
"by manhood and weapons"; state motto of Mississippi
|
vive memor leti
|
live remembering death
|
vivere est vincere
|
to live is to conquer --
Captain John Smith's personal motto
|
vivere militare est
|
to live is to fight
|
vox populi
|
voice of the people
|
Reports reaching Nairametrics indicates the CBN has instructed bidders at its Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) to increase their b...
