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A
a capite ad calcem - from head to toe (lit. from head to heel)
a cruce salus - salvation from the cross
a Deo et rege - from God and the king
a die - from that day
ab incunabulis - from the cradle
ab initio - from the beginning
ab intra - from within
ab origine - from the beginning
ab ovo - from the beginning (lit. from the egg)
ab ovo usque ad malas - from beginning to end (lit. from the egg to the apples - as at a banquet)
ab uno disce omnes - from one, learn of all others
ab urbe condita - from the founding of the city (of Rome)
absens hoeres non erit - out of sight out of mind (lit. the absent will not be heir) absente reo - the accused being absent)
absit invidia - envy apart (lit. let ill-will be absent)
ad aperturam - at the opening, wherever it opens
ad arbitrium - at pleasure
ad calendas Graecas - never (lit. at the Greek calends - not in their calendar)
ad captandum vulgus - to please the crowd
ad extremum - to extremes, to the last
ad finem - to the end
ad gustum - to one's taste
ad hoc - for a specific purpose
ad hominem - arguing to the emotions and not to reason (lit. to the man)
ad infinitum - on and on (lit. to infinity)
ad instar - in the fashion of
ad interim - in the meantime, meantime
ad internecionem - to the last (lit. to extermination)
ad libitum - at pleasure
ad locum - at the place
ad majorem Dei gloriam - to the greater glory of God (the motto of the Jesuit order)
ad valorem - to the (correct) value
adhuc sub judice lis est - the matter is still undecided and not to be interfered with from the outside (lit. the case is still before the judge)
altius citius fortius - higher, faster, stronger (motto of the modern Olympic Games)
anno - in the year
anno mundi - in the year of the world
anno urbis conditae- from the founding of the city (of Rome)
ante meridiem - before noon, in the morning
ars gratia artis - art for the sake of art (the motto of film-makers MGM)
Artium Magister - master of arts
Ave Maria - Hail Mary (the first words of a Catholic prayer)
B
bella matribus detetsta - wars hated by mothers
bellum internecinum - a war of extermination
bene orasse est bene studuisse - to have prayed well is to have studied well
bene placet - it meets with approval (lit. it pleases well)
bis dat qui cito dat - who give quickly gives twice
bis pueri senes - old men are boys twice
bona fide - in good faith
bona fides - in law, sincerity or the honest intention (lit. good faith)
brevi manu - extemporaneouly, without thought or preparation (lit. with a short hand)
brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio - I become obscure when I try to be brief
brutum fulmen - a harmless thunderbolt
C
cadit questio - there is no more discussion on an issue (lit. the question /proposition falls)
caeca est invidia - envy is blind
caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt (lit. they change their sky but not their feeling who go overseas)
caetera desunt -here there is a break in proceedings (lit. the rest is wanting)
caeteris paribus - all things being equal
candida pax - white (robed) peace
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator - the penniless have nothing to lose (lit. the destitute will sing before the highway robber)
cantate Domino - sing ye to the Lord
caput mortuum - worthless residue (lit. a dead head)
carent quia vate sacro - they lose out with no poet (to sing their praises)
carpe diem - take the opportunity, enjoy the day (lit. grasp the day)
casus belli - what justifies or causes war (lit. a case of war)
causa sine qua non - an essential condition (lit. a condition without which)
cave canem - beware (of) the dog
caveat emptor - let the buyer beware
cavendo tutus - safe through caution
cedant arma togae - let the military yield to the civil (lit. let arms yield to togas)
censor morum - a censor of morals
cetera desunt -here there is a break in proceedings (lit. the rest is wanting)
ceteris paribus - all things being equal
clarior e tenebris - clearer from obscurity
clarum et venerabile nomen - a famous and venerable name
cocullus non facit monachum - don't trust appearances (lit. the cowl does not make the monk)
cogito, ergo sum - I think, therefore I am/exist.
comitas inter gentes - politeness between nations
commune bonum - a /the common good
commune periculum concordia parit - a common danger begets harmony
communi consensu - by common consent
communibus annis - on an annual average
componere lites - to settle quarrels /cases at law
compos mentis - sound of mind
compos voti - having obtained one's wish
concio ad clerum - preaching to the converted (lit. a sermon to the clergy)
concordia discors - discordant harmony
confido et conquiesco - I trust and am at peace
coniunctis viribus - with united powers
consensus facit legem - consent makes laws
consilio et animis - by wisdom and courage
consilio et prudentia - by wisdom and prudence
constantia et virtute - through constancy and bravery/virtue
consuetudo pro lege servatur - custom is held as law
contra bona mores - against good manners
copia verborum - a (rich) supply of words
coram nobis - in our presence, before us
coram non judice - before one who is not a proper judge
coram populo - before the people
corrigenda - things to be corrected /amended
corruptio optimie pessima - a corruption of what is best is the worst (one of all)
cos ingeniorum - a flint for wits
crambe repetita - a truism /old joke repeated (lit. cabbage repeated)
credat Judeus Apella - tell that to the marines (lit. let Apella the Jew believe that)
crede quod habes, et habes - believe that you have it, and you do
credo quia absurdum - I believe it because it is absurd
credo quia impossible est - I believe it because it is impossible
crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crescit - the love of wealth grows as one's money does
crescit eundo - it increases as it goes
crescit sub pondere virtus - virtue increases under oppression (the McCann family motto)
crimen falsi - the crime of perjury (lit. the crime of falsehood)
crimen laesae majestatis - leze-majesty, the crimen of high treason (lit. the crime of injury of the monarch)
crux - a puzzle, a difficulty (lit. a cross)
crux criticorum - the puzzle of critics
crux mediocorum - a puzzle for medical doctors
cui bono - to what good, to whose advantage, to what end
cui fortuna ipsa cedit - to whom Fortune herself yields
cuilibet in arte sua credendum est - each man in his own specialisation is to be believed
culpam poena premit comes - punishment comes hard on the heels of crime
cum bona venia - by your kind leave /permission
cum grano salis - with a grain of salt
cum multis aliis - with many others
cum notis variorum - with the notes of various (commentators)
cum privilegio - with licence /privilege from authority
curiosa felicitas - a happy expression / turn of phrase
currente calamo - with a hasty /rapid hand (lit. with a running pen)
custos morum - the guardian of morals /manners
D
da locum melioribus - give way to your betters
damnant quod non intelligunt - they condemn what they do not understand
dare pondus fumo - to give imporance to trivia (lit. to give weight to smoke)
data et accepta - expenses and receipts
date obolum Belesario - to help the poor (lit. to give a farthing to Belesarius)
Davus sum, non Oedipus - I am bad at puzzles (lit. I am Davus, not Oedipus)
de bono augure - with a good omen /sign
deceptio visus - an optical illusion
decet verecundum esse adolescentum - it becomes a young person to be modest
decies repetita placebit - repeated ten times, it will still please
decipimur specie recti - we are deceived by the show of righteousness
decori decus addit avito - he adds distinction to his ancestry
de die in diem - from day to day
de facto - in fact, in point of fact, actually
de gustibus non est disputandum - there is no accounting for taste (lit. there is no disputing after taste)
Dei gratia - by the grace of God
de integro - from the beginning, from the start, afresh, anew
de jure - by right, by law
delenda est Cartago - Carthage must be destroyed (lit. deleted)
de minimis non curat lex - the law does not concern itself with trivia
de mortuis, nihil nisi bonum - (speak) of the dead, nothing but good
de nihilo, nihil fit - from nothing, nothing is made
de novo - afresh, anew
de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis - of all and certain other things
de profundis - from /out of the depths (first words of Psalm 129)
Deo adjuvante - with God assisting
Deo duce- with God as leader
Deo favente - God favouring
Deo gratias - thanks (be) to God
Deo juvante - with God helping, with God's help
Deo volente - God willing, by God's will
Deo, non fortuna - from God, not from chance
desunt caetera - there is more to follow (lit. the rest is wanting)
detur digniori - let it be given to the more worthy
detur pulchriori - let it be given to more beautify
Deus advertat - God forbid!
Deus ex machina - a solution for the impossible problem (lit. God from a machine)
Deus vobiscum! - God be with you
Deus vult - God wishes it
dictum factum - no sooner said than done (lit. said done)
dies non - a day on which a court does not sit
digito mostrari - a person of note (lit. with the finger to be pointed out)
dignus vindice nodus - a difficulty worthy of note
Dii majorum gentium - the twelve Gods of the upper (Roman) classes
Dii penates - the (Roman) household Gods
Diis aliter visum - fate willed /thought differently (lit. seen otherwise by the Gods) divide et impera - divide and rule
do ut des - I give so that you may give, reciprocal arrangement
docendo discimus - by teaching, we learn
Dominus vobiscum - the Lord be with you
domus et placens uxor - a house and a pleasing wife
dramatis personae - (the cast of) characters in a play
ducit amor patriae - the love of country leads (me on)
dulce domum - back homewards, sweet home
dulce est disipere in loco - it is pleasant (at times) to play the fool
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - it is pleasant and proper to die for the county (first line of Horace's Ode, II,13)
dum spiro, spero - where there's life, there's hope (lit. while I breathe, I hope)
dum vivimus, vivamus - live life to the full (lit. while we live, let us live)
durante bene placito - at the pleasure of (lit. during good pleasure)
durante vita - for life (lit. during life)
E
e contra - on the other hand (lit. from against)
e pluribus unum - from many, one (the motto of the United States of America)
e re nata - according to the need (lit. born from the thing)
Ecce homo! - behold the man (Pontius Pilate's words about Christ, cf. Jn. 19,5)
Ecce signum" - behold the sign
editio princeps - the first printed edition of a book
ego et rex meus - my king and I
Eheu! - alas!
elapso tempore - the time having elapsedc emeritus /emerita - retired or pensioned off male /female after long and faithful service
eo animo - with that purpose (lit. with that mind)
eo nomine - by that name
epulis accumbere divum - to sit at the banquet of the gods
ererpta - extracts
errare humanum est - to err is human
errata - errors noted and corrected
erratum - an error noted and corrected
esse, quam videri - to see, rather than to seem (be seen) to be
est modus in rebus - there is a middle way /medium in (all) things
esto quod esse videris - be what you seem to be
et caetera - and so on (lit. and the rest)
et cetera - and so on (lit. and the rest)
et hoc genus omne - and everything of the kind
et id genus omen - and everything of the kind
et sequentes / et sequentia - and the following
et sic de ceteris - and so of the rest
et sic de similibus - and so of the similar
et tu, Brute - and you (as well), Brutus (Julius Caesar's words to his murderer)
eventus stultorum magister - fools are taught by results (lit. events (are) the teacher of fools)
ex - from, out of (Latin preposition)
ex abrupto - suddenly
ex abundantia - out of abundance, generosity
ex adverso - on the other side
ex aequo et bono - from what is fair and good
ex animo - sincerely, honestly (lit. from the spirit)
ex auctoritate mihi comissa - by virtue of the authority entrusted on me
ex capite - from memory (lit. from the head)
ex cathedra - with (Papal) teaching authority (lit. from the chair)
ex concesso - from what has been conceded in the argument
ex curia - out of court
ex delicto - from the crime
ex dono - by way of gift (lit. from the gift)
ex facto jus oritur - the law spings from the fact
ex gratia - as a favour rather than as a right or obligation (lit. from a favour)
ex hypothesi - a proposition without assumption (lit. from a hypothesis)
ex libris - a label pasted on the front page of a book by the owner (lit. out of the books)
ex mera gratia - by mere favour
ex mero motu - by (one's own) free will /impulse
ex more - according to custom
ex necessitate rei - from the need /necessity of the matter
ex nihilo - our of nothing
ex offico - by right attaching to a position, status or office (lit. from the office)
ex opere operato - by the outward acts
ex parte - a petition by one interested party in a legal case (lit. from the side of)
ex pede Herculem - we calculate the whole from the sample (lit. from the foot, Hercules)
ex post facto - retroactively, with retrospective force (lit. from an after deed)
ex professo - admittedly (lit. professedly)
ex propriis - from /out of one's own (means / resources)
ex quocunque capite - for whatever reason
ex silentio - in the absence of contrary evidence (lit. out of silence)
ex tacito - silently, tacitly
ex tempore - on the spur of the moment (lit. out of time)
ex ungue, leonem - we calculate the whole from the sample (lit. from the nail, the lion)
ex uno, discunt omnes - from one, all learn
ex usu - by use
ex vi termini - by virtue /force of the word /term
ex voto - by vow, according to a prayer /vow, an action following a promise (lit. out of a vow)
excelsior - higher, taller
exceptio probat regulam - the exception proves the rule
excreta - body wastes, especially urine and faeces
exeat - a permission to leave a college or diocese
Exegi monumentum aere perennius - I have raised a monument more lasting than brass (the first line of Horace's Ode III, 30) exempla sunt odiosa - examples are odious /offensive
exempli gratia - by way of example
exit - a door to leave a building (lit. he/she went out)
exitus acta probat - the outcome proves the deeds
experientia docet stultos - experience teaches fools
experimentum crucis - a trying matter /trial (lit. an experiment of the cross)
experto crede - believe in the expert
expertus metuit - having experience it, he now fears it
extinctus amabitur idem - dead, he will be loved the same
F
fugaces labuntur anni - the fleeting years pass by
G
gratis - without charge, for free
I
imprimi potest - it is allowed to be published
imprimatur - a Catholic ecclesiastical permission of a work to be published (lit., it may be published), by extension - an official approval
M
mutatis mutandis - the necessary things having been changed
N
nihil obstat - nothing stands in the way (of the work being published), ecclesiatical approval for a work to be printed.
P
pace - by consent /permission /leave of, not to give offence to
pace tua - by you leave /consent /permission
per capita - by head of population (L. caput, head, plural, capita) Usually used in the plural in economic matters. per caput - by head (of population).
pro bono - for free, no charge, (lit. for the good)
Q
quondam - sometime in the past, formerly, once.
S
scilicet - namely, to wit (abbreviated at times to sc. or scil.)(q.v.)
sine qua non - an essential condition - abbreviation of 'causa sine qua non', (q.v.)
sub judice - popular abbreviated form of adhuc sub judice lis est (q.v.)
V
Vade Mecum - a prayer book for journeys (lit. Go with me)
versus - Latin preposition 'against', used in games Team A -v- Team B.
