Latin Phrases

pro aris et focis

For altars and hearths The motto of the Royal Queensland Regiment, and many other regiments.

quousque tandem?

For how much longer? From Cicero's first speech In Catilinam to the Roman Senate regarding the conspiracy of Catiline: Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? ("For how much longer, Catiline, will you abuse our patience?").

scientiae et patriae

For science and fatherland Motto of University of Latvia

nulla tenaci invia est via

For the tenacious, no road is impassable Motto of the Dutch car builder Spyker.

hoc est enim corpus meum

For this is my Body The words of Jesus reiterated in Latin during the Roman Catholic Eucharist. Sometimes simply written as "Hoc est corpus meum" or "This is my body".

hominem pagina nostra sapit

It is of man that my page smells From Martial's Epigrams, Book 10, No. 4, Line 10; stating his purpose in writing.

cucullus non facit monachum

The hood does not make the monk William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Scene I, Act V 48-50

sine poena nulla lex

Without penalty, there is no law Refers to the ineffectiveness of a law without the means of enforcement

nec vi, nec clam, nec precario

Without permission, without secrecy, without interruption The law of adverse possession

sine prole superstite

Without surviving children Without surviving offspring (even in abstract terms)

ira furor brevis est

Wrath (anger) is but a brief madness

rem acu tetigisti

You have touched the point with a needle i.e., "You have hit the nail on the head"

et cetera (etc. (US English); etc (UK English)) or (&c. (US); &c (UK))

and the rest In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or "and more".

et uxor (et ux.)

and wife A legal term.

et cum spiritu tuo

and with your spirit A response in the Sursum corda element of the Catholic Mass.

nec tamen consumebatur

and yet it was not consumed Refers to the Burning Bush of Exodus 3:2. Motto of many Presbyterian churches throughout the world.

ex novo

anew Denotes something that has been newly made or made from scratch (see also de novo).

per risum multum poteris cognoscere stultum

by excessive laughter one can recognise the fool

numerus clausus

closed number A method to limit the number of students who may study at a university.

mare clausum

closed sea In law, a sea under the jurisdiction of one nation and closed to all others.

ex libris

from the books Precedes a person's name, denoting "from the library of" the nominate; also a synonym for "bookplate".

in rerum natura

in the nature of things See also Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things).

fiat iustitia et pereat mundus

let justice be done, though the world shall perish motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

crescat scientia vita excolatur

let knowledge grow, let life be enriched Motto of the University of Chicago. Often rendered in English as "Let knowledge grow from more to more, And so be human life enriched," so as to achieve an iambic meter.

concordia parvae res crescunt

small things grow in harmony Motto of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood

sic infit

so it begins

ut cognoscant te

so that they may know You. Motto of Boston College High School.

mater familias

the mother of the family The female head of a family. See pater familias.

dum spiro spero

while I breathe, I hope Cicero. Motto of the State of South Carolina. Motto of the Clan MacLennan.

cruci dum spiro fido

while I live, I trust in the cross, Whilst I trust in the Cross I have life Motto of the Sisters of Loreto (IBVM) and its associated schools.

qui bono

who with good common misspelling of the Latin phrase cui bono ("who benefits?")

Praga Caput Rei publicae

Prague, Head of the Republic Motto of Prague from 1991

dictum meum pactum

my word [is] my bond Motto of the London Stock Exchange.

missit me Dominus

the Lord has sent me A phrase used by Jesus.

Missio Dei

the Mission of God A theological phrase in the Christian religion.

boreas domus, mare amicus

the North is our home, the sea is our friend Motto of Orkney

Deo patriae litteris

For God, country, [and] learning Motto of Scotch College (Melbourne).

fecisti patriam diversis de gentibus unam

"From differing peoples you have made one native land" Verse 63 from the poem De reditu suo by Rutilius Claudius Namatianus praising emperor Augustus.[45]

Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur

"No one suffers punishment for mere intent." A Latin legal phrase. See, State v Taylor, 47 Or 455, 84 P 82.

post coitum

After sex After sexual intercourse

rus in urbe

A countryside in the city Generally used to refer to a haven of peace and quiet within an urban setting, often a garden, but can refer to interior decoration.

Omnes homines sunt asini vel homines et asini sunt asini

All men are donkeys or men and donkeys are donkeys a sophismata proposed and solved by Albert of Saxony (philosopher)

Montis Insignia Calpe

Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar

dies non juridicum

Day without judiciary Days under common law (traditionally Sunday), during which no legal process can be served and any legal judgment is invalid. The English Parliament first codified this precept in the reign of King Charles II.

Nil igitur mors est ad nos

Death, therefore, is nothing to us From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), III.831

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

deus dat incrementum

God gives growth Motto of several schools.

spero meliora

I hope for better things

protectio trahit subjectionem, et subjectio protectionem

Protection draws allegiance, and allegiance draws protection Legal maxim, indicating that reciprocity of fealty with protection

Polonia Restituta

Rebirth of Poland

technica impendi nationi

Technology impulses nations Motto of Technical University of Madrid

lectio difficilior potior

The more difficult reading is the stronger

naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.

You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back You must take the basic nature of something into account.

ecce panis angelorum

behold the bread of angels From the Catholic hymn Lauda Sion; occasionally inscribed near the altar of Catholic churches; it refers to the Eucharist, the Bread of Heaven; the Body of Christ. See also: Panis angelicus.

faber est suae quisque fortunae

every man is the artisan of his own fortune Appius Claudius Caecus; motto of Fort Street High School in Petersham, Sydney, Australia

ex Deo

from God

sit nomine digna

may it be worthy of the name Motto of Rhodesia

nunquam obliviscar

never forget

non possumus

not possible

beatae memoriae

of blessed memory See in memoriam

textus receptus

received text

mundus senescit

the world grows old

tempus volat, hora fugit

time flies, the hour flees

vera causa

true cause

sapientia et veritas

wisdom and truth Motto of Christchurch Girls' High School, New Zealand.

in luce Tua videmus lucem

in Thy light we see light Motto of Valparaiso University. The phrase comes from the book of Psalms 36:9 "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."

tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum

Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor Motto of the Association of Canadian Knights of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta.[104]

Fidei Defensor (Fid Def) or (fd)

Defender of the Faith A title given to King Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on 17 October 1521, before Henry broke from the Roman Church and founded the Church of England. British monarchs continue to use the title, which is still inscribed on all British coins, and usually abbreviated.

Defensor Fortis

Defender of the Force Official motto of the United States Air Force Security Forces (Security Police).

delegata potestas non potest delegari

Delegated powers can not be [further] delegated A legal principle whereby one to whom certain powers were delegated may not ipso facto re-delegate them to another. A distinction may be had between delegated powers and the additional power to re-delegate them.

noli turbare circulos meos

Do not disturb my circles! That is, "Don't upset my calculations!" Said by Archimedes to a Roman soldier who, despite having been given orders not to, killed Archimedes at the conquest of Syracuse, Sicily.

non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum

Do not hold as gold all that shines as gold Also, "All that glitters is not gold." Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice.

mirum videtur quod sit factum iam diu

Does it seem wonderful [merely] because it was done a long time/so long ago? Livius Andronicus, Aiax Mastigophorus.

(Dog Latin)

Don't let the bastards grind you down From The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - the protagonist (Offred) finds the phrase inscribed on the inside of her wardrobe. One of many variants of Illegitimi non carborundum.

tempora heroica

Heroic Age Literally "Heroic Times"; refers to the period between the mythological Titanomachy and the (relatively) historical Trojan War.

Laudatio Ejus Manet In Secula Seculorum

His Praise Remains unto Ages of Ages Motto of Galway

Sancta Sedes

Holy Chair literally, "holy seat". Refers to the Papacy or the Holy See.

sanctum sanctorum

Holy of Holies referring to a more sacred and/or guarded place, within a lesser guarded, yet also holy location.

Melita, domi adsum

Honey, I'm home! A relatively common recent Latinization from the joke phrasebook Latin for All Occasions. Grammatically correct, but the phrase would be anachronistic in ancient Rome.

quomodo vales

How are you?

Credo in Unum Deum

I Believe in One God The first words of the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed.

ego te absolvo

I absolve you Part of the formula of Catholic sacramental absolution, i. e., spoken by a priest as part of the Sacrament of Penance (see also absolvo).

solus ipse

I alone

civis romanus sum

I am (a) Roman citizen Is a phrase used in Cicero's In Verrem as a plea for the legal rights of a Roman citizen

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

It is sweet and honorable to die for the fatherland. Horace, Odes 3, 2, 13. Also used by Wilfred Owen for the title of a poem regarding World War I, Dulce et Decorum Est.

Pax Hispanica

Spanish Peace Euphemism for the Spanish Empire; specifically can mean the twenty-three years of supreme Spanish dominance in Europe (approximately 1598-1621). Adapted from Pax Romana.

inter mutanda constantia

Steadfast in the midst of change Motto for Rockwell College in Ireland and Francis Libermann Catholic High School in Ontario, Canada

Dominica in albis [depositis]

Sunday in [Setting Aside the] White Garments Latin name of the Octave of Easter in the Roman Catholic liturgy.

in flagrante delicto

in a blazing wrong, while the crime is blazing Caught in the act (esp. a crime or in a "compromising position"); equivalent to "caught red-handed" in English idiom.

inopiae desunt multa, avaritiae omnia

To poverty many things are lacking; to avarice, everything Publilius Syrus.

in specialibus generalia quaerimus

To seek the general in the specifics That is, to understand the most general rules through the most detailed analysis.

sancte et sapienter

in a holy and wise way Also sancte sapienter (holiness, wisdom), motto of several institutions, notably King's College London

Deo optimo maximo (DOM)

To the best and greatest God Derived from the pagan Iupiter optimo maximo ("to the best and greatest Jupiter"). Printed on bottles of Bénédictine liqueur.

tarde venientibus ossa

To the late are left the bones

laborare pugnare parati sumus

To work, (or) to fight; we are ready Motto of the California Maritime Academy

hodie mihi, cras tibi

Today it's me, tomorrow it will be you Inscription that can be seen on tombstones dating from the Middle Ages, meant to outline the ephemerality of life.

cras es noster

Tomorrow, be ours As "The Future is Ours", motto of San Jacinto College, Texas

Latin

Translation Notes

hominem non morbum cura

Treat the Man, not the Disease Motto of the Far Eastern University - Institute of Nursing

treuga Dei

Truce of God A decree by the medieval Church that all feuds should be cancelled during the Sabbath—effectively from Wednesday or Thursday night until Monday. See also Peace and Truce of God.

gratiae veritas naturae

Truth through mercy and nature Motto of Uppsala University

Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.

Truth. Virtue. Liberty. Motto of the University of Szeged, Hungary

invicta

Unconquered Motto of the English county of Kent and the city of Oporto

Roma invicta

Unconquered Rome Inspirational motto inscribed on the Statue of Rome.

Dei sub numine viget

Under God's Spirit she flourishes Motto of Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States.

Sub umbra floreo

Under the shade I flourish National Motto of Belize, referring to the shade of the mahogany tree.

sub verbo; sub voce

Under the word or heading, as in a dictionary; abbreviated s.v.

intaminatis fulget honoribus

Untarnished, she shines with honor From Horace's Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford College.

recte et fideliter

Upright and Faithful Also "just and faithful" and "accurately and faithfully". Motto of Ruyton Girls' School

recte et fortiter

Upright and Strong Motto of Homebush Boys High School

Tibi cordi immaculato concredimus nos ac consecramus

We consecrate to your immaculate heart and entrust to you (Mary) for safekeeping The inscription found on top of the central door of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, otherwise known as the Manila Cathedral in the Philippines

erga omnes

in relation to everyone Used in law, especially international law, to denote a kind of universal obligation.

iure matris

in right of his mother Indicates a right exercised by a son on behalf of his mother

iure uxoris

in right of his wife Indicates a right exercised by a husband on behalf of his wife

in salvo

in safety

(Dog Latin)

in silicon Coined in the late 1980s for scientific papers. Refers to an experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation. The term is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon is silicium, so the correct Latinization of "in silicon" would be in silicio, but this form has little usage.

in illo ordine (i.o.)

in that order Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "..., respectively."

in illo tempore

in that time At that time, found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used to mark an undetermined time in the past.

in absentia

in the absence Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.

in absentia lucis, tenebrae vincunt

in the absence of light, darkness prevails

in principio erat Verbum

in the beginning was the Word (Logos) Beginning of the Gospel of John

in ictu oculi

in the blink of an eye

in camera

in the chamber In secret. See also camera obscura.

in ovo

in the egg or in the embryo An experiment or process performed in an egg or embryo (e.g. in ovo electroporation of chicken embryo).

in fine (i.f.)

in the end At the end. The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the end of page 157".

in casu (i.c.)

in the event In this case.

in extenso

in the extended In full; at full length; complete or unabridged

proximo mense (prox.)

in the following month Used in formal correspondence to refer to the next month. Used with ult. ("last month") and inst. ("this month").

sensus plenior

in the fuller meaning In biblical exegesis, the deeper meaning intended by God, not intended by the human author.

in extremis

in the furthest reaches In extremity; in dire straits; also "at the point of death" (cf. in articulo mortis).

in pectore

in the heart A cardinal named in secret by the pope. See also ab imo pectore.

ultimo mense (ult.)

in the last month Used in formal correspondence to refer to the previous month. Used with inst. ("this month") and prox. ("next month").

in Christi lumine pro mundi vita

in the light of Christ for the life on the world Motto of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

in effigie

in the likeness In (the form of) an image; in effigy (as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in person").

in re

in the matter [of] A legal term used to indicate that a judicial proceeding may not have formally designated adverse parties or is otherwise uncontested. The term is commonly used in case citations of probate proceedings, for example, In re Smith's Estate; it is also used in juvenile courts, as, for instance, In re Gault.

in nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus sancti

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit invocation of the Holy Trinity

in nomine Domini

in the name of the Lord Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name of a 1050 papal bull

in nomine diaboli

in the name of the devil

in partibus infidelium

in the parts of the infidels "In the land of the infidels"; used to refer to bishoprics that remains as titular sees even after the corresponding territory was conquered by Muslim empires.

in situ

in the place In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement.

loco citato (lc)

in the place cited More fully written in loco citato; see also opere citato

in loco parentis

in the place of a parent Assuming parental or custodial responsibility and authority (e.g., schoolteachers over students); a legal term.

in loco

in the place, on the spot That is, 'on site'. "The nearby labs were closed for the weekend, so the water samples were analyzed in loco."

coram Deo

in the presence of God A phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God; see also coram Deo (disambiguation).

coram populo

in the presence of the people Thus, openly.

conditur in petra

it is founded on the rock Motto of Peterhouse Boys' School and Peterhouse Girls' School

quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu

it is how well you live that matters, not how long Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium CI (101)

iuris ignorantia est cum ius nostrum ignoramus

it is ignorance of the law when we do not know our own rights

non est factum

it is not [my] deed a doctrine in contract law that allows a signing party to escape performance of the agreement. A claim of "non est factum" means that the signature on the contract was signed by mistake, without knowledge of its meaning, but was not done so negligently. A successful plea would make the contract void ab initio.

ius ad bellum

law towards war Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons for going to war. Typically, this would address issues of self-defense or preemptive strikes.

legitime

lawfully In Roman and civil law, a forced share in an estate; the portion of the decedent's estate from which the immediate family cannot be disinherited. From the French héritier legitime (rightful heir).

leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, et moriuntur

laws of man are born, live and die

leges sine moribus vanae

laws without morals [are] vain From Horace's Odes; motto of the University of Pennsylvania

ductus exemplo

leadership by example Motto of the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, at the base in Quantico, Virginia, United States.

reductio ad Hitlerum

leading back to Hitler A term coined by German-American political philosopher Leo Strauss to humorously describe a fallacious argument that compares an opponent's views to those held by Adolf Hitler or the Nazi Party. Derived from reductio ad absurdum.

reductio ad absurdum

leading back to the absurd A common debate technique, and a method of proof in mathematics and philosophy, that proves the thesis by showing that its opposite is absurd or logically untenable. In general usage outside mathematics and philosophy, a reductio ad absurdum is a tactic in which the logic of an argument is challenged by reducing the concept to its most absurd extreme. Translated from Aristotle's "ἡ εις άτοπον απαγωγη" (hi eis atopon apagogi, "reduction to the impossible").

lux et lex

light and law Motto of the Franklin & Marshall College and the University of North Dakota

lux libertas

light and liberty Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

lux et veritas

light and truth A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim. Motto of several institutions, including Yale University.

lux ex tenebris

light from darkness Motto of the 67th Network Warfare Wing

ex oriente lux

light from the east Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but alludes to culture coming from the Eastern world. Motto of several institutions.

lux hominum vita

light the life of man Motto of the University of New Mexico

lux, veritas, virtus

light, truth, courage Motto of Northeastern University

more ferarum

like beasts used to describe any sexual act in the manner of beasts

terminus ante quem

limit before which In archaeology or history, refers to the date before which an artefact or feature must have been deposited. Used with terminus post quem (limit after which). Similarly, terminus ad quem (limit to which) may also refer to the latest possible date of a non-punctual event (period, era, etc.), while terminus a quo (limit from which) may refer to the earliest such date.

in inceptum finis est

lit.: in the beginning is the end or: the beginning foreshadows the end

manu forte

literally translated means 'with a strong hand', often quoted as 'by strength of hand' Motto of the Clan McKay

vive memor leti

live remembering death Authored by Persius. Cf. "memento mori".

vive ut vivas

live so that you may live The phrase suggests that one should live life to the fullest and without fear of the possible consequences.

viva voce

living voice The phrase denotes an oral, as opposed to written, examination of a candidate.

vivat rex, curat lex

long live the king, guardian of the law A curious translation of the pun on "vivat rex", found in Westerham parish church in Kent, England.

pax vobiscum

peace [be] with you A common farewell. The "you" is plural ("you all"), so the phrase must be used when speaking to more than one person; pax tecum is the form used when speaking to only one person.

pax et justitia

peace and justice Motto of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

pax et lux

peace and light Motto of Tufts University and various schools

pax et bonum

peace and the good Motto of St. Francis of Assisi and, consequently, of his monastery in Assisi; understood by Catholics to mean 'Peace and Goodness be with you,' as is similar in the Mass; translated in Italian as pace e bene.

pax tecum

peace be with you (singular)

ex oriente pax

peace comes from the east (i.e. from the Soviet Union) Shown on the logo as used by East Germany's CDU, a blue flag with two yellow stripes, a dove, and the CDU symbol in the center with the words ex oriente pax.

ex amicitia pax

peace from friendship Often used on internal diplomatic event invitations. A motto sometimes inscribed on flags and mission plaques of diplomatic corps.

pax optima rerum

peace is the greatest good Silius Italicus, Punica (11,595); motto of the university of Kiel

pax Dei

peace of God Used in the Peace and Truce of God movement in 10th-century France

pax matrum, ergo pax familiarum

peace of mothers, therefore peace of families If the mother is peaceful, then the family is peaceful. The inverse of the Southern United States saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

pax in terra

peace on earth Used to exemplify the desired state of peace on earth

nemo malus felix

peace visits not the guilty mind Also translated to "no rest for the wicked." Refers to the inherent psychological issues that plague bad/guilty people.

Pax, Domine

peace, lord lord or master; used as a form of address when speaking to clergy or educated professionals

delectatio morosa

peevish delight In Catholic theology, pleasure taken in a sinful thought or imagination, such as brooding on sexual images. As voluntary and complacent erotic fantasizing, without attempt to suppress such thoughts, it is distinct from actual sexual desire.

forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit

perhaps even these things will be good to remember one day Virgil, Aeneid, Book 1, Line 203

persona non grata

person not pleasing An unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person. In diplomatic contexts, a person rejected by the host government. The reverse, persona grata ("pleasing person"), is less common, and refers to a diplomat acceptable to the government of the country to which he is sent.

collige virgo rosas

pick, girl, the roses

pia fraus

pious fraud Or "dutiful deceit". Expression from Ovid; used to describe deception which serves Church purposes

pia desideria

pious longings Or "dutiful desires"

pia mater

pious mother Or "tender mother". Translated into Latin from Arabic. The delicate innermost of the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

locum tenens

place holder A worker who temporarily takes the place of another with similar qualifications, for example as a doctor or a member of the clergy; usually shortened to locum.

locus minoris resistentiae

place of less resistance A medical term to describe a location on or in a body that offers little resistance to infection, damage, or injury. For example, a weakened place that tends to be reinjured.

pluralis majestatis

plural of majesty The first-person plural pronoun when used by an important personage to refer to himself or herself; also known as the "royal we"

pluralis modestiae

plural of modesty

opera posthuma

posthumous works works published after the author's death

usus est magister optimus

practice is the best teacher. In other words, practice makes perfect. Also sometimes translated "use makes master."

laus Deo

praise be to God Inscription on the east side at the peak of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.; motto of the Viscount of Arbuthnott and Sydney Grammar School

lauda finem

praise to the end Motto of Nottingham High School

laudator temporis acti

praiser of time past One who is discontent with the present and instead prefers things of the past ("the good old days"). In Horace's Ars Poetica, line 173. The motto of HMS Veteran

ora et labora

pray and work This principle of the Benedictine monasteries reads in full: "Ora et labora (et lege), Deus adest sine mora." "Pray and work (and read), God is there without delay" (or to keep the rhyme: "Work and pray, and God is there without delay")

ora pro nobis

pray for us "Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis pecatoribus"; Brazilian name for Pereskia aculeata

para bellum

prepare for war From "Si vis pacem para bellum": if you want peace, prepare for war—if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack. Usually used to support a policy of peace through strength (deterrence). In antiquity, however, the Romans viewed peace as the aftermath of successful conquest through war, so in this sense the proverb identifies war as the means through which peace will be achieved.

in utrumque paratus

prepared for either (event)

fumus boni iuris

presumption of sufficient legal basis a legal principle

superbia in proelia

pride in battle Motto of Manchester City F.C.

primum movens

prime mover Or "first moving one". A common theological term, such as in the cosmological argument, based on the assumption that God was the first entity to "move" or "cause" anything. Aristotle was one of the first philosophers to discuss the "uncaused cause", a hypothetical originator—and violator—of causality.

principia probant non probantur

principles prove; they are not proved Fundamental principles require no proof; they are assumed a priori.

in harmonia progressio

progress in harmony Motto of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.

vim promovet insitam

promotes one's innate power Motto of the University of Bristol, derived from Horace, Ode 4, 4.

vaticinium ex eventu

prophecy from the event A purported prediction stated as if it was made before the event it describes, while in fact being made thereafter.

invidiae prudentia victrix

prudence conquers jealousy

sumptibus auctoris

published [cost of printing paid] by author Found in self-published academic books of the 17th to 19th century. Often preceded by Latin name of city in which the work is published.

pede poena claudo

punishment comes limping That is, retribution comes slowly but surely. From Horace, Odes, 3, 2, 32.

purificatus non consumptus

purified, not consumed

rara avis (rarissima avis)

rare bird (very rare bird) An extraordinary or unusual thing. From Juvenal's Satires: rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan").

utrinque paratus

ready for anything Motto of The British Parachute Regiment. Motto of the Belize National Coast Guard.

entitas ipsa involvit aptitudinem ad extorquendum certum assensum

reality involves a power to compel certain assent A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature of truth.

ratio decidendi

reasoning for the decision The legal, moral, political, and social principles used by a court to compose a judgment's rationale.

ratio legis

reasoning of law A law's foundation or basis.

rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior

redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than all things, I do ever glory in thee From Veni, veni, venias (Carmina Burana).

de futuro

regarding the future Usually used in the context of "at a future time".

gaudete in domino

rejoice in the Lord Motto of Bishop Allen Academy

scientia cum religione

religion and knowledge united Motto of St Vincent's College, Potts Point

memento mori

remember that [you will] die remember your mortality

memento vivere

remember to live

repetita iuvant

repeating does good Lit: "Repeated things help". Usually said as a jocular remark to defend the speaker's (or writer's) choice to repeat some important piece of information to ensure reception by the audience.

repetitio est mater studiorum

repetition is the mother of study/learning

petitio principii

request of the beginning Begging the question, a logical fallacy in which a proposition to be proved is implicitly or explicitly assumed in one of the premises

principiis obsta (et respice finem)

resist the beginnings (and consider the end) Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 91

fortiter in re, suaviter in modo

resolute in execution, gentle in manner a common motto

restitutio ad (or in) integrum

restoration to original condition Principle behind the awarding of damages in common law negligence claims

regressus ad uterum

return to the womb Concept used in psychoanalysis by Sándor Ferenczi and the Budapest School.

oculus dexter (O.D.)

right eye Ophthalmologist shorthand

ius accrescendi

right of accrual Commonly referred to as "right of survivorship": a rule in property law that surviving joint tenants have rights in equal shares to a decedent's property

in saecula (saeculorum), in saeculum saeculi

roughly: down to the times of the times forever (and ever), liturgical

exeat

s/he may go out A formal leave of absence.

salvo errore et omissione (s.e.e.o.)

save for error and omission Used as a reservation on statements of financial accounts. Often now given in English "errors and omissions excluded" or "e&oe".

disiecta membra

scattered limbs I.e., "scattered remains". Paraphrased from Horace, Satires, 1, 4, 62, where it is written "disiecti membra poetae" (limbs of a scattered poet).

eruditio et religio

scholarship and duty Motto of Duke University

scientia, labor, libertas

science, labour, liberty Motto of the Free University of Tbilisi.

mare nostrum

our sea A nickname given to the Mediterranean during the height of the Roman Empire, as it encompassed the entire coastal basin.

ex abundanti cautela

out of an abundance of caution In law, describes someone taking precautions against a very remote contingency. "One might wear a belt in addition to braces ex abundanti cautela".[20] In banking, a loan in which the collateral is more than the loan itself. Also the basis for the term "an abundance of caution" employed by United States President Barack Obama to explain why the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court John Roberts had to re-administer the presidential oath of office, and again in reference to terrorist threats.

ordo ab chao

out of chaos, comes order one of the oldest mottos of Craft Freemasonry.[80]

post nubes lux

out of darkness, light Motto of Cranfield University

E pluribus unum

out of many, one Literally, out of more (than one), one. The former national motto of the United States, which "In God We Trust" latter replaced; therefore, it is still inscribed on many US coins and on the United States Capitol. Also the motto of S.L. Benfica. Less commonly written as ex pluribus unum.

ex mero motu

out of mere impulse, or of one's own accord

ex vivo

out of or from life Used in reference to the study or assay of living tissue in an artificial environment outside the living organism.

ex situ

out of position opposite of "in situ"

extra Ecclesiam nulla salus

outside the Church [there is] no salvation This expression comes from the Epistle to Jubaianus, paragraph 21, written by Saint Cyprian of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It is often used to summarise the doctrine that the Catholic Church is absolutely necessary for salvation.

extra omnes

outside, all [of you] It is issued by the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations before a session of the Papal conclave which will elect a new Pope. When spoken, all those who are not Cardinals, or those otherwise mandated to be present at the Conclave, must leave the Sistine Chapel.

vince malum bono

overcome evil with good A partial quotation of Romans 12:21; motto of Old Swinford Hospital and Bishop Cotton School in Shimla

bono malum superate

overcome evil with good Motto of Westonbirt School

parens patriae

parent of the nation A public policy requiring courts to protect the best interests of any child involved in a lawsuit. See also Pater Patriae.

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.

virtus tentamine gaudet

strength rejoices in the challenge Motto of Hillsdale College, Michigan, United States

fortis et liber

strong and free motto of Alberta, Canada

fortis in arduis

strong in difficulties motto of the Municipal Borough of Middleton, from the Earl of Middleton

fortes in fide

strong in faith a common motto

valenter volenter

strongly and willingly Motto of HMS Valorous (L00)

summa potestas

sum or totality of power It refers to the final authority of power in government. For example, power of the Sovereign.

sol iustitiae illustra nos

sun of justice, shine upon us Motto of Utrecht University.

summum ius, summa iniuria

supreme law, supreme injustice From Cicero (De officiis, I, 10, 33). An acritical application of law, without understanding and respect of laws's purposes and without considering the overall circumstances, is often a means of supreme injustice. A similar sentence appears in Terence (Heautontimorumenos, IV, 5): Ius summum saepe summa est malitia ("supreme justice is often out of supreme malice (or wickedness)").

cygnus inter anates

swan among ducks

dulcius ex asperis

sweeter after difficulties Motto of the Scottish clan Fergusson.[15]

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.

quaecumque vera doce me

teach me whatsoever is true motto of St. Joseph's College, Edmonton at the University of Alberta

formosam resonare doces Amaryllida silvas

teach the woods to re-echo "fair Amaryllis" Virgil, Eclogues, 1:5

miserabile visu

terrible to see A terrible happening or event.

probatio pennae

testing of the pen Medieval Latin term for breaking in a new pen

ut prosim

that I may serve Motto of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

ut omnes te cognoscant

that all may know you Motto of Niagara University

ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus.

that in all things, God may be glorified Motto of the Order of Saint Benedict

id est (i.e.)

that is (literally "it is") "That is (to say)" in the sense of "that means" and "which means", or "in other words", "namely", or sometimes "in this case", depending on the context. The abbreviation may be followed by a comma or not, depending on the style of the writer (or the grammatical sense of what follows.[27]) The comma is more apt to be dropped before a simple expression with no punctuation of its own, and is more likely to be retained for multiple items.[52] I.e. is often confused with e.g. (exempli gratia, "for example").[53] Some writing styles give such abbreviations without punctuation, as ie and eg.

ut res magis valeat quam pereat

that the matter may have effect rather than fail[107]

id quod plerumque accidit

that which generally happens A phrase used in legal language to indicate the most probable outcome from an act, fact, event or cause.

virtus junxit mors non separabit

that which virtue unites, let not death separate

Idus Martiae

the Ides of March In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March refers to the 15th day of March. In modern times, the term is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC; the term has come to be used as a metaphor for impending doom.

via, veritas, vita

the Way, the Truth, [and] the Life Words of Jesus Christ in John 14:6; motto of many institutions

fortis cadere, cedere non potest

the brave may fall, but can not yield motto on the Coat of Arms of the Fahnestock Family and of the Palmetto Guard of Charleston, South Carolina

in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni

We enter the circle at night and are consumed by fire A palindrome said to describe the behavior of moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.

lucem sequimur

We follow the light Motto of the University of Exeter

ludemus bene in compania

We play well in groups Motto of the Barony of Marinus

datum perficiemus munus

We shall accomplish the mission assigned Motto of Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

nitimur in vetitum

We strive for the forbidden From Ovid's Amores, III.4:17. It means that when we are denied of something, we will eagerly pursue the denied thing. Used by Friedrich Nietzsche in his Ecce Homo to indicate that his philosophy pursues what is forbidden to other philosophers.

semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat

We're always in the manure; only the depth varies. Lord de Ramsey, House of Lords, 21 January 1998[96]

quod scripsi, scripsi

What I have written I have written. Pilate to the chief priests (John 19:22)

quid agis

What are you doing? What's happening? What's going on? What's the news? What's up?

quod periit, periit

What is gone is gone What has happened has happened and it cannot be changed, thus we should look forward into the future instead of being pulled by the past.

naturalia non sunt turpia

What is natural is not dirty Based on Servius' commentary on Virgil's Georgics (3:96): "turpis non est quia per naturam venit."

nomen amicitiae sic, quatenus expedit, haeret

the name of friendship lasts just so long as it is profitable Petronius, Satyricon, 80.

["...", ...] dixit

["...", ...] said Used to attribute a statement or opinion to its author, rather than the speaker.

[Dominica] in albis [depositis]

[Sunday in Setting Aside the] White Garments Latin name of the Octave of Easter.

Christianos ad leones

[Throw the] Christians to the lions!

non vitae sed scholae

[We learn] not for life but for schooltime From a passage of occupatio in Seneca the Younger's moral letters to Lucilius,[77] wherein Lucilius is given the argument that too much literature fails to prepare students for life

non scholae sed vitae

[We learn] not for school but for life An inversion of non vitae sed scholae now used as a school motto

salus in arduis

a stronghold (or refuge) in difficulties a Roman Silver Age maxim. Also the school motto of Wellingborough School.

dulce et utile

a sweet and useful thing / pleasant and profitable Horace, Ars Poetica: poetry must be dulce et utile, i.e., both enjoyable and instructive.

post scriptum (p.s.)

after what has been written A postscript. Used to mark additions to a letter, after the signature. Can be extended to post post scriptum (p.p.s.), etc.

de integro

again, a second time

contra bonos mores

against good morals Offensive to the conscience and to a sense of justice.

contra legem

against the law Especially in civil law jurisdictions, said of an understanding of a statute that directly contradicts its wording and thus is neither valid by interpretation nor by analogy.

contra proferentem

against the proferror In contract law, the doctrine of contractual interpretation which provides that an ambiguous term will be construed against the party that imposed its inclusion in the contract - or, more accurately, against the interests of the party who imposed it.

pacta sunt servanda

agreements must be kept Also "contracts must be honoured". Indicates the binding power of treaties.

omnes vulnerant, postuma necat or omnes feriunt, ultima necat

all [the hours] wound, last one kills usual in clocks, reminding the reader of death

summa summarum

all in all Literally "sum of sums". When a short conclusion is rounded up at the end of some elaboration.

ceteris paribus

all other things being equal That is, disregarding or eliminating extraneous factors in a situation.

omnia praesumuntur legitime facta donec probetur in contrarium

all things are presumed to be lawfully done, until it is shown [to be] in the reverse in other words, "innocent until proven guilty"

omnia omnibus

all things to all men 1 Corinthians 9:22

omnia cum deo

all with God motto for Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia

opera omnia

all works collected works of an author

semper sursum

always aim high Motto of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Motto of St. Stephen School, Chandigarh, India. Motto of St. Joseph's College, Allahabad, India. Motto of Palmerston North Girls' High School, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Motto of Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Motto of 865 Dartmouth Kiwanis Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

semper fortis

always brave Unofficial motto of the United States Navy

semper ardens

always burning Motto of Carl Jacobsen and name of a line of beers by Danish brewery Carlsberg.

semper fidelis

always faithful Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Marine Corps

semper primus

always first Motto of several US military units

semper anticus

always forward Motto of the 45th Infantry Division (United States) and its successor, the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)

semper liber

always free Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia

semper excelsius

always higher Motto of the K.A.V. Lovania Leuven and the House of Wrigley-Pimley-McKerr[95]

semper reformanda

always in need of being reformed A phrase deriving from the Nadere Reformatie movement in the seventeenth century Dutch Reformed Church and widely but informally used in Reformed and Presbyterian churches today. It refers to the conviction of certain Reformed Protestant theologians that the church must continually re-examine itself in order to maintain its purity of doctrine and practice. The term first appeared in print in Jodocus van Lodenstein, Beschouwinge van Zion (Contemplation of Zion), Amsterdam, 1674.[97]

semper invicta

always invincible Motto of Warsaw

semper apertus

always open Motto of University of Heidelberg

semper paratus

always prepared Motto of several institutions, e.g. United States Coast Guard

semper progrediens

always progressing Motto of the island of Sint Maarten, of King City Secondary School in King City, Ontario, Canada and of Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia)

semper idem

always the same Motto of Underberg

semper instans

always threatening Motto of 846 NAS Royal Navy

semper ad meliora

always towards better things Motto of several institutions

semper vigilans

always vigilant Motto of several institutions including the US Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol), the city of San Diego, California, and the Providence, Rhode Island Police Department.

semper vigilo

always vigilant The motto of the Scottish Police Forces, Scotland.

quantum libet (q.l.)

as much as pleases medical shorthand for "as much as you wish"

dictatum erat (dict)

as previously stated A recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient phrase "as previously stated". Literally, has been stated. Compare also "dicta prius"; literally, said previously.

ut incepit fidelis sic permanet

as she began loyal, so she persists Poetically, "Loyal she began, loyal she remains." Motto of Ontario.

ut tensio sic vis

as the extension, so the force Robert Hooke's expression of his discovery of his law of linear elasticity. Also: Motto of École Polytechnique de Montréal. Motto of the British Watch and Clockmaker's Guild.

de bene esse

as well done In law, a de bene esse deposition is used to preserve the testimony of a witness who is expected not to be available to appear at trial and be cross-examined.

gradibus ascendimus

ascending by degrees Motto of Grey College, Durham

prima luce

at dawn Literally "at first light"

prima facie

at first sight Used to designate evidence in a trial which is suggestive, but not conclusive, of something (e.g., a person's guilt)

hora somni (h.s.)

at the hour of sleep Medical shorthand for "at bedtime"

in limine

at the outset/threshold Preliminary, in law, a motion in limine is a motion that is made to the judge before or during trial, often about the admissibility of evidence believed prejudicial.

in articulo mortis

at the point of death

mala tempora currunt

bad times are upon us Also used ironically, e.g.: New teachers know all tricks used by pupils to copy from classmates? Oh, mala tempora currunt!.

busillis [it]

baffling puzzle, thorny problem John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the word meant. It turns out that the original text said in diebus illis magnis plenae (in those days there were plenty of great things), which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnis plenae (in India there were plenty of large busillis). This mondegreen has since entered the literature; it occurs in Alessandro Manzoni's novel The Betrothed (1827), in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov (1880), and in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series.

fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum

be it done to me according to thy word Virgin Mary's response to the Annunciation

nil admirari

be surprised at nothing Or "nihil admirari". Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes (3,30), Horace, Epistulae (1,6,1), and Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, (8,5). Motto of the Fitzgibbon family. See John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare

esto quod es

be what you are Motto of Wells Cathedral School.

barba crescit caput nescit

beard grows, head doesn't grow wiser

quia suam uxorem etiam suspicione vacare vellet

because he should wish even his wife to be free from suspicion Attributed to Julius Caesar by Plutarch, Caesar 10. Translated loosely as "because even the wife of Caesar may not be suspected". At the feast of Bona Dea, a sacred festival for females only, which was being held at the Domus Publica, the home of the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar, and hosted by his second wife, Pompeia, the notorious politician Clodius arrived in disguise. Caught by the outraged noblewomen, Clodius fled before they could kill him on the spot for sacrilege. In the ensuing trial, allegations arose that Pompeia and Clodius were having an affair, and while Caesar asserted that this was not the case and no substantial evidence arose suggesting otherwise, he nevertheless divorced, with this quotation as explanation.

ecce ancilla domini

behold the handmaiden of the Lord From Luke 1:38 in the Vulgate Bible. Name of an oil painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and motto of Bishopslea Preparatory School.

ecce homo

behold the man From the Gospel of John in the Vulgate 19:5 (Douay-Rheims), where Pontius Pilate speaks these words as he presents Christ, crowned with thorns, to the crowd. It is also the title of Nietzsche's autobiography and of the theme music by Howard Goodall for the ITV comedy Mr. Bean, in which the full sung lyric is Ecce homo qui est faba ("Behold the man who is a bean").

indigens Deo

being-in-need-of-God, beggar before God From Augustine, De Civitate Dei XII, 1.3: beatitudinem consequatur nec expleat indigentiam suam, "since it is not satisfied unless it be perfectly blessed."

infra dignitatem (infra dig)

beneath one's dignity

meliora

better things Carrying the connotation of "always better". The motto of the University of Rochester.

inter spem et metum

between hope and fear

inter vivos

between the living Refers to property transfers between living persons, as opposed to a testamentary transfer upon death such as an inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.

cave

beware! especially used by Doctors of Medicine, when they want to warn each other (e.g.: "cave nephrolithiases" in order to warn about side effects of an uricosuric). Spoken aloud in some British public schools by pupils to warn each other of impending authority.

ultra vires

beyond powers "Without authority". Used to describe an action done without proper authority, or acting without the rules. The term will most often be used in connection with appeals and petitions.

manus nigra

black hand

beati possidentes

blessed [are] those who possess Translated from Euripides

beati qui ambulant lege domini

blessed are they who walk in the law of the Lord Inscription above the entrance to St. Andrew's Church (New York City), based on Psalm 119:1

scuto amoris divini

by the shield of God's love The motto of Skidmore College

ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem

by the sword she seeks a serene repose under liberty Motto of the US state of Massachusetts, adopted in 1775.

in hoc signo vinces

by this sign you will conquer Words Constantine the Great claimed to have seen in a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

virtute et armis

by virtue and arms Alternatively, "by manliness and weapons". The State motto of Mississippi, United States. The phrase was possibly derived from the motto of Lord Gray de Wilton, virtute non armis fido ("I trust in virtue, not in arms").

virtute et industria

by virtue and industry Motto of Bristol, United Kingdom

virtute et veritate

by virtue and truth Motto of Pocklington School

qua definitione

by virtue of definition Thus: "by definition"; variant of per definitionem; sometimes used in German-speaking countries. Occasionally misrendered as "qua definitionem".

toto cælo

by whole heaven as far apart as possible; utterly.

concilio et labore

by wisdom and effort Motto of the city of Manchester.

vocatus atque non vocatus Deus aderit

called and not called, God will be present Alternatively, "called and even not called, God approaches". Attributed to the Oracle at Delphi. Motto of Carl Jung, and inscribed in his home and grave.

capax Dei

capable of receiving God From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso imago Dei est quo eius capax est,[6] "The mind is the image of God, in that it is capable of Him and can be partaker of Him."

cura personalis

care for the whole person Motto of Georgetown University School of Medicine and University of Scranton.

de bonis asportatis

carrying goods away In law, trespass de bonis asportatis was the traditional name for larceny, i.e., the unlawful theft of chattels (moveable goods).

causa mortis

cause of death

mutato nomine de te fabula narratur

change but the name, and the story is told of yourself Horace, Satires, I. 1. 69. Preceded by Quid rides? ("Why do you laugh?"; see Quid rides).

reformatio in peius

change to worse A decision from a court of appeal is amended to a worse one. With certain exceptions, this is prohibited at the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office by case law.

legis plenitudo charitas

charity (love) is the fulfilment of the law Motto of Ratcliffe College, UK and of the Rosmini College, NZ

circulus in probando

circle made in testing [a premise] Circular reasoning. Similar term to circulus vitiosus.

urbs in horto

city in a garden Motto of the City of Chicago.

bonum commune hominis

common good of a man Refers to an individual's happiness, which is not "common" in that it serves everyone, but in that individuals tend to be able to find happiness in similar things.

parce sepulto

forgive the interred it is ungenerous to hold resentment toward the dead. Quote from the Aeneid, III 13-68.

semper necessitas probandi incumbit ei qui agit

the necessity of proof always lies with the person who lays charges Latin maxim often associated with the burden of proof

ex facie

from the face Idiomatically rendered "on the face of it". A legal term typically used to state that a document's explicit terms are defective absent further investigation.

ex vi termini

from the force of the term Thus, "by definition".

ex hypothesi

from the hypothesis Denoting "by hypothesis".

ex lege

from the law

ex luna scientia

from the moon, knowledge The motto of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, derived from ex scientia tridens, the motto of Jim Lovell's alma mater, the United States Naval Academy.

de novo

from the new "Anew" or "afresh". In law, a trial de novo is a retrial. In biology, de novo means newly synthesized, and a de novo mutation is a mutation that neither parent possessed or transmitted. In economics, de novo refers to newly founded companies, and de novo banks are state banks that have been in operation for five years or less. (Cf. ex novo)

hic jacet (HJ)

here lies Also rendered hic iacet. Written on gravestones or tombs, preceding the name of the deceased. Equivalent to hic sepultus (here is buried), and sometimes combined into hic jacet sepultus (HJS), "here lies buried".

mens rea

guilty mind Also "culprit mind". A term used in discussing the mindset of an accused criminal.

felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas

happy is he who can ascertain the causes of things Virgil. "Rerum cognoscere causas" is the motto of the London School of Economics, University of Sheffield, and University of Guelph.

brutum fulmen

harmless (or inert) thunderbolt Used to indicate either an empty threat, or a judgement at law which has no practical effect

miserere nobis

have mercy upon us A phrase within the Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the Agnus Dei, to be used at certain points in Christian religious ceremonies.

vincit qui se vincit

he (she) conquers who conquers himself (herself) Motto of many educational institutions, including the Philadelphia High School for Girls and North Sydney Boys High School. It is alternatively rendered as bis vincit qui se vincit ("he (she) who prevails over himself (herself) is twice victorious"). It is also the motto of the Beast in Disney's film Beauty and the Beast, as seen inscribed in the castle's stained glass window near the beginning of the film.

proxime accessit

he came next the runner-up

vincit qui patitur

he conquers who endures First attributed to the Roman scholar and satirst Persius; frequently used as a motto.

non prosequitur

he does not proceed A judgment in favor of a defendant when the plaintiff failed to take the necessary steps in an action within the time allowed.

bis dat qui cito dat

he gives twice, who gives promptly A gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts.

spem reduxit

he has restored hope Motto of New Brunswick.

ipse dixit

he himself said it Commonly said in Medieval debates and referring to Aristotle. Used in general to emphasize that some assertion comes from some authority, i.e., as an argument from authority, and the term ipse-dixitism has come to mean any unsupported rhetorical assertion that lacks a logical argument. A literal translation by Cicero (in his De Natura Deorum 1.10) of the Greek «αὐτὸς ἔφα», an invocation by Pythagoreans when appealing to the pronouncements of the master.

fidem scit

he knows the faith sometimes mistranslated to "keep the faith" when used in contemporary English writings of all kinds to convey a light-hearted wish for the reader's well-being

nihil dicit

he says nothing In law, a declination by a defendant to answer charges or put in a plea.

qui docet in doctrina

he that teacheth, on teaching Motto of the University of Chester. A less literal translation is "Let those who teach, teach" or "Let the teacher teach".

minatur innocentibus qui parcit nocentibus

he threatens the innocent who spares the guilty

extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur

he who administers justice outside of his territory is disobeyed with impunity Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited in law of the sea cases on the high seas.

qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur

he who brings an action for the king as well as for himself Generally known as 'qui tam,' it is the technical legal term for the unique mechanism in the federal False Claims Act that allows persons and entities with evidence of fraud against federal programs or contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the Government.

qui habet aures audiendi audiat

he who has ears to hear shall hear "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"; Mark Mark 4:9

qui tacet consentire videtur

he who is silent is taken to agree Thus, silence gives consent. Sometimes accompanied by the proviso "ubi loqui debuit ac potuit", that is, "when he ought to have spoken and was able to".

qui bene cantat bis orat

he who sings well praises twice from St. Augustine of Hippo's commentary on Psalm 73, verse 1: Qui enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat ("He who sings praises, not only praises, but praises joyfully")

qui transtulit sustinet

he who transplanted still sustains Or "he who brought us across still supports us", meaning God. State motto of Connecticut. Originally written as sustinet qui transtulit in 1639.

qui totum vult totum perdit

he who wants everything loses everything Attributed to Publilius Syrus

quem di diligunt adulescens moritur

he whom the gods love dies young Other translations of diligunt include "prize especially" or "esteem". From Plautus, Bacchides, IV, 7, 18. In this comic play, a sarcastic servant says this to his aging master. The rest of the sentence reads: dum valet sentit sapit ("while he is healthy, perceptive and wise").

cor ad cor loquitur

heart speaks to heart From Augustine's Confessions, referring to a prescribed method of prayer: having a "heart to heart" with God. Commonly used in reference to a later quote by Cardinal John Henry Newman. A motto of Newman Clubs.

graviora manent

heavier things remain Virgil Aeneid 6:84; more severe things await, the worst is yet to come

hinc illae lacrimae

hence those tears From Terence, Andria, line 125. Originally literal, referring to the tears shed by Pamphilus at the funeral of Chrysis, it came to be used proverbially in the works of later authors, such as Horace (Epistula XIX, 41).

hic et nunc

here and now

passim

here and there, everywhere Less literally, "throughout" or "frequently". Said of a word, fact or notion that occurs several times in a cited text. Also used in proofreading, where it refers to a change that is to be repeated everywhere needed.

hic abundant leones

here lions abound Written on uncharted territories of old maps; see also: here be dragons.

hic sunt dracones

here there are dragons Written on a globe engraved on two conjoined halves of ostrich eggs, dated to 1504.

hic sunt leones

here there are lions Written on uncharted territories of old maps.

hic manebimus optime

here we'll stay excellently According to Titus Livius the phrase was pronounced by Marcus Furius Camillus, addressing the senators who intended to abandon the city, invaded by Gauls, circa 390 BC. It is used today to express the intent to keep one's position, even if the circumstances appear adverse.

hinc robur et securitas

herefore strength and safety Motto of the Central Bank of Sweden.

excelsior

higher "Ever upward!" The state motto of New York. Also a catchphrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.

historia vitae magistra

history, the teacher of life From Cicero's De Oratore, II, 9. Also "history is the mistress of life".

capax infiniti

holding the infinite Capability of achieving goals by force of many instead of a single individual.

sancta simplicitas

holy innocence Or "sacred simplicity".

honestas ante honores

honesty before glory Motto of King George V School (Hong Kong)

praemia virtutis honores

honours are the rewards of virtue

spes vincit thronum

hope conquers (overcomes) the throne Refers to Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." On the John Winthrop family tombstone, Boston, Massachusetts.

horribile dictu

horrible to say cf. mirabile dictu

quam bene non quantum

how well, not how much motto of Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada

humilitas occidit superbiam

humility conquers pride

festina lente

hurry slowly An oxymoronic motto of Augustus. It encourages proceeding quickly, but calmly and cautiously. Equivalent to "more haste, less speed". Motto of the Madeira School, McLean, Virginia and Berkhamsted School, Berkhamsted, England, United Kingdom

flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo

if I can not reach Heaven I will raise Hell Virgil, Aeneid, Book VII.312

si omnia ficta

if all (the words of poets) is fiction Ovid, Metamorphoses, book XIII, lines 733-4: "si non omnia vates ficta"

si omnes... ego non

if all ones... not I

nisi Dominus frustra

if not the Lord, [it is] in vain That is, "everything is in vain without God". Summarized from Psalm 127 (126 Vulgate), nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem frustra vigilavit qui custodit (unless the Lord builds the house, they work on a useless thing who build it; unless the Lord guards the community, he keeps watch in vain who guards it); widely used motto.

ubi societas, ibi ius

if there's a society, law will be there By Aristotle.

si peccasse negamus fallimur et nulla est in nobis veritas

if we deny having made a mistake, we are deceived, and there's no truth in us From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, where the phrase is translated "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us." (cf. 1 John 1:8 in the New Testament)

si vales valeo (SVV)

if you are well, I am well (abbr) A common beginning for ancient Roman letters. An abbreviation of si vales bene est ego valeo, alternatively written as SVBEEV. The practice fell out of fashion and into obscurity with the decline in Latin literacy.

si quid novisti rectius istis, candidus imperti; si nil, his utere mecum.

if you can better these principles, tell me; if not, join me in following them Horace, Epistles I :6, 67-68

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 Written on an old Latin tablet in downtown Verona (Italy).

si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice

if you seek a delightful peninsula, look around Said to have been based on the tribute to architect Christopher Wren in St Paul's Cathedral, London: si monumentum requiris, circumspice (see above). State motto of Michigan, adopted in 1835.

si vis pacem, para bellum

if you want peace, prepare for war From Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari. Origin of the name parabellum for some ammunition and firearms, such as the Luger Parabellum. (Similar to igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum and in pace ut sapiens aptarit idonea bello.)

ignoratio elenchi

ignorance of the issue The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't prove or support the proposition it claims to. An ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt to mislead or confuse the opposing party is known as a red herring. Elenchi is from the Greek elenchos.

imago Dei

image of God From the religious concept that man was created in "God's image".

imitatio dei

imitation of a god A principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).

in Deo speramus

in God we hope Motto of Brown University.

obscurum per obscurius

the obscure by means of the more obscure An explanation that is less clear than what it tries to explain; synonymous with ignotum per ignotius

sola lingua bona est lingua mortua

the only good language is a dead language Example of dog Latin humor.

vox populi, vox Dei

the voice of the people [is] the voice of God In the opinion of the majority of the people.

macte virtute sic itur ad astra

those who excel, thus reach the stars or "excellence is the way to the stars"; frequent motto; from Virgil's Aeneid IX.641 (English, Dryden)

ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas

though the power be lacking, the will is to be praised all the same From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto (III, 4, 79).

tres faciunt collegium

three makes company It takes three to have a valid group; three is the minimum number of members for an organization or a corporation.

ter in die (t.i.d.)

thrice in a day Medical shorthand for "three times a day".

per ardua

through adversity Motto of the British RAF Regiment

per ardua ad astra

through adversity to the stars Motto of the Royal, Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand Air Forces, the U. S. State of Kansas and of several schools. The phrase is used by Latin Poet Virgil in the Aeneid; also used in H. Rider Haggard's novel The People of the Mist.

per angusta ad augusta

through difficulties to greatness Joining sentence of the conspirators in the drama Hernani by Victor Hugo (1830). The motto of numerous educational establishments.

per ardua ad alta

through difficulty to heights Through hardship, great heights are reached; frequently used motto

igne natura renovatur integra

through fire, nature is reborn whole An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate meaning for the acronym INRI.

per aspera ad astra

through hardships to the stars From Seneca the Younger; frequently used motto, sometimes as ad astra per aspera ("to the stars through hardships")

per se

through itself Also "by itself" or "in itself". Without referring to anything else, intrinsically, taken without qualifications etc. A common example is negligence per se. See also malum in se.

mea culpa

through my fault Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote the inherently flawed nature of mankind; can also be extended to mea maxima culpa (through my greatest fault).

per fas et nefas

through right or wrong By fair means or foul

per procura (p.p.) or (per pro)

through the agency Also rendered per procurationem. Used to indicate that a person is signing a document on behalf of another person. Correctly placed before the name of the person signing, but often placed before the name of the person on whose behalf the document is signed, sometimes through incorrect translation of the alternative abbreviation per pro. as "for and on behalf of".

per contra

through the contrary Or "on the contrary" (cf. a contrario)

per crucem vincemus

through the cross we shall conquer Motto of St John Fisher Catholic High School, Dewsbury

Per Crucem Crescens

through the cross, growth Motto of Lambda Chi Alpha

per definitionem

through the definition Thus, "by definition"

per os (p.o.)

through the mouth Medical shorthand for "by mouth"

per rectum (pr)

through the rectum Medical shorthand; see also per os

per stirpes

through the roots Used in wills to indicate that each "branch" of the testator's family should inherit equally. Contrasted with per capita.

per curiam

through the senate Legal term meaning "by the court", as in a per curiam decision

per capsulam

through the small box That is, "by letter"

per veritatem vis

through truth, strength Motto of Washington University in St. Louis

per unitatem vis

through unity, strength Motto of Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets

veritas vos liberabit

truth will liberate you [all] Motto of Johns Hopkins University, United States

veritas cum libertate

truth with liberty Motto of Winthrop University

veritas, fides, sapientia

truth, faith, [and] wisdom Motto of Dowling Catholic High School

veritas, bonitas, pulchritudo, sanctitas

truth, goodness, beauty, [and] sanctity Motto of Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan

veritas, iustitia, libertas

truth, justice, [and] liberty Motto of the Free University of Berlin

veritas, unitas, caritas

truth, unity, [and] love Motto of Villanova University, United States

bis in die (bid)

twice in a day Medical shorthand for "twice a day"

duae tabulae rasae in quibus nihil scriptum est

two blank slates with nothing written upon them Stan Laurel, inscription for the fan club logo of The Sons of the Desert.

sub judice

under a judge Said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed until it is finished. Also sub iudice.

sub Iove frigido

under cold Jupiter At night; from Horace's Odes 1.1:25

vi coactus

under constraint A legal phrase regarding contracts that indicates agreement made under duress.

sub poena

under penalty Commonly rendered subpoena. Said of a request, usually by a court, that must be complied with on pain of punishment. Examples include subpoena duces tecum ("take with you under penalty"), a court summons to appear and produce tangible evidence, and subpoena ad testificandum ("under penalty to testify"), a summons to appear and give oral testimony.

sub silentio

under silence implied but not expressly stated.

sub nomine (sub nom.)

under the name "in the name of", "under the title of"; used in legal citations to indicate the name under which the litigation continued.

sub rosa

under the rose "In secret", "privately", "confidentially", or "covertly". In the Middle Ages, a rose was suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber to indicate that what was said in the "under the rose" was not to be repeated outside. This practice originates in Greek mythology, where Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, and he, in turn, gave it to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure that his mother's indiscretions—or those of the gods in general, in other accounts—were kept under wraps.

sub specie Dei

under the sight of God "from God's point of view or perspective".

sub specie aeternitatis

under the sight of eternity Thus, "from eternity's point of view". From Spinoza, Ethics.

sub divo

under the wide open sky Also, "under the sky", "in the open air", "out in the open" or "outdoors". Ablative "divo" does not distinguish divus, divi, a god, from divum, divi, the sky.

sub anno

under the year Commonly abbreviated sa, it is used in citing annals, which record events by year.

non impediti ratione cogitationis

unencumbered by the thought process motto of radio show Car Talk

integer vitae scelerisque purus

unimpaired by life and clean of wickedness From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.

Ex Unitate Vires

union is strength, or unity is strength motto of South Africa.

in varietate concordia

united in diversity The motto of the European Union and the Council of Europe

uniti aedificamus

united we build Motto of the Mississippi Makerspace Community

unitas per servitiam

unity through service Motto for the St. Xavier's Institution Board of Librarians.

unitas, iustitia, spes

unity, justice, hope Motto of Vilnius.

ignotus (ign.)

unknown

ignotum per ignotius

unknown by means of the more unknown An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained. Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.

terra incognita

unknown land

terra australis incognita

unknown southern land First name used to refer to the Australian continent

nisi prius

unless previously In England, a direction that a case be brought up to Westminster for trial before a single judge and jury. In the United States, a court where civil actions are tried by a single judge sitting with a jury, as distinguished from an appellate court.

fundamenta inconcussa

unshakable foundation

nolens volens

unwilling, willing That is, "whether unwillingly or willingly". Sometimes rendered volens nolens, aut nolens aut volens or nolentis volentis. Similar to willy-nilly, though that word is derived from Old English will-he nil-he ([whether] he will or [whether] he will not).

suo motu

upon one's own initiative Also rendered suo moto. Usually used when a court of law, upon its own initiative, (i.e., no petition has been filed) proceeds against a person or authority that it deems has committed an illegal act. It is used chiefly in South Asia.[citation needed]

in pari materia

upon the same matter or subject In statutory interpretation, when a statute is ambiguous, its meaning may be determined in light of other statutes on the same subject matter.

sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas

use [what is] yours so as not to harm [what is] of others Or "use your property in such a way that you do not damage others'". A legal maxim related to property ownership laws, often shortened to simply sic utere ("use it thus").

utilis in ministerium

usefulness in service Comes from 2 Timothy 4:11. Motto of Camberwell Girls Grammar School.

bona vacantia

vacant goods United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that passes to The Crown

concordia salus

well-being through harmony Motto of Montreal. It is also the Bank of Montreal coat of arms and motto.

quae non prosunt singula multa iuvant

what alone is not useful helps when accumulated Ovid, Remedia amoris

per multum cras, cras, crebro dilabitur aetas

what can be done today should not be delayed

quid pro quo

what for what Commonly used in English, it is also translated as "this for that" or "a thing for a thing". Signifies a favor exchanged for a favor. The traditional Latin expression for this meaning was do ut des ("I give, so that you may give").

quod abundat non obstat

what is abundant doesn't hinder It is no problem to have too much of something.

quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

what is asserted without reason may be denied without reason If no grounds have been given for an assertion, then there are no grounds needed to reject it.

quod cito fit, cito perit

what is done quickly, perishes quickly Things done in a hurry are more likely to fail and fail quicker than those done with care.

quod est necessarium est licitum

what is necessary is lawful

quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

what is permitted to Jupiter is not permitted to an ox If an important person does something, it does not necessarily mean that everyone can do it (cf. double standard). Iovi (also commonly rendered Jovi) is the dative form of Iuppiter ("Jupiter" or "Jove"), the chief god of the Romans.

dictum factum

what is said is done Motto of United States Navy Fighter Squadron VF-194.

Quod verum tutum

what is true is right motto of Spier's School

quod natura non dat Salmantica non praestat

what nature does not give, Salamanca does not provide Refers to the Spanish University of Salamanca, meaning that education cannot substitute the lack of brains.

sapientia et eloquentia

wisdom and eloquence One of the mottos of the Ateneo schools in the Philippines.[92]

sapientia et doctrina

wisdom and learning Motto of Fordham University, New York. Motto of Hill House School Doncaster, England.

sapientia et virtus

wisdom and virtue Motto of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

sapientia melior auro

wisdom is better than gold Motto of University of Deusto, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Spain.

sapientia potentia est

wisdom is power Motto of the House of Akeleye, Sweden, Denmark, Czechoslovakia.

sapientia ianua vitae

wisdom is the gateway to life Motto of the Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington, England.

barba tenus sapientes

wise as far as the beard Wise only in appearance. From Erasmus's collection of Adages.

sapiens qui prospicit

wise is he who looks ahead Motto of Malvern College, England

Deo juvante

with God's help Motto of Monaco and its monarch, which is inscribed on the royal arms.

cum grano salis

with a grain of salt Not to be taken too seriously or as the literal truth.

manu militari

with a military hand Using armed forces in order to achieve a goal

stante pede

with a standing foot "Immediately".

pollice verso

with a turned thumb Used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator. The type of gesture used is uncertain. Also the name of a famous painting depicting gladiators by Jean-Léon Gérôme.

obtorto collo

with a twisted neck unwillingly

coniunctis viribus

with connected strength Or "with united powers". Sometimes rendered conjunctis viribus. Motto of Queen Mary, University of London.

consensu

with consent

data venia

with due respect / given the excuse Used before disagreeing with someone.

pari passu

with equal step Thus, "moving together", "simultaneously", etc.

de fideli

with faithfulness A clerk of a court makes this declaration when he is appointed, by which he promises to perform his duties faithfully as a servant of the court.

igni ferroque

with fire and iron A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also rendered as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.

magno cum gaudio

with great joy

vi et animo

with heart and soul Alternatively, "strength and courage"; motto of the Ascham School

summa cum laude

with highest praise

rebus sic stantibus

with matters standing thus The doctrine that treaty obligations hold only as long as the fundamental conditions and expectations that existed at the time of their creation hold.

nemine contradicente (nem. con., N.C.D.)

with no one speaking against Less literally, "without dissent". Used especially in committees, where a matter may be passed nem. con., or unanimously, or with unanimous consent.

manu propria (m.p.)

with one's own hand With the implication of "signed by one's hand". Its abbreviated form is sometimes used at the end of typewritten or printed documents or official notices, directly following the name of the person(s) who "signed" the document exactly in those cases where there isn't an actual handwritten signature.

versa vice

with position turned

cum laude

with praise The standard formula for academic Latin honors in the United States. Greater honors include magna cum laude and summa cum laude.

cum gladio et sale

with sword and salt Motto of a well-paid soldier. See salary.

cum gladiis et fustibus

with swords and clubs From the Bible. Occurs in Matthew 26:47 and Luke 22:52.

sensu lato

with the broad, or general, meaning Less literally, "in the wide sense".

cum mortuis in lingua mortua

with the dead in a dead language Movement from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky

cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum

with the exclusive right to print Copyright notice used in 16th-century England, used for comic effect in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

sede vacante

with the seat being vacant The "seat" refers to the Holy See; the vacancy refers to the interregnum between two popes.

stricto sensu cf. sensu stricto

with the tight meaning Less literally, "in the strict sense".

hac lege

with this law

cum hoc ergo propter hoc

with this, therefore on account of this Fallacy of assuming that correlation implies causation.

veritate et virtute

with truth and virtue Motto of Sydney Boys High School. It is alternatively rendered "virtute et veritate" ("with virtue and truth"), which is the motto of Walford Anglican School for Girls and Pocklington School.

salva veritate

with truth intact Refers to two expressions that can be interchanged without changing the truth value of the statements in which they occur.

Viribus Unitis

with united forces Motto of the house of Habsburg-Lorraine

pace tua

with your peace Thus, "with your permission".

intra vires

within the powers Within one's authority

intra muros

within the walls Not public; source of the word intramural. See also Intramuros, Manila.

sine die

without a day Originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive order has been made in the case. In modern legal context, it means there is nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set, resulting in an "adjournment sine die".

sine loco (s.l.)

without a place Used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication of a document is unknown.

sine anno (s.a.)

without a year Used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is unknown.

sine ira et studio

without anger and fondness Thus, impartially. From Tacitus, Annals 1.1.

sine honoris titulo

without honorary title Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown.

nec spe, nec metu

without hope, without fear

sine scientia ars nihil est

without knowledge, skill is nothing Motto of The International Diving Society, and motto of Oxford University Medical Students' Society

sine labore non erit panis in ore

without labour there will be no bread in mouth

sine remediis medicina debilis est

without remedies medicine is powerless Inscription on a stained glass in the conference hall of a pharmaceutical mill in Kaunas, Lithuania.

sine qua non

without which not Used to denote something that is an essential part of the whole. See also condicio sine qua non.

vae victis

woe to the conquered Attributed by Livy to Brennus, the chief of the Gauls, stated with his demand for more gold from the citizens of the sacked city of Rome in 390 BC.

mulier est hominis confusio

woman is man's ruin "Part of a comic definition of woman" from the Altercatio Hadriani Augusti et Secundi.[65] Famously quoted by Chauntecleer in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

mirabile visu

wonderful to see A Roman phrase used to describe a wonderful event/happening.

mirabile dictu

wonderful to tell Virgil

verbatim

word for word The phrase refers to perfect transcription or quotation.

verbatim et literatim

word for word and letter by letter

sesquipedalia verba

words a foot and a half long From Horace's Ars Poetica, "proicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba" ("he throws down his high-flown language and his foot-and-a-half-long words"). A self-referential jab at long words and needlessly elaborate language in general.

verba ita sunt intelligenda ut res magis valeat quam pereat

words are to be understood such that the subject matter may be more effective than wasted I. e., when explaining a subject, it is important to clarify rather than confuse.

verba volant, scripta manent

words fly away, writings remain Quotation from a famous speech of Caius Titus in the ancient Roman Senate.

verba ex ore

words from mouth Taking the words out of someone's mouth, speaking exactly what the other colloquist wanted to say.

verba docent exempla trahunt

words instruct, illustrations lead This refers to the relevance of illustrations, for example in preaching.

corpus vile

worthless body A person or thing fit only to be the object of an experiment, as in the phrase 'Fiat experimentum in corpore vili.'

ira deorum

wrath of the gods Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the ancient Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of pax deorum (peace of the gods) instead of ira deorum (wrath of the gods): earthquakes, floods, famine, etc.

lex scripta

written law Statutory law; contrasted with lex non scripta

malum prohibitum

wrong due to being prohibited A legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law.

malum in se

wrong in itself A legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong (cf. malum prohibitum).

male captus bene detentus

wrongly captured, properly detained An illegal arrest will not prejudice the subsequent detention/trial.

haec ornamenta mea [sunt]

"These are my ornaments" or

sero venientibus ossa

those who are late get bones

viriliter age

"act manfully" or "act courageously" Motto of Marist College Ashgrove and other institutions

super firmum fundamentum dei

On the firm foundation of God The motto of Ursinus College, Pennsylvania.

nullius in verba

On the word of no man Motto of the Royal Society.

Malo mori quam foedari

Death rather than dishonour Motto of the inactive 34th Battalion (Australia), the Drimnagh Castle Secondary School

calamus gladio fortior

The pen is mightier than the sword

in fide scientiam

To our faith add knowledge Motto of Newington College.

et nunc reges intelligite erudimini qui judicatis terram

"And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth." From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate), 2.10 (Douay-Rheims).

facio liberos ex liberis libris libraque

"I make free adults out of children by means of books and a balance." motto of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico

ex Africa semper aliquid novi

"(There is) always something new (coming) out of Africa" Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 8, 42 (unde etiam vulgare Graeciae dictum semper aliquid novi Africam adferre[21]), a translation of the Greek «Ἀεὶ Λιβύη φέρει τι καινόν».

res, non verba

"actions speak louder than words", or "deeds, not words" From rēs ("things, facts") the plural of rēs ("a thing, a fact") + nōn ("not") + verba ("words") the plural of verbum ("a word"). Literally meaning "things, not words" or "facts instead of words" but referring to that "actions be used instead of words".

felicior Augusto, melior Traiano

"be more fortunate than Augustus and better than Trajan" ritual acclamation delivered to late Roman emperors

propria manu (p.m.)

"by one's own hand"

mors vincit omnia

"death conquers all" or "death always wins" An axiom often found on headstones.

extrema ratio

"extreme solution", "last possibility", "last possible course of action"

ex supra (e.s.)

"from above" Recent academic notation for "from above in this writing". See also ex infra.

ex infra (e.i.)

"from below" Recent academic notation denoting "from below in this writing". See also ex supra.

statim (stat)

"immediately" Medical shorthand used following an urgent request.[101]

videre licet

"it is permitted to see" or "one may see" The phrase is used in scholarship.

let similar things be taken care of by similar things

"like cures like" and "let like be cured by like"; the first form ("curantur") is indicative, while the second form ("curentur") is subjunctive. The indicative form is found in Paracelsus (16th century), while the subjunctive form is said by Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy, and is known as the law of similars.

mobilis in mobili

"moving in a moving thing" or, poetically, "changing through the changing medium" The motto of the Nautilus from the Jules Verne novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

videlicet (viz.)

"namely", "that is to say", or "as follows" A contraction of "videre licet" ("it is permitted to see"), vide infra.

vide

"see" or "refer to" The word is used in scholarly citations.

sensu stricto cf. stricto sensu

"with the tight meaning" Less literally, "in the strict sense".

sine nomine (s.n.)

"without a name" Used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a document is unknown.

sine metu

"without fear" Motto of Jameson Irish Whiskey

non nobis nati

'Born not for ourselves' Motto of St Albans School (Hertfordshire)

Luctor, non mergor

'I struggle, but am not overwhelmed Motto of the Glass Family (Sauchie, Scotland)[57]

(oremus) pro invicem

(Let us pray), one for the other; let us pray for each other Popular salutation for Roman Catholic clergy at the beginning or ending of a letter or note. Usually abbreviated OPI. ("Oremus" used alone is just "let us pray").

nil nisi bonum

(about the dead say) nothing unless (it is) good Short for nil nisi bonum de mortuis dicere. That is, "Don't speak ill of anyone who has died". Also "Nil magnum nisi bonum" (nothing is great unless good), motto of St Catherine's School, Toorak, Pennant Hills High School and Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School.

ignorantia juris non excusat

(or ignorantia legis non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat) ignorance of the law is no excuse A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does not allow one to escape liability.

oleum camino

(pour) oil on the fire from Erasmus' (1466-1536) collection of annotated Adagia

caput inter nubila (condit)

(she plunges) [her] head in the clouds So aggrandized as to be beyond practical (earthly) reach or understanding (from Virgil's Aeneid and the shorter form appears in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government)

ululas Athenas

(to send) owls to Athens From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Latin translation of a classical Greek proverb. Generally means putting large effort in a necessarily fruitless enterprise. Compare "selling coal to Newcastle".

timidi mater non flet

A coward's mother does not weep proverb

hortus siccus

A dry garden A collection of dry, preserved plants

plenus venter non studet libenter

A full belly does not like studying I.e., it is difficult to concentrate on mental tasks after a heavy meal. The following variant is also attested: plenus si venter renuit studere libenter (the belly, when full, refuses to study willingly).

plenus venter facile de ieiuniis disputat

A full belly readily discusses fasting. Hieronymus, Epistulæ 58,2

hortus in urbe

A garden in the city Motto of the Chicago Park District, a playful allusion to the city's motto, urbs in horto, q.v.

non hos quaesitum munus in usus

A gift sought for no such purpose Virgil, Aeneid, 4:647, of the sword with which Dido will commit suicide. "Not for so dire an enterprise design'd." (Dryden trans.; 1697)[72] "A gift asked for no use like this." (Mackail trans.; 1885).[73] "Ne'er given for an end so dire." (Taylor trans.; 1907)[74] "A gift not asked for use like this!" (Williams trans.; 1910).[75] Quoted by Francis Bacon of the civil law, "not made for the countries it governeth".

clausum fregit

A legal action for trespass to land; so called, because the writ demands the person summoned to answer wherefore he broke the close (quare clausum fregit), i.e., why he entered the plaintiff's land.

lupus est homo homini

A man to a man is a wolf Plautus' adaptation of an old Roman proverb: homo homini lupus est ("man is a wolf to [his fellow] man"). In Asinaria, act II, scene IV, verse 89 [495 overall]. Lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit ("a man to a man is a wolf, not a man, when the other doesn't know of what character he is.")[58]

Monasterium sine libris est sicut civitas sine opibus

A monastery without books is like a city without wealth Used in the Umberto Eco novel The Name of the Rose. Part of a much larger phrase: Monasterium sine libris, est sicut civitas sine opibus, castrum sine numeris, coquina sine suppellectili, mensa sine cibis, hortus sine herbis, pratum sine floribus, arbor sine foliis. Translation: A monastery without books is like a city without wealth, a fortress without soldiers, a kitchen without utensils, a table without food, a garden without plants, a meadow without flowers, a tree without leaves.

locus standi

A right to stand Standing in law (the right to have one's case in court)

statio bene fide carinis

A safe harbour for ships Motto of Cork City, Ireland. Adapted from Virgil's Aeneid (II, 23: statio male fida carinis, "an unsafe harbour") but corrupted for unknown reasons to "fide".

tunica propior est pallio

A tunic is closer to the body than a cape

clamea admittenda in itinere per atturnatum

A writ whereby the king of England could command the justice to admit one's claim by an attorney, who being employed in the king's service, cannot come in person.

s.v.

Abbreviation for sub verbo or sub voce (see above).

pace

Ablative form of peace "With all due respect to", "with due deference to", "by leave of", "no offence to", or "despite (with respect)". Used to politely acknowledge someone with whom the speaker or writer disagrees or finds irrelevant to the main argument.

de nobis fabula narratur

About us is the story told Thus: "their story is our story". Originally it referred to the end of Rome's dominance. Now often used when comparing any current situation to a past story or event.

Et facere et pati fortia Romanum est

Acting and suffering bravely is the attribute of a Roman The words of Gaius Mucius Scaevola when Lars Porsena captured him.

salvo honoris titulo (SHT)

Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown.|

post coitum omne animal triste est sive gallus et mulier

After sexual intercourse every animal is sad, except the cock (rooster) and the woman Or: triste est omne animal post coitum, praeter mulierem gallumque. Attributed to Galen of Pergamum.[86]

eheu fugaces labuntur anni

Alas, the fleeting years slip by From Horace's Odes, 2, 14.

hoc genus omne

All that crowd/people From Horace's Satires, 1/2:2. Refers to the crowd at Tigellio's funeral (c. 40-39 BC). Not to be confused with et hoc genus omne (English: and all that sort of thing).

Omnia mea mecum porto

All that is mine I carry with me is a quote that Cicero ascribes to Bias of Priene

Pax Americana

American Peace A euphemism for the United States of America and its sphere of influence. Adapted from Pax Romana.

et facta est lux

And light came to be or was made From Genesis, 1:3: "and there was light". Motto of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. See also Fiat lux.

Et tu, Brute?

And you, Brutus? Or "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?" Indicates betrayal by an intimate associate. From William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, based on the traditional dying words of Julius Caesar. However, these were almost certainly not Caesar's true last words: Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying in Greek, the language of the Roman elite at the time, καὶ σὺ τέκνον (Kaì sù téknon?), translated as "You too, (my) child?", quoting from Menander.

cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare.

Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault Cicero, Philippica XII, 5.

ut aquila versus coelum

As an eagle towards the sky Motto of the Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine

qualis artifex pereo

As what kind of artist do I perish? Or "What a craftsman dies in me!" Attributed to Nero in Suetonius' De vita Caesarum

"These are my jewels"

Attributed to Cornelia Africana (talking about her children) by Valerius Maximus in Factorum ac dictorum memorabilium libri IX, IV, 4, incipit.[49][50]

Mala Ipsa Nova

Bad News Itself Motto of the inactive 495th Fighter Squadron, US Air Force

Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim

Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. From Ovid, Amores, Book III, Elegy XI

vacate et scire

Be still and know. Motto of the University of Sussex

de omnibus dubitandum

Be suspicious of everything / doubt everything Attributed to the French philosopher René Descartes. It was also Karl Marx's favorite motto and a title of one of Søren Kierkegaard's works, namely, De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

pulchrum est paucorum hominum

Beauty is for the few from Friedrich Nietzsche's 1889 book Twilight of the Idols

sub tuum praesidium

Beneath thy compassion Name of the oldest extant hymn to the Theotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary). Also "under your protection". A popular school motto.

Melius abundare quam deficere

Better too much than not enough. Also used in elliptical form as melius abundare.

cave canem

Beware of the dog Earliest written example is in the Satyricon of Petronius, circa 1st century C.E.

Beata Virgo Maria (BVM)

Blessed Virgin Mary A common name in the Roman Catholic Church for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The genitive, Beatae Mariae Virginis (BMV), occurs often as well, appearing with such words as horae (hours), litaniae (litanies) and officium (office).

Corpus Iuris Canonici

Body of Canon Law The official compilation of canon law in the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Codex Iuris Canonici).

parvus pendetur fur, magnus abire videtur

The petty thief is hanged, the big thief gets away.

Corpus Christi

Body of Christ The name of a feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating the Eucharist. It is also the name of a city in Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, the name of Colleges at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and a controversial play.

Corpus Iuris Civilis

Body of Civil Law The body of Roman or civil law.

Codex Iuris Canonici

Book of Canon Law The official code of canon law in the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Corpus Iuris Canonici).

Habent sua fata libelli

Books have their destiny [according to the capabilities of the reader] Terentianus Maurus, De Litteris, De Syllabis, De Metris, 1:1286.

Pax Britannica

British Peace A euphemism for the British Empire. Adapted from Pax Romana

tu autem Domine miserere nobis

But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us Phrase said at the end of biblical readings in the liturgy of the medieval church. Also used in brief, "tu autem", as a memento mori epitaph.

sed terrae graviora manent

But on earth, worse things await Virgil, Aeneid 6:84.

sed ipse spiritus postulat pro nobis, gemitibus inenarrabilibus

But the same Spirit intercedes incessantly for us, with inexpressible groans Romans 8:26

grandescunt aucta labore

By hard work, all things increase and grow Motto of McGill University

labore et honore

By labour and honour

Dei gratia regina

By the Grace of God, Queen Also Dei gratia rex ("By the Grace of God, King"). Abbreviated as D G REG preceding Fidei Defensor (F D) on British pound coins, and as D G Regina on Canadian coins.

Dei gratia

By the grace of God Part of the full style of a monarch historically considered to be ruling by divine right, notably in the style of the English and British monarch since 1521

luce veritatis

By the light of truth School motto of Queen Margaret College

Gloria invidiam vicisti

By your fame you have conquered envy Sallust, Bellum Jugurthum ("Jugurthine War") 10:2.

per

By, through, by means of See specific phrases below

scientia ac labore

By/From/With knowledge and labour Motto of several institutions

Caesar non supra grammaticos

Caesar has no authority over the grammarians Political power is limited; it does not include power over grammar.[5]

risum teneatis, amici?

Can you help laughing, friends? An ironic or rueful commentary, appended following a fanciful or unbelievable tale.

The last resort. Short form for the metaphor "The Last Resort of Kings and Common Men" referring to the act of declaring war; used in the names the French sniper rifle PGM Ultima Ratio and the fictional Reason weapon system. Louis XIV of France had Ultima Ratio Regum ("last argument of kings") cast on the cannons of his armies; motto of the American 1st Battalion 11th Marines; motto of the French Fourth Artillery Regiment; motto of Swedish Artilleriregementet. Also, the Third Battery of the French Third Marine Artillery Regiment has the motto Ultima Ratio Tribuni.

Cannon inscribed "ultima ratio regum"

Caritas in Veritate

Charity in Truth Pope Benedict XVI's third encyclical.

sunt pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant

Children are children, and children do childish things anonymous proverb

Pax Sinica

Chinese Peace period of peace in East Asia during times of strong Chinese hegemony

solus Christus

Christ alone A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind. Also rendered solo Christo ("by Christ alone").

Christus nos liberavit

Christ has freed us title of volume I, book 5, chapter XI of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

magister meus Christus

Christ is my teacher common Catholic edict and motto of a Catholic private school, Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana

Christus Rex

Christ the King A Christian title for Jesus.

crescit cum commercio civitas

Civilization prospers with commerce Motto of Claremont McKenna College.

sutor, ne ultra crepidam

Cobbler, no further than the sandal! Thus, don't offer your opinion on things that are outside your competence. It is said that the Greek painter Apelles once asked the advice of a cobbler on how to render the sandals of a soldier he was painting. When the cobbler started offering advice on other parts of the painting, Apelles rebuked him with this phrase in Greek, and it subsequently became a popular Latin expression.

Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris C.Ss.R

Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer Redemptorists

Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit

Conquered Greece in turn defeated its savage conqueror Horace Epistles 2.1

consuetudo pro lege servatur

Custom is held as law. Where there are no specific laws, the matter should be decided by custom;[10] established customs have the force of laws.[11] Also consuetudo est altera lex (custom is another law) and consuetudo vincit communem legem (custom overrules the common law); see also: Consuetudinary.

Succisa virescit

Cut down, we grow back stronger Motto of Delbarton School

Pericula ludus

Danger is my pleasure Motto of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

dies irae

Day of wrath Reference to the Judgment Day in Christian eschatology. The title of a famous Medieval Latin hymn by Tommaso da Celano in the 13th century and used in the Requiem Mass.

labor ipse voluptas

The pleasure is in the work itself. Motto of Leopold von Ranke (Manilius IV 155)

nanos gigantum humeris insidentes

Dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants First recorded by John of Salisbury in the twelfth century and attributed to Bernard of Chartres. Also commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants".

scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim

Each desperate blockhead dares to write as translated by Philip Francis. From Horace, Epistularum liber secundus (1, 117)[94] and quoted in Fielding's Tom Jones; lit: "Learned or not, we shall write poems without distinction."

inveniet quod quisque velit

Each shall find what he desires Attributed to Petronius[54] or Prudentius. Motto of Nature in Cambridgeshire:[55]

magnum vectigal est parsimonia

Economy is a great revenue Cicero, Paradoxa 6/3:49. Sometimes translated into English as "thrift (or frugality) is a great revenue (or income)", edited from its original subordinate clause: "O di immortales! non intellegunt homines, quam magnum vectigal sit parsimonia." (English: O immortal gods! Men do not understand what a great revenue is thrift.)

nervos belli, pecuniam infinitam

Endless money forms the sinews of war In war, it is essential to be able to purchase supplies and to pay troops (as Napoleon put it, "An army marches on its stomach").

opus anglicanum

English work fine embroidery, especially used to describe church vestments

Pax Europaea

European Peace euphemism for Europe after World War II

Etiam si omnes, ego non

Even if all others, I will never Saint Peter to Jesus Christ, from the Vulgate, Gospel of Matthew 26:33; New King James Version: Matthew 26:33).

Triste est omne animal post coitum, præter mulierem gallumque

Every animal is sad after coitus except the human female and the rooster

omnis vir enim sui

Every man for himself!

in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro

Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book Quote by Thomas à Kempis

Pater Omnipotens

Father Almighty A more direct translation would be "omnipotent father".

pater peccavi

Father, I have sinned The traditional beginning of a Roman Catholic confession.

intelligenti pauca

Few words suffice for he who understands

Christo et Doctrinae

For Christ and Learning The motto of Furman University.

pro Ecclesia, pro Texana

For Church, For Texas Motto of Baylor University, a private Christian Baptist university in Waco, Texas.

pro Deo et Patria

For God and Country Frequently used motto

Deo et patriae

For God and country Motto of Regis High School in New York City, New York, United States.

Deo domuique

For God and for home Motto of Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne.

pro Deo Domo Patria

For God, home and country Motto of the University of Mary Washington

Deo regi vicino

For God, king and neighbour Motto of Bromsgrove School.

fortes fortuna juvat

Fortune favours the bold The motto of the Jutland Dragoon Regiment of Denmark

fortes fortuna adiuvat

Fortune favours the bold The motto of the United States Marine Corps 3rd Marine Regiment

libera te tutemet (ex inferis)

Free yourself (from hell) Used in the movie Event Horizon (1997), where it is translated as "save yourself (from hell)". It is initially misheard as liberate me (free me), but is later corrected. Libera te is often mistakenly merged into liberate, which would necessitate a plural pronoun instead of the singular tutemet (which is an emphatic form of tu, you).

Pietate et doctrina tuta libertas

Freedom is made safe through character and learning Motto of Dickinson College

Libertas perfundet omnia luce

Freedom will flood all things with light Motto of the University of Barcelona and the Complutense University of Madrid

Reginam occidere

From "Reginam occidere nolite timere bonum est si omnes consentiunt ego non contradico", a sentence whose meaning is highly dependent on punctuation: either the speaker wishes a queen killed or not.[89] Written by John of Merania, bishop of Esztergom, to Hungarian nobles planning the assassination of Gertrude of Merania. The queen was assassinated as the plotters saw the bishop's message as an encouragement.

Time flies.

From Virgil's Georgics (Book III, line 284), where it appears as fugit inreparabile tempus. A common sundial motto. See also tempus volat, hora fugit below.

Ex turpi causa non oritur actio

From a dishonorable cause an action does not arise A legal doctrine which states that a claimant will be unable to pursue a cause of action, if it arises in connection with his own illegal act. Particularly relevant in the law of contract, tort and trusts.

ex duris gloria

From suffering [comes] glory Motto of Rapha Cycling club (see also Rapha (sportswear)).

Ex Astris Scientia

From the Stars, Knowledge The motto of the fictional Starfleet Academy of Star Trek. Adapted from ex luna scientia, which in turn derived from ex scientia tridens.

laboris gloria Ludi

Games are the glory of work, Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK

da mihi factum, dabo tibi ius

Give me the fact, I will give you the law Also da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius (plural "facta" (facts) for the singular "factum"). A legal principle of Roman law that parties to a suit should present the facts and the judge will rule on the law that governs them. Related to iura novit curia (the court knows the law).

Miles Gloriosus

Glorious Soldier Or "Boastful Soldier". Miles Gloriosus is the title of a play of Plautus. A stock character in comedy, the braggart soldier. (It is said that at Salamanca, there is a wall, on which graduates inscribe their names, where Francisco Franco had a plaque installed reading "Franciscus Francus Miles Gloriosus".)

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Glory to God in the Highest Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title and beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad maiorem Dei gloriam.

Gloria Patri

Glory to the Father The beginning of the Lesser Doxology.

ite, missa est

Go, it is the dismissal Loosely: "You have been dismissed". Concluding words addressed to the people in the Mass of the Roman Rite.[56]

I, Vitelli, dei Romani sono belli

Go, oh Vitellius, at the war sound of the Roman god Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as funny by modern Italians because the same exact words, in Italian, mean "Romans' calves are beautiful", which has a ridiculously different meaning.

Deus caritas est

God Is Love Title and first words of the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI. For other meanings see Deus caritas est (disambiguation).

Deus meumque jus

God and my right The principal motto of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. See also Dieu et mon droit.

Deus otiosus

God at leisure

infirma mundi elegit Deus

God chooses the weak of the world The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton

ditat Deus

God enriches Motto of the State of Arizona, United States, adopted in 1911. Probably derived from the translation of the Vulgate Bible of Genesis 14: 23.

Deus nobis haec otia fecit

God has given us these days of leisure Motto of the city of Liverpool, England.

Deus lux mea est

God is my light The motto of The Catholic University of America.

turris fortis mihi Deus

God is my strong tower Motto of the Kelly Clan

Deus spes nostra

God is our hope The motto of Sir Thomas de Boteler, founder of Boteler Grammar School in Warrington in 1526.

numen lumen

God our light The motto of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The motto of Elon University.

Deo volente

God willing This was often used in conjunction with a signature at the end of letters. It was used in order to signify that "God willing" this letter will get to you safely, "God willing" the contents of this letter come true. As an abbreviation (simply "D.V.") it is often found in personal letters (in English) of the early 1900s, employed to generally and piously qualify a given statement about a future planned action, that it will be carried out, so long as God wills (see James 4:13-15, which encourages this way of speaking). The motto of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Deus vult

God wills it The principal slogan of the Crusades. Motto of Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, United States.

nobis bene, nemini male

Good for us, Bad for no one Inscription on the old Nobistor [de] gatepost that divided Altona and St. Pauli

cui bono

Good for whom? "Who benefits?" An adage in criminal investigation which suggests that considering who would benefit from an unwelcome event is likely to reveal who is responsible for that event (cf. cui prodest). Also the motto of the Crime Syndicate of America, a fictional supervillain group. The opposite is cui malo (Bad for whom?).

Magna Europa est patria nostra

Greater Europe is Our Fatherland Political motto of pan-Europeanists

Pontifex Maximus

Greatest High Priest Or "Supreme Pontiff". Originally an office in the Roman Republic, later a title held by Roman Emperors, and later a traditional epithet of the pope. The pontifices were the most important priestly college of the religion in ancient Rome; their name is usually thought to derive from pons facere ("to make a bridge"), which in turn is usually linked to their religious authority over the bridges of Rome, especially the Pons Sublicius.

Hannibal ad portas

Hannibal at the gates Found in Cicero's first Philippic and in Livy's Ab urbe condita

Felicitas, Integritas Et Sapientia

Happiness, Integrity and Knowledge The motto of Oakland Colegio Campestre school through which Colombia participates of NASA Educational Programs

labor omnia vincit

Hard work conquers all. Popular as a motto; derived from a phrase in Virgil's Eclogue (X.69: omnia vincit Amor - "Love conquers all"); a similar phrase also occurs in his Georgics I.145.

miscerique probat populos et foedera jungi

He approves of the mingling of the peoples and their bonds of union Latin Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV, line 112, "he" referring to the great Roman god, who approved of the settlement of Romans in Africa. Old Motto of Trinidad and Tobago, and used in the novel A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul.

Meliorem lapsa locavit

He has planted one better than the one fallen. The motto of the Belmont County, Ohio, and the motto in the seal of the Northwest Territory

illum oportet crescere me autem minui

He must become greater; I must become less In the Gospel of John 3:30, a phrase said by John the Baptist after baptizing Jesus. Motto of Saint John the Baptist Catholic School, San Juan, Metro Manila.

palmam qui meruit ferat

He who has earned the palm, let him bear it. Loosely, "achievement should be rewarded" (or, "let the symbol of victory go to him who has deserved it"); frequently used motto

cor aut mors

Heart or Death (Your choice is between) The Heart (Moral Values, Duty, Loyalty) or Death (to no longer matter, to no longer be respected as person of integrity.)

lacrimae rerum

The poignancy of things. Virgil, Aeneid 1:462

homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto

I am a human being; nothing human is strange to me From Terence's Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor) (163 BC). Originally "strange" or "foreign" (alienum) was used in the sense of "irrelevant", as this line was a response to the speaker being told to mind his own business, but it is now commonly used to advocate respecting different cultures and being humane in general. Puto (I consider) is not translated because it is meaningless outside of the line's context within the play.

primas sum: primatum nil a me alienum puto

I am a primate; nothing about primates is outside of my bailiwick A sentence by the American anthropologist Earnest Hooton and the slogan of primatologists and lovers of the primates.

non ducor, duco

I am not led; I lead Motto of São Paulo city, Brazil. See also pro Brasilia fiant eximia.

non sum qualis eram

I am not such as I was Or "I am not the kind of person I once was". Expresses a change in the speaker. Horace, Odes 4/1:3.

probis pateo

I am open for honest people Traditionally inscribed above a city gate or above the front entrance of a dwelling or place of learning.

sum quod sum

I am what I am from Augustine's Sermon No. 76.[102]

sum quod eris

I am what you will be A gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death (cf. memento mori). Also rendered fui quod sis ("I have been what you are") and tu fui ego eris ("I have been you, you will be I").

questio quid iuris

I ask what law? from the Summoner's section of Chaucer's General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, line 648

iuventutis veho fortunas

I bear the fortunes of youth Motto of Dollar Academy

credo quia absurdum est

I believe it because it is absurd A very common misquote of Tertullian's et mortuus est Dei Filius prorsus credibile quia ineptum est (and the Son of God is dead: in short, it is credible because it is unfitting), meaning that it is so absurd to say that God's son has died that it would have to be a matter of belief, rather than reason. The misquoted phrase, however, is commonly used to mock the dogmatic beliefs of the religious (see fideism). This phrase is commonly shortened to credo quia absurdum, and is also sometimes rendered credo quia impossibile est (I believe it because it is impossible) or, as Darwin used it in his autobiography, credo quia incredibile.

credo ut intelligam

I believe so that I may understand A motto of St Anselm, used as the motto of St. Anselm Hall, Manchester

veni, vidi, vici

I came, I saw, I conquered The message supposedly sent by Julius Caesar to the Roman Senate to describe his battle against King Pharnaces II of Pontus near Zela in 47 BC.

sisto activitatem

I cease the activity Phrase, used to cease the activities of the Sejm upon the liberum veto principle

ego te provoco

I challenge you Used as a challenge; "I dare you". Can also be written as te provoco.

ex vita discedo, tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo

I depart from life as from an inn, not as from home Cicero, Cato Maior de Senectute (On Old Age) 23

morior invictus

I die unvanquished[63] sometimes also translated as "death before defeat"[63]

dirigo

I direct In Classical Latin, "I arrange". Motto of the State of Maine, United States; based on a comparison of the State to the star Polaris.

horas non numero nisi serenas

I do not count the hours unless they are sunny A common inscription on sundials.

hypotheses non fingo

I do not fabricate hypotheses From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert that any hypotheses are true".

nomen nescio (N.N.)

I do not know the name Thus, the name or person in question is unknown.

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. Nolo contendere pleas cannot be used as evidence in another trial.

bibo ergo sum

I drink, therefore I am A play on "cogito ergo sum", "I think therefore I am"

veritatem dilexi

I esteemed truth Alternatively, "I loved truth"; motto of Bryn Mawr College

timeo Danaos et dona ferentes

I fear Greeks even if they bring gifts Danaos being a term for the Greeks. In Virgil's Aeneid, II, 49, the phrase is said by Laocoön when warning his fellow Trojans against accepting the Trojan Horse. The full original quote is quidquid id est timeo Danaos et dona ferentis, quidquid id est meaning "whatever it is" and ferentis being an archaic form of ferentes. Commonly mistranslated "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts".

volo non fugia

I fly but do not flee Motto of HMS Venetia[110]

veto

I forbid The word denotes the right to unilaterally forbid or void a specific proposal, especially legislation. It is derived from ancient Roman voting procedures.

do ut des

I give that you may give Often said or written of sacrifices, in which one "gives" and expects a return from the gods.

bello et jure senesco

I grow old through war and law Motto of the House of d'Udekem d'Acoz [nl]

odi et amo

I hate and I love opening of Catullus 85; the entire poem reads, "odi et amo quare id faciam fortasse requiris / nescio sed fieri sentio et excrucior" (I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you perhaps ask. / I do not know, but I feel it happening to me and I am burning up.)

odi profanum vulgus et arceo

I hate the unholy rabble and keep them away Horace, Carmina III, 1

faciam eos in gentem unum

I will make them into one nation appeared on British coinage following the Union of the Crowns

feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes

I have done what I could; let those who can do better. Slight variant ("quod potui feci") found in James Boswell's An Account of Corsica, there described as "a simple beautiful inscription on the front of Palazzo Tolomei at Siena".[43] Later, found in Henry Baerlein's introduction to his translation of The Diwan of Abul ʿAla by Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri (973-1057);[44] also in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, act 1. Also in Alfonso Moreno Espinosa, Compendio de Historia Universal, 5. ed. (Cádiz 1888).

diem perdidi

I have lost the day From the Roman Emperor Titus. Recorded in the biography of him by Suetonius in Lives of the Twelve Caesars.

exegi monumentum aere perennius

I have reared a monument more enduring than bronze Horace, Carmina III:XXX:I

peccavi

I have sinned Telegraph message and pun from Charles Napier, British general, upon completely subjugating the Indian province of Sindh in 1842 ('I have Sindh'). This is, arguably, the most terse military despatch ever sent. The story is apocryphal.

dixi

I have spoken A popular, eloquent expression, usually used in the end of a speech. The implied meaning is that the speaker has said all that he had to say and thus his argument is completed.

cepi corpus

I have taken the body In law, it is a return made by the sheriff, upon a capias, or other process to the like purpose; signifying, that he has taken the body of the party. See also habeas corpus.

teneo te Africa

I hold you, Africa! Suetonius attributes this to Julius Caesar, from when Caesar was on the African coast.

contra spem spero

I hope against hope Title of a poem by Lesya Ukrainka; it derives from an expression found in Paul's Letter to the Romans 4:18 (Greek: παρ' ἐλπίδα ἐπ' ἐλπίδι) with reference to Abraham the Patriarch who maintained faith in becoming the father of many nations despite being childless and well-advanced in years.

dum cresco spero

I hope when I grow Motto of The Ravensbourne School.

scio

I know

cedere nescio

I know not how to yield Motto of HMAS Norman

scio me nihil scire

I know that I know nothing

docendo disco, scribendo cogito

I learn by teaching, I think by writing

fui quod es, eris quod sum

I once was what you are, you will be what I am An epitaph that reminds the reader of the inevitability of death, as if to state: "Once I was alive like you are, and you will be dead as I am now." It was carved on the gravestones of some Roman military officers.

malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium

I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery Attributed to the Count Palatine of Posen before the Polish Diet, cited in The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

legi, intellexi, et condemnavi

I read, understood, and condemned.

invictus maneo

I remain unvanquished Motto of the Armstrong Clan

video meliora proboque deteriora sequor

I see and approve of the better, but I follow the worse From the Metamorphoses Book 7, 20-1 of Ovid, being a summary of the experience of akrasia.

video et taceo

I see and keep silent Motto of Queen Elizabeth I of England

video sed non credo

I see it, but I do not believe it The statement of Caspar Hofmann [de] after being shown proof of the circulatory system by William Harvey.

resurgam

I shall arise 'I shall rise again', expressing Christian faith in resurrection at the Last Day. It appears, inter alia, in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, as the epitaph written on Helen Burns's grave; in a poem of Emily Dickinson: Poems (1955) I. 56 ("Arcturus" is his other name), I slew a worm the other day — A 'Savant' passing by Murmured 'Resurgam' — 'Centipede'! 'Oh Lord—how frail are we'!; and in a letter of Vincent van Gogh.[90] The OED gives "1662 J. Trapp Annotations Old & New Testament I. 142 Howbeit he had hope in his death, and might write Resurgam on his grave" as its earliest attribution in the English corpus.

non omnis moriar

I shall not all die Horace, Carmina 3/30:6. "Not all of me will die", a phrase expressing the belief that a part of the speaker will survive beyond death.

surgam

I shall rise Motto of Columbia University's Philolexian Society.

luceo non uro

I shine, not burn Motto of the Highland Scots Clan Mackenzie

horresco referens

I shudder as I tell From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.204, on the appearance of the sea-serpents who kill the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons

haud ignota loquor

I speak not of unknown things Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.91.

luctor et emergo

I struggle and emerge Motto of the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its battle against the sea, and the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame

supero omnia

I surpass everything A declaration that one succeeds above all others.

cogito ergo sum

I think, therefore I am. A rationalistic argument used by French philosopher René Descartes to attempt to prove his own existence.

indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus

I too am annoyed whenever good Homer nods off Horace, Ars Poetica 358

tu fui ego eris

I was you; you will be me Thus, "what you are, I was; what I am, you will be.". A memento mori gravestone inscription to remind the reader that death is unavoidable (cf. sum quod eris).

non timebo mala

I will fear no evil It is possibly a reference to Psalm 23. Printed on the Colt in Supernatural.

tutum te robore reddam

I will give you safety by strength Motto of the Clan Crawford

non serviam

I will not serve Possibly derived from a Vulgate mistranslation of the Book of Jeremiah. Commonly used in literature as Satan's statement of disobedience to God, though in the original context the quote is attributed to Israel, not Satan.

tuebor

I will protect Found on the Great Seal on the flag of the state of Michigan.

serviam

I will serve The answer of St. Michael the Archangel to the non serviam, "I will not serve" of Satan, when the angels were tested by God on whether they will serve an inferior being, a man, Jesus, as their Lord.

viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi

I will show you the way of wisdom Motto of DePaul University

faciam quodlibet quod necesse est

I'll do whatever it takes

faciam ut mei memineris

I'll make you remember me from Plautus, Persa IV.3-24; used by Russian hooligans as tattoo inscription

si dormiam capiar

If I sleep, I may be caught Motto of HMS Wakeful (H88)

Si non oscillas, noli tintinnare

If you can't swing, don't ring Inscribed on a plaque above the front door of the Playboy mansion in Chicago.

si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses

If you had kept your silence, you would have stayed a philosopher This quote is often attributed to the Latin philosopher Boethius of the late fifth and early sixth centuries. It translates literally as, "If you had been silent, you would have remained a philosopher." The phrase illustrates a common use of the subjunctive verb mood. Among other functions it expresses actions contrary to fact. Sir Humphrey Appleby translated it to the PM as: "If you'd kept your mouth shut we might have thought you were clever."

Si monumentum requiris circumspice

If you seek (his) monument, look around you from the epitaph on Christopher Wren's tomb in St Paul's Cathedral.

si vis amari ama

If you want to be loved, love This is often attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca, found in the sixth of his letters to Lucilius.

Deo confidimus

In God we trust Motto of Somerset College.

in scientia et virtue

In Knowledge, and Virtue Motto of St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Sri Lanka.

(Dog Latin)

In Knowledge, there is Opportunity Motto of Edge Hill University.

in somnis veritas

In dreams there is truth

in omnibus amare et servire Domino

In everything, love and serve the Lord. The motto of Ateneo de Iloilo, a school in the Philippines

clerico intra sacros ordines constituto non eligendo in officium

In law, a writ directed to the bailiffs, etc., that have thrust a bailiwick or beadleship upon one in holy orders; charging them to release him.

clerico capto per statutum mercatorum

In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk out of prison, who is imprisoned upon the breach of statute merchant.

clerico convicto commisso gaolae in defectu ordinarii deliberando

In law, a writ for the delivery of a clerk to his ordinary, that was formerly convicted of felony; by reason that his ordinary did not challenge him according to the privilege of clerks.

in com. Ebor.

In the county of Yorkshire Eboracum was the Roman name for York and this phrase is used in some Georgian and Victorian books on the genealogy of prominent Yorkshire families.

in regione caecorum rex est luscus

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. A quote of Desiderius Erasmus from Adagia (first published 1500, with numerous expanded editions through 1536), III, IV, 96.

media vita in morte sumus

In the midst of our lives we die A well-known sequence, falsely attributed to Notker during the Middle Ages. It was translated by Cranmer and became a part of the burial service in the funeral rites of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum

Index of Prohibited (or, Forbidden) Books A list of books considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.

principium individuationis

Individuation psychological term: the self-formation of the personality into a coherent whole

Infinitus est numerus stultorum.

Infinite is the number of fools.

intus et in cute

Inwardly, under the skin [intimately, without reservation] Persius, Satire 3:30.

parum luceat

It does not shine [being darkened by shade]. Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, 1/6:34 - see also lucus a nonlucendo

Graecum est; non legitur

It is Greek (and therefore) it cannot be read. Most commonly from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar where Casca couldn't explain to Cassius what Cicero was saying because he was speaking Greek. The more common colloquialism would be: It's all Greek to me.

latius est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis (quam innocentem damnari)

It is better to let the crime of the guilty go unpunished (than to condemn the innocent) Ulpian, Digest 5:6.

consummatum est

It is completed. The last words of Jesus on the cross in the Latin translation of John 19:30.

facilius est multa facere quam diu

It is easier to do many things, than one thing consecutively Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria 1/12:7

factum fieri infectum non potest

It is impossible for a deed to be undone Terence, Phormio 5/8:45

fas est et ab hoste doceri

It is lawful to be taught even by an enemy Ovid, Metamorphoses 4:428

docendo discitur

It is learned by teaching / one learns by teaching Attributed to Seneca the Younger.

non qui parum habet, set qui plus cupit, pauper est

It is not he who has little, but he who wants more, who is the pauper. Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 2:6.

dulce est desipere in loco

It is sweet on occasion to play the fool. / It is pleasant to relax once in a while. Horace, Odes 4, 12, 28. Also used by George Knapton for the portrait of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet in 1744.

dis aliter visum

It seemed otherwise to the gods In other words, the gods have ideas different to those of mortals, and so events do not always occur in the way persons wish them to. Confer Virgil, Aeneid, 2: 428. Also confer "Man proposes and God disposes" and "My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways", Isaiah 55, 8-9.

tuum est

It's up to you Motto of the University of British Columbia

Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (INRI)

Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews

Jesu juva (J.J.)

Jesus, help! Used by Johann Sebastian Bach at the beginning of his compositions, which he ended with "S.D.G." (Soli Deo gloria). Compare Besiyata Dishmaya.

Iohannes est nomen eius

John is his name Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

servabo fidem

Keeper of the faith I will keep the faith.

Regnum Mariae Patrona Hungariae

Kingdom of Mary, the Patron of Hungary Former motto of Hungary.

suos cultores scientia coronat

Knowledge crowns those who seek her The motto of Syracuse University, New York.

praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes

Lead in order to serve, not in order to rule. Motto of Lancaster Royal Grammar School

disce ut semper victurus, vive ut cras moriturus

Learn as if always going to live; live as if tomorrow going to die. Attributed to St. Edmund of Abingdon. First seen in Isidoro de Sevilla

generatim discite cultus

Learn each field of study according to its kind. (Virgil, Georgics II.) Motto of the University of Bath.

bella gerant alii

Let others wage war!

laboremus pro patria

Let us work for the fatherland Motto of the Carlsberg breweries

luceat lux vestra

Let your light shine From Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16; popular as a school motto

Libertas Justitia Veritas

Liberty Justice Truth Motto of the Korea University and Freie Universität Berlin

Libertas Securitas Justitia

Liberty Security Justice Motto of the Frontex

sursum corda

Lift up your hearts

crescente luce

Light ever increasing Motto of James Cook University.

Lux mentis Lux orbis

Light of the mind, Light of the world Motto of Sonoma State University

noster nostri

Literally "Our ours" Approximately "Our hearts beat as one."

Homo minister et interpres naturae

Man, the servant and interpreter of nature Motto of the Lehigh University

vita, dulcedo, spes

Mary, [our] life, sweetness, [and] hope Motto of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, which is derived from the Roman Catholic hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary titled Salve Regina.

fiat voluntas Dei

May God's will be done motto of Robert May's School; see the next phrase below

incepto ne desistam

May I not shrink from my purpose! Westville Boys' High School and Westville Girls' High School's motto is taken directly from Virgil. These words, found in Aeneid, Book 1, are used by Juno, queen of heaven who hated the Trojans led by Aeneas. When she saw the fleet of Aeneas on its way to Italy, after the sack of Troy by the Greeks, she planned to scatter it by means of strong winds. In her determination to accomplish her task she cried out "Incepto Ne Desistam!"

cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet

May he who has never loved before, love tomorrow; And may he who has loved, love tomorrow as well The refrain from the 'Pervigilium Veneris', a poem which describes a three-day holiday in the cult of Venus, located somewhere in Sicily, involving the whole town in religious festivities joined with a deep sense of nature and Venus as the "procreatrix", the life-giving force behind the natural world.

crescamus in Illo per omnia

May we grow in Him through all things Motto of Cheverus High School.

insita hominibus libidine alendi de industria rumores

Men have an innate desire to propagate rumors or reports Titus Livius, (XXVII, XXIV); Michel de Montaigne, (Essays).

o homines ad servitutem paratos

Men ready to be slaves! attributed (in Tacitus, Annales, III, 65) to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, in disgust at the servile attitude of Roman senators; said of those who should be leaders but instead slavishly follow the lead of others

Mediolanum captum est

Milan has been captured Used erroneously as Mediolanum Capta Est by the black metal band Mayhem as an album title. Mediolanum was an ancient city in present-day Milan, Italy.

Pax Mongolica

Mongolian Peace period of peace and prosperity in Asia during the Mongol Empire

Mater Dei

Mother of God A name given to describe Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, who is also called the Son of God.

mea navis aëricumbens anguillis abundat

My hovercraft is full of eels A relatively common recent Latinization inspired by the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch by Monty Python.

NN fecit

NN made (this) a formula used traditionally in the author's signature by painters, sculptors, artisans, scribes etc.; compare pinxit

Hei mihi! quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis.

Oh me! love can not be cured by herbs From Ovid's Metamorphoses ("Transformations"), I, 523.

O tempora, o mores!

Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! also translated "What times! What customs!"; from Cicero, Catilina I, 2

natura valde simplex est et sibi consona

Nature is exceedingly simple and harmonious with itself Sir Isaac Newton's famous quote, defining foundation of all modern sciences. Can be found in his Unpublished Scientific Papers of Isaac Newton: A selection from the Portsmouth Collection in the University Library, Cambridge, 1978 edition[70]

natura artis magistra

Nature is the teacher of art The name of the zoo in the centre of Amsterdam; short: "Artis".

nec dextrorsum, nec sinistrorsum

Neither to the right nor to the left Do not get distracted. Motto for Bishop Cotton Boys' School and the Bishop Cotton Girls' School, both located in Bangalore, India.

vestigia nulla retrorsum

Never a backward step Motto of Wanganui Collegiate School

nullum funus sine fidula

No Funeral Without a Fiddle Motto of the Guild of Funerary Violinists.

nulla dies umquam memori vos eximet aevo

No day shall erase you from the memory of time From Virgil's Aeneid, Book IX, line 447, on the episode of Nisus and Euryalus.

Nemo igitur vir magnus sine aliquo adflatu divino umquam fuit

No great man ever existed who did not enjoy some portion of divine inspiration From Cicero's De Natura Deorum, Book 2, chapter LXVI, 167[71]

contra vim mortis non crescit herba (or salvia) in hortis

No herb (or sage) grows in the gardens against the power of death there is no medicine against death; from various medieval medicinal texts

Pretium Laborum Non Vile

No mean reward for labour Motto of the Order of the Golden Fleece

nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit

No mortal is wise at all times The wisest may make mistakes.

nemo contra Deum nisi Deus ipse

No one against God except God himself From Goethe's autobiography From my Life: Poetry and Truth, p. 598

ultra posse nemo obligatur

No one is obligated beyond what he is able to do.

nemo nisi per amicitiam cognoscitur

No one learns except by friendship Used to imply that one must like a subject in order to study it.

nemo me impune lacessit

No one provokes me with impunity Motto of the Order of the Thistle, and consequently of Scotland, found stamped on the milled edge of certain British pound sterling coins. It is the motto of the Montressors in the Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Cask of Amontillado". Motto of the San Beda College Beta Sigma Fraternity.

nemo saltat sobrius

Nobody dances sober The short and more common form of Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit, "Nobody dances sober, unless he happens to be insane," a quote from Cicero (from the speech Pro Murena).

nulla dies sine linea

Not a day without a line drawn Pliny the Elder attributes this maxim to Apelles, an ancient Greek artist.

non vi, sed verbo

Not by force, but by the word [of God] From Martin Luther's "Invocavit Sermons" preached in March, 1522, against the Zwickau prophets unrest in Wittenberg;[78] later echoed in the Augsburg Confession as ...sine vi humana, sed Verbo: bishops should act "without human force, but through the Word".[79]

non sibi, sed omnibus

Not for one's self but for all A slogan used by many schools and universities.

non sibi, sed suis

Not for one's self but for one's own A slogan used by many schools and universities.

non sibi

Not for self A slogan used by many schools and universities.

non sibi, sed patriae

Not for self, but for country Engraved on the doors of the United States Naval Academy chapel; motto of the USS Halyburton (FFG-40).

non silba, sed anthar; Deo vindice

Not for self, but for others; God will vindicate A slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan

non auro, sed ferro, recuperanda est patria

Not gold, but iron redeems the native land According to some roman this sentence was said by Marcus Furius Camillus to Brennus, the chief of the Gauls, after he demanded more gold from the citizens of the recently sacked Rome in 390 BC.

Non nobis Domine

Not to us (oh) Lord Christian hymn based on Psalm 115.

non vestra sed vos

Not yours but you Motto of St Chad's College, Durham.

nil volentibus arduum

Nothing [is] arduous for the willing Nothing is impossible for the willing

Ne quid nimis

Nothing in excess

O Deus ego amo te

O God I Love You attributed to Saint Francis Xavier

da Deus fortunae

O God, give fortune/happiness A traditional greeting of Czech brewers.

Domine dirige nos

O Lord, guide us Motto of the City of London, England.

Domine salvum fac regem

O Lord, save the king Psalm 20, 10.

Domine salvam fac reginam

O Lord, save the queen After Psalm 20, 10.

O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta tyranne tulisti

O tyrant Titus Tatius, what terrible calamities you brought onto yourself! from Quintus Ennius, Annales (104), considered an example of a Latin tongue-twister

sui generis

Of its own kind In a class of its own.

sui iuris

Of one's own right Capable of responsibility. Has both legal and ecclesiastical use. Commonly rendered sui juris.

de gustibus non est disputandum

Of tastes there is nothing to be disputed Less literally, "there is no accounting for taste", because they are judged subjectively and not objectively: everyone has his own and none deserve preeminence. The complete phrase is "de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum" ("when we talk about tastes and colours there is nothing to be disputed"). Probably of Scholastic origin; see Wiktionary.

castigat ridendo mores

One corrects customs by laughing at them Or, "[Comedy/Satire] criticises customs through humour", is a phrase coined by French New Latin poet Jean-Baptiste de Santeul (1630-1697), but sometimes wrongly attributed to his contemporary Molière or to Roman lyric poet Horace.

Sudetia non cantat

One doesn't sing on the Sudeten Mountains Saying from Hanakia

homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus

One is innocent until proven guilty See also: presumption of innocence.

Unus papa Romae, unus portus Anconae, una turris Cremonae, una ceres Raconae

One pope in Rome, one port in Ancona, one tower in Cremona, one beer in Rakovník Motto of the Czech Brewery in Rakovník.[106]

Legend states that when the evangelist went to the lagoon where Venice would later be founded, an angel came and said this.[81] The first part is depicted as the note in the book shown opened by the lion of St Mark's Basilica, Venice; registered trademark of the Assicurazioni Generali, Trieste.[82]

Part of Venice's coat of arms: a winged lion holding a sword upright and showing an opened book with the words: "Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus."

Biblia pauperum

Paupers' Bible Tradition of biblical pictures displaying the essential facts of Christian salvation

Pax Christi

Peace of Christ Used as a wish before the Holy Communion in the Catholic Mass, also the name of the peace movement Pax Christi

Pax Deorum

Peace of the gods Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum (The Peace of the gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the gods).

Pacem in terris

Peace on Earth

Pax intrantibus, salus exeuntibus

Peace to those who enter, health to those who depart. Used as an inscription over the entrance of buildings (especially homes, monasteries, inns). Often benedicto habitantibus (Blessings on those who abide here) is added.

Pax tibi, Marce, Evangelista meus. Hic requiescet corpus tuum.

Peace to you, Mark, my Evangelist. Here will rest your body.

Romanes eunt domus

People called Romans they go the house An intentionally garbled Latin phrase from Monty Python's Life of Brian. Its intended meaning is "Romans, go home!", in Latin Romani ite domum.

Perseverantia et Fide in Deo

Perseverance and Faith in God Motto of Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, India

res publica

Pertaining to the state or public source of the word republic

iucunda memoria est praeteritorum malorum

Pleasant is the memory of past troubles Cicero, De finibus bonorum et malorum 2, 32, 105

Praga Caput Regni

Prague, Head of the Kingdom Motto of Prague from Middle Ages

Praga mater urbium

Prague, Mother of Cities Motto of Prague from 1927

Praga totius Bohemiae domina

Prague, the mistress of the whole of Bohemia Former motto of Prague

laudetur Jesus Christus

Praise (Be) Jesus Christ Often used as a salutation, but also used after prayers or the reading of the gospel

Qualitas potentia nostra

Quality is our might motto of Finnish Air Force

sublimis ab unda

Raised from the waves Motto of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham

rari nantes in gurgite vasto

Rare survivors in the immense sea Virgil, Aeneid, I, 118

in omnia paratus

Ready for anything. Motto of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment

retine vim istam, falsa enim dicam, si coges

Restrain your strength, for if you compel me I will tell lies An utterance by the Delphic oracle recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea in Praeparatio evangelica, VI-5, translated from the Greek of Porphyry (c.f. E. H. Gifford's translation)[91] and used by William Wordsworth as a subtitle for his ballad "Anecdote for Fathers".

Pax Romana

Roman Peace period of relative prosperity and lack of conflict in the early Roman Empire

Roma locuta, causa finita

Rome has spoken, the case is closed In Roman Catholic ecclesiology, doctrinal matters are ultimately decided by the Vatican.

sic currite ut comprehendatis

Run to win More specifically, So run, that ye may obtain, 1 Corinthians 24. Motto of Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Memoriae Sacrum (M.S.)

Sacred to the

dis manibus sacrum (D.M.S.)

Sacred to the ghost-gods Refers to the Manes, i.e. Roman spirits of the dead. Loosely, "to the memory of". A conventional pagan inscription preceding the name of the deceased on his tombstone; often shortened to dis manibus (D.M.), "for the ghost-gods". Preceded in some earlier monuments by hic situs est (H. S. E.), "he lies here".

Salvator Mundi

Savior of the World Christian epithet, usually referring to Jesus. The title of paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci.

multa paucis

Say much in few words

opere laudato (op. laud.)

See opere citato

Rosam quae meruit ferat

She who has earned the rose may bear it Motto from Sweet Briar College

signum fidei

Sign of the Faith Motto of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

non sic dormit, sed vigilat

Sleeps not but is awake Martin Luther on mortality of the soul.

miles praesidii libertatis

Soldier of the Bastion of Freedom A phrase on the plaque in commemoration of Prof. Benjamin Marius Telders [nl], Academiegebouw Leiden [nl] (Netherlands).

Celer - Silens - Mortalis

Swift - Silent - Deadly Motto of the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, also known as FORCE RECON or FORECON, one of the United States Marine Corps Special Operations Capable Forces (SOC) that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), supporting their task force commanders, and their subordinate operating units of the Fleet Marine Force (FMF).

Cane Nero magna bella Persica

Tell, oh Nero, of the great wars of Persia Perfectly correct Latin sentence usually reported as funny from modern Italians because the same exact words, in today's dialect of Rome, mean "A black dog eats a beautiful peach", which has a ridiculously different meaning.

Deo gratias

Thanks [be] to God A frequent phrase in the Roman Catholic liturgy, used especially after the recitation of a lesson, the Last Gospel at Mass or as a response to Ite Missa Est / Benedicamus Domino.

Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus (inciderit)

That a god not intervene, unless a knot show up that be worthy of such an untangler "When the miraculous power of God is necessary, let it be resorted to: when it is not necessary, let the ordinary means be used." From Horace's Ars Poetica as a caution against deus ex machina.

ut omnes unum sint

That they all may be one Motto of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

sat celeriter fieri quidquid fiat satis bene

That which has been done well has been done quickly enough One of the two favorite saying of Augustus. The other is "festina lente".[93]

legio patria nostra

The Legion is our fatherland Motto of the French Foreign Legion

sub cruce lumen

The Light Under the Cross Motto of the University of Adelaide, Australia. Refers to the figurative "light of learning" and the Southern Cross constellation, Crux.

Dominus vobiscum

The Lord be with you. A phrase used in the Roman Catholic liturgy, and sometimes in its sermons and homilies, and a general form of greeting among and towards members of Catholic organizations. See also Pax vobiscum.

Dominus pastor

The Lord is [our] shepherd Motto of St. John's College and Prep School, Harare, Zimbabwe. After Psalm 23, 1.

Dominus illuminatio mea

The Lord is my light Motto of the University of Oxford, England. Psalm 27, 1.

Dominus fortitudo nostra

The Lord is our strength Motto of the Southland College, Philippines. Psalm 28, 8.

Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR)

The Senate and the People of Rome The official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle standards by the Roman legions. In addition to being an ancient Roman motto, it remains the motto of the modern city of Rome.

Opus Dei

The Work of God Catholic organisation

causa latet, vis est notissima

The cause is hidden, but the result is well known. Ovid: Metamorphoses IV, 287; motto of Alpha Sigma Phi.

de minimis non curat praetor

The commander does not care about the smallest things. Also, "the chief magistrate does not concern himself with trifles." Trivial matters are no concern of a high official; cf. aquila non capit muscas (the eagle does not catch flies). Sometimes rex (king) or lex (law) is used in place of praetor. De minimis is a legal phrase referring to things unworthy of the law's attention.

mortui vivos docent

The dead teach the living Used to justify dissections of human cadavers in order to understand the cause of death.

descensus in cuniculi cavum

The descent into the cave of the rabbit Down the rabbit hole. See Alice's Adventures in Wonderland#Famous lines and expressions.

exceptio firmat (or probat) regulam in casibus non exceptis

The exception confirms the rule in cases which are not excepted A juridical principle which means that the statement of a rule's exception (e.g., "no parking on Sundays") implicitly confirms the rule (i.e., that parking is allowed Monday through Saturday). Often mistranslated as "the exception that proves the rule".

O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint, agricolas

The farmers would count themselves lucky, if only they knew how good they had it from Virgil in Georgics, 458

initium sapientiae timor Domini

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A quotation of Psalm 111:10. Motto of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

gloria filiorum patres

The glory of sons is their fathers (Proverbs17:6) Motto of Eltham College

magna di curant, parva neglegunt

The gods care about great matters, but they neglect small ones Cicero, De Natura Deorum 2:167

ingenio stat sine morte decus

The honors of genius are eternal Propertius, Elegies Book III, 2

terminat hora diem; terminat auctor opus.

The hour finishes the day; the author finishes his work. Phrase concluding Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor Faustus.[103]

de minimis non curat lex

The law does not care about the smallest things. A court does not care about small, trivial things. A case must have some importance in order for a court to hear it. See "de minimis non curat praetor".

Caritas Christi

The love of Christ It implies a command to love as Christ loved. Motto of St. Francis Xavier High School located in West Meadowlark Park, Edmonton.

parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus

The mountains are in labour, a ridiculous mouse will be born. said of works that promise much at the outset but yield little in the end (Horace, Ars poetica 137) - see also The Mountain in Labour

Obedientia civium urbis felicitas

The obedience of the citizens makes us a happy city Motto of Dublin

obit anus, abit onus

The old woman dies, the burden is lifted Arthur Schopenhauer

iter legis

The path of the law The path a law takes from its conception to its implementation

pretiumque et causa laboris

The prize and the cause of our labour Motto of Burnley Football Club; from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 4.739 (Latin)/English): "The Tale of Perseus and Andromeda": resoluta catenis incedit virgo, pretiumque et causa laboris. ("freed of her chains the virgin approaches, cause and reward of the enterprise.")

They condemn because they do not understand

The quod here is ambiguous: it may be the relative pronoun or a conjunction.

Mare Ditat, Rosa Decorat

The sea enriches, the rose adorns Motto of Montrose, Angus and HMS Montrose

scientiae cedit mare

The sea yields to knowledge Motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy.

lucida sidera

The shining stars Horace, Carmina 1/3:2

lectio brevior potior

The shorter reading is the better A maxim in text criticism. Codified, but simultaneously refuted, by Marxist educators.[citation needed]

nasciturus pro iam nato habetur, quotiens de commodis eius agitur

The unborn is deemed to have been born to the extent that his own inheritance is concerned Refers to a situation where an unborn child is deemed to be entitled to certain inheritance rights.

tentanda via

The way must be tried motto for York University

lignum crucis arbor scientiae

The wood of the cross is the tree of knowledge School motto of Denstone College

verbum Domini lucerna pedibus nostris

The word of the Lord [is] a light for our feet Motto of the University of Groningen

littera scripta manet

The written word endures Attributed to Horace

in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus

Then we will fight in the shade

potest solum unum

There can be only one Highlander

nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit

There has been no great wisdom without an element of madness

stat sua cuique dies

There is a day [turn] for everybody Virgil, Aeneid, X 467

defendit numerus

There is safety in numbers

omnibus locis fit caedes

There is slaughter everywhere (in every place) Julius Caesar's The Gallic War, 7.67

igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum

Therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari; similar to si vis pacem, para bellum and in pace ut sapiens aptarit idonea bello.

Nec aspera terrent

They are not terrified of the rough things They are not afraid of difficulties. Less literally "Difficulties be damned." Motto for 27th Infantry Regiment (United States) and the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Nec = not; aspera = rough ones/things; terrent = they terrify / do terrify / are terrifying.

possunt quia posse videntur

They can because they think they can Inscription on the back of Putney medals, awarded to boat race winning Oxford blues. From Virgil's Aeneid Book V line 231.

Te occidere possunt sed te edere non possunt nefas est

They can kill you, but they cannot eat you, it is against the law. The motto of the fictional Enfield Tennis Academy in the David Foster Wallace novel Infinite Jest. Translated in the novel as "They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier".

damnant quod non intellegunt

They condemn what they do not understand Paraphrase of Quintilianus, De Institutione Oratoria, Book 10, Chapter 1, 26:

condemnant quod non intellegunt

They condemn what they do not understand or

ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant

They make a desert and call it peace from a speech by Calgacus reported/constructed by Tacitus, Agricola, ch. 30.

hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae

This is the place where death delights in helping life A motto of many morgues or wards of anatomical pathology.

hoc est bellum

This is war

quos amor verus tenuit tenebit

Those whom true love has held, it will go on holding Seneca

omnia in mensura et numero et pondere disposuisti

Thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight. Book of Wisdom, 11:21

sidere mens eadem mutato

Though the constellations change, the mind is universal Latin motto of the University of Sydney.

tria juncta in uno

Three joined in one Motto of the Order of the Bath

sic semper erat, et sic semper erit

Thus has it always been, and thus shall it ever be

sic passim

Thus here and there Used when referencing books; see passim.

Sermo Tuus Veritas Est

Thy Word Is Truth motto of the General Theological Seminary, Cornelius Fontem Esua

fiat voluntas tua

Thy will be done motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton; quotation of the third petition of the Pater Noster (Our Father) prayer dictated by Jesus Christ and his response to the Father during the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

tempus fugit

Time flees.

prodesse quam conspici

To Accomplish Rather Than To Be Conspicuous motto of Miami University

Meliorare legem meliorare vitam est

To improve the law is to improve life. The motto of the Salem/Roanoke County, Virginia Bar Association.

hoc est Christum cognoscere, beneficia eius cognoscere

To know Christ is to know his benefits Famous dictum by the Reformer Melanchthon in his Loci Communes of 1521

quid est veritas

What is truth? In the Vulgate translation of John 18:38, Pilate's question to Jesus (Greek: Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια;). A possible answer is an anagram of the phrase: est vir qui adest, "it is the man who is here."

quid nunc

What now? Commonly shortened to quidnunc. As a noun, a quidnunc is a busybody or a gossip. Patrick Campbell worked for The Irish Times under the pseudonym "Quidnunc".

quid novi ex Africa

What of the new out of Africa? less literally, "What's new from Africa?"; derived from an Aristotle quotation

quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini

What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did A well-known satirical lampoon left attached to the ancient "speaking" statue of Pasquino on a corner of the Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy.[87]

Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite.

Whatever He tells you, that you shall do. More colloquially: "Do whatever He [Jesus] tells you to do." Instructions of Mary to the servants at the Wedding at Cana. (John 2:5). Also the motto of East Catholic High School.

quod supplantandum, prius bene sciendum

Whatever you hope to supplant, you will first know thoroughly i.e. "You must thoroughly understand that which you hope to supplant". A caution against following a doctrine of Naive Analogy when attempting to formulate a scientific hypothesis.

corruptissima re publica plurimae leges

When the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous Tacitus

nascentes morimur finisque ab origine pendet

When we are born we die, our end is but the pendant of our beginning

parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus

When you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things. Motto of Barnard Castle School, sometimes translated as "Once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely".

ubi jus, ibi remedium

Where [there is] a right, there [is] a remedy

Quo Vadimus?

Where are we going? Title of the series finale of Aaron Sorkin's TV dramedy Sports Night

quo vadis?

Where are you going? According to Vulgate translation of John 13:36, Saint Peter asked Jesus Domine, quo vadis? ("Lord, where are you going?"). The King James Version has the translation "Lord, whither goest thou?"

qui audet adipiscitur

Who Dares Wins The motto of the SAS, of the British Army

quis ut Deus

Who [is] as God? Usually translated "Who is like unto God?" Questions who would have the audacity to compare himself to a Supreme Being. It is a translation of the Hebrew name 'Michael' = Mi cha El Who like God מי/כ/ אל Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל‎ (right to left).

qui prior est tempore potior est jure

Who is first in point of time is stronger in right As set forth in the "Property Law" casebook written by Jesse Dukeminier, which is generally used to teach first year law students.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Who will guard the guards themselves? Commonly associated with Plato who in the Republic poses this question; and from Juvenal's On Women, referring to the practice of having eunuchs guard women and beginning with the word sed ("but"). Usually translated less literally, as "Who watches the watchmen?" This translation is a common epigraph, such as of the Tower Commission and Alan Moore's Watchmen comic book series.

quis leget haec?

Who will read this?

quis separabit?

Who will separate us? motto of Northern Ireland and of the Order of St Patrick

quem deus vult perdere, dementat prius

Whom the gods would destroy, they first make insane

cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos

Whose the land is, all the way to the sky and to the underworld is his. First coined by Accursius of Bologna in the 13th century. A Roman legal principle of property law that is no longer observed in most situations today. Less literally, "For whosoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths."

Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur.

Why do you laugh? Change but the name, and the story is told of yourself. Horace, Satires, I. 1. 69.

cur Deus Homo

Why the God-Man The question attributed to Anselm in his work of by this name, wherein he reflects on why the Christ of Christianity must be both fully Divine and fully Human. Often translated "why did God become Man?"

sapientia, pax, fraternitas

Wisdom, Peace, Fraternity Motto of Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Cholula, Mexico.

sine timore aut favore

Without Fear or Favor St.George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada motto

sine prole

Without offspring Frequently abbreviated to "s.p." or "d.s.p." (decessit sine prole - "died without offspring") in genealogical works.

Verbum Dei

Word of God See religious text.

habeas corpus

You should have the body A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of legal writs to bring a person before a court or judge, most commonly habeas corpus ad subiciendum (you may have the body to bring up). Commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention. (Corpus here is used in a similar sense to corpus delicti, referring to the substance of the reason for detention rather than a physical human body.)

iniuriae qui addideris contumeliam

You who have added insult to injury Phaedrus, Fables 5/3:5.

invenias etiam disiecti membra poetae

You would still recognize the scattered fragments of a poet Horace, Satires, I, 4, 62, in reference to the earlier Roman poet Ennius

Macte animo! Generose puer sic itur ad astra

Young, cheer up! This is the way to the skies. Motto of Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force Academy) of the Brazilian Air Force

lux tua nos ducat

Your light guides us

flatus vocis

[a or the] breath of voice a mere name, word, or sound without a corresponding objective reality; expression used by the nominalists of universals and traditionally attributed to the medieval philosopher Roscelin of Compiègne

vir prudens non contra ventum mingit

[a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind

ex rel. or ex relatio

[arising] out of the relation/narration [of the relator] The term is a legal phrase; the legal citation guide called the Bluebook describes ex rel. as a "procedural phrase" and requires using it to abbreviate "on the relation of," "for the use of," "on behalf of," and similar expressions. An example of use is in court case titles such as Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar

clarere audere gaudere

[be] bright, daring, joyful Motto of the Geal family.

dicto simpliciter

[from] a maxim, simply I.e. "from a rule without exception." Short for a dicto simpliciter, the a is often dropped because it is confused with the English indefinite article. A dicto simpliciter occurs when an acceptable exception is ignored or eliminated. For example, the appropriateness of using opiates is contingent on suffering extreme pain. To justify the recreational use of opiates by referring to a cancer patient or to justify arresting said patient by comparing him to the recreational user would be a dicto simpliciter.

re

[in] the matter of More literally, "by the thing". From the ablative of res ("thing" or "circumstance"). It is a common misconception that the "Re:" in correspondence is an abbreviation for regarding or reply; this is not the case for traditional letters. However, when used in an e-mail subject, there is evidence that it functions as an abbreviation of regarding rather than the Latin word for thing. The use of Latin re, in the sense of "about", "concerning", is English usage.

lucus a non lucendo

[it is] a grove by not being light From late 4th-century grammarian Honoratus Maurus, who sought to mock implausible word origins such as those proposed by Priscian. A pun based on the word lucus (dark grove) having a similar appearance to the verb lucere (to shine), arguing that the former word is derived from the latter word because of a lack of light in wooded groves. Often used as an example of absurd etymology, it derives from parum luceat (it does not shine [being darkened by shade]) by Quintilian in Institutio Oratoria.

extra domum

[placed] outside of the house Refers to a possible result of Catholic ecclesiastical legal proceedings when the culprit is removed from being part of a group like a monastery.

dura lex sed lex

[the] law [is] harsh, but [it is the] law Ulpian, Digesta Iustiniani, Roman jurist of the 3rd century AD.

perinde ac [si] cadaver [essent]

[well-disciplined] like a corpse Phrase written by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Constitutiones Societatis Iesu (1954)

piscem natare doces

[you] teach a fish to swim Latin proverb, attributed by Erasmus in his Adagia to Greek origin (Diogenianus, Ἰχθὺν νήχεσθαι διδάσκεις); corollary Chinese idiom (班門弄斧)

barba non facit philosophum

a beard doesn't make one a philosopher

locus classicus

a classic place The most typical or classic case of something; quotation which most typifies its use.

donatio mortis causa

a donation in expectation of death A legal concept in which a person in imminent mortal danger need not satisfy the otherwise requisite consideration to effect a testamentary donation, i.e., a donation by instituting or modifying a will.

res firma mitescere nescit

a firm resolve does not know how to weaken Used in the 1985 film American Flyers where it is colloquially translated as "once you got it up, keep it up".

deus ex machina

a god from a machine From the Greek ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεός (apò mēchanēs theós). A contrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot. Refers to the practice in Greek drama of lowering by crane (the mechanê) an actor playing a god or goddess onto the stage to resolve an insuperable conflict in the plot. The device is most commonly associated with Euripides.

fraus omnia vitiat

a legal principle: the occurrence or taint of fraud in a (legal) transaction entirely invalidates it

vita ante acta

a life done before The phrase denotes a previous life, generally believed to be the result of reincarnation.

homo unius libri

a man of a single book Attributed to Thomas Aquinas: «Hominem unius libri timeo» "I fear a man of a single book."

multitudo sapientium sanitas orbis

a multitude of the wise is the health of the world From the Vulgate, Wisdom of Solomon 6:24. Motto of the University of Victoria.

charta pardonationis se defendendo

a paper of pardon to defend oneself The form of a pardon for killing another man in self-defence (see manslaughter).

charta pardonationis utlagariae

a paper of pardon to the outlaw The form of a pardon of a man who is outlawed. Also called perdonatio utlagariae.

locus poenitentiae

a place of repentance A legal term, it is the opportunity of withdrawing from a projected contract, before the parties are finally bound; or of abandoning the intention of committing a crime, before it has been completed.

corvus oculum corvi non eruit

a raven does not pick out an eye of another raven

ne supra crepidam sutor iudicaret

a shoemaker should not judge beyond the shoe see Sutor, ne ultra crepidam

draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

a sleeping dragon is never to be tickled Motto of the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry of the Harry Potter series; translated more loosely in the books as "never tickle a sleeping dragon".

ophidia in herba

a snake in the grass any hidden danger or unknown risk

mens sana in corpore sano

a sound mind in a sound body Or "a sensible mind in a healthy body". Satire X of the Roman poet Juvenal (10.356)

obiter dictum

a thing said in passing in law, an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly relevant to the case before him, and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority. In general, any comment, remark or observation made in passing

tertium quid

a third something 1. Something that cannot be classified into either of two groups considered exhaustive; an intermediate thing or factor. 2. A third person or thing of indeterminate character.

viperam sub ala nutricare

a viper nursed at the bosom A caveat regarding trusting someone against his inherent nature; the moral of Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper.

gutta cavat lapidem [non vi sed saepe cadendo]

a water drop hollows a stone [not by force, but by falling often] main phrase is from Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10, 5.;[48] expanded in the Middle Ages

lupus non mordet lupum

a wolf does not bite a wolf

lupus non timet canem latrantem

a wolf is not afraid of a barking dog

noscitur a sociis

a word is known by the company it keeps In statutory interpretation, when a word is ambiguous, its meaning may be determined by reference to the rest of the statute.

verbum sap.

a word to the wise [is sufficient] A phrase denoting that the listener can fill in the omitted remainder, or enough is said. It is the truncation of "verbum sapienti sat[is] est".

de omni re scibili et quibusdam aliis

about every knowable thing, and even certain other things The Italian scholar Giovanni Pico della Mirandola of the 15th century wrote the De omni re scibili ("concerning every knowable thing") part, and a wag added et quibusdam aliis ("and even certain other things").

de mortuis aut bene aut nihil

about the dead, either well or nothing Less literally, "speak well of the dead or not at all"; cf. de mortuis nil nisi bonum.

de mortuis nil nisi bonum

about the dead, nothing unless a good thing From de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est ("nothing must be said about the dead except the good"), attributed by Diogenes Laërtius to Chilon. In legal contexts, this quotation is used with the opposite meaning: defamation of a deceased person is not a crime. In other contexts, it refers to taboos against criticizing the recently deceased.

de re

about/regarding the matter In logic, de dicto statements regarding the truth of a proposition are distinguished from de re statements regarding the properties of a thing itself.

lege artis

according to the law of the art Denotes that a certain intervention is performed in a correct way. Used especially in a medical context. The 'art' referred to in the phrase is medicine.

viriliter agite

act in a manly way Motto of St Muredach's College and the PAREF Southridge School for Boys

viriliter agite estote fortes

act manfully, be strong Motto of Culford School

operari sequitur esse

act of doing something follows the act of being scholastic phrase, used to explain that there is no possible act if there is not being: being is absolutely necessary for any other act

perge sequar

advance, I follow from Virgil's Aeneid IV 114; in Vergil's context: "proceed with your plan, I will do my part."

veritate duce progredi

advancing with truth leading Motto of the University of Arkansas, United States

in nocte consilium

advice comes over night I.e., "Tomorrow is a new day." Motto of Birkbeck College, University of London.

post prandial

after "late breakfast" Refers to the time after any meal. Usually rendered postprandial.

mutatis mutandis

after changing what needed to be changed "with the appropriate changes"

post tenebras lux, or post tenebras spero lucem

after darkness, [I hope for] light from Vulgata, Job 17:12; frequently used motto

post mortem (pm)

after death Usually rendered postmortem. Not to be confused with post meridiem

post cibum (p.c.)

after food Medical shorthand for "after meals" (cf. ante cibum)

post aut propter

after it or by means of it Causality between two phenomena is not established (cf. post hoc, ergo propter hoc)

post meridiem (p.m.)

after midday The period from noon to midnight (cf. ante meridiem)

Post mortem auctoris (p.m.a.)

after the author's death The phrase is used in legal terminology in the context of intellectual property rights, especially copyright, which commonly lasts until a certain number of years after the author's death.

post nubila phoebus

after the clouds, the sun Motto of the University of Zulia, Venezuela, as well as Hartford, Connecticut

post eventum

after the event Refers to an action or occurrence that takes place after the event that is being discussed (similar in meaning to post factum). More specifically, it may refer to a person who is recounting an event long after it took place, implying that details of the story may have changed over time. (Some sources attribute this expression to George Eliot.)

post factum

after the fact Not to be confused with ex post facto.

post festum

after the feast Too late, or after the fact

praeter legem

after the law Legal terminology, international law

post hoc ergo propter hoc

after this, therefore because of this A logical fallacy where one assumes that one thing happening after another thing means that the first thing caused the second.

quantum sufficit (qs)

as much as is enough medical shorthand for "as much as needed" or "as much as will suffice"

inter alia (i.a.)

among other things A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate that the minute quoted has been taken from a fuller record of other matters, or when alluding to the parent group after quoting a particular example.

inter alios

among others Often used to compress lists of parties to legal documents

inter caetera

among others Title of a papal bull

in retentis

among things held back Used to describe documents kept separately from the regular records of a court for special reasons.

exercitus sine duce corpus est sine spiritu

an army without a leader is a body without a spirit On a plaque at the former military staff building of the Swedish Armed Forces.

imperium sine fine

an empire without an end In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, never-ending empire, the endless (sine fine) empire.

excusatio non petita accusatio manifesta

an excuse that has not been sought [is] an obvious accusation More loosely, "he who excuses himself, accuses himself"—an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt. In French, qui s'excuse, s'accuse.

opinio juris sive necessitatis

an opinion of law or necessity a belief that an action was undertaken because it was a legal necessity; source of customary law

imperium in imperio

an order within an order 1. A group of people who owe utmost fealty to their leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger group to the authority of the internal group's leader(s).

decus et tutamen

an ornament and a safeguard A phrase from the Aeneid of Virgil. Inscription on British one-pound coins. Originally inscribed on coins of the 17th century, it refers to the inscribed edge of the coin as a protection against the clipping of its precious metal.

et suppositio nil ponit in esse

and a supposition puts nothing in being More usually translated as "Sayin' it don't make it so".

et hoc genus omne

and all that sort of thing Abbreviated as e.h.g.o. or ehgo

et alibi (et al.)

and elsewhere A less common variant on et cetera ("and the rest") used at the end of a list of locations to denote unenumerated/omitted ones.

et vir

and husband A legal term.

et in Arcadia ego

and in Arcadia [am] I In other words, "I too am in Arcadia". See also memento mori.

et lux in tenebris lucet

and light shines in the darkness See also Lux in Tenebris. Motto of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

et alii (et al.)

and others Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest") to denote names that, usually for the sake of space, are unenumerated/omitted. Alii is masculine, and therefore it can be used to refer to men, or groups of men and women; the feminine et aliae is proper when the "others" are all female, but as with many loanwords, interlingual use, such as in reference lists, is often invariable. Et alia is neuter plural and thus in Latin text is properly used only for inanimate, genderless objects, but some use it as a gender-neutral alternative.[18] APA style uses et al. (normal font)[19] if the work cited was written by more than six authors; MLA style uses et al. for more than three authors; AMA style lists all authors if ≤6, and 3 + et al if >6. AMA style forgoes the period (because it forgoes the period on abbreviations generally) and it forgoes the italic (as it does with other loanwords naturalized into scientific English); many journals that follow AMA style do likewise.

et sequentes (et seq.)

and the following (masculine/feminine plural) Also et sequentia ("and the following things": neut.), abbreviations: et seqq., et seq., or sqq. Commonly used in legal citations to refer to statutes that comprise several sequential sections of a code of statutes (e. g. National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 159 et seq.; New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-17 et seq.).

sedes apostolica

apostolic chair Synonymous with Sancta Sedes.

malum discordiae

apple of discord Alludes to the apple of Eris in the Judgement of Paris, the mythological cause of the Trojan War. It is also a pun based on the near-homonymous word malum (evil). The word for "apple" has a long ā vowel in Latin and the word for "evil" a short a vowel, but they are normally written the same.

circa (c.) or (ca.)

around In the sense of "approximately" or "about". Usually used of a date.

fortunae meae, multorum faber

artisan of my fate and that of several others motto of Gatineau

ut Roma cadit, sic omnis terra

as Rome falls, so [falls] the whole world

velut arbor aevo

as a tree with the passage of time Motto of the University of Toronto, Canada

ut supra

as above

ut retro

as backwards Or "as on the back side"; thus, "as on the previous page" (cf. ut supra).

ut infra

as below

qua patet orbis

as far as the world extends Motto of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps

ut dicitur

as has been said; as above

quamdiu (se) bene gesserit

as long as he shall have behaved well (legal Latin) I.e., "[while on] good behavior." So for example the Act of Settlement 1701 stipulated that judges' commissions are valid quamdiu se bene gesserint (during good behaviour). (Notice the different singular, "gesserit", and plural, "gesserint", forms.) It was from this phrase that Frank Herbert extracted the name for the Bene Gesserit sisterhood in the Dune novels.

quot capita tot sensus

as many heads, so many perceptions "There are as many opinions as there are heads" - Terence

quot homines tot sententiae

as many men, so many opinions Or "there are as many opinions as there are people", "how many people, so many opinions"

beati pauperes spiritu

blessed in spirit [are] the poor. A Beatitude from Matthew 5:3 in the Vulgate: beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum "Blessed in spirit [are] the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens".

beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam

blessed is the man who finds wisdom From Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same name by Orlando di Lasso.

mictus cruentus

bloody urine see hematuria

corpus delicti

body of the offence The fact that a crime has been committed, a necessary factor in convicting someone of having committed that crime; if there was no crime, there can not have been a criminal.

per volar sunata[sic]

born to soar Frequently used motto; not from Latin but from Dante's Purgatorio, Canto XII, 95, the Italian phrase "per volar sù nata".

utraque unum

both into one Also translated as "that the two may be one." Motto found in 18th century Spanish dollar coins. Motto of Georgetown University.From the Vulgate, Eph. 2:14, Ipse enim est pax nostra, qui fecit utraque unum, "For he is our peace, who hath made both one."

fortiter et fideliter

bravely and faithfully a common motto

panem et circenses

bread and circuses From Juvenal, Satire X, line 81. 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.

pons asinorum

bridge of asses Any obstacle that stupid people find hard to cross. Originally used of Euclid's Fifth Proposition in geometry.

splendor sine occasu

brightness without setting Loosely "splendour without diminishment" or "magnificence without ruin". Motto of British Columbia.

onus procedendi

burden of procedure burden of a party to adduce evidence that a case is an exception to the rule

onus probandi

burden of proof

Deo non fortuna

by God, not fortune/luck Motto of the Epsom College in Surrey, England.

ratione soli

by account of the ground Or "according to the soil". Assigning property rights to a thing based on its presence on a landowner's property.

per diem (pd.)

by day Thus, "per day". A specific amount of money an organization allows an individual to spend per day, typically for travel expenses.

de facto

by deed Said of something that is the actual state of affairs, in contrast to something's legal or official standing, which is described as de jure. De facto refers to "the way things really are" rather than what is officially presented as the fact of the matter in question.

gradatim ferociter

by degrees, ferociously Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin, which officially treats "Step by step, ferociously" as the English translation

sola fide

by faith alone The material principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches that men are saved by faith even without works.

per pedes

by feet Used of a certain place that can be traversed or reached by foot, or to indicate that one is travelling by foot as opposed to by a vehicle

sola gratia

by grace alone A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that salvation is an unearned gift (cf. ex gratia), not a direct result of merit.

per capita

by heads "Per head", i.e., "per person", a ratio by the number of persons. The singular is per caput.

sua sponte

by its own accord Legal term when a court takes up a motion on its own initiative, not because any of the parties to the case has made the motion. The regimental motto of the 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army.

de jure

by law "Official", in contrast with de facto; analogous to "in principle", whereas de facto is to "in practice". In other contexts, it can mean "according to law", "by right", and "legally".

per mensem (pm.)

by month Thus, "per month", or "monthly"

orando laborando

by praying, by working motto of the Rugby School

ratione personae

by reason of his/her person Also "Jurisdiction Ratione Personae" the personal reach of the courts jurisdiction.[88]

per quod

by reason of which In a UK legal context: "by reason of which" (as opposed to per se which requires no reasoning). In American jurisprudence often refers to a spouse's claim for loss of consortium.

etc.

by royal letters by letters patent;

sola scriptura

by scripture alone The formal principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the Protestant idea that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority, not the Pope or tradition.

per mare per terram

by sea and by land Motto of the Royal Marines and (with small difference) of Clan Donald and the Compagnies Franches de la Marine

eo nomine

by that name

eo ipso

by that very (act) Technical term in philosophy and law. Similar to ipso facto. Example: "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean that I think." From the Latin ablative form of id ipsum ("that thing itself").

ipso facto

by the fact itself By that very fact

vi veri universum vivus vici

by the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe Magickal motto of Aleister Crowley.

via

by the road/way The word denotes "by way of" or "by means of", e. g., "I will contact you via email".

bonum commune communitatis

common good of the community Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society, as opposed to bonum commune hominis, which refers to what is good for an individual. In the film Hot Fuzz, this phrase is chanted by an assembled group of people, in which context it is deliberately similar to another phrase that is repeated throughout the film, which is The Greater Good.

communis opinio

common opinion prevailing doctrine, generally accepted view (in an academic field), scientific consensus; originally communis opinio doctorum, "common opinion of the doctors"

ius cogens

compelling law Refers to a fundamental principle of international law considered to have acceptance among the international community of states as a whole. Typically, this would address issues not listed or defined by any authoritative body, but arise out of case law and changing social and political attitudes. Generally included are prohibitions on waging aggressive war, crimes against humanity, war crimes, piracy, genocide, slavery, and torture.

condicio sine qua non

condition without which not A required, indispensable condition. Commonly mistakenly rendered with conditio ("seasoning" or "preserving") in place of condicio ("arrangement" or "condition").

ratum et consummatum

confirmed and completed in Canon law, a consummated marriage

ratum tantum

confirmed only in Canon law, a confirmed but unconsummated marriage (which can be dissolved super rato)

tabula gratulatoria

congratulatory tablet A list of congratulations.

scientia vincere tenebras

conquering darkness by science Motto of several institutions, such as the Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel).

contradictio in terminis

contradiction in terms A thing or idea that would embody a contradiction, for example, payment for a gift, or a circle with corners. The fallacy of proposing such a thing.

corruptus in extremis

corrupt to the extreme Motto of the fictional Mayor's office in The Simpsons

curriculum vitae

course of life An overview of a person's life and qualifications, similar to a résumé.

creatio ex nihilo

creation out of nothing A concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context. Also known as the 'First Cause' argument in philosophy of religion. Contrasted with creatio ex materia.

damnum absque injuria

damage without injury Meaning a loss that results from no one's wrongdoing. In Roman law, a person is not responsible for unintended, consequential injury to another that results from a lawful act. This protection does not necessarily apply to unintended damage caused by one's negligence or folly.

damnatio memoriae

damnation of memory The ancient Roman custom by which it was pretended that disgraced Romans, especially former emperors), never existed, by eliminating all records and likenesses of them.

periculum in mora

danger in delay

dulce periculum

danger is sweet Horace, Odes, 3 25, 16. Motto of the Scottish clan MacAulay.

sapere aude

dare to know From Horace's Epistularum liber primus, Epistle II, line 40. Made popular in Kant's essay Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment? defining the Age of Enlightenment. The phrase is common usage as a university motto.

camera obscura

dark chamber An optical device used in drawing, and an ancestor of modern photography. The source of the word camera.

caput mortuum

dead head Originally an alchemical reference to the dead head or worthless residue left over from a reaction. Also used to refer to a freeloader or worthless element.

mors certa, hora incerta

death is certain, its hour is uncertain

mors omnibus

death to all Signifies anger and depression.

mors mihi lucrum

death to me is reward A common epitaph, from St Paul's Epistle to the Philippians, 1:21 (Mihi enim vivere Christus est et mori lucrum, translated in the King James Bible as: "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain")

facta, non verba

deeds, not words Frequently used as motto

gesta non verba

deeds, not words Motto of James Ruse Agricultural High School.

cupio dissolvi

desire to be dissolved From the Bible, locution indicating a will to death ("I want to die").

decessit vita patris

died in the lifetime of the father Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.v.p., to indicate a person who predeceased his father.

decessit vita matris

died in the lifetime of the mother Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.v.m., to indicate a person who predeceased his mother.

decessit sine prole

died without issue Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.s.p., to indicate a person who died without having had any children.

decessit sine prole legitima

died without legitimate issue Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.s.p.l., to indicate a person who died without having had any children with a spouse.

decessit sine prole mascula legitima

died without legitimate male issue Used in genealogical records in cases of nobility or other hereditary titles, often abbreviated as d.s.p.m.l. or d.s.p.m. legit, to indicate a person who died without having had any legitimate male children (indicating there were illegitimate male children)

decessit sine prole superstite

died without surviving issue Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.s.p.s., to indicate a person who died without having had any children who survived, i.e., outlived him.

custodi civitatem, Domine

guard the city, O Lord Motto of the City of Westminster.

decessit sine prole mascula superstite

died without surviving male issue Used in genealogical records, often abbreviated as d.s.p.m., to indicate a person who died without having had any male children who survived, i.e., outlived, him.

oratio recta

direct speech expressions from Latin grammar

cygnis insignis

distinguished by its swans Motto of Western Australia.

divide et impera

divide and rule / "divide and conquer" A Roman maxim adopted by Roman Dictator Julius Caesar, King Louis XI of France and the Italian political author Niccolò Machiavelli.

fac et spera

do and hope motto of Clan Matheson

fac fortia et patere

do brave deeds and endure motto of Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, Australia

ne puero gladium

do not give a sword to a boy Never give dangerous tools to someone who is untrained to use them or too immature to understand the damage they can do.

ne te quaesiveris extra

do not seek outside yourself line from the Roman satirist Persius inscribed on the boulder to the right of Sir John Suckling in the painting of the aforementioned subject by Sir Anthony Van Dyck (ca. 1638) and invoked by Ralph Waldo Emerson at the opening of his essay Self-Reliance (1841)

quae non posuisti, ne tollas

do not take away what you did not put in place Plato, Laws

noli me tangere

do not touch me Commonly translated "touch me not". According to the Gospel of John, this was said by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection.

equo ne credite

do not trust the horse From Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48-49; a reference to the Trojan Horse.

hoc age

do this Motto of Bradford Grammar School

canis canem edit

dog eats dog Refers to a situation where nobody is safe from anybody, each man for himself.

quieta non movere

don't move settled things

nomen dubium

doubtful name A scientific name of unknown or doubtful application.

rorate coeli

drop down ye heavens a.k.a. The Advent Prose.

durante bene placito

during good pleasure Meaning: "serving at the pleasure of the authority or officer who appointed". A Mediaeval legal Latin phrase.

vita patris

during the life of the father Hence the term "decessit vita patris" (d. v. p) or "died v. p.", which is seen in genealogical works such as Burke's Peerage.

per annum (pa.)

each year Thus, "yearly"—occurring every year

prior tempore potior iure

earlier in time, stronger in law A legal principle that older laws take precedence over newer ones. The inverse principle is known as lex posterior.

facile princeps

easily the first said of the acknowledged leader in some field, especially in the arts and humanities

hostis humani generis

enemy of the human race Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general.

sapienti sat

enough for the wise From Plautus. Indicates that something can be understood without any need for explanation, as long as the listener has enough wisdom or common sense. Often extended to dictum sapienti sat est ("enough has been said for the wise", commonly translated as "a word to the wise is enough").

entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem

entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity Occam's Razor or Law of Parsimony; arguments which do not introduce extraneous variables are to be preferred in logical argumentation.

erratum

error I. e., mistake. Lists of errors in a previous edition of a work are often marked with the plural errata ("errors").

honor virtutis praemium

esteem is the reward of virtue Motto of Arnold School, Blackpool, England

lux aeterna

eternal light epitaph

pax aeterna

eternal peace A common epitaph

requiem aeternam

eternal rest

etsi deus non daretur

even if God were not a given This sentence synthesizes a famous concept of Hugo Grotius (1625).

longissimus dies cito conditur

even the longest day soon ends Pliny the Younger, Epistulae 9/36:4

casus belli

event of war Refers to an incident that is the justification or case for war.

semper eadem

ever the same personal motto of Elizabeth I, appears above her royal coat of arms. Used as motto of Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Channel Islands, which was founded by Elizabeth I, and of Ipswich School, to whom Elizabeth granted a royal charter. Also the motto of the City of Leicester and Prince George's County.

omne initium difficile est

every beginning is difficult

quaque hora (qh)

every hour medical shorthand; also quaque die (qd), "every day", quaque mane (qm), "every morning", and quaque nocte (qn), "every night"

omne vivum ex ovo

every living thing is from an egg foundational concept of modern biology, opposing the theory of spontaneous generation

vir quisque vir

every man a man Motto of the US collegiate fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha.

omnis traductor traditor

every translator is a traitor every translation is a corruption of the original; the reader should take heed of unavoidable imperfections

praemonitus praemunitus

forewarned is forearmed Common catch phrase of the fictional character "Captain Blood" from the novel Captain Blood (novel)

omne ignotum pro magnifico

every unknown thing [is taken] for great or "everything unknown appears magnificent" The source is Tacitus: Agricola, Book 1, 30 where the sentence ends with 'est'. The quotation is found in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short story "The Red-Headed League" (1891) where the 'est' is missing.

omnis vir tigris

everyone a tiger motto of the 102nd Intelligence Wing

omnia munda mundis

everything [is] pure to the pure [men] from The New Testament

omnia mutantur, nihil interit

everything changes, nothing perishes Ovid (43 BC - 17 AD), Metamorphoses, book XV, line 165

omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina

everything said [is] stronger if said in Latin or "everything sounds more impressive when said in Latin"; a more common phrase with the same meaning is quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur (whatever said in Latin, seems profound)

ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt

everywhere, where right and glory leads Motto of the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery and most other Engineer or Artillery corps within the armies of the British Commonwealth (for example, the Royal Australian Engineers, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal New Zealand Engineers, Royal Canadian Artillery, Royal Australian Artillery, Royal New Zealand Artillery). Interunit rivalry often leads to the sarcastic translation of ubique to mean all over the place in a derogative sense.

ens causa sui

existing because of oneself Or "being one's own cause". Traditionally, a being that owes its existence to no other being, hence God or a Supreme Being (see also Primum Mobile).

experientia docet

experience teaches This term has been used in dermatopathology to express that there is no substitute for experience in dealing with all the numerous variations that may occur with skin conditions.[41] The term has also been used in gastroenterology.[42] It is also the motto of San Francisco State University.

experimentum crucis

experiment of the cross Or "crucial experiment". A decisive test of a scientific theory.

fides quaerens intellectum

faith seeking understanding motto of St. Anselm; Proslogion

fidus Achates

faithful Achates refers to a faithful friend; from the name of Aeneas's faithful companion in Virgil's Aeneid

falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus

false in one, false in all A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness who willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter. The underlying motive for attorneys to impeach opposing witnesses in court: the principle discredits the rest of their testimony if it is without corroboration.

familia supra omnia

family over everything frequently used as a family motto

velocius quam asparagi coquantur

faster than asparagus can be cooked Rendered by Robert Graves in I, Claudius as "as quick as boiled asparagus". Ascribed to Augustus by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars, Book 2 (Augustus), para. 87. It refers to anything done very quickly. A very common variant is celerius quam asparagi cocuntur ("faster than asparagus [is] cooked").

citius altius fortius

faster, higher, stronger Motto of the modern Olympics.

pater familias

father of the family Or "master of the house". The eldest male in a family, who held patria potestas ("paternal power"). In Roman law, a father had enormous power over his children, wife, and slaves, though these rights dwindled over time. Derived from the phrase pater familias, an Old Latin expression preserving the archaic -as ending for the genitive case.

Pater Patriae

father of the nation Also rendered with the gender-neutral parens patriae ("parent of the nation").

culpa

fault Also "blame" or "guilt". In law, an act of neglect. In general, guilt, sin, or a fault. See also mea culpa.

per fidem intrepidus

fearless through faith

felo de se

felon from himself archaic legal term for one who commits suicide, referring to early English common law punishments, such as land seizure, inflicted on those who killed themselves

ubertas et fidelitas

fertility and faithfulness Motto of Tasmania.

pauca sed bona

few, but good Similar to "quality over quantity"; though there may be few of something, at least they are of good quality.

pauca sed matura

few, but ripe Said to be one of Carl Gauss's favorite quotations. Used in The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris

fictions meant to please should approximate the truth Horace, Ars Poetica (338); advice presumably discounted by the magical realists

ignis aurum probat

fire tests gold A phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto of the Prometheus Society.

primus inter pares

first among equals Position of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Eastern Orthodox Church, position of the President of the Swiss Confederation among the members of the Federal Council, and a title of the Roman Emperors (cf. princeps).

editio princeps

first edition The first published edition of a work.

primum mobile

first moving thing Or "first thing able to be moved"; see primum movens

primum non nocere

first, to not harm A medical precept. Often falsely attributed to the Hippocratic Oath, though its true source is probably a paraphrase from Hippocrates' Epidemics, where he wrote, "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future; practice these acts. As to diseases, make a habit of two things: to help, or at least to do no harm."

verbum volitans

flying word A word that floats in the air, on which everyone is thinking and is just about to be imposed.[citation needed]

virtus laudata crescit

greatness increases with praise Motto of the Berkhamsted School

sequere pecuniam

follow the money In an effort to understand why things may be happening contrary to expectations, or even in alignment with them, this idiom suggests that keeping track of where money is going may show the basis for the observed behavior. Similar in spirit to the phrase cui bono (who gains?) or cui prodest (who advances?), but outside those phrases' historically legal context.

ignis fatuus

foolish fire Will-o'-the-wisp.

pro domo (sua)

for (one's own) home or house serving the interests of a given perspective or for the benefit of a given group.

Deo ac veritati

for God and for truth Motto of Colgate University.

pro re nata (PRN, prn)

for a thing that has been born Medical shorthand for "as the occasion arises" or "as needed". Also "concerning a matter having come into being". Used to describe a meeting of a special Presbytery or Assembly called to discuss something new, and which was previously unforeseen (literally: "concerning a matter having been born").

clerico admittendo

for being made a clerk In law, a writ directed to the bishop, for the admitting a clerk to a benefice upon a ne admittas, tried, and found for the party who procures the writ.

pro patria

for country Pro Patria Medal: for operational service (minimum 55 days) in defence of the Republic South Africa or in the prevention or suppression of terrorism; issued for the Border War (counter-insurgency operations in South West Africa 1966-89) and for campaigns in Angola (1975-76 and 1987-88). Motto of The Royal Canadian Regiment, Royal South Australia Regiment, Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

(v. gr. or v. g.)

for example Literally, "for the sake of a word".

pro fide et patria

for faith and fatherland Motto of the originally Irish Muldoon family and of several schools, such as the Diocesan College (Bishops) in Cape Town, South Africa, and All Hallows High School in the Bronx, New York.

pro forma

for form Or "as a matter of form". Prescribing a set form or procedure, or performed in a set manner.

pro gloria et patria

for glory and fatherland Motto of Prussia

pro rege et lege

for king and the law Found on the Leeds coat of arms.

pro rege, lege et grege

for king, the law and the people Found on the coat of arms of Perth, Scotland.

pro scientia atque sapientia

for knowledge and wisdom motto of Stuyvesant High School in New York City

pro multis

for many It is part of the Rite of Consecration of the wine in Western Christianity tradition, as part of the Mass.

talium Dei regnum

for of such (little children) is the kingdom of God from St Mark's gospel 10:14 "talium (parvuli) est enim regnum Dei"; similar in St Matthew's gospel 19:14 "talium est enim regnum caelorum" ("for of such is the kingdom of heaven"); motto of the Cathedral School, Townsville.

pro se

for oneself to defend oneself in court without counsel. Some jurisdictions prefer, "pro per".

ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur

for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. From the Gospel of Matthew, XII.xxxiv (Vulgate), 12.34 (Douay-Rheims) and the Gospel of Luke, VI.xlv (Vulgate), 6.45 (Douay-Rheims). Sometimes rendered without enim ("for").

pro scientia et patria

for science and nation motto of the National University of La Plata

pro per

for self to defend oneself in court without counsel; abbreviation of propria persona. See also: pro se.

pro tanto

for so much Denotes something that has only been partially fulfilled. A philosophical term indicating the acceptance of a theory or idea without fully accepting the explanation.

pro studio et labore

for study and work

pro populo et gloria

for the people and glory Motto of HMS Westminster

pro bono publico

for the public good Often abbreviated pro bono. Work undertaken voluntarily at no expense, such as public services. Often used of a lawyer's work that is not charged for.

pro rata

for the rate i.e., proportionately.

exempli gratia (e.g.)

for the sake of example, for example Exempli gratiā, 'for example', is usually abbreviated "e.g." (less commonly, ex. gr.). The abbreviation "e.g." often is interpreted anglicised as 'example given'. It is not usually followed by a comma in British English, but it is in American usage. E.g. is often confused with i.e. (id est, meaning 'that is' or 'in other words').[24] Some writing styles give such abbreviations without punctuation, as ie and eg.[a]

honoris causa

for the sake of honor Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science honoris causa"

metri causa

for the sake of the metre Excusing flaws in poetry "for the sake of the metre"

pro tempore

for the time (being) Denotes a temporary current situation; abbreviated pro tem.

pro hac vice

for this occasion Request of a state court to allow an out-of-state lawyer to represent a client.

in hunc effectum

for this purpose Describes a meeting called for a particular stated purpose only.

cui prodest

for whom it advances Short for cui prodest scelus is fecit (for whom the crime advances, he has done it) in Seneca's Medea. Thus, the murderer is often the one who gains by the murder (cf. cui bono).

vis major

force majeure, superior force

posse comitatus

force of the county[85] Thus, to be able to be made into part of a retinue or force. In common law, a sheriff's right to compel people to assist law enforcement in unusual situations.

seculo seculorum

forever and ever

vexilla regis prodeunt inferni

forth go the banners of the king of Hell Authored by Dante Alighieri in Canto XXXIV of the Inferno, the phrase is an allusion to and play upon the Latin Easter hymn Vexilla Regis. The phrase is repeatedly referenced in the works of Walter M. Miller, Jr..

felix culpa

fortunate fault from the "Exsultet" of the Catholic liturgy for the Easter Vigil

quater in die (qid)

four times a day medical shorthand

de oppresso liber

free from having been oppressed Loosely, "to liberate the oppressed". Motto of the United States Army Special Forces.[13]

mare liberum

free sea In law, a sea open to international shipping navigation.

Libertas quae sera tamen

freedom which [is] however late Liberty even when it comes late; motto of Minas Gerais, Brazil

ex tempore

from [this moment of] time "This instant", "right away" or "immediately". Also written extempore.

ex parte

from a part A legal term that means "by one party" or "for one party". Thus, on behalf of one side or party only.

ex post facto

from a thing done afterward Said of a law with retroactive effect.

ex post

from after "Afterward", "after the event". Based on knowledge of the past. Measure of past performance.

ex ante

from before Denoting "beforehand", "before the event", or "based on prior assumptions"; denoting a prediction.

hinc et inde

from both sides

ex vulgus scientia

from crowd, knowledge used to describe social computing, in The Wisdom of Crowds and discourse referring to it.

ex cultu robur

from culture [comes] strength The motto of Cranleigh School, Surrey.

ex fide fiducia

from faith [comes] confidence Motto of St George's College, Harare and Hartmann House Preparatory School.

ex fide fortis

from faith [comes] strength Motto of Loyola School in New York City, New York, United States.

ex dolo malo

from fraud "From harmful deceit"; dolus malus is the Latin legal term denoting "fraud". The full legal phrase is ex dolo malo non oritur actio ("an action does not arise from fraud"). When an action has its origin in fraud or deceit, it cannot be supported; thus, a court of law will not assist a man who bases his course of action on an immoral or illegal act.

hinc itur ad astra

from here the way leads to the stars Written on the wall of the old astronomical observatory of Vilnius University, Lithuania, and the university's motto.

ex pede Herculem

from his foot, so Hercules From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall know his size; from a part, the whole.

ex ignorantia ad sapientiam; ex luce ad tenebras (e.i.)

from ignorance into wisdom; from light into darkness Motto of the fictional Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts, from the Cthulhu Mythos

ex gratia

from kindness More literally "from grace". Refers to someone voluntarily performing an act purely from kindness, as opposed to for personal gain or from being compelled to do it. In law, an ex gratia payment is one made without recognizing any liability or obligation.

ex scientia tridens

from knowledge, sea power. The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to knowledge bringing men power over the sea comparable to that of the trident-bearing Greek god Poseidon.

ex scientia vera

from knowledge, truth The motto of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

multis e gentibus vires

from many peoples, strength Motto of Saskatchewan

Ex Oblivione

from oblivion The title of a short story by H. P. Lovecraft.

ex professo

from one declaring [an art or science] Or 'with due competence'. Said of the person who perfectly knows his art or science. Also used to mean "expressly".[23]

ex silentio

from silence In general, the claim that the absence of something demonstrates the proof of a proposition. An argumentum ex silentio ("argument from silence") is an argument based on the assumption that someone's silence on a matter suggests ("proves" when a logical fallacy) that person's ignorance of the matter or their inability to counterargue validly.

ex juvantibus

from that which helps The medical pitfall in which response to a therapeutic regimen substitutes proper diagnosis.

ex solo ad solem

from the Earth to the Sun The motto of the University of Central Lancashire, Preston

ex glande quercus

from the acorn the oak Motto of the Municipal Borough of Southgate, London, England, United Kingdom.

ex cathedra

from the chair A phrase applied to the declarations or promulgations of the Catholic Supreme Pontiff (Pope) when, preserved from the possibility of error by the Holy Spirit (see Papal infallibility), he solemnly declares or promulgates ("from the chair" that was the ancient symbol of the teacher and governor, in this case of the Church) a dogmatic doctrine on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at least being intimately connected to divine revelation. Used, by extension, of anyone who is perceived as speaking as though with supreme authority.

de profundis

from the depths Meaning from out of the depths of misery or dejection. From the Latin translation of the Vulgate Bible of Psalm 130, of which it is a traditional title in Roman Catholic liturgy.

ex aequo

from the equal Denoting "on equal footing", i. e., in a tie. Used for those two (seldom more) participants of a competition who demonstrated identical performance.

lectori salutem

greetings reader Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a letter

ex officio

from the office By virtue or right of office. Often used when someone holds one office by virtue of holding another: for example, the President of France is an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. A common misconception is that all ex officio members of a committee or congress may not vote; but in some cases they do. In law ex officio can also refer to an administrative or judicial office taking action of its own accord, in the case of the latter the more common term is ex proprio motu or ex meru motu, for example to invalidate a patent or prosecute infringers of copyright.[22]

ex umbra in solem

from the shadow into the light Motto of Federico Santa María Technical University.

ex animo

from the soul Sincerely.

ex voto

from the vow Thus, in accordance with a promise. An ex voto is also an offering made in fulfillment of a vow.

ex undis

from the waves [of the sea] motto in the coat of arms of Eemsmond

ex opere operantis

from the work of the one working A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere operato, referring to the notion that the validity or promised benefit of a sacrament depends on the person administering it.

ex opere operato

from the work worked A theological phrase meaning that the act of receiving a sacrament actually confers the promised benefit, such as a baptism actually and literally cleansing one's sins. The Catholic Church affirms that the source of grace is God, not just the actions or disposition of the minister or the recipient of the sacrament.

de praescientia Dei

from/through the foreknowledge of God Motto of the Worshipful Company of Barbers.

plene scriptum

fully written

plus ultra

further beyond National motto of Spain and a number of other institutions

omnium gatherum

gathering of all miscellaneous collection or assortment; "gatherum" is English, and the term is used often used facetiously

generalia specialibus non derogant

general provisions enacted in later legislation do not detract from specific provisions enacted in earlier legislation A principle of statutory interpretation: If a matter falls under a specific provision in a statute enacted before a general provision enacted in a later statute, it is to be presumed that the legislature did not intend that the earlier specific provision be repealed, and the matter is governed by the earlier specific provision, not the more recent general one.

manibus date lilia plenis

give lilies with full hands A phrase from Virgil's Aeneid, VI.883, mourning the death of Marcellus, Augustus' nephew. Quoted by Dante as he leaves Virgil in Purgatory, XXX.21, echoed by Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass III, 6.

dona nobis pacem

give us peace Often set to music, either by itself or as the final phrase of the Agnus Dei prayer of the Holy Mass. Also an ending in the video game Haunting Ground.

gloriosus et liber

glorious and free Motto of Manitoba

soli Deo gloria (S.D.G.)

glory to God alone A motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the five solas, referring to the idea that God is the creator of all good things and deserves all the praise for them. Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his manuscripts with the abbreviation S.D.G. to invoke this phrase, as well as with AMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam). The motto of the MasterWorks Festival, an annual Christian performing arts festival.

vade retro Satana

go back, Satan An exhortation to Satan to be gone, often a Roman Catholic response to temptation. From a popular Medieval Roman Catholic exorcism formula, derived from the rebuke of Jesus Christ to St. Peter, as quoted in the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro me Satana ("get behind Me, Satan").[Mark 8:33] The phrase "vade retro" ("go back") is also in Terence's Formio, I, 4, 203.

vade ad formicam

go to the ant From the Vulgate, Proverbs 6:6. The full quotation translates as "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!"[Pro 6:6]

vade mecum

go with me A vade-mecum or vademecum is an item one carries around, especially a handbook.

clavis aurea

golden key The means of discovering hidden or mysterious meanings in texts, particularly applied in theology and alchemy.

spes bona

good hope Motto of University of Cape Town.

ex malo bonum

good out of evil From Saint Augustine of Hippo, "Sermon LXI", in which he contradicts the dictum of Seneca the Younger in Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 87:22: bonum ex malo non fit ("good does not come from evil"). Also the alias of the song "Miserabile Visu" by Anberlin in the album New Surrender.

bona officia

good services A nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other nations

bona patria

goods of a country A jury or assize of countrymen, or good neighbors

pollice compresso favor iudicabatur

goodwill decided by compressed thumb Life was spared with a thumb tucked inside a closed fist, simulating a sheathed weapon. Conversely, a thumb up meant to unsheath your sword.

gratia et scientia

grace and learning Motto of Arundel School

magna est vis consuetudinis

great is the power of habit

in se magna ruunt

great things collapse of their own weight Lucan, Pharsalia 1:81.

magnum opus

great work Said of someone's masterpiece

maiora premunt

greater things are pressing Used to indicate that it is the moment to address more important, urgent, issues.

maxima debetur puero reverentia

greatest deference is owed to the child from Juvenal's Satires XIV:47

sic parvis magna

greatness from small beginnings Motto of Sir Francis Drake

in vivo veritas

in a living thing [there is] truth An expression used by biologists to express the fact that laboratory findings from testing an organism in vitro are not always reflected when applied to an organism in vivo. A pun on in vino veritas.

in nuce

in a nut in a nutshell; briefly stated; potential; in the embryonic phase

inter arma enim silent leges

in a time of war, the law falls silent Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against unchecked political mobs that had virtually seized control of Rome in the 60s and 50s BC. Famously quoted in the essay Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau as "The clatter of arms drowns out the voice of the law". This phrase has also been jokingly translated as "In a time of arms, the legs are silent."

in vacuo

in a void In a vacuum; isolated from other things.

in actu

in act In the very act; in reality.

opere et veritate

in action and truth doing what you believe is morally right through everyday actions

in toto

in all Totally; entirely; completely.

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.

in fieri

in becoming In progress; pending.

in flore

in blossom Blooming.

communibus locis

in common places A term frequently used among philosophical and other writers, implying some medium, or mean relation between several places; one place with another; on a medium. "Common" here does not mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"

communibus annis

in common years One year with another; on an average. "Common" here does not mean "ordinary", but "common to every situation"

compos mentis

in control of the mind Describes someone of sound mind. Sometimes used ironically. Also a legal principle, non compos mentis (not in control of one's faculties), used to describe an insane person.

in duplo

in double In duplicate

in dubio pro reo

in doubt, on behalf of the [alleged] culprit Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision must be in favor of the accused (in that anyone is innocent until there is proof to the contrary).

in esse

in existence In actual existence; as opposed to in posse.

in foro

in forum In court (legal term).

in vitro

in glass An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-natural" setting (e.g. in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. Alternative experimental or process methodologies include in vitro, in silico, ex vivo and in vivo.

bona fide

in good faith In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly". In modern contexts, often has connotations of "genuinely" or "sincerely". Bona fides is not the plural (which would be bonis fidebus), but the nominative, and means simply "good faith". Opposite of mala fide.

concordia cum veritate

in harmony with truth Motto of the University of Waterloo

in odium fidei

in hatred of the faith Used in reference to the deaths of Christian martyrs

more suo

in his/her/its/their usual way

in spe

in hope "future" (My mother-in-law in spe", i.e., "My future mother-in-law), or "in embryonic form", as in "Locke's theory of government resembles, in spe, Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers."

in vivo

in life/in a living thing An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.

ex mea sententia

in my opinion

in natura

in nature

in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas

in necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity "Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed to Augustine of Hippo.[citation needed]

uno flatu

in one breath Used in criticism of inconsistent pleadings, i.e. "one cannot argue uno flatu both that the company does not exist and that it is also responsible for the wrong."

in propria persona

in one's own person For one's self, for the sake of one's "Personhood"; acting on one's own behalf, especially a person representing themselves in a legal proceeding; see also litigant in person, pro se legal representation in the United States (abbreviated pro per).

suo jure

in one's own right Used in the context of titles of nobility, for instance where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage.

coram nobis, coram vobis

in our presence, in your presence Two kinds of writs of error.

pro parte

in part Frequently used in taxonomy to refer to part of a group.

in pace requiescat

in peace may he rest Alternate form of requiescat in pace ("let him rest in peace"). Found in this form at the end of The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe.

in pace ut sapiens aptarit idonea bello

in peace, like the wise man, make preparations for war Horace, Satires 2/2:111; similar to si vis pacem, para bellum and igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.

vice

in place of The word refers to one who acts in the place of another. It is used as a separate word or as a hyphenated prefix, e. g., "Vice President" and "Vice-Chancellor".

in posse

in potential In the state of being possible; as opposed to in esse.

instante mense (inst.)

in the present month Used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month, sometimes abbreviated as inst; e.g.: "Thank you for your letter of the 17th inst."—ult. mense = last month, prox. mense = next month.

ibidem (ibid.)

in the same place Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to the last source previously referenced.

in statu nascendi

in the state of being born Just as something is about to begin

in rebus

in the thing [itself] Primarily of philosophical use to discuss properties and property exemplification. In philosophy of mathematics, it is typically contrasted with "ante rem" and, more recently, "post res" structuralism. Sometimes in re is used in place of in rebus.

in saeculo

in the times In the secular world, esp. outside a monastery, or before death.

ipsissima voce

in the very 'voice' itself To approximate the main thrust or message without using the exact words

in utero

in the womb

opere citato (op. cit.)

in the work that was cited used in academic works when referring again to the last source mentioned or used

in hoc sensu or in sensu hoc (s.h.)

in this sense Recent academic abbreviation for "in this sense".

in triplo

in triple In triplicate.

[in] veritate et caritate

in truth and charity Motto of Catholic Junior College, Singapore; St. Xavier's School, and Hazaribagh, India

coram publico

in view of the public

in vino veritas

in wine [there is] truth That is, wine loosens the tongue (referring to alcohol's disinhibitory effects).

in lumine tuo videbimus lumen

in your light we will see the light Motto of Columbia University, Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School and Ohio Wesleyan University. Also, it is the motto of the South African University of Fort Hare.

lapsus linguae

inadvertent speech error, slip of the tongue

lapsus calami

inadvertent typographical error, slip of the pen

incredibile dictu

incredible to say A variant on mirabile dictu.

oratio obliqua

indirect speech

indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter

indivisible and inseparable Motto of Austria-Hungary before it was divided and separated into independent states in 1918.

cacoethes scribendi

insatiable desire to write Cacoēthes[2] "bad habit", or medically, "malignant disease" is a borrowing of Greek kakoēthes.[3] The phrase is derived from a line in the Satires of Juvenal: Tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes, or "the incurable desire (or itch) for writing affects many". See hypergraphia.

Instrumentum regni

instrument of government Used to express the exploitation of religion by State or ecclesiastical polity as a means of controlling the masses, or in particular to achieve political and mundane ends.

Instrumentum vocale

instrument with voice So Varro in his De re rustica (On Agriculture) defines the slave: an instrument (as a simple plow, or etc.) with voice.

in personam

into a person Directed towards a particular person

in fidem

into faith To the verification of faith.

in memoriam

into the memory Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring a deceased person.

in medias res

into the middle of things From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late point in, the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, Os Lusíadas, Othello, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.

in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum

into your hands I entrust my spirit According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on the cross.

me vexat pede

it annoys me at the foot Less literally, "my foot itches". Refers to a trivial situation or person that is being a bother, possibly in the sense of wishing to kick that thing away or, such as the commonly used expressions, a "pebble in one's shoe" or "nipping at one's heels".

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. As a logical fallacy, a conclusion that does not follow from a premise.

non olet

it doesn't smell See pecunia non olet.

crescit eundo

it grows as it goes From Lucretius' De rerum natura book VI, where it refers in context to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes. This metaphor was adapted as the state motto of New Mexico (adopted in 1887 as the territory's motto, and kept in 1912 when New Mexico received statehood) and is seen on the seal. Also the motto of Rocky Mount, Virginia.

boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere

it is a good shepherd's [job] to shear his flock, not to flay them Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders, as a warning against taxing the populace excessively.

festinare nocet, nocet et cunctatio saepe; tempore quaeque suo qui facit, ille sapit.

it is bad to hurry, and delay is often as bad; the wise person is the one who does everything in its proper time. Ovid[46]

certum est quod certum reddi potest

it is certain, whatever can be rendered certain Or "... if it can be rendered certain." Often used in law when something is not known, but can be ascertained (e.g. the purchase price on a sale which is to be determined by a third-party valuer)

non constat

it is not certain Used to explain scientific phenomena and religious advocations, for example in medieval history, for rulers to issue a 'Non Constat' decree, banning the worship of a holy figure. In legal context, occasionally a backing for nulling information that was presented by an attorney. Without any tangible proof, Non constat information is difficult to argue for.

non liquet

it is not proven Also "it is not clear" or "it is not evident". A sometimes controversial decision handed down by a judge when they feel that the law is not complete.

scilicet (sc. or ss.)

it is permitted to know that is to say; to wit; namely; in a legal caption, it provides a statement of venue or refers to a location.

solvitur ambulando

it is solved by walking The problem is solved by taking a walk, or by simple experiment.

et adhuc sub iudice lis est

it is still before the court From Horace, Ars Poetica (The Art of Poetry) 1.78.

placet

it pleases expression of assent

nisi paria non pugnant

it takes two to make a fight Irascetur aliquis: tu contra beneficiis prouoca; cadit statim simultas ab altera parte deserta; nisi paria non pugnant. (If any one is angry with you, meet his anger by returning benefits for it: a quarrel which is only taken up on one side falls to the ground: it takes two men to fight.) Seneca the Younger, De Ira (On Anger): Book 2, cap. 34, line 5.

gaudium in veritate

joy in truth Motto of Campion School

dulce domum

joyous home Title of a popular English school song sung before the end of term, most famously as the school song of Winchester College

res judicata

judged thing A matter which has been decided by a court. Often refers to the legal concept that once a matter has been finally decided by the courts, it cannot be litigated again (cf. non bis in idem and double jeopardy).

talis qualis

just as such "Such as it is" or "as such".

iustitia omnibus

justice for all The motto of Washington, D.C.

iustitia fundamentum regni

justice is the foundation of a reign Motto of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office of the Czech Republic

custos morum

keeper of morals A censor.

neca eos omnes, Deus suos agnoscet

kill them all, God will know his own alternate rendition of Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. by Arnaud Amalric

rex regum fidelum et

king even of faithful kings Latin motto that appears on the crest of the Trinity Broadcasting Network of Paul and Jan Crouch.

temet nosce

know thyself A reference to the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton), inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, according to the Greek periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1). Rendered also with nosce te ipsum, temet nosce ("thine own self know") appears in The Matrix translated as "know thyself".

nosce te ipsum

know thyself From Cicero, based on the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton), inscribed on the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, according to the Greek periegetic writer Pausanias (10.24.1). A non-traditional Latin rendering, temet nosce (thine own self know), is translated in The Matrix as "know thyself".

scientia et sapientia

knowledge and wisdom motto of Illinois Wesleyan University

scientia et labor

knowledge and work motto of Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería

scientia imperii decus et tutamen

knowledge is the adornment and protection of the Empire Motto of Imperial College London

ipsa scientia potestas est

knowledge itself is power Famous phrase written by Sir Francis Bacon in 1597

scientia ipsa potentia est

knowledge itself is power Stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon in Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased as scientia est potestas or scientia potentia est (knowledge is power).

scire quod sciendum

knowledge which is worth having motto of now defunct publisher Small, Maynard & Company

scientia, aere perennius

knowledge, more lasting than bronze unknown origin, probably adapted from Horace's ode III (Exegi monumentum aere perennius).

terra nullius

land of none That is, no man's land. A neutral or uninhabited area, or a land not under the sovereignty of any recognized political entity.

lapsus

lapse, slip, error; involuntary mistake made while writing or speaking

ultima ratio

last method

risus abundat in ore stultorum

laughter is abundant in the mouth of fools excessive and inappropriate laughter signifies stupidity.

provehito in altum

launch forward into the deep motto of Memorial University of Newfoundland

lex in casu

law in the event A law that only concerns one particular case. See law of the case.

ius in bello

law in war Refers to the "laws" that regulate the conduct of combatants during a conflict. Typically, this would address issues of who or what is a valid target, how to treat prisoners, and what sorts of weapons can be used. The word jus is also commonly spelled ius.

lex parsimoniae

law of succinctness also known as Occam's Razor

ius primae noctis

law of the first night The droit de seigneur

lex loci

law of the place

lex artis

law of the skill The rules that regulate a professional duty.

lex non scripta

law that has not been written Unwritten law, or common law

reductio ad infinitum

leading back to the infinite An argument that creates an infinite series of causes that does not seem to have a beginning. As a fallacy, it rests upon Aristotle's notion that all things must have a cause, but that all series of causes must have a sufficient cause, that is, an unmoved mover. An argument which does not seem to have such a beginning becomes difficult to imagine. If it can be established, separately, that the chain must have a start, then a reductio ad infinitum is a valid refutation technique.

operibus anteire

leading the way with deeds to speak with actions instead of words

saltus in demonstrando

leap in explaining a leap in logic, by which a necessary part of an equation is omitted.

punctum saliens

leaping point Thus, the essential or most notable point. The salient point.

discere faciendo

learn by doing Motto of California Polytechnic State University, California, United States.

disce aut discede

learn or depart / learn or leave Motto of Royal College, Colombo and of King's School, Rochester.

virtute duce

led by virtue

virtute duce comite fortuna

led by virtue, accompanied by [good] fortune

oculus sinister (O.S.)

left eye

cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae

let all come who by merit deserve the most reward Motto of University College London.

cedant arma togae

let arms yield to the gown "Let military power yield to civilian power", Cicero, De Officiis I:77. Former motto of the Territory of Wyoming. See also Toga

pro Brasilia fiant eximia

let exceptional things be made for Brazil Motto of São Paulo state, Brazil.

requiescat in pace (R.I.P.)

let him/her rest in peace Or "may he/she rest in peace". A benediction for the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers. "RIP" is commonly mistranslated as "Rest In Peace", though the two mean essentially the same thing.

sit sine labe decus

let honour stainless be Motto of the Brisbane Boys' College (Brisbane, Australia).

signetur (sig) or (S/)

let it be labeled Medical shorthand

imprimatur

let it be printed An authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).

stet

let it stand Marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or marked for deletion should be retained.

fiat justitia ruat caelum

let justice be done, should the sky fall attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus

caveat emptor

let the buyer beware The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need. Phrases modeled on this one replace emptor with lector, subscriptor, venditor, utilitor: "reader", "signer", "seller", "user".

stet fortuna domus

let the fortune of the house stand First part of the motto of Harrow School, England, and inscribed upon Ricketts House, at the California Institute of Technology.

eluceat omnibus lux

let the light shine out from all The motto of Sidwell Friends School.

caveat venditor

let the seller beware It is a counter to caveat emptor and suggests that sellers can also be deceived in a market transaction. This forces the seller to take responsibility for the product and discourages sellers from selling products of unreasonable quality.

respondeat superior

let the superior respond Regarded as a legal maxim in agency law, referring to the legal liability of the principal with respect to an employee. Whereas a hired independent contractor acting tortiously may not cause the principal to be legally liable, a hired employee acting tortiously will cause the principal (the employer) to be legally liable, even if the employer did nothing wrong.

oderint dum metuant

let them hate, so long as they fear favorite saying of Caligula, attributed originally to Lucius Accius, Roman tragic poet (170 BC)

terras irradient

let them illuminate the lands Or "let them give light to the world". An allusion to Isaiah 6.3: plena est omnis terra gloria eius ("the whole earth is full of his glory"). Sometimes mistranslated as "they will illuminate the lands" based on mistaking irradiare for a future indicative third-conjugation verb, whereas it is actually a present subjunctive first-conjugation verb. Motto of Amherst College; the college's original mission was to educate young men to serve God.

fiat panis

let there be bread Motto of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

lux sit

let there be light A more literal Latinization of the phrase; the most common translation is fiat lux, from Latin Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line "וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר" (And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light). Motto of the University of Washington.

fiat lux

let there be light from the Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God said: 'Let there be light', and there was light."); frequently used as the motto of schools.

gaudeamus hodie

let us rejoice today

non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro

liberty is not well sold for all the gold Motto of Republic of Ragusa, inscribed over the gates of St. Lawrence Fortress. From Gualterus Anglicus's version of Aesop's fable "The Dog and the Wolf".

vita mutatur, non tollitur

life is changed, not taken away The phrase is a quotation from the preface of the first Roman Catholic rite of the Mass for the Dead.

vita incerta, mors certissima

life is uncertain, death is most certain More simply, "the most certain thing in life is death".

respice finem

look back at the end i.e., "have regard for the end" or "consider the end". Generally a memento mori, a warning to remember one's death. Motto of Homerton College, Cambridge, Trinity College, Kandy, Georgetown College in Kentucky , Turnbull High School, Glasgow, and the London Oratory School.

respice adspice prospice

look behind, look here, look ahead i.e., "examine the past, the present and future". Motto of CCNY.

omnia vincit amor

love conquers all Virgil (70 BC - 19 BC), Eclogue X, line 69

fons vitae caritas

love is the fountain of life motto of Chisipite Senior School and Chisipite Junior School

ducit amor patriae

love of country leads me Motto of the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, Australia.

meminerunt omnia amantes

lovers remember all

fac simile

make a similar thing origin of the word facsimile, and, through it, of fax

homo homini lupus

man [is a] wolf to man First attested in Plautus' Asinaria (lupus est homo homini). The sentence was drawn on by Hobbes in Leviathan as a concise expression of his views on human nature.

homo bulla

man is a bubble Varro (116 BC - 27 BC), in the opening line of the first book of Rerum Rusticarum Libri Tres, wrote "quod, ut dicitur, si est homo bulla, eo magis senex" (for if, as they say, man is a bubble, all the more so is an old man)[51] later reintroduced by Erasmus in his Adagia, a collection of sayings published in 1572.

vitam amplificare hominibus hominesque societati

mankind [who] extends the life of the community Motto of East Los Angeles College, California, United States

manus multae cor unum

many hands, one heart Motto of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.

Nota bene (NB, n.b. or {\displaystyle \mathrm {N} \!\!\mathrm {B} }{\displaystyle \mathrm {N} \!\!\mathrm {B} })

mark well That is, "please note" or "note it well".

floreat Etona

may Eton flourish Motto of Eton College, England, United Kingdom

esto perpetua

may it be perpetual Said of Venice, Italy, by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo Sarpi shortly before his death. Motto of the US state of Idaho, adopted in 1867; of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka; of Sigma Phi Society.

vivat crescat floreat

may it live, grow, [and] flourish

filiae nostrae sicut anguli incisi similitudine templi

may our daughters be as polished as the corners of the temple motto of Francis Holland School

floreat nostra schola

may our school flourish a common scholastic motto

sit tibi terra levis

may the earth be light to you Commonly used on gravestones, often contracted as S.T.T.L., the same way as today's R.I.P.

vivat rex

may the king live The acclamation is ordinary translated as "long live the king!". In the case of a queen, "vivat regina" ("long live the queen").

sit venia verbo

may there be forgiveness for the word Similar to the English idiom "pardon my French".

materia medica

medical matter Branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs used in the treatment of disease. Also, the drugs themselves.

fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt

men generally believe what they want to People's beliefs are shaped largely by their desires. Julius Caesar, The Gallic War 3.18

modus vivendi

method of living An accommodation between disagreeing parties to allow life to go on. A practical compromise.

modus operandi (M.O.)

method of operating Usually used to describe a criminal's methods.

modus ponens

method of placing Loosely "method of affirming", a logical rule of inference stating that from propositions if P then Q and P, then one can conclude Q.

modus tollens

method of removing Loosely "method of denying", a logical rule of inference stating that from propositions if P then Q and not Q, then one can conclude not P.

via media

middle road/way This phrase describes a compromise between two extremes or the radical center political position.

mens et manus

mind and hand Motto of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and also of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

memores acti prudentes futuri

mindful of things done, aware of things to come Thus, both remembering the past and foreseeing the future. From the North Hertfordshire District Council coat of arms.

speculum speculorum

mirror of mirrors

misera est servitus ubi jus est aut incognitum aut vagum

miserable is that state of slavery in which the law is unknown or uncertain Quoted by Samuel Johnson in his paper for James Boswell on Vicious intromission.

solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris

misery loves company From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.

pecunia non olet

money doesn't smell According to Suetonius' De vita Caesarum, when Emperor Vespasian was challenged by his son Titus for taxing the public lavatories, the emperor held up a coin before his son and asked whether it smelled or simply said non olet ("it doesn't smell"). From this, the phrase was expanded to pecunia non olet, or rarely aes non olet ("copper doesn't smell").

plus minusve (p.m.v.)

more or less Frequently found on Roman funerary inscriptions to denote that the age of a decedent is approximate

nemo est supra legem

nobody is above the law; or nemo est supra leges, nobody is above the laws

nomen est omen

the name is a sign Thus, "true to its name".

celerius quam asparagi cocuntur

more swiftly than asparagus [stem]s are cooked Or simply "faster than cooking asparagus". A variant of the Roman phrase velocius quam asparagi coquantur, using a different adverb and an alternative mood and spelling of coquere.

uberrima fides

most abundant faith Or "utmost good faith" (cf. bona fide). A legal maxim of insurance contracts requiring all parties to deal in good faith.

mater lectionis

mother reading

montani semper liberi

mountaineers [are] always free State motto of West Virginia, adopted in 1872.

multum in parvo

much in little Conciseness. The term "mipmap" is formed using the phrase's abbreviation "MIP"; motto of Rutland, a county in central England.

calix meus inebrians

my cup making me drunk

cor meum tibi offero domine prompte et sincere

my heart I offer to you Lord promptly and sincerely John Calvin's personal motto, also adopted by Calvin College

nomen nudum

naked name A purported scientific name that does not fulfill the proper formal criteria and therefore cannot be used unless it is subsequently proposed correctly.

natura abhorret a vacuo

nature abhors vacuum Pseudo-explanation for why a liquid will climb up a tube to fill a vacuum, often given before the discovery of atmospheric pressure.

natura non facit saltum ita nec lex

nature does not make a leap, thus neither does the law Shortened form of "sicut natura nil facit per saltum ita nec lex" (just as nature does nothing by a leap, so neither does the law), referring to both nature and the legal system moving gradually.

natura nihil frustra facit

nature does nothing in vain Cf. Aristotle: "οὐθὲν γάρ, ὡς φαμέν, μάτην ἡ φύσις ποιεῖ" (Politics I 2, 1253a9) and Leucippus: "Everything that happens does so for a reason and of necessity."

natura non contristatur

nature is not saddened That is, the natural world is not sentimental or compassionate. Derived by Arthur Schopenhauer from an earlier source.

natura non facit saltus

nature makes no leaps A famous aphorism of Carl Linnaeus stating that all organisms bear relationships on all sides, their forms changing gradually from one species to the next. From Philosophia Botanica (1751).

necessitas etiam timidos fortes facit

need makes even the timid brave Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline, 58:19

nec temere nec timide

neither reckless nor timid Motto of the Dutch 11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade and the city of Gdańsk, Poland

nunquam minus solus quam cum solus

never less alone than when alone

nunquam non paratus

never unprepared, ever ready, always ready frequently used as motto

combinatio nova

new combination It is frequently abbreviated comb. nov.. It is used in the life sciences literature when a new name is introduced, e.g. Klebsiella granulomatis comb. nov..

terra nova

new land Latin name of Newfoundland (island portion of Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, capital- St. John's), also root of French name of same, Terre-Neuve

novus ordo seclorum

new order of the ages From Virgil. Motto on the Great Seal of the United States. Similar to Novus Ordo Mundi (New World Order).

species nova

new species Used in biological taxonomy

orta recens quam pura nites

newly risen, how brightly you shine Motto of New South Wales

nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali

no crime, no punishment without a previous penal law Legal principle meaning that one cannot be penalised for doing something that is not prohibited by law; penal law cannot be enacted retroactively.

nemo propheta in patria (sua)

no man is a prophet in his own land Concept present in all four Gospels (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44).

nemo iudex in causa sua

no man shall be a judge in his own cause Legal principle that no individual can preside over a hearing in which he holds a specific interest or bias

nemo dat quod non habet

no one gives what he does not have Thus, "none can pass better title than they have"

nemo tenetur se ipsum accusare

no one is bound to accuse himself (the right to silence) A maxim banning mandatory self-incrimination. Near-synonymous with accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo. Similar phrases include: nemo tenetur armare adversarium contra se (no one is bound to arm an opponent against himself), meaning that a defendant is not obligated to in any way assist the prosecutor to his own detriment; nemo tenetur edere instrumenta contra se (no one is bound to produce documents against himself, meaning that a defendant is not obligated to provide materials to be used against himself (this is true in Roman law and has survived in modern criminal law, but no longer applies in modern civil law); and nemo tenere prodere se ipsum (no one is bound to betray himself), meaning that a defendant is not obligated to testify against himself.

nulla poena sine lege

no penalty without a law Refers to the legal principle that one cannot be punished for doing something that is not prohibited by law, and is related to Nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali.

palma non sine pulvere

no reward without effort Also "dare to try"; motto of numerous schools.

nil nisi malis terrori

no terror, except to the bad Motto of The King's School, Macclesfield

nullam rem natam

no thing born That is, "nothing". It has been theorized that this expression is the origin of Italian nulla, French rien, and Spanish and Portuguese nada, all with the same meaning.

tertium non datur

no third (possibility) is given A logical axiom that a claim is either true or false, with no third option.

res nullius

nobody's property Goods without an owner. Used for things or beings which belong to nobody and are up for grabs, e.g., uninhabited and uncolonized lands, wandering wild animals, etc. (cf. terra nullius, "no man's land").

neque semper arcum tendit Apollo

nor does Apollo always keep his bow drawn Horace, Carmina 2/10:19-20. The same image appears in a fable of Phaedrus.

non omnia possumus omnest

not everyone can do everything Virgil, Eclogues 8:63 (and others).

non possunt primi esse omnes omni in tempore

not everyone can occupy the first rank forever (It is impossible always to excel) Decimus Laberius.

non mihi solum

not for myself alone Motto of Anderson Junior College, Singapore.

non nobis solum

not for ourselves alone Appears in Cicero's De Officiis Book 1:22 in the form non nobis solum nati sumus (we are not born for ourselves alone). Motto of Lower Canada College, Montreal and University College, Durham University, and Willamette University.

non compos mentis

not in control of the mind See compos mentis. Also rendered non compos sui (not in control of himself). Samuel Johnson, author of the first English dictionary, theorized that the word nincompoop may derive from this phrase.

non multa sed multum

not quantity but quality Motto of the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School.

non obstante veredicto

not standing in the way of a verdict A judgment notwithstanding verdict, a legal motion asking the court to reverse the jury's verdict on the grounds that the jury could not have reached such a verdict reasonably.

non loqui sed facere

not talk but action Motto of the University of Western Australia's Engineering faculty student society.

non causa pro causa

not the cause for the cause Also known as the "questionable cause" or "false cause". Refers to any logical fallacy where a cause is incorrectly identified.

non ministrari sed ministrare

not to be served, but to serve Motto of Wellesley College and Shimer College (from Matthew 20:28 in the Vulgate).

verba vana aut risui non loqui

not to speak words in vain or to start laughter A Roman Catholic religious precept, being Rule 56 of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

non bis in idem

not twice in the same thing A legal principle forbidding double jeopardy.

non quis sed quid

not who but what Used in the sense "what matters is not who says it but what he says" - a warning against ad hominem arguments; frequently used as motto, including that of Southwestern University.

bona notabilia

note-worthy goods In law, if a person dying has goods, or good debts, in another diocese or jurisdiction within that province, besides his goods in the diocese where he dies, amounting to a certain minimum value, he is said to have bona notabilia; in which case, the probat of his will belongs to the archbishop of that province.

nil satis nisi optimum

nothing [is] enough unless [it is] the best Motto of Everton F.C., residents of Goodison Park, Liverpool.

vero nihil verius

nothing [is] truer than truth Motto of Mentone Girls' Grammar School

nihil boni sine labore

nothing achieved without hard work Motto of Palmerston North Boys' High School

nihil ultra

nothing beyond Motto of St. Xavier's College, Calcutta

ex nihilo nihil fit

nothing comes from nothing From Lucretius, and said earlier by Empedocles. Its original meaning is "work is required to succeed", but its modern meaning is a more general "everything has its origins in something" (see also causality). It is commonly applied to the conservation laws in philosophy and modern science. Ex nihilo is often used in conjunction with "creation", as in creatio ex nihilo, denoting "creation out of nothing". It is often used in philosophy and theology in connection with the proposition that God created the universe from nothing. It is also mentioned in the final ad-lib of the Monty Python song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

nihil enim lacrima citius arescit

nothing dries sooner than a tear Pseudo-Cicero, Ad Herrenium, 2/31:50

non plus ultra

nothing further beyond the ultimate. See also 'ne plus ultra'

nihil humanum mihi alienum

nothing human is alien to me Adapted from Terence's Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor), homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto ("I am a human being; nothing human is strange to me"). Sometimes ending in est.

nihil in intellectu nisi prius in sensu

nothing in the intellect unless first in sense The guiding principle of empiricism, and accepted in some form by Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. Leibniz, however, added nisi intellectus ipse (except the intellect itself).

nil mortalibus ardui est

nothing is impossible for humankind From Horace's Odes. Motto of Rathkeale College, New Zealand and Brunts School, England.

ne plus ultra

nothing more beyond Also nec plus ultra or non plus ultra. A descriptive phrase meaning the best or most extreme example of something. The Pillars of Hercules, for example, were literally the nec plus ultra of the ancient Mediterranean world. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's heraldic emblem reversed this idea, using a depiction of this phrase inscribed on the Pillars - as plus ultra, without the negation. The Boston Musical Instrument Company engraved ne plus ultra on its instruments from 1869 to 1928 to signify that none were better. Non... is the motto of the Spanish exclave Melilla.

nil desperandum

nothing must be despaired at That is, "never despair".

nihil novi

nothing of the new Or just "nothing new". The phrase exists in two versions: as nihil novi sub sole (nothing new under the sun), from the Vulgate, and as nihil novi nisi commune consensu (nothing new unless by the common consensus), a 1505 law of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and one of the cornerstones of its Golden Liberty.

nihil obstat

nothing prevents A notation, usually on a title page, indicating that a Roman Catholic censor has reviewed the book and found nothing objectionable to faith or morals in its content. See also imprimatur.

nil per os, rarely non per os (n.p.o.)

nothing through the mouth Medical shorthand indicating that oral foods and fluids should be withheld from the patient.

nihil ad rem

nothing to do with the point That is, in law, irrelevant and/or inconsequential.

nihil nimis

nothing too Or nothing to excess. Latin translation of the inscription of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

nihil sine Deo

nothing without God Motto of the Kingdom of Romania, while ruled by the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty (1878-1947).

nil sine labore

nothing without labour Motto of many schools

nil sine numine

nothing without the divine will Or "nothing without providence". State motto of Colorado, adopted in 1861. Probably derived from Virgil's Aeneid Book II, line 777, "non haec sine numine divum eveniunt" (these things do not come to pass without the will of Heaven). See also numen.

nil igitur fieri de nilo posse fatendumst

nothing, therefore, we must confess, can be made from nothing From Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), I.205

nunc scio quid sit amor

now I know what love is From Virgil, Eclogues VIII.

nunc pro tunc

now for then Something that has retroactive effect, is effective from an earlier date.

nunc est bibendum

now is the time to drink Carpe-Diem-type phrase from the Odes of Horace, Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus (Now is the time to drink, now the time to dance footloose upon the earth).

nunc aut nunquam

now or never Motto of the Korps Commandotroepen, Dutch elite special forces.

nunc dimittis

now you send beginning of the Song of Simeon, from the Gospel of Luke.

de fideli administratione

of faithful administration Describes an oath taken to faithfully administer the duties of a job or office, like that taken by a court reporter.[12]

de dato

of the date Used, e.g., in "as we agreed in the meeting d.d. 26th May 2006".

ejusdem generis

of the same kinds, class, or nature From the canons of statutory interpretation in law. When more general descriptors follow a list of many specific descriptors, the otherwise wide meaning of the general descriptors is interpreted as restricted to the same class, if any, of the preceding specific descriptors.

incertae sedis

of uncertain position (seat) A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.

e causa ignota

of unknown cause Often used in medicine when the underlying disease causing a symptom is not known. See also idiopathic.

quorum

of whom the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional

de lege lata

of/from law passed / of/from law in force

de lege ferenda

of/from law to be passed

morte magis metuenda senectus

old age should rather be feared than death from Juvenal in his Satires

motu proprio

on his own initiative Or "by his own accord." Identifies a class of papal documents, administrative papal bulls.

super fornicam

on the lavatory Where Thomas More accused the reformer, Martin Luther, of going to celebrate Mass.

semel in anno licet insanire

once in a year one is allowed to go crazy Concept expressed by various authors, such as Seneca, Saint Augustine and Horace. It became proverbial during the Middle Ages.

haec olim meminisse iuvabit

one day, this will be pleasing to remember Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look back on this and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also, motto of Handsworth Grammar School, and the Jefferson Society.

obiit (ob.)

one died "He/she died", inscription on gravestones; ob. also sometimes stands for obiter (in passing or incidentally)

floruit (fl.)

one flourished indicates the period when a historic person was most active or was accomplishing that for which he is famous; may be used as a substitute when the dates of his birth and/or death are unknown.

manus manum lavat

one hand washes the other famous quote from The Pumpkinification of Claudius, ascribed to Seneca the Younger.[60] It implies that one situation helps the other.

cor unum

one heart A popular school motto. Often used as names for religious and other organisations such as the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

unus multorum

one of many An average person.

pinxit

one painted Thus, "he painted this" or "she painted this". Formerly used on works of art, next to the artist's name.

una hirundo non facit ver

one swallow does not make summer A single example of something positive does not necessarily mean that all subsequent similar instances will have the same outcome.

testis unus, testis nullus

one witness is not a witness A law principle expressing that a single witness is not enough to corroborate a story.

orbis unum

one world seen in The Legend of Zorro

vel non

or not Summary of alternatives, e. g., "this action turns upon whether the claimant was the deceased's grandson vel non."

subsiste sermonem statim

stop speaking immediately

tabula rasa

scraped tablet Thus, "blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-covered wooden tablets, which were erased by scraping with the flat end of the stylus. John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge.

sedes incertae

seat (i.e. location) uncertain Used in biological classification to indicate that there is no agreement as to which higher order grouping a taxon should be placed into. Abbreviated sed. incert.

sedet, aeternumque sedebit

seat, be seated forever a Virgi's verse, means when you stop trying, then you lose

nulli secundus

second to none Motto of the Coldstream Guards and Nine Squadron Royal Australian Corps of Transport and the Pretoria Regiment.

vide supra (v. s.)

see above The word is used in scholarly works to refer to previous text in the same document. It is sometimes truncated to "supra".

vide infra (v. i.)

see below The word is used in scholarly works.

quaerite primum regnum Dei

seek ye first the kingdom of God Also quaerite primo regnum dei; frequently used as motto

votum separatum

separate vow The phrase denotes an independent, minority voice.

Gravis Dulcis Immutabilis

serious sweet immutable Title of a poem by James Elroy Flecker [47]

Verbi Divini minister

servant of the Divine Word A phrase denoting a priest. Cf. "Verbum Dei" infra.

servus servorum Dei

servant of the servants of God A title for the Pope.

non extinguetur

shall not be extinguished Motto of the Society of Antiquaries of London accompanying their Lamp of knowledge emblem

Vires acquirit eundo

she gathers strength as she goes A quotation from Vergil's Aeneid, Book 4, 175, which in the original context refers to Pheme. Motto on the Coat of arms of Melbourne

fluctuat nec mergitur

she wavers and is not immersed Motto of the City of Paris, France

silentium est aureum

silence is golden Latinization of the English expression "silence is golden". Also Latinized as silentium est aurum ("silence is gold").

similia similibus solvuntur

similar substances will dissolve similar substances Used as a general rule in chemistry; "like dissolves like" refers to the ability of polar or non polar solvents to dissolve polar or non polar solutes respectively.[98]

similia similibus curentur

similar things are taken care of by similar things

simplex sigillum veri

simplicity is the sign of truth expresses a sentiment akin to Keep It Simple, Stupid

sincere et constanter

sincere and constant Motto of the Order of the Red Eagle

perita manus mens exculta

skilled hand, cultivated mind Motto of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia

lapsus memoriae

slip of memory source of the term memory lapse

paulatim ergo certe

slowly therefore surely Former motto of Latymer Upper School in London (the text latim er is concealed in the words)

ut biberent quoniam esse nollent

so that they might drink, since they refused to eat Also rendered with quando ("when") in place of quoniam. From a book by Suetonius (Vit. Tib., 2.2) and Cicero (De Natura Deorum, 2.3). The phrase was said by Roman admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher right before the battle of Drepana, as he threw overboard the sacred chickens which had refused to eat the grain offered them—an unwelcome omen of bad luck. Thus, the sense is, "if they do not perform as expected, they must suffer the consequences". He lost the battle disastrously.

ut sit finis litium

so there might be an end of litigation A traditional brocard. The full form is Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium, "it is in the government's interest that there be an end to litigation." Often quoted in the context of statutes of limitation.

terra firma

solid earth Often used to refer to the ground

taliter qualiter

somewhat

lorem ipsum

sorrow itself; pain for its own sake A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (On the Limits of Good and Evil, 45 BC), used as typographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a. greeking). (The first syllable of lorem is cut off; the original was dolorem ipsum').

specialia generalibus derogant

special departs from general

dolus specialis

special intent "The ... concept is particular to a few civil law systems and cannot sweepingly be equated with the notions of 'special' or 'specific intent' in common law systems. Of course, the same might equally be said of the concept of 'specific intent', a notion used in the common law almost exclusively within the context of the defense of voluntary intoxication." (Genocide scholar William A. Schabas)[14]

genius loci

spirit of place The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually depicted as a snake.

spiritus mundi

spirit of the world From The Second Coming (poem) by William Butler Yeats. Refers to Yeats' belief that each human mind is linked to a single vast intelligence, and that this intelligence causes certain universal symbols to appear in individual minds. The idea is similar to Carl Jung's concept of the collective unconscious.

tempus vernum

spring time Name of song by popular Irish singer Enya

rigor mortis

stiffness of death The rigidity of corpses when chemical reactions cause the limbs to stiffen about 3-4 hours after death. Other signs of death include drop in body temperature (algor mortis, "cold of death") and discoloration (livor mortis, "bluish color of death").

vinculum juris

the chain of the law The phrase denotes that a thing is legally binding. "A civil obligation is one which has a binding operation in law, vinculum juris." (Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1856), "Obligation")

corruptio optimi pessima

the corruption of the best is the worst

iura novit curia

the court knows the law A legal principle in civil law countries of the Roman-German tradition that says that lawyers need not to argue the law, as that is the office of the court. Sometimes miswritten as iura novat curia (the court renews the laws).

mos maiorum

the custom of our ancestors an unwritten code of laws and conduct, of the Romans. It institutionalized cultural traditions, societal mores, and general policies, as distinct from written laws.

sola dosis facit venemum

the dose makes the poison It is credited to Paracelsus who expressed the classic toxicology maxim "All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison."

finis coronat opus

the end crowns the work A major part of a work is properly finishing it. Motto of St. Mary's Catholic High School in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; on the Coat of Arms of Seychelles; and of the Amin Investment Bank

finis vitae sed non amoris

the end of life, but not of love unknown

expressio unius est exclusio alterius

the expression of the one is the exclusion of the other "Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing". A principle of legal statutory interpretation: the explicit presence of a thing implies intention to exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief Act 1601 to "lands, houses, tithes and coal mines" was held to exclude mines other than coal mines. Sometimes expressed as expressum facit cessare tacitum (broadly, "the expression of one thing excludes the implication of something else").

fides qua creditur

the faith by which it is believed Roman Catholic theological term for the personal faith that apprehends what is believed, contrasted with fides quae creditur, which is what is believed; see next phrase below

fides quae creditur

the faith which is believed Roman Catholic theological term for the content and truths of the Faith or "the deposit of the Faith", contrasted with fides qua creditur, which is the personal faith by which the Faith is believed; see previous phrase

ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt

the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling Attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Sen. Ep. 107.11).

timor mortis conturbat me

the fear of death confounds me Refrain originating in the response to the seventh lesson in the Office of the Dead. In the Middle Ages, this service was read each day by clerics. As a refrain, it appears also in other poems and can frequently be found inscribed on tombs.

fons sapientiae, verbum Dei

the fount of knowledge is the word of God motto of Bishop Blanchet High School

vulpes pilum mutat, non mores

the fox changes his fur, not his habits By extension, and in common morality, humanity can change their attitudes, but they will hardly change their objectives or what they have set themselves to achieve. Ascribed to Titus by Suetonius in the eighth book (chapter 16) of The Twelve Caesars.

strenuis ardua cedunt

the heights yield to endeavour Motto of the University of Southampton.

spem gregis

the hope of the flock from Virgil's Eclogues

hora fugit

the hour flees See tempus fugit

gaudia certaminis

the joys of battle according to Cassiodorus, an expression used by Attila in addressing his troops prior to the 451 Battle of Châlons

claves Sancti Petri

the keys of Saint Peter A symbol of the Papacy.

lex rex

the law [is] king A principle of government advocating a rule by law rather than by men. The phrase originated as a double entendre in the title of Samuel Rutherford's controversial book Lex, Rex (1644), which espoused a theory of limited government and constitutionalism.

lex hac edictali

the law here proclaims The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos or bequeath by testament to his or her second spouse more than the amount of the smallest portion given or bequeathed to any child.

lex dei vitae lampas

the law of God is the lamp of life Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne

lex orandi, lex credendi

the law of prayer is the law of faith

lex talionis

the law of retaliation Retributive justice (i.e., eye for an eye)

legem terrae

the law of the land

lex paciferat

the law shall bring peace Motto of the European Gendarmerie Force

mutata lex non perit

the law that does not evolve dies Motto of Seneca the Younger

lex lata

the law that has been borne The law as it is.

lex ferenda

the law that should be borne The law as it ought to be.

non in legendo sed in intelligendo leges consistunt

the laws depend not on being read, but on being understood

virile agitur

the manly thing is being done Motto of Knox Grammar School

mens agitat molem

the mind moves the mass From Virgil; motto of several educational institutions

malum quo communius eo peius

the more common an evil is, the worse it is

Mater semper certa est

the mother is always certain a Roman-law principle which has the power of praesumptio iuris et de iure, meaning that no counter-evidence can be made against this principle (literally: Presumed there is no counter evidence and by the law). Its meaning is that the mother of the child is always known.

una salus victis nullam sperare salutem

the only safety for the conquered is to hope for no safety Less literally, "the only safe bet for the vanquished is to expect no safety". Preceded by moriamur et in media arma ruamus ("let us die even as we rush into the midst of battle") in Virgil's Aeneid, book 2, lines 353-354. Used in Tom Clancy's novel Without Remorse, where character John Clark translates it as "the one hope of the doomed is not to hope for safety". It was said several times in "Andromeda" as the motto of the SOF units.

dramatis personae

the parts/characters of the play More literally, "the masks of the drama"; the cast of characters of a dramatic work.

regnat populus

the people rule State motto of Arkansas, adopted in 1907. Originally rendered in 1864 in the plural, regnant populi ("the peoples rule"), but subsequently changed to the singular.

in cauda venenum

the poison is in the tail Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said of an account that proceeds gently, but turns vicious towards the end—or more generally waits till the end to reveal an intention or statement that is undesirable in the listener's ears.

vis legis

the power of the law

non est princeps super leges, sed leges supra principem

the prince is not above the laws, but the law is above the prince. Pliny the Younger, Panegyricus 65:1.

cetera desunt

the rest are missing Also spelled "caetera desunt".

caetera desunt

the rest is missing Caetera is Medieval Latin spelling for cētera.

stipendium peccati mors est

the reward of sin is death From Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. (See Rom 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")

radix malorum est cupiditas

the root of evils is desire Or "greed is the root of all evil". Theme of "The Pardoner's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales.

idem (id.)

the same Used to refer to something that has already been cited; ditto. See also ibidem.

idem quod (i.q.)

the same as Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient.

omnibus idem

the same to all motto of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, usually accompanied by a sun, which shines for (almost) everyone

flagellum dei

the scourge of God title for Attila the Hun, the ruthless invader of the Western Roman Empire

vita summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam

the shortness of life prevents us from entertaining far-off hopes This is a wistful refrain that is sometimes used ironically. It is derived from the first line of Horace's Ode 1. It was later used as the title of a short poem of Ernest Dowson.

status quo

the situation in which The current condition or situation. Also status quo ante ("the situation in which [things were] before"), referring to the state of affairs prior to some upsetting event (cf. reset button technique).

parva sub ingenti

the small under the huge Implies that the weak are under the protection of the strong, rather than that they are inferior. Motto of Prince Edward Island.

quantocius quantotius

the sooner, the better or, as quickly as possible

spiritus ubi vult spirat

the spirit spreads wherever it wants Refers to The Gospel of Saint John 3:8, where he mentions how Jesus told Nicodemus "The wind blows wherever it wants, and even though you can hear its noise, you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. The same thing happens to whomever has been born of the Spirit." It is the motto of Cayetano Heredia University[100]

fons et origo

the spring and source also: "the fountainhead and beginning"

status quo ante bellum

the state before the war A common term in peace treaties.

sol omnia regit

the sun rules over everything Inscription near the entrance to Frombork Museum

sol lucet omnibus

the sun shines on everyone Petronius, Satyricon Lybri 100.

summum bonum

the supreme good Literally "highest good". Also summum malum ("the supreme evil").

magister dixit

the teacher has said it Canonical medieval reference to Aristotle, precluding further discussion

res ipsa loquitur

the thing speaks for itself A phrase from the common law of torts meaning that negligence can be inferred from the fact that such an accident happened, without proof of exactly how.

tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis

the times are changing, and we change in them 16th century variant of two classical lines of Ovid: tempora labuntur ("time labors", Fasti) and omnia mutantur ("everything changes", Metamorphoses). See entry for details.

obscuris vera involvens

the truth being enveloped by obscure things from Virgil

veritas Dei vincit

the truth of God conquers Motto of the Hussites

veritas Domini manet in aeternum

the truth of the Lord remains for eternity

ipsissima verba

the very words themselves "Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim). Often used in Biblical Studies to describe the record of Jesus' teaching found in the New Testament (specifically, the four Gospels).

victrix causa diis placuit sed victa Catoni

the victorious cause pleased the gods, but the conquered cause pleased Cato Authored by Lucan in Pharsalia, 1, 128. The dedicatory inscription on the south face of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States.

vox clamantis in deserto

the voice of one clamoring in the desert Or traditionally, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness". A quotation of the Vulgate, Isaiah 40:3, and quoted by St. John the Baptist in Mark 1:3 and John 1:23). Motto of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.

salus populi suprema lex esto

the welfare of the people is to be the highest law From Cicero's De Legibus, book III, part III, sub. VIII. Quoted by John Locke in his Second Treatise, On Civil Government, to describe the proper organization of government. Also the state motto of Missouri.

errantis voluntas nulla est

the will of a mistaken party is void Roman legal principle formulated by Pomponius in the Digest of the Corpus Juris Civilis, stating that legal actions undertaken by man under the influence of error are invalid.

vinum regum, rex vinorum

the wine of kings, the king of wines The phrase describes Hungarian Tokaji wine, and is attributed to King Louis XIV of France.

lupus in fabula

the wolf in the story With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will come"; from Terence's play Adelphoe.

stupor mundi

the wonder of the world A title given to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. More literally translated "the bewilderment of the world", or, in its original, pre-Medieval sense, "the stupidity of the world".

verbum Domini manet in aeternum (VDMA)

the word of the Lord endures forever Motto of the Lutheran Reformation

pendent opera interrupta

the work hangs interrupted From the Aeneid of Virgil, Book IV

orbis non sufficit

the world does not suffice or the world is not enough from Satires of Juvenal (Book IV/10), referring to Alexander the Great; James Bond's adopted family motto in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service; it made a brief appearance in the film adaptation of the same name and was later used as the title of the nineteenth James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough.

mundus vult decipi

the world wants to be deceived Ascribed to Roman satirist Petronius. Also in Augustine of Hippo's De Civitate Dei contra Paganos (5th century AD), Sebastian Franck's Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta (1542), and in James Branch Cabell's 1921 novel Figures of Earth.[66][67][68][69]

mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

the world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived Ascribed to Roman satirist Petronius. Also in Augustine of Hippo's De Civitate Dei contra Paganos (5th century AD) as "si mundus vult decipi, decipiatur" ("if the world will be gulled, let it be gulled"), and only the first part, "mundus vult decipi" ("the world wants to be deceived"), in Sebastian Franck's Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta (1542) and in James Branch Cabell's Figures of Earth (1921).[66][67][68][69]

odium theologicum

theological hatred name for the special hatred generated in theological disputes

sunt lacrimae rerum

there are tears for things From Virgil, Aeneid. Followed by et mentem mortalia tangunt ("and mortal things touch my mind"). Aeneas cries as he sees Carthaginian temple murals depicting the deaths of the Trojan War. See also hinc illae lacrimae.

contra principia negantem non est disputandum

there can be no debate with those who deny the foundations Debate is fruitless when you don't agree on common rules, facts, presuppositions.

est modus in rebus

there is measure in things there is a middle or mean in things, there is a middle way or position; from Horace, Satires 1.1.106; see also: Golden mean (philosophy). According to Potempski and Galmarini (Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9471-9489, 2009) the sentence should be translated as: "There is an optimal condition in all things", which in the original text is followed by sunt certi denique fines quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum ("There are therefore precise boundaries beyond which one cannot find the right thing").

impossibilium nulla obligatio est

there is no obligation to do the impossible Publius Juventius Celsus, Digesta L 17, 185.

nulla quaestio

there is no question, there is no issue

ergo

therefore Denotes a logical conclusion (see also cogito ergo sum).

gaudeamus igitur

therefore let us rejoice First words of an academic anthem used, among other places, in The Student Prince.

sunt omnes unum

they are all one

non numerantur, sed ponderantur

they are not counted, but weighed Old saying. Paul Erdős (1913-1996), in The Man Who Loved Only Numbers by Paul Hoffman [76]

desiderantes meliorem patriam

they desired a better land From Hebrews 11: 16. Adopted as the motto of the Order of Canada.

vitai lampada tradunt

they hand on the torch of life A quotation from the poem of Lucretius, De rerum natura, Book 2, 77-9. The ordinary spelling "vitae" in two syllables had to be changed to "vitaï" in three syllables to satisfy the requirements of the poem's dactylic hexameters. Motto of the Sydney Church of England Grammar School and others.

exeunt

they leave Third-person plural present active indicative of the Latin verb exire; also seen in exeunt omnes, "all leave"; singular: exit.

perpetuum mobile

thing in perpetual motion A musical term; also used to refer to hypothetical perpetual motion machines

res gestae

things done A phrase used in law representing the belief that certain statements are made naturally, spontaneously and without deliberation during the course of an event, they leave little room for misunderstanding/misinterpretation upon hearing by someone else ( i.e. by the witness who will later repeat the statement to the court) and thus the courts believe that such statements carry a high degree of credibility.

corrigenda

things to be corrected

munit haec et altera vincit

this one defends and the other one conquers Motto of Nova Scotia.

morituri te salutant

those who are about to die salute you Used once in Suetonius' De Vita Caesarum 5, (Divus Claudius), chapter 21,[64] by the condemned prisoners manning galleys about to take part in a mock naval battle on Lake Fucinus in AD 52. Popular misconception ascribes it as a gladiator's salute. See also: Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant and Naumachia.

sero venientes male sedentes

those who are late are poorly seated

sic

thus Or "just so". States that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, despite any errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact that may be present. Used only for previous quoted text; ita or similar must be used to mean "thus" when referring to something about to be stated.

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. State motto of Virginia, adopted in 1776.

sic et non

thus and not More simply, "yes and no".

ita vero

thus indeed A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes", preferring to respond to questions with the affirmative or negative of the question (e.g., "Are you hungry?" was answered by "I am hungry" or "I am not hungry", not "Yes" or "No).

sic vita est

thus is life Or "such is life". Indicates that a circumstance, whether good or bad, is an inherent aspect of living.

sic transit gloria mundi

thus passes the glory of the world A reminder that all things are fleeting. During Papal coronations, a monk reminds the Pope of his mortality by saying this phrase, preceded by pater sancte ("holy father") while holding before his eyes a burning paper illustrating the passing nature of earthly glories. This is similar to the tradition of a slave in a Roman triumphs whispering memento mori in the ear of the celebrant.

sic itur ad astra

thus you shall go to the stars From Virgil, Aeneid book IX, line 641. Possibly the source of the ad astra phrases. Motto of several institutions, including the Royal Canadian Air Force.

tempus rerum imperator

time, commander of all things "Tempus Rerum Imperator" has been adopted by the Google Web Accelerator project. It is shown in the "About Google Web Accelerator" page.

tempus edax rerum

time, devourer of all things Also "time, that devours all things", literally: "time, gluttonous of things", edax: adjectival form of the verb edo to eat. From Ovid, Metamorphoses, 15, 234-236.

esse est percipi

to be is to be perceived Motto of George Berkeley for his subjective idealist philosophical position that nothing exists independently of its perception by a mind except minds themselves.

nolle prosequi

to be unwilling to prosecute A legal motion by a prosecutor or other plaintiff to drop legal charges, usually in exchange for a diversion program or out-of-court settlement.

velle est posse

to be willing is to be able Non-literally, "where there is a will, there is a way". It is the motto of Hillfield, one of the founding schools of Hillfield Strathallan College.

esse quam videri

to be, rather than to seem Truly being a thing, rather than merely seeming to be a thing. The motto of many institutions. From Cicero, De amicitia (On Friendship), Chapter 26. Prior to Cicero, Sallust used the phrase in Bellum Catilinae, 54, 6, writing that Cato esse quam videri bonus malebat ("preferred to be good, rather than to seem so"). Earlier still, Aeschylus used a similar phrase in Seven Against Thebes, line 592: ou gar dokein aristos, all' enai thelei ("he wishes not to seem the best, but to be the best").

veritatem fratribus testari

to bear witness to truth in fraternity Motto of Xaverian Brothers High School

surdo oppedere

to belch before the deaf From Erasmus' collection of annotated Adagia (1508): a useless action.

vincere est vivere

to conquer is to live Motto of Captain John Smith

iugulare mortuos

to cut the throat of corpses From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). It can mean attacking the work or personality of deceased person. Alternatively, it can be used to describe criticism of an individual already heavily criticised by others.

propter vitam vivendi perdere causas

to destroy the reasons for living for the sake of life That is, to squander life's purpose just in order to stay alive, and live a meaningless life. From Juvenal, Satyricon VIII, verses 83-84.

cuique suum

to each his own

errare humanum est

to err is human Sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger, but not attested: Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum, et tertia non datur (To err is human; to persist [in committing such errors] is of the devil, and the third possibility is not given.) Several authors contemplated the idea before Seneca: Livy, Venia dignus error is humanus (Storie, VIII, 35) and Cicero: is Cuiusvis errare: insipientis nullius nisi, in errore perseverare (Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault) (Philippicae, XII, 2, 5). Cicero, being well-versed in ancient Greek, may well have been alluding to Euripides' play Hippolytus some four centuries earlier.[16] 300 years later Saint Augustine of Hippo recycled the idea in his Sermones, 164, 14: Humanum fuit errare, diabolicum est per animositatem in errore manere.[17] The phrase gained currency in the English language after Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism of 1711: "To err is human, to forgive divine" (line 325).

veritatem cognoscere

to know truth Motto of the Clandestine Service of the United States Central Intelligence Agency

rerum cognoscere causas

to learn the causes of things Motto of the University of Sheffield, the University of Guelph, and London School of Economics.

vivere militare est

to live is to fight Authored by Seneca the Younger in Epistle 96, 5. Cf. the allegory of Miles Christianus based on "militia est vita hominis" from the Vulgate, Book of Job 7:1.

vivere est cogitare

to live is to think Authored by Cicero. Cf. "cogito ergo sum".

mulgere hircum

to milk a male goat From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Attempting the impossible.

non progredi est regredi

to not go forward is to go backward

volenti non fit injuria

to one willing, no harm is done Alternatively, "to him who consents, no harm is done". The principle is used in the law of torts and denotes that one can not be held liable for injuries inflicted on another who consented to the act that injured him.

parare Domino plebem perfectam

to prepare for God a perfect people motto of the St. Jean Baptiste High School

suum cuique tribuere

to render to every man his due One of Justinian I's three basic precepts of law. Also shortened to suum cuique ("to each his own").

navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse

to sail is necessary; to live is not necessary Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, who, during a severe storm, commanded sailors to bring food from Africa to Rome. Translated from Plutarch's Greek "πλεῖν ἀνάγκη, ζῆν οὐκ ἀνάγκη".

ut mare quod ut ventus

to sea and into wind Motto of USNS Washington Chambers

quaere

to seek Or "you might ask..." Used to suggest doubt or to ask one to consider whether something is correct. Often introduces rhetorical or tangential questions.

stare decisis

to stand by the decided things To uphold previous rulings, recognize precedent.

Urbi et Orbi

to the city and the circle [of the lands] Meaning "To Rome and the World". A standard opening of Roman proclamations. Also a traditional blessing by the pope.

venturis ventis

to the coming winds Motto of Brasília, the capital of Brazil

in rem

to the thing Legal term indicating a court's jurisdiction over a piece of property rather than a legal person; contrast with personal (ad personam) jurisdiction. See In rem jurisdiction; Quasi in rem jurisdiction

usque ad finem

to the very end Often used in reference to battle, implying a willingness to keep fighting until you die.

iuventuti nil arduum

to the young nothing is difficult Motto of Canberra Girls Grammar School

transire benefaciendo

to travel along while doing good Literally "beneficial passage." Mentioned in "The Seamy Side of History" (L'envers de l'histoire contemporaine, 1848), part of La Comédie humaine, by Honoré de Balzac, and Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

iuncta iuvant

together they strive also spelled juncta juvant; from the legal principle quae non valeant singula, iuncta iuvant ("What is without value on its own, helps when joined")

totus tuus

totally yours Offering one's life in total commitment to another. The motto was adopted by Pope John Paul II to signify his love and servitude to Mary the Mother of Jesus.

dura mater

tough mother The outer covering of the brain.

sub finem

toward the end Used in citations to refer to the end of a book, page, etc., and abbreviated 's.f.' Used after the page number or title. E.g., 'p. 20 s.f. '

versus (vs) or (v.)

towards Literally, "in the direction [of]". It is erroneously used in English for "against", probably as the truncation of "adversus", especially in reference to two opponents, e. g., the parties to litigation or a sports match.

translatio imperii

transfer of rule Used to express the belief in the transfer of imperial authority from the Roman Empire of antiquity to the Medieval Holy Roman Empire.

experto crede

trust the expert Literally "believe one who has had experience". An author's aside to the reader.

veritas

truth Motto many educational institutions

veritas aequitas

truth [and] justice

veritas lux mea

truth [is] my light A common, non-literal translation is "truth enlightens me"; motto of Seoul National University, South Korea

veritas et fortitudo

truth and fortitude One of the mottos of the Lyceum of the Philippines University

veritas et virtus

truth and virtue Motto of the University of Pittsburgh, Methodist University, and Mississippi College

veritas vincit

truth conquers Cf. "veritas omnia vincit" supra. Motto on the standard of the presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, and of the Scottish Clan Keith

veritas omnia vincit

truth conquers all A quotation from a letter of Jan Hus; frequently used as a motto

vincit omnia veritas

truth conquers all University of Mindanao

veritas curat

truth cures Motto of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research

veritas Christo et ecclesiae

truth for Christ and church The de iure motto of Harvard University, United States, which dates to its foundation; it is often shortened to veritas to remove its original religious meaning.

veritas odit moras

truth hates delay by Seneca the Younger

veritas in caritate

truth in charity Motto of Bishop Wordsworth's School and St Munchin's College

in bono veritas

truth is in the good

fortis est veritas

truth is strong motto on the Coat of Arms of Oxford, England, United Kingdom

veritas vitæ magistra

truth is the teacher of life Another plausible translation is "truth is the mistress of life". It is the unofficial motto of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras and is inscribed in its tower.

veritas numquam perit

truth never expires by Seneca the Younger

veritas liberabit vos

truth shall liberate you Motto of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

marcet sine adversario virtus

valor becomes feeble without an opponent Seneca the Younger, De Providentia 2:4. Also, translated into English as "[their] strength and courage droop without an antagonist" ("Of Providence" (1900) by Seneca, translated by Aubrey Stewart),[61] "without an adversary, prowess shrivels" (Moral Essays (1928) by Seneca, translated by John W, Basore)[62] and "prowess withers without opposition".

virtus non stemma

valor, not garland Motto of the Duke of Westminster, inscribed at his residence in Eaton, and the motto of Grosvenor Rowing Club and Harrow County School for Boys

vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas

vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity Or more simply: "vanity, vanity, everything vanity". From the Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:2;12:8.

emeritus

veteran Retired from office. Often used to denote an office held at the time of one's retirement, as an honorary title, e. g. professor emeritus and provost emeritus. Inclusion in one's title does not necessarily denote that the honorand is inactive in the pertinent office.

vexata quaestio

vexed question Latin legal phrase denoting a question that is often debated or considered, but is not generally settled, such that contrary answers may be held by different persons.

per rectum ad astra

via rectum to the stars a modern parody of per aspera ad astra, originating and most commonly used in Russia, meaning that the path to success took you through most undesirable and objectionable places or environments; or that a found solution to a complex problem is extremely convoluted.

circulus vitiosus

vicious circle In logic, begging the question, a fallacy involving the presupposition of a proposition in one of the premises (see petitio principii). In science, a positive feedback loop. In economics, a counterpart to the virtuous circle.

victoria concordia crescit

victory comes from harmony Motto of Arsenal F.C.

victoria aut mors

victory or death Similar to "aut vincere aut mori".

virtus sola nobilitas

virtue alone [is] noble Motto of Christian Brothers College, St Kilda

sola nobilitat virtus

virtue alone ennobles

virtus et labor

virtue and [hard] work

virtus et scientia

virtue and knowledge Common motto

virtus in media stat

virtue stands in the middle A principle derived from the ethical theory of Aristotle. Idiomatically, "good practice lies in the middle path" between two extremes. It is disputed whether media or medio is correct.

tendit in ardua virtus

virtue strives for what is difficult Appears in Ovid's Epistulae ex Ponto

virtus unita fortior

virtue united [is] stronger State motto of Andorra

visio dei

vision of a god

vox nihili

voice of nothing The phrase denotes a useless or ambiguous statement.

vox populi

voice of the people The phrase denotes a brief interview of a common person that is not previously arranged, e. g., an interview on a street. It is sometimes truncated to "vox pop."

canes pugnaces

war dogs or fighting dogs

bellum se ipsum alet

war feeds itself

dulce bellum inexpertis

war is sweet to the inexperienced Meaning: "war may seem pleasant to those who have never been involved in it, though the experienced know better". Erasmus of Rotterdam.

dux bellorum

war leader

bellum omnium contra omnes

war of all against all A phrase used by Thomas Hobbes to describe the state of nature

pro patria vigilans

watchful for the country Motto of the United States Army Signal Corps.

inter faeces et urinam nascimur

we are born between feces and urine Attributed to Saint Augustine

pulvis et umbra sumus

we are dust and shadow From Horace, Carmina book IV, 7, 16.

uno sumus animo

we are one of soul Motto of Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden

gens una sumus

we are one people Motto of FIDE. Can be traced back to Claudian's poem De consulatu Stilichonis.

sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc

we gladly feast on those who would subdue us Mock-Latin motto of The Addams Family.

postera crescam laude

we grow in the esteem of future generations Motto of the University of Melbourne

habemus papam

we have a pope Used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope.

tanquam ex ungue leonem

we know the lion by his claw Said in 1697 by Johann Bernoulli about Isaac Newton's anonymously submitted solution to Bernoulli's challenge regarding the Brachistochrone curve.

ducimus

we lead Motto of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.

mittimus

we send A warrant of commitment to prison, or an instruction for a jailer to hold someone in prison.

non canimus surdis, respondent omnia silvae

we sing not to the deaf; the trees echo every word Virgil, Eclogues 10:8

stamus contra malo

we stand against by evil The motto of the Jungle Patrol in The Phantom. The phrase actually violates Latin grammar because of a mistranslation from English, as the preposition contra takes the accusative case. The correct Latin rendering of "we stand against evil" would be "stamus contra malum".

morituri nolumus mori

we who are about to die don't want to From Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero

quod me nutrit me destruit

what nourishes me destroys me Thought to have originated with Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. Generally interpreted to mean that that which motivates or drives a person can consume him or her from within. This phrase has become a popular slogan or motto for pro-ana websites, anorexics and bulimics.

pro tanto quid retribuemus

what shall we give in return for so much The motto of the city of Belfast; taken from the Vulgate translation of Psalm 116.

quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.)

what was to be demonstrated The abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a mathematical proof. Sometimes translated loosely into English as "The Five Ws", W.W.W.W.W., which stands for "Which Was What We Wanted".

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". Similar to the less common omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina.

quaecumque sunt vera

whatsoever is true frequently used as motto; taken from Philippians 4:8 of the Bible

cessante ratione legis cessat ipsa lex

when the reason for the law ceases, the law itself ceases A rule of law becomes ineffective when the reason for its application has ceased to exist or does not correspond to the reality anymore. By Gratian.

ubi, re vera

when, in a true thing Or "whereas, in reality..." Also rendered ubi, revera ("when, in fact" or "when, actually").

ubi bene, ibi patria

where [it is] well, there [is] the fatherland Or "Home is where it's good"; see also ubi panis ibi patria.

ubi dubium, ibi libertas

where [there is] doubt, there [is] freedom Anonymous proverb.

ubi mel, ibi apes

where [there is] honey, there [are] bees Similar to "you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar"—treat people nicely and they will treat you nicely in return.

ubi libertas. ibi patria

where [there is] liberty, there [is] the fatherland Or "where there is liberty, there is my country". Patriotic motto.

ubi amor, ibi dolor

where [there is] love, there [is] pain

ubi non accusator, ibi non iudex

where [there is] no accuser, there [is] no judge Thus, there can be no judgment or case if no one charges a defendant with a crime. The phrase is sometimes parodied as "where there are no police, there is no speed limit".

ubi sunt?

where are they? Nostalgic theme of poems yearning for days gone by. From the line ubi sunt, qui ante nos fuerunt? ("Where are they, those who have gone before us?").

quo fata ferunt

where the fates bear us to motto of Bermuda

quo errat demonstrator

where the prover errs A pun on "quod erat demonstrandum"

ubi panis ibi patria

where there is bread, there is my country

ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est

where there is charity and love, God is there

ubi pus, ibi evacua

where there is pus, there evacuate it

ubi nihil vales, ibi nihil velis

where you are worth nothing, there you will wish for nothing From the writings of the Flemish philosopher Arnold Geulincx; also quoted by Samuel Beckett in his first published novel, Murphy.

quare clausum fregit

wherefore he broke the close An action of trespass; thus called, by reason the writ demands the person summoned to answer to wherefore he broke the close (quare clausum fregit), i.e. why he committed such a trespass.

quod est (q.e.)

which is

quod vide (q.v.)

which see Used after a term, phrase, or topic that should be looked up elsewhere in the current document, book, etc. For more than one term or phrase, the plural is quae vide (qq.v.).

quod erat faciendum (Q.E.F.)

which was to be done Or "which was to be constructed". Used in translations of Euclid's Elements when there was nothing to prove, but there was something being constructed, for example a triangle with the same size as a given line.

dum Roma deliberat Saguntum perit

while Rome debates, Saguntum is in danger Used when someone has been asked for urgent help, but responds with no immediate action. Similar to Hannibal ante portas, but referring to a less personal danger.

durante munere

while in office For example, the Governor General of Canada is durante munere the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada.

discendo discimus

while learning we learn See also docendo...(2).

dum vita est, spes est

while there is life, there is hope

dum vivimus, vivamus

while we live, let us live An encouragement to embrace life. Motto inscribed on the sword of the main character of the novel Glory Road.

dum vivimus servimus

while we live, we serve Motto of Presbyterian College.

quocunque jeceris stabit

whithersoever you throw it, it will stand motto of the Isle of Man

qui me tangit, vocem meam audit

who touches me, hears my voice common inscription on bells

cuius regio, eius religio

whose region, his religion The privilege of a ruler to choose the religion of his subjects. A regional prince's ability to choose his people's religion was established at the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.

vinum et musica laetificant cor

wine and music gladden the heart Asterix and Caesar's Gift; it is a variation of "vinum bonum laetificat cor hominis".

vero possumus

yes, we can A variation of the campaign slogan of then-Senator Barack Obama, which was superimposed on a variation of the Great Seal of the United States during the US presidential campaign of 2008.[108]

mortuum flagellas

you are flogging a dead From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Criticising one who will not be affected in any way by the criticism.

tu stultus es

you are stupid Motto for the satirical news organization, The Onion

vos estis sal terrae

you are the salt of the earth A famous biblical sentence proclaimed by Jesus Christ.

vincere scis Hannibal victoria uti nescis

you know [how] to win, Hannibal; you do not know [how] to use victory According to Livy, a colonel in the cavalry stated this to Hannibal after victory in the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, meaning that Hannibal should have marched on Rome immediately.

ut proverbium loquitur vetus...

you know what they say... Lit: As the old proverb says...

Regem ego comitem me comes regem

you made me a Count, I will make you a King Motto of the Forbin family [fr]

necesse est aut imiteris aut oderis

you must either imitate or loathe the world Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 7:7

tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito

you should not give in to evils, but proceed ever more boldly against them From Virgil, Aeneid, 6, 95. "Ne cede malis" is the motto of The Bronx.

non facias malum ut inde fiat bonum

you should not make evil in order that good may be made from it More simply, "don't do wrong to do right". The direct opposite of the phrase "the ends justify the means".

tu quoque

you too The logical fallacy of attempting to defend one's position merely by pointing out the same weakness in one's opponent.

mors tua, vita mea

your death, my life From medieval Latin, it indicates that battle for survival, where your defeat is necessary for my victory, survival.

Spartam nactus es; hanc exorna

your lot is cast in Sparta, be a credit to it from Euripides's Telephus, Agamemnon to Menelaus.[99]

(Dog Latin)

— Dog Latin based on wordplay with modus ponens and modus tollens, referring to the common logical fallacy that if P then Q and not P, then one can conclude not Q (cf. denying the antecedent and contraposition).