Dictionary of Latin Phrases and Proverbs: A
ab abusu ad usum non valet consequentia
Consequences of abuse do not aply to general use
ab actu ad posse valet illatio
From the past one can infer the future
ab aeterno
From the beginning of time
ab asino lanam
Wool from an ass (blood from a stone)
a bene placito
At pleasure
abest
S/he is absent
abeunt studia in mores
Pursuits change into habits (Ovid)
ab extra
From the outside
abiit ad maiores
S/he has gone to the ancestors (i.e., died)
abiit ad plures
S/he has gone to the majority (i.e., died)
abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit
He has departed, gone off, escaped, broken out (Cicero)
ab imo pectore
From the bottom of the heart
ab inconvenienti
From the inconvenience involved
ab incunabulis
From infancy (from the cradle)
ab initio
From the beginning
ab intra
From within
ab invito
Against the will; unwillingly
ab Iove principium
From Jove is my beginning (words of Aeneas, Virgil)
ab irato
From the angryman (i.e., unfair)
abnormis sapiens
A natural born philosopher (Horace)
ab origine
From the origin; from the first
ab ove maiori discit arare minor
From the older ox the younger learns to plow
ab ovo
From the egg (i.e., from the beginning)
ab ovo usque ad mala
From the egg to the apples (i.e., from the beginning to the end)
abscisio infiniti
Cutting off an infinite part
absense haeres non erit
The absent one will not be heir
absente febre
Without fever
absentem laedit cum ebrio qui litigat
To quarrel with a drunk is to wrong a man who is not even there
absente reo
The defendant being absent
absit invidia
May ill will be absent (i.e., no offense intended)
absit omen
May the omen be absent (i.e., God forbid)
absolvo
I absolve; I acquit
absque
Without; but for
absque hoc
But for this; apart from this
absque ulla nota
Without any marks
ab uno ad omnes
From one to all
ab uno disce omnes
From one example, learn all (Virgil)
ab urbe condita (A.U.C.)
From the foundation of the city (i.e., Rome; traditional date of foundation is 753 BC)
abusus non tollit usum
Abuse of a right does not invalidate use
abyssus abyssum invocat
Hells calls hell (the Vulgate translation of the Bible)
a capite ad calcem
From head to heel (totally, entirely)
accedas ad curiam
You may approach the court
accessit
S/he came near (i.e., a runner-up)
accipiunt leges, populus quibus legibus ex lex
They consent to laws which place people beyond the pale of the law
accusare nemo se debit, nisi coram Deo
No one is bound to accuse herself/himself, unless before God
acerbus et ingens
Fierce and mighty
ac etiam
And also
Acheruntis pabulum
Food for Acheron (i.e., food for the gallows)
a caelo usque ad centrum
From the sky to the centre of the earth
a cruce salus
Salvation [comes] from the cross
acta eruditorum
Contributions to a cause
acta est fabula
The drama has been acted out (Augustus)
acta sanctorum
Deeds of the saints (Jean Bolland)
actio ex delicto
Cause of action (i.e., reason for lawsuit)
actio personalis moritur cum personal
Personal action dies with the person
actum agere
To do what has already been done
actum est de re publica
It is all over with the republic/commonwealth
actum ne agas
Do not redo that which has been done
actus curiae
Act of the court
actus Dei
act of God
actus reus
The criminal act; the guilty act
a cuspide corona
From the spear a crown
ab absurdum
To the absurd
ad alium diem
At another day
ad amussim
According to a rule (i.e., accurately)
ad aperturam libri
At the opening of a book
ad arbitrium
At will (i.e., at pleasure)
ad astra
To the starts (i.e., to the top)
ad astra per aspera
To the stars through dificulties (motto of the state of Kansas)
a dato
From the date
ad baculum
To the rod (i.e., appeal to force, not reason)
ad augusta per angusta
To honour through difficulties
ad calendas Graecas
To the Greek calends (i.e., never, as Greeks did not have calends)
ad captandum
For the sake of pleasing
ad captandum vulgus
Appealing to the emotions of the crowd
ad clerum
To the clergy
ad crumenam
To the purse (i.e., appealing to self-interest)
ad damnum
To the damages (i.e., amount demanded)
addendum
Something to be added
adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit
Add a little to a little and there will be a great heap (Ovid)
additur
Let it be increased
ad effectum
Until effectual
a Deo et rege
From God andthe king
adeo in teneris consuescere multum est
[It is] imperative to form habits in the early years (Virgil)
a Deo lux nostra
Our light comes from God
adesse
To be present
Adeste Fideles
Ocome, all ye faithful
ad eundem gradum
To the same degree (i.e., equal blame or praise)
ad extra
To the outside
ad extremum
To the extreme (i.e., to the end)
ad fidem
To faith (i.e., in allegiance)
ad filum aquae
To the center of the stream
ad filum viae
To the centre of the road
ad finem
To the end; at the end of the page
ad finem fidelis
Faithful to the end
ad gloriam
For the glory
ad gustum
To one's taste
ad hanc vocem
To this word
adhibenda est in iocando moderatio
One should employ restraint in his/her jests (Cicero)
adhibendus
To be administered
ad hoc
To this; for a specific occasion; impromptu
ad hominem
Personal attack relating to the individual
adhuc sub iudice lis est
The case is still before the court
ad hunc locum
At this place
ad idem
To the same point
a die
From that day
ad ignorantium
To ignorance [of the facts of an argument]
ad infinitum
Without an end; to infinity; without limit
ad initium
At the beginning
ad instar
After the fashion of...
ad instar omnium
In the likeness of all
ad interim
In the meantime; for the time being
ad internecionem
To extermination
ad invidiam
To envy; to prejudice
ad iudicium
To judgement; to common sense
adiuvante Deo labor proficit
With God's help, work prospers
ad libitum (ad lib)
At pleasure; extemporaneously or freely
ad limina apostolorum
To the thresholds of the apostles
ad litem
For the specific lawsuit
ad litteram
To the letter (i.e., precisely)
ad locum
At the place, at a specific location
ad majorem Dei gloriam
To the greater glory of God (motto of the Jesuits)
ad manum
At hand (i.e., ready and prepared)
ad meliora vertamur
Let us turn to better things
ad misericordiam
To pity (i.e., appealing to mercy)
ad modum
In the manner of
ad multos annos
After many years
ad nauseam
To the point of sickness; to the point of being disgusted
ad nocendum patentes sumus
We all have power to do harm (Seneca)
ad partes dolentes
To the painful parts
ad patres
To the fathers (i.e., dead)
ad paucos dies
For a few days
ad perpetuam rei memoriam
For the eternal/perpetual rememberance of the thing
ad personal
To the person; relating to the individual
ad populum
To the people
ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora ad quem ad quod
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow
ad quem
To or for whom; to or for which
ad quod
To which; for which
ad quod damnum
To what damage
ad referendum
For reference; for further consideration
ad rem
To the thing; relevant to the present matter
ad saturatum
To saturation
adscriptus glebae
A person bound tothe soil; a serf
ad sectam
At the lawsuit of
adstante febre
When fever is present
adsum
I am present; to be present
ad summam
In short; in a word
adsummum
To the highest point
adulter
Corrupter; seducer
ad unguem
To the fingernail (i.e., with great precision)
ad unguemfactus
A highly polished work; to perfection
ad unguem factus homo
A man polished tothe nail (Horace)
adc unum omnes
All to one; in a unanimous fashion
ad usum
According to custom
ad usum Delphini
For the Dauphin's use; expurgated
ad usum externum
For external use
ad usum externum
For external use
ad utrumque paratus
Ready for anything; prepared for the worst
ad valorem
According to value
ad verbum
To the word; verbatim
ad verecundiam
Appeal to modesty in an argument
adversa
Things having been noted...
adversa virtute repello
I repel adversity by valor
adversaria
That which has been turned to; commentary
adversus
Against; contrary to
adversus bonos mores
Against good morals
adversus solem ne loquitor
Don't speak against the sun (i.e., an obvious fact)
ad vitam
For life; for the duration of a person's life
ad vitam aeternam
For eternal life; for all time
ad vitam aut culpam
For life or until a misdeed
ad vivum
To the life
advocatus diaboli
Devil's advocate
aedificatum
That which is built
aeger
To be sick; medical excuse of a British student
aeger amore
Love's sickness
aegra amans
Lover's sickness
aegrescit medendo
The disease worsens with treatment (Virgil)
aegri somnia vana
A sick man's dream; hallucination (Virgil)
aegrotat
S/he is sick; certificate denoting illness
aequabiliter et diligenter
Uniformly and diligently
aequales
Equal parts
aequam servare mentem
To preserve a calm mind; equanimity (Horace)
aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem
Remember to maintain a calm mind while doing difficult tasks (Virgil)
aequanimiter
With composure; with equanimity
aequilibrium indifferentiae
State of exact balance between two actions
aequitas sequitur legem
Equity follows the law
aequo animo
With a calm mind; with equanimity
aequo pulsat pede
[Pale Death] knocks with equal foot (Horace)
aere perennius
More durable than bronze; everlasting
aes alienum
Money belonging to another; a debt
aes triplex
Triple brass; a strong defense
aestimatio capitis
Estimation of the head; price of a man
aetatis
At the age of
aetatis suae
In the year of one's life
aeternum servans sub pectore vulnus
Nursing an everlasting wound within the breast (Virgil)
aeternum vale
Farewell forever
affinitas
Relationship by marriage
afflaltus
Breath; breeze; poetic inspiration
afflatus montium
Mountain air
afflavit Deus et dissipantur
God sent forth His breath and they were scattered (reference to the Spanish Armada)
a fortiori
With even stronger reason; all the more
a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi
a precipice in front and wolves behind
age quod agis
Do what you are doing (i.e., pay attention to what you are doing)
aggrediente febre
When the fever increases
agita
Shake or stir
agita nate sumendum
Shake before taking
agnosco veteris vestigia flammae
I feel once more the scars of the old flame (Virgil)
Agnus Dei
The Lamb of God (portion of Catholic Mass)
a latere
From the side; with confidence
albae gallinae filius
Son of a white hen (i.e., auspicious event)
albo lapillo notare diem
To mark the day with a white stone
albus
White
albus liber
White book
alea iacta est
The die is cast (Julius Caesar, having made the decision to cross the Rubicon in 49 BC)
alere flammam
To feed the flames (Ovid)
alias
Otherwise; at another time
alias dictus
An assumed name; also known as
alia tendanda via est
Another way must be tried
alibi
Elsewhere
alieni appetens
Eager for another's property
alieni appetens sui profusus
Covetous of another's possession, lavish of his own (Sallust)
alieni generis
Of a different class
alieni iuris (alieni juris)
Subject to another law
alienum est onme quicquid optando evenit
What we obtain by asking is not really ours
alimenta
Means of support (i.e., food, clothing, shelter)
alio intuitu
From another point of view
aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus
Sometimes even good Homer sleeps
aliquant
An uneven part of the whole
aliquid
Something; somewhat
aliquis in omnibus, nullus in singulis
A somebody in general, nobody in particular
aliquot
An even part of the whole
alis volat propriis
She flies by her own wings (motto of Oregon)
alitur vitium vivitque tegendo
Vice is nourished by being concealed
aliunde
From another source; from outside
alma mater
Kind/bounteous/benign mother (i.e., protective institution, as referred to by its former students)
alter
Another person; personality ofanother
altercatio
Forensic argumentation; cross-examination
alter ego
One's second self; very close friend
alter ego est amicus
A friend is another self
alter idem
Another thing similar in all respects
alter ipse amicus
A friend is a second self
alteri sic tibi
[Do] to another as [you do] to yourself
alternis diebus
Every other day
alternis horis
Every other hour
alternis noctibus
Every other night
alterum alterius auxilio eget
One thing needs the help of another
alterum non laedere
Not to injure others
alterum tantum
As much again; twice as much
altiora peto
I seek higher things
altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labiuntur
The deepest rivers flow with the least sound (i.e., still waters run deep)
amabit sapiens, cupient caeteri
Wise men love, others are mere lechers
amans iratus multa mentitur sibi
An angry lover tells himself many lies
amantes sunt amentes
Lovers are lunatics (Terence)
amantium irae amoris integratio est
A lovers' quarrel renews love (Terence)
amare et saper vix deo conceditur
Even a god finds it difficult to love and to be wise at the same time
amari aliquid
Something bitter; a touch of bitterness
a maximis ad minima
From the largest to the smallest
ambigendi locus
Room for doubt
a mensa et toro
From table and bed (i.e., a legal separation)
amici probantur rebus adversis
Friends are proved by adversity (Cicero)
amicitiae immortales mortales inimicitias debere esse
Our friendships should be immortal, our enmities mortal (Livy)
amicitia semper prodest
Friendship is always of benefit
amicitia sine fraude
Friendship without deceit
amicus certus in re incerta cernitur
A friend in need is a friend indeed
amicus curiae
Friend of the court (i.e., impartial spokesperson)
amicus est tanquam alter idem
A friend is almost a second self
amicus humani generis
A friend of the human race (i.e., philanthropist)
amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas
Plato is my friend, but a greater friend is truth
amicus usque ad aras
A friend to the altars (i.e., a friend until death or until relilgious convictions prevent action)
a minori ad maius
From the lesser to the greater
amissum quod nescitur non amittitur
The loss that is unknown is no loss at all (Publius Syrus)
amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur
We choose to love, we do not choose to stop loving
amor gignit amorem
Love produces love
amor habendi
Love of possessing
amori finem tempus, non animus facit
Time, not the mind, puts an end to love
amoris vulnis idem sanat qui facit
The wounds of love are cured by love itself
ammor magnus doctor est
Love is a great teacher (St. Augustine)
amor nummi
Love of money
amor patriae
Love of one's country
amor proximi
Love of one's neighbour
amor sceleratus habendi
Accursed love of possessing (Ovid)
amor vincit omnia
Love conquers all things (Virgil)
amor vincit omnia et nos cedamus amori
Love conquers all things and let us yield to love (Virgil)
amoto quaeramus seria ludo
Setting games aside, let's get on to serious matters (Horace)
amo ut invenio
I love as I find
ancilla theologiae
The handmaid of theology (i.e., philosophy)
Angelus Domini
Angle of the Lord (a Morning Prayer)
anguis in herba
A snake in the grass (i.e., a hidden danger)
angulus ridet
That corner of the earth smiles (Horace)
angulus terrarum
Quiet corner of the world; place of repose ___
adversus solem ne loquitor
Don't speak against the sun (Don't argue what is obvious)
a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi
A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place)
alea iacta est
The die is cast. (Julius Caesar, when making the decision to cross the Rubicon in 49 BC)
amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time
amicus humani generis
A friend of the human race (philanthropist)
amor vincit omnia
Love conquers all
animis opibusque parati
Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything)
audaces fortuna iuvat
Fortune favours the brave
aut disce aut discede
Either learn or leave
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I'll either find a way or make one
aut vincere aut mori
Either to conquer or to die
ave, Caesar, morituri te salutamus
Hail, Caesar, we who are about to die salute you
age quod agis!
Do what you are doing!
ars gratia artis
Art is the reward of art.
assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit. (M.Tullius Cicero).
Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill.
aliquando et insanire iucundum est.
It is sometimes pleasant even to act like a madman.
aliquisne domum est?
Is anyone home?
ab extra
From without
ab initio
From the beginning
ab ovo
From the egg
ab uno disce omnes
From one example you may judge the rest
ab urbe condita
From the founding of the city (Rome - 753 BC)
ad astra
To the stars
ad calendas graecas
At the greek calends (never, since the greek had no calends)
a deo et rege
From god and the king
ad finem
To the end/towards the end
ad hoc
For this purpose
ad hominem
To the man personally
a die
From that day
ad infinitum
To infinity
ad libitum
At pleasure
ad majorem del gloriam
For the greater glory of god
ad nauseam
To the point where one becomes sick/disgusted
ad rem
To the point
ad valorem
According to the value
aetatis suae
Of his or her age
a fortiori
With stronger reason
alma mater
Benign mother (old students about their university)
alter ego
One's second self
anno domini
In the year of our lord
anno mundi
In the year of the world
annus mirabillis
The year of wonders
ante bellum
Before the war
ante meridiem
Before noon
aqua vitae
Water of life
ars est celare artem
True art is to conceal art
ars longa vita brevis
Art is long life is short
audi alterem partem
Hear to the other side
ava atque vale
Hail and farewell
ab imo pectore
From the bottom of the chest (from the heart)
ab absurdo
From the absurd (proving the validity of your argument by pointing out the absurdity of your opponent's position)
abusus non tollit usum
Misuse does not nullify proper use
ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora
Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)
aegrescit medendo
The disease worsens with the treatment (the remedy is worse than the disease)
aeternum vale
Farewell forever
altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi
The deepest rivers flow with the least sound (still waters run deep)
amantes sunt amentes
Lovers are lunatics
amantium irae amoris integratio est
Lovers quarrels are the renewal of love
argumentum ad hominem
An argument against the man. Directing an argument against an opponent's character rather than the subject at hand.
asinus asinum fricat
The ass rubs the ass (two people flattering each other)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
- B -
Dictionary of Latin Phrases and Proverbs: B
balneum
Bath
Bancus Communium Placitorum
Court of Common Pleas
Bancus Regis
King's Bench
banni nuptiarum
The banns of matrimony
barbae tenus sapientes
Men wise as far as the beard; sciolistic
basis virtutum constantia
Constancy is the foundation of virtues
beatae memoriae
Of blessed memory
Beata Virgo Maria
Blessed Virgin Mary
beati pacifici
Blessed are the peacemakes (Beatitudes)
beati pauperes spiritu
Blessed are the poor in spirit
beati possidentes
Blessed are those who possess (legal doctrine, possession is nine points of the law)
Beatitudes
Pronouncements from the Sermon on the Mount
beatus
A blessed person
bella detesta matribus
Wars, the horror of mothers (Horace)
bella horrida bella
Wars, horrid wars (Virgil)
bellum domesticum
Strife/war among family members
bellum internecinum
Internecine war, a war of extermination
bellum letale
Lethal war, deadly war
bellum omnium in omnes
A war of all against all
bene decessit
S/he has left (died) well (a natural death)
Benedicite
Invocation of blessing (a prayer canticle)
benedictus qui venit
Blessed is he sho comes [in the Lord's name]
bene esse
Well-being
bene est tentare
It is well to try
bene exeat
Let him or her go forth. Of good character
beneficium
Kindness of favour
beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere
To accept a favour is to sell one's freedom
bene merenti
Success to those who deserve it
bene meritus
Having well deserved
bene orasse est bene studuisse
To have prayed well is to have pursued well
bene qui latuit bene vixit
S/he who has lived in obscurity has lived well
bene vale vobis
May you prosper
benigno numine
By the favour of the heavens (Horace)
bibamus, moriendum est
Let us drink, for we must die (Seneca)
bibere venenum in auro
To drink poison from a golden cup
biblia pauperum
Books of the poor
billa vera
True bill
Biographia Literaria
Literary Biography (Coleridge)
bis
Twice (to be repeated)
bis dat qui cito dat
S/he gives twice who gives quickly
bis in die
Twice a day
bis in nocte
Twice a night
bis in septem diebus
Twice in seven days/twice a week
bis peccare in bello non licet
It is not permitted to blunder twice in war
bis pueri senes
Old men are twice children
bis repetita placent
The things that please are those repeated
bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria
He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory (Publius Syrus)
bis vivit qui bene vivit
S/he lives twice who lives well
blandae mendacia linguae
The lies of a flattering tongue
bona
Good or Property
bonae fidei emptor
Purchaser in good faith
bona fide
In good faith, genuine, legitimate
bona fide polliceor
I promise in good faith (Cicero)
bona fides
Good faith or Documents proving identity
bona gratia
In all kindness
bona fiscalia
Public property
bonae memoriae
Of happy memory
bona mobilia
Moveable property
bona notabilia
Noteworthy things
bona peritura
Perishable goods
bona vacantia
Unclaimed property
bonis avibus
Under favourable signs
bonis nocet quisqus malis perpercit
Whoever spares the bad injures the good (Publius Syrus)
bonis quod bene fit haud perit
Whatever is done for good men is never done in vain (Plautus)
bono vinci satius est quam almo more iniuriam vincere
A good man would rather suffer defeat than defeat another by foul means (Sallust)
bonum omen
A good omen
bonum per se
Good in itself
bonum publicum
The public good
bon in lingua
An ox on the tongue (a heavy silence)
brevi manu
With a short hand (in a perfunctory manner)
brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio
In trying to become concise, I become obscure (Horace)
brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior
Life is short but misfortunes make it longer
brutum fulmen
Harmless thunderbolt (a vain and empty threat)
bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis
Good wine gladdens a person's heart
bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem
It is not goodness to be better than the worst.
balneum
Bath
Bancus Communium Placitorum
Court of Common Pleas
Bancus Regis
King's Bench
banni nuptiarum
The banns of matrimony
barbae tenus sapientes
Men wise as far as the beard; sciolistic
basis virtutum constantia
Constancy is the foundation of virtues
beatae memoriae
Of blessed memory
Beata Virgo Maria
Blessed Virgin Mary
beati pacifici
Blessed are the peacemakes (Beatitudes)
beati pauperes spiritu
Blessed are the poor in spirit
beati possidentes
Blessed are those who possess (legal doctrine, possession is nine points of the law)
Beatitudes
Pronouncements from the Sermon on the Mount
beatus
A blessed person
bella detesta matribus
Wars, the horror of mothers (Horace)
bella horrida bella
Wars, horrid wars (Virgil)
bellum domesticum
Strife/war among family members
bellum internecinum
Internecine war, a war of extermination
bellum letale
Lethal war, deadly war
bellum omnium in omnes
A war of all against all
bene decessit
S/he has left (died) well (a natural death)
Benedicite
Invocation of blessing (a prayer canticle)
benedictus qui venit
Blessed is he sho comes [in the Lord's name]
bene esse
Well-being
bene est tentare
It is well to try
bene exeat
Let him or her go forth. Of good character
beneficium
Kindness of favour
beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere
To accept a favour is to sell one's freedom
bene merenti
Success to those who deserve it
bene meritus
Having well deserved
bene orasse est bene studuisse
To have prayed well is to have pursued well
bene qui latuit bene vixit
S/he who has lived in obscurity has lived well
bene vale vobis
May you prosper
benigno numine
By the favour of the heavens (Horace)
bibamus, moriendum est
Let us drink, for we must die (Seneca)
bibere venenum in auro
To drink poison from a golden cup
biblia pauperum
Books of the poor
billa vera
True bill
Biographia Literaria
Literary Biography (Coleridge)
bis
Twice (to be repeated)
bis dat qui cito dat
S/he gives twice who gives quickly
bis in die
Twice a day
bis in nocte
Twice a night
bis in septem diebus
Twice in seven days/twice a week
bis peccare in bello non licet
It is not permitted to blunder twice in war
bis pueri senes
Old men are twice children
bis repetita placent
The things that please are those repeated
bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria
He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory (Publius Syrus)
bis vivit qui bene vivit
S/he lives twice who lives well
blandae mendacia linguae
The lies of a flattering tongue
bona
Good or Property
bonae fidei emptor
Purchaser in good faith
bona fide
In good faith, genuine, legitimate
bona fide polliceor
I promise in good faith (Cicero)
bona fides
Good faith or Documents proving identity
bona gratia
In all kindness
bona fiscalia
Public property
bonae memoriae
Of happy memory
bona mobilia
Moveable property
bona notabilia
Noteworthy things
bona peritura
Perishable goods
bona vacantia
Unclaimed property
bonis avibus
Under favourable signs
bonis nocet quisqus malis perpercit
Whoever spares the bad injures the good (Publius Syrus)
bonis quod bene fit haud perit
Whatever is done for good men is never done in vain (Plautus)
bono vinci satius est quam almo more iniuriam vincere
A good man would rather suffer defeat than defeat another by foul means (Sallust)
bonum omen
A good omen
bonum per se
Good in itself
bonum publicum
The public good
bon in lingua
An ox on the tongue (a heavy silence)
brevi manu
With a short hand (in a perfunctory manner)
brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio
In trying to become concise, I become obscure (Horace)
brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior
Life is short but misfortunes make it longer
brutum fulmen
Harmless thunderbolt (a vain and empty threat)
bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis
Good wine gladdens a person's heart
bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem
It is not goodness to be better than the worst.
- C -
Dictionary of Latin Phrases and Proverbs: C
cacoethes
Irresistible urge
cacoethes carpendi
A compulsive habit for finding fault
cacoethes loquendi
A bad habit for compulsive talking
cacoethes scribendi
A bad habit for compulsive writing
cadit quaestio
The question falls, the issue collapses
caeca invidia est
Envy is blind (Livy)
caelitus mihi vires
My strength is from heaven
caeli enarrant gloriam Dei
the heavens display the glory of God (Psalms)
caelum non animum mutant qui mare currunt
Those who cross the sea change only their climate, not their minds (Horace)
calendae
Calends (the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar)
callida iunctura
Skillful joining, careful workmanship (Horace)
camera lucide
Bright chamber (a projection device using prism)
camera obscura
A darkened room; a device to project an image
Camera Stellata
The Star Chamber (renowned court of 16th century England)
Campus Martius
The Field of Mars (assembly ground in Rome)
candida pax
White-robed eace (Ovid)
candor dat viribus alas
Sincerity gives wings to strength
cane peius et angue
Worse than a dog or snake
canis in praesepi
A dog in the manger
Canis Maior
The larger dog (constellation near Orion)
Canis Minor
The lesser dog (constellation near Orion)
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator
the poor wayfarer will sing in the presence of travelers (Juvenal)
Cantate Domino
Sing to the Lord (Psalm 98)
cantilenam eandem canis
You are singing the same old song (Terence)
cantillatio
The chanting portions of the Catholic Mass
cantoris
To be sung by the precentor (antiphoral song)
cantus firmus
Fixed son (Gregorian melody)
cantus planus
Plainsong (Gregorian chant)
capias ad audiendum
Writ ordering appearance in court
capias ad respondendum
Writ ordering the arrest of a person
capias ad satisfaciendum
Writ ordering satisfaction of an order
capiat qui capere possit
Let him/her take it who is able
captantes capti sumus
We catchers have been caught
captatio benevolentiae
Reaching after favour
captus nidore culinae
Caught by the aroma of the kitchen (Juvenal)
caput inter nubilia condo
I hide my head among the clouds (Virgil)
caput lupinum
The wolf's head (an outlaw or a renegade)
caput mortuum
Worthless residue remaining after a process
caput mundi
Head (capital) of the world (i.e., Rome)
caret initio et fine
It lacks a beginning and an end
carmen figuratum
Verse printed in the shape of an object
carmen solutum
A prose poem
carmen triumphale
A triumphal song
carpe diem
Seize the day (enjoy the moment) (Horace)
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
Enjoy the day, trusting little in tomorrow
carpent tua poma nepotes
Your descendants will pluck your fruit
carpere et colligere
To pluck and to gather
cassetur billa
Let the bill be terminated
casis tutissima virtus
Virtue is the safest helmet
castigat ridendo mores
One corrects customs by laughing at them
casus urbis Troianae
The fall of the city of Troy
causa
Cause, precipitating factor
causa causans
Cause that causes all things
causa causata
Cause resulting from a previous cause
causa efficiens
Efficient or effective cause
causa essendi
Cause of being
causa fiendi
Cause of becoming
causa finalis
Final cause
causa formalis
Formal cause
causa latet, vis est notissima
The cause is hidden, but its force is very well known (Ovid)
causa mali
Cause of evil
causa materialis
Material cause
causa mortis
Cause of death, an anticipation of death
causa movens
Reason for undertaking a particular action
causa proxima
Immediate cause
causa sina qua non
Fundamental reason, necessary condition
causa secunda
Secondary cause
causa sui
Cause of itself
causa vera
True cause
caveant consules
Consuls (of the Roman Senate) beware
caveant connsules ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat
Beware consuls that the commonwealth is not harmed
caveat
Let one beware, take caution
caveat actor
Let the doer beware
caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware
caveat venditor
Let the seller beware
caveat viator
Let the traveller beware
cave canem
Beware of the dog
cavendo tutus
Safe by taking heed
cave ne cadas
Take care so that you do not fall
cave quid dicis, quando, et cui
Beware of what you say, when, and to whom
cedant arma togae
Let arms yield to the toga (motto of Wyoming)
cede Deo
Submit to God
celari vult sua furta Venus
Venus desires her thefts to be concealed
celeritas et veritas
Promptness and truth
Cena Domini
The Lord's Supper
censor morum
A censor of morals
certamina divitiarum
Struggles of the riches (Horace)
certiorari
To be informed by an appellate review court
certum est quia impossible est
It is certain because it is impossible (Tertullian)
certum vot pete finnem
Set a definite limit to your desire (Horace)
cessante causa cessat effectus
Once the cause is removed, the effect will disappear
cessio bonorum
The surrender of goods
cetera desunt
The rest are lacking (the text is incomplete)
ceteris paribus
Other things being equal (other things remaining the same)
characteristica universales
Universal characters (ideographs)
chartae libertatum
Charters of liberties
chorea scriptorum
Writer's cramp
Christi crux est mea lux
The cross of Christ is my light
Christo et Ecclesiae
For Christ and for the Church
cicatrix manet
The scar remains
cineri gloria sera est
Glory paid to ashes comes too late (Martial)
cineri gloria sera venit
Fame to the dead comes to late
cingulum Veneris
The girdle of Venus
circa (ca.)
About (means uncertainty about a date)
circuitus verborum
A circuit of words (a circumlocution)
circulus in probando
A circle in proof (vicious circle in logic)
circulus in definiendo
A circle in definition (vicious circle)
circulus vitiosus
A vicious circle (a logical fallacy)
cito dispensetur
Let it be dispensed quickly
cito enim arescit lacrima, praesertim in alienis malis
A tear is quickly dried when shed for the misfortunes of others
cito maturum, cito putridum
soon ripe, soon rotten
civilitas successit barbarum
Civilization succeeds barbarism (motto of Minnesota)
civis Romanus sum
I am a Roman citizen (Cicero)
Civitas Dei
City of God (St. Augustine)
civitas diaboli
City of the devil
clarior e tenebris
(I shine) out of the darkness more brightly
clarum et venerabile nomen
Illustrious and venerable name (Lucan)
claves curiae
Keys of the court
clavis
A key; glossary in a text
clerici vagantes
Wandering scholars
cochleare magnum
A tablespoonful
cochleare medium
A dessert spoonful
cochleare parvum
A teaspoonful
codex
A volume of manuscripts; a code of laws
Codex Justinianus
the Justinian Code
codex rescriptus
A palimpsest; wooden writing surface
coetus dulce valete
Happy meetings, farewell (Catullus)
cogi qui potest nescit mori
S/he who can be forced has not learned how to die
cogitatonis poenam nemo
No one is punished for her/his thoughts
cogito, ergo sum
I think, therefore I am (Descartes)
cognati
Relations of the mother's side
cognovit actionem
S/he has acknowledged the action
collectanea
Collection of passages from various authors
collegium
Members of a group united by common interest
colluvies vitiorum
Vile medley of vices, pit of iniquity
collyrium
A medicinal eyewash
collubrem in sinu fovere
To cherish a snake in one's bosom
Columna Bellica
a column of war in ancient Rome
comes iucundus in via pro vehiculo est
A pleasant companion on the road is as good as the carriage (Publius Syrus)
comitas inter communitates
Comity (friendliness) of nations
comitas inter gentes
Comity (civility) between nations
comitia
Assembly of the Romans
commisce
Mix together
commune bonum
The common good
commune periculum concordiam parit
Common danger begets unity
communes loci
Commonplace ideas
communibus annis
In common years, the annual average
communi consensu
By common consent
compendia dispendia
Shortcuts are roundabout ways
compesce mentem
Control your temper
complexus
An embracing; aggregate of parts
componere lites
To settle disputes (Horace)
compos mentis
In a sound state of mind
compos sui
Master of one's self
compos voti
Having obtained one's wishes
compositus
Compounded of...
concedo
I admit, I concede
concio ad clerum
Discourse to the clergy
concordia discors
Harmony in discord (Horace)
concursus Dei
concurrent activity of God
condiscipulus
Classmate, fellow student
conditio sine qua non
Indispensable condition
Congregatio de Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Propagation of Faith
coniunctis viribus
With united powers
conscia mens recti
Conscious of being right (Ovid)
conscientia mille testes
Conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses
consensus
By general agreement
consensus audacium
The agreement of rash men; a conspiracy
consensus facit legem
Consent makes the law
consensus gentium
Unanimity of nations; widespread agreement
consensus omnium
Agreement of all members
consequitur quodcunque petit
S/he attains whatever s/he attempts
consilio et animis
By wisdom and courage
consilio et prudentia
By wisdom and prudence
consilio manuque
By strategem and manual labor
consilio, non impetu
By deliberation, no impulse
constantia et virtute
By firmness andcourage
consuetudo est altera lex
Custom is another law
consuetudo pro lege servatur
Custom is held as the law
consuetudo quasi altera natura
Habit is second nature (Cicero)
consule Planco
In the consulship of Planco, i.e., in the good old days (Horace)
consummatum est
It is completed/finished (Christ's words on the cross)
coninuetur remedia
Let the medicine be continued
contra bonos mores
Contrary to good morals
contradictio in adiecto
Contradiction in terms
contra ius commune
Against common law
contra formam statuti
Against the form of the statute
contra ius gentium
Against the law of nations
contra mores
Contrary to morals
contra mundum
Against the world (i.e., an unpopular position)
contra naturam
Against nature
contra negantem principia non est disputandum
There is no disputing against one who denies the first principles
contra pacem
Against the peace
contraria contrariis curantur
Opposites are cured by opposites
copia fandi
Abundance of talk
copia verborum
Abundance of words
coram
Before [someone]; in the presence of
coram domino rege
Before our lord and king
coram iudice
In the presence of a judge with jurisdiction
coram nobis
Before us, in our presence
coram non iudice
Before a judge without proper jurisdiction
coram paribus
Before equals, before one's peers
coram populo
In the presence of the people
corona lucis
Crown of light; a large chandelier
corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur
Bodies grow slowly and die quickly (Tacitus)
cornu copiae
The horn of plenty; abundance
corpus
The body; collection of law or writings
Corpus Christi
feast of the Body of Christ; Holy Eucharist
corpus delicti
Body of the crime; objective proof of crime
corpus iuris
Body of law
Corpus Juris Canonici
Body of religious law
Corpus Juris Civilis
Body of civil law
corpus omnis Romani iuris
Compendium of Roman laws
corpus sine pectore
A body without a soul
corpus vile
Worthless matter
corrigendum
Something to be corrected (pl. corrigenda)
corruptio optimi pessima
The curruption of the best is the worst
corruptisima re publica plurimae leges
In the most corrupt state are the most laws (Terence)
cor unum, via una
One heart, one way
cos ingeniorum
A whetstone for the wits
crambe repetita
Warmed-over cabbage (stale repetitions)
cras
tomorrow
cras credemus, hodie nihil
tomorrow we believe, but not today
cras mane
Tomorrow morning
cras mane sumendus
To be taken tomorrow morning
cras mihi
My turn [is] tomorrow
cras nocte
Tomorrow night
crassa negligentia
Gross negligence, criminal negligence
cras vespere
Tomorrow evening
credat Judaeus Apella
let Apella the Jew believe it (I won't) (Horace)
crede Deo
Trust in God
credendum
Things to be believed, articles of faith
crede quod habes, et habes
Believe that you have it, and you do
credite posteri
Believe it, future generations (Horace)
Credo
I believe; the apostles' (Nicene) Creed
credo quia absurdum est
I believe it because it is absurd
credo quia impossible est
I believe it because it is impossible
credo ut intelligam
I believe so that I may understand
credula res amore est
Love is a credulous thing (Ovid)
crescat scientia, vita excolatur
Let knowledge increase, let life be perfected (motto of the University of Chicago)
crescit amornummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit
The love of money grows as our wealth increases (Juvenal)
crescite et multiplicamini
Increase and multiply (motto of Maryland)
crescit eundo
It grows as it goes (motto of New Mexico)
crescit sub pondere virtus
Virtue grows under oppression
crecitur amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crevit
The richer you beome the more youlove money (Juvenal)
crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam maiorumque fames
As money crows, care follows it and the hunger for more (Virgil)
cribro aquam haurire
To draw water in a sieve
crimen
Crime; criminal
crimen falsi
Crime of falsification; perjury
crimen innominatum
Nameless crime; crime against nature
crimem laesae maiestatis
Crime of high treason
cruce, dum spiro, fido
while I breathe, I trust the cross
cruce signati
Marked with a cross; the Crusaders
crux
Cross
crux ansata
A T-shaped cross with a loop at the top
crux commissa
The tau cross
crux criticorum
The puzzle of the critics
crux decussata
X-shaped cross of St. Andrew or St. Patrick
crux medicorum
The puzzle of doctors
crux mihi ancora
The cross is my anchor
crux spes unica
The cross is the only hope (motto of Notre Dame University)
crux stellata
The cross with stars on its arms
cucullus non facit monachum
The cowl does not make the monk
cui bono?
Whom will it benefit? Who stands to gain?
cui fortuna ipsa cedit To whom fortune herself yields (Cicero)
cuilibet in arte sua perito credendum est
Every skilled man is to be trusted in his own art
cui malo?
Whom will it harm?
cui placet obliviscitur, cui dolet meminit
We forget our pleasures, we remember our sufferings (Cicero)
cuique suum
To each his own
cuius
Of which
cuicus regio eius religio
He who owns the region, his is the religion
cuius libet
Of any that you please
cuius vis hominis est errare
It is natural for any man to make a mistake (Cicero)
culpa
Fault
culpae poenae par esto
Let the punishment fit the crime
culpa lata
Gross negligence
culpa levis
Ordinary negligence
culpam poena premit comes
Punishment presses hard onto the heels of crime(Horace)
cum
With
cum bona venia
With good favour
cum grano salis
With a grain of salt
cum laude
With praise; with distinction
cum multis aliis
With many others
cum notis variorum
With the notes of various critics
cum onere
With the burden [of proving a charge]
cum privilegio
With privilege; an authorized edition
cum tacent clamant
When they are silent, they cry out (Cicero)
cuneus cuneum trudit
A wedge drives a wedge
cupiditas ex homine, cupido ex stulto numquam tollitur
A man can be cured of his lust, but a fool can never be cured of his greed
cupido dominandi cunctis adfectibus flagrentior est
The lust for power inflames the heart more than any other passion (Tacitus)
curae level loquuntur, ingentes stupent
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless
cura facit canos
Care brings grey hairs
Cur ante tubam tremor occupat artus?
Why should fear seize the limbs before the trumpet sounds? (Virgil)
curia
A court of law
curia advisari vult
The court wishes to be advised
curia Domini
The Lord's court
curia regis
The king's court
curiosa felicitas
Painstaking spontaneity (Petronius)
currente calamo
With the pen running on; an afterthought
curriculum vitae
The courts of one's life; an academic resume
currus bovem trahit
The cart draws the ox
cursus curiae est lex curiae
The practice of the court is the law of the court
cursus honorum
Course of honours leading to a high position
curta supellex
Meager stock of furniture (Knowledge)
custodia legis
In the custody of law
custos
Guardian
custos morum
Guardian of the manners
custos incorruptissiumus
An incurruptible guardian
custos rotularum
Guardian of the rolls; justice of the peace
cyathus
Glassful
cyathus vinosus
Glassful of wine
cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet
May he love tomorrow who has never loved before;
And may he who has loved, love tomorrow as well
cum grano salis
With a grain of salt
curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless (minor losses can be talked away, profound ones strike us dumb)
carpe diem
Seize the day (enjoy the present day)
casus belli
That which causes or justifies war (reason for war, grounds for a dispute)
ceteris paribus
Other things being equal
compos mentis
Of sound mind (sane)
corum populo
In the presence of the public
corpus delicti
The substance of the crime of offence
cui bono
To whose advantage is it - who is the gainer
Cito fit quod dei volunt.
What the gods want happens soon.
cacoethes
Irresistible urge
cacoethes carpendi
A compulsive habit for finding fault
cacoethes loquendi
A bad habit for compulsive talking
cacoethes scribendi
A bad habit for compulsive writing
cadit quaestio
The question falls, the issue collapses
caeca invidia est
Envy is blind (Livy)
caelitus mihi vires
My strength is from heaven
caeli enarrant gloriam Dei
the heavens display the glory of God (Psalms)
caelum non animum mutant qui mare currunt
Those who cross the sea change only their climate, not their minds (Horace)
calendae
Calends (the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar)
callida iunctura
Skillful joining, careful workmanship (Horace)
camera lucide
Bright chamber (a projection device using prism)
camera obscura
A darkened room; a device to project an image
Camera Stellata
The Star Chamber (renowned court of 16th century England)
Campus Martius
The Field of Mars (assembly ground in Rome)
candida pax
White-robed eace (Ovid)
candor dat viribus alas
Sincerity gives wings to strength
cane peius et angue
Worse than a dog or snake
canis in praesepi
A dog in the manger
Canis Maior
The larger dog (constellation near Orion)
Canis Minor
The lesser dog (constellation near Orion)
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator
the poor wayfarer will sing in the presence of travelers (Juvenal)
Cantate Domino
Sing to the Lord (Psalm 98)
cantilenam eandem canis
You are singing the same old song (Terence)
cantillatio
The chanting portions of the Catholic Mass
cantoris
To be sung by the precentor (antiphoral song)
cantus firmus
Fixed son (Gregorian melody)
cantus planus
Plainsong (Gregorian chant)
capias ad audiendum
Writ ordering appearance in court
capias ad respondendum
Writ ordering the arrest of a person
capias ad satisfaciendum
Writ ordering satisfaction of an order
capiat qui capere possit
Let him/her take it who is able
captantes capti sumus
We catchers have been caught
captatio benevolentiae
Reaching after favour
captus nidore culinae
Caught by the aroma of the kitchen (Juvenal)
caput inter nubilia condo
I hide my head among the clouds (Virgil)
caput lupinum
The wolf's head (an outlaw or a renegade)
caput mortuum
Worthless residue remaining after a process
caput mundi
Head (capital) of the world (i.e., Rome)
caret initio et fine
It lacks a beginning and an end
carmen figuratum
Verse printed in the shape of an object
carmen solutum
A prose poem
carmen triumphale
A triumphal song
carpe diem
Seize the day (enjoy the moment) (Horace)
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
Enjoy the day, trusting little in tomorrow
carpent tua poma nepotes
Your descendants will pluck your fruit
carpere et colligere
To pluck and to gather
cassetur billa
Let the bill be terminated
casis tutissima virtus
Virtue is the safest helmet
castigat ridendo mores
One corrects customs by laughing at them
casus urbis Troianae
The fall of the city of Troy
causa
Cause, precipitating factor
causa causans
Cause that causes all things
causa causata
Cause resulting from a previous cause
causa efficiens
Efficient or effective cause
causa essendi
Cause of being
causa fiendi
Cause of becoming
causa finalis
Final cause
causa formalis
Formal cause
causa latet, vis est notissima
The cause is hidden, but its force is very well known (Ovid)
causa mali
Cause of evil
causa materialis
Material cause
causa mortis
Cause of death, an anticipation of death
causa movens
Reason for undertaking a particular action
causa proxima
Immediate cause
causa sina qua non
Fundamental reason, necessary condition
causa secunda
Secondary cause
causa sui
Cause of itself
causa vera
True cause
caveant consules
Consuls (of the Roman Senate) beware
caveant connsules ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat
Beware consuls that the commonwealth is not harmed
caveat
Let one beware, take caution
caveat actor
Let the doer beware
caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware
caveat venditor
Let the seller beware
caveat viator
Let the traveller beware
cave canem
Beware of the dog
cavendo tutus
Safe by taking heed
cave ne cadas
Take care so that you do not fall
cave quid dicis, quando, et cui
Beware of what you say, when, and to whom
cedant arma togae
Let arms yield to the toga (motto of Wyoming)
cede Deo
Submit to God
celari vult sua furta Venus
Venus desires her thefts to be concealed
celeritas et veritas
Promptness and truth
Cena Domini
The Lord's Supper
censor morum
A censor of morals
certamina divitiarum
Struggles of the riches (Horace)
certiorari
To be informed by an appellate review court
certum est quia impossible est
It is certain because it is impossible (Tertullian)
certum vot pete finnem
Set a definite limit to your desire (Horace)
cessante causa cessat effectus
Once the cause is removed, the effect will disappear
cessio bonorum
The surrender of goods
cetera desunt
The rest are lacking (the text is incomplete)
ceteris paribus
Other things being equal (other things remaining the same)
characteristica universales
Universal characters (ideographs)
chartae libertatum
Charters of liberties
chorea scriptorum
Writer's cramp
Christi crux est mea lux
The cross of Christ is my light
Christo et Ecclesiae
For Christ and for the Church
cicatrix manet
The scar remains
cineri gloria sera est
Glory paid to ashes comes too late (Martial)
cineri gloria sera venit
Fame to the dead comes to late
cingulum Veneris
The girdle of Venus
circa (ca.)
About (means uncertainty about a date)
circuitus verborum
A circuit of words (a circumlocution)
circulus in probando
A circle in proof (vicious circle in logic)
circulus in definiendo
A circle in definition (vicious circle)
circulus vitiosus
A vicious circle (a logical fallacy)
cito dispensetur
Let it be dispensed quickly
cito enim arescit lacrima, praesertim in alienis malis
A tear is quickly dried when shed for the misfortunes of others
cito maturum, cito putridum
soon ripe, soon rotten
civilitas successit barbarum
Civilization succeeds barbarism (motto of Minnesota)
civis Romanus sum
I am a Roman citizen (Cicero)
Civitas Dei
City of God (St. Augustine)
civitas diaboli
City of the devil
clarior e tenebris
(I shine) out of the darkness more brightly
clarum et venerabile nomen
Illustrious and venerable name (Lucan)
claves curiae
Keys of the court
clavis
A key; glossary in a text
clerici vagantes
Wandering scholars
cochleare magnum
A tablespoonful
cochleare medium
A dessert spoonful
cochleare parvum
A teaspoonful
codex
A volume of manuscripts; a code of laws
Codex Justinianus
the Justinian Code
codex rescriptus
A palimpsest; wooden writing surface
coetus dulce valete
Happy meetings, farewell (Catullus)
cogi qui potest nescit mori
S/he who can be forced has not learned how to die
cogitatonis poenam nemo
No one is punished for her/his thoughts
cogito, ergo sum
I think, therefore I am (Descartes)
cognati
Relations of the mother's side
cognovit actionem
S/he has acknowledged the action
collectanea
Collection of passages from various authors
collegium
Members of a group united by common interest
colluvies vitiorum
Vile medley of vices, pit of iniquity
collyrium
A medicinal eyewash
collubrem in sinu fovere
To cherish a snake in one's bosom
Columna Bellica
a column of war in ancient Rome
comes iucundus in via pro vehiculo est
A pleasant companion on the road is as good as the carriage (Publius Syrus)
comitas inter communitates
Comity (friendliness) of nations
comitas inter gentes
Comity (civility) between nations
comitia
Assembly of the Romans
commisce
Mix together
commune bonum
The common good
commune periculum concordiam parit
Common danger begets unity
communes loci
Commonplace ideas
communibus annis
In common years, the annual average
communi consensu
By common consent
compendia dispendia
Shortcuts are roundabout ways
compesce mentem
Control your temper
complexus
An embracing; aggregate of parts
componere lites
To settle disputes (Horace)
compos mentis
In a sound state of mind
compos sui
Master of one's self
compos voti
Having obtained one's wishes
compositus
Compounded of...
concedo
I admit, I concede
concio ad clerum
Discourse to the clergy
concordia discors
Harmony in discord (Horace)
concursus Dei
concurrent activity of God
condiscipulus
Classmate, fellow student
conditio sine qua non
Indispensable condition
Congregatio de Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Propagation of Faith
coniunctis viribus
With united powers
conscia mens recti
Conscious of being right (Ovid)
conscientia mille testes
Conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses
consensus
By general agreement
consensus audacium
The agreement of rash men; a conspiracy
consensus facit legem
Consent makes the law
consensus gentium
Unanimity of nations; widespread agreement
consensus omnium
Agreement of all members
consequitur quodcunque petit
S/he attains whatever s/he attempts
consilio et animis
By wisdom and courage
consilio et prudentia
By wisdom and prudence
consilio manuque
By strategem and manual labor
consilio, non impetu
By deliberation, no impulse
constantia et virtute
By firmness andcourage
consuetudo est altera lex
Custom is another law
consuetudo pro lege servatur
Custom is held as the law
consuetudo quasi altera natura
Habit is second nature (Cicero)
consule Planco
In the consulship of Planco, i.e., in the good old days (Horace)
consummatum est
It is completed/finished (Christ's words on the cross)
coninuetur remedia
Let the medicine be continued
contra bonos mores
Contrary to good morals
contradictio in adiecto
Contradiction in terms
contra ius commune
Against common law
contra formam statuti
Against the form of the statute
contra ius gentium
Against the law of nations
contra mores
Contrary to morals
contra mundum
Against the world (i.e., an unpopular position)
contra naturam
Against nature
contra negantem principia non est disputandum
There is no disputing against one who denies the first principles
contra pacem
Against the peace
contraria contrariis curantur
Opposites are cured by opposites
copia fandi
Abundance of talk
copia verborum
Abundance of words
coram
Before [someone]; in the presence of
coram domino rege
Before our lord and king
coram iudice
In the presence of a judge with jurisdiction
coram nobis
Before us, in our presence
coram non iudice
Before a judge without proper jurisdiction
coram paribus
Before equals, before one's peers
coram populo
In the presence of the people
corona lucis
Crown of light; a large chandelier
corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur
Bodies grow slowly and die quickly (Tacitus)
cornu copiae
The horn of plenty; abundance
corpus
The body; collection of law or writings
Corpus Christi
feast of the Body of Christ; Holy Eucharist
corpus delicti
Body of the crime; objective proof of crime
corpus iuris
Body of law
Corpus Juris Canonici
Body of religious law
Corpus Juris Civilis
Body of civil law
corpus omnis Romani iuris
Compendium of Roman laws
corpus sine pectore
A body without a soul
corpus vile
Worthless matter
corrigendum
Something to be corrected (pl. corrigenda)
corruptio optimi pessima
The curruption of the best is the worst
corruptisima re publica plurimae leges
In the most corrupt state are the most laws (Terence)
cor unum, via una
One heart, one way
cos ingeniorum
A whetstone for the wits
crambe repetita
Warmed-over cabbage (stale repetitions)
cras
tomorrow
cras credemus, hodie nihil
tomorrow we believe, but not today
cras mane
Tomorrow morning
cras mane sumendus
To be taken tomorrow morning
cras mihi
My turn [is] tomorrow
cras nocte
Tomorrow night
crassa negligentia
Gross negligence, criminal negligence
cras vespere
Tomorrow evening
credat Judaeus Apella
let Apella the Jew believe it (I won't) (Horace)
crede Deo
Trust in God
credendum
Things to be believed, articles of faith
crede quod habes, et habes
Believe that you have it, and you do
credite posteri
Believe it, future generations (Horace)
Credo
I believe; the apostles' (Nicene) Creed
credo quia absurdum est
I believe it because it is absurd
credo quia impossible est
I believe it because it is impossible
credo ut intelligam
I believe so that I may understand
credula res amore est
Love is a credulous thing (Ovid)
crescat scientia, vita excolatur
Let knowledge increase, let life be perfected (motto of the University of Chicago)
crescit amornummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit
The love of money grows as our wealth increases (Juvenal)
crescite et multiplicamini
Increase and multiply (motto of Maryland)
crescit eundo
It grows as it goes (motto of New Mexico)
crescit sub pondere virtus
Virtue grows under oppression
crecitur amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crevit
The richer you beome the more youlove money (Juvenal)
crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam maiorumque fames
As money crows, care follows it and the hunger for more (Virgil)
cribro aquam haurire
To draw water in a sieve
crimen
Crime; criminal
crimen falsi
Crime of falsification; perjury
crimen innominatum
Nameless crime; crime against nature
crimem laesae maiestatis
Crime of high treason
cruce, dum spiro, fido
while I breathe, I trust the cross
cruce signati
Marked with a cross; the Crusaders
crux
Cross
crux ansata
A T-shaped cross with a loop at the top
crux commissa
The tau cross
crux criticorum
The puzzle of the critics
crux decussata
X-shaped cross of St. Andrew or St. Patrick
crux medicorum
The puzzle of doctors
crux mihi ancora
The cross is my anchor
crux spes unica
The cross is the only hope (motto of Notre Dame University)
crux stellata
The cross with stars on its arms
cucullus non facit monachum
The cowl does not make the monk
cui bono?
Whom will it benefit? Who stands to gain?
cui fortuna ipsa cedit To whom fortune herself yields (Cicero)
cuilibet in arte sua perito credendum est
Every skilled man is to be trusted in his own art
cui malo?
Whom will it harm?
cui placet obliviscitur, cui dolet meminit
We forget our pleasures, we remember our sufferings (Cicero)
cuique suum
To each his own
cuius
Of which
cuicus regio eius religio
He who owns the region, his is the religion
cuius libet
Of any that you please
cuius vis hominis est errare
It is natural for any man to make a mistake (Cicero)
culpa
Fault
culpae poenae par esto
Let the punishment fit the crime
culpa lata
Gross negligence
culpa levis
Ordinary negligence
culpam poena premit comes
Punishment presses hard onto the heels of crime(Horace)
cum
With
cum bona venia
With good favour
cum grano salis
With a grain of salt
cum laude
With praise; with distinction
cum multis aliis
With many others
cum notis variorum
With the notes of various critics
cum onere
With the burden [of proving a charge]
cum privilegio
With privilege; an authorized edition
cum tacent clamant
When they are silent, they cry out (Cicero)
cuneus cuneum trudit
A wedge drives a wedge
cupiditas ex homine, cupido ex stulto numquam tollitur
A man can be cured of his lust, but a fool can never be cured of his greed
cupido dominandi cunctis adfectibus flagrentior est
The lust for power inflames the heart more than any other passion (Tacitus)
curae level loquuntur, ingentes stupent
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless
cura facit canos
Care brings grey hairs
Cur ante tubam tremor occupat artus?
Why should fear seize the limbs before the trumpet sounds? (Virgil)
curia
A court of law
curia advisari vult
The court wishes to be advised
curia Domini
The Lord's court
curia regis
The king's court
curiosa felicitas
Painstaking spontaneity (Petronius)
currente calamo
With the pen running on; an afterthought
curriculum vitae
The courts of one's life; an academic resume
currus bovem trahit
The cart draws the ox
cursus curiae est lex curiae
The practice of the court is the law of the court
cursus honorum
Course of honours leading to a high position
curta supellex
Meager stock of furniture (Knowledge)
custodia legis
In the custody of law
custos
Guardian
custos morum
Guardian of the manners
custos incorruptissiumus
An incurruptible guardian
custos rotularum
Guardian of the rolls; justice of the peace
cyathus
Glassful
cyathus vinosus
Glassful of wine
cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet
May he love tomorrow who has never loved before;
And may he who has loved, love tomorrow as well
cum grano salis
With a grain of salt
curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent
Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless (minor losses can be talked away, profound ones strike us dumb)
carpe diem
Seize the day (enjoy the present day)
casus belli
That which causes or justifies war (reason for war, grounds for a dispute)
ceteris paribus
Other things being equal
compos mentis
Of sound mind (sane)
corum populo
In the presence of the public
corpus delicti
The substance of the crime of offence
cui bono
To whose advantage is it - who is the gainer
Cito fit quod dei volunt.
What the gods want happens soon.
- D -
Dictionary of Latin Phrases and Proverbs: D
dabit deushis quoque finem
God will bring an end to this (Virgil)
dabit qui dedit
S/he who has given once will give [again]
da fidei quae fidei sunt
Give to faith that which belongs to faith
da locum melioribus
Give way to your betters (Terence)
damna minus consulta movent
Losses to which we are accustomed affect us less deeply (Juvenal)
damnant quodnon intelligunt
They condemn what they do not understand
damnosa hereditas
Inheritance of damnation, ruinous legacy
damnum absque iniuria
Loss without injury, not subject to remedy
dante Deo
By the gift of God
dapes inemptae
Unbought feasts; homegrown produce
dare pondus idonea fumo
Fit only to give weight to smoke (Persius)
data et accepta
Things given and received; expenses and income
data fata secutus
Following what is decreed by fate (Virgil)
dat, donat, dicat
S/he gives, devotes, dedicates
date et dabitur vobis
Give and it shall be given unto you (the Vulgate translation of the Bible)
date obolum Belisario
Give a penny to Belisarius
dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas
The censures indulge the crows but harass the doves (Juvenal)
Davus sum, non Oedipus
I am Davus, not Oedipus (Terence)
de aequitate
In equity
de ambitu
In bribery
de asini umbra disceptare
To argue about the shadow of an ass (Disareli)
de auditu
From hearsay
De Beata Vita
On the Good Life (St. Augustine)
debellare superbos
To overthrow the proud (Virgil)
de bene esse
Subject to conditions or provisions
debitum
Debt
debitum naturae
Debt of nature (death)
de bona memoria
Of good memory (of a sound mind)
de bonis asportatis
Of the goods carried away
de bonis non administratis
Of the goods not yet administered
de bonis propriis
Out of his own goods
de bono et malo
Of good and bad; come what may
de bono gestu
For good behaviour
decani
To be sung by the dean (antiphonal music)
decanus
Dean; having supervision over ten people
decanta
Pour off
deceptio visus
A deception of vision; an optical illusion
decessit sine prole (DSP)
Died without children
decies repetita placebit
Though ten times repeated, it will continue to please (Horace)
decipimur specie rectie
We are deceived by the semblance of what is right (Horace)
decipi quam fallere est tutius
It is safer to be deceived than to deceive
decipi frons prima multos
The first appearance deceives many
De Civitate Dei
On the City of God (St. Augustine)
de claro die
By the light of day
decori decus addit avito
He adds honor to the ancestral honor
decretum
A decree; a mandate
decubitus
Lying down
decus et tutamen
Honour and defense
de die in diem
From day to day; continuously
de duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
Of two evils, always choose the lesser one (Thomas à Kempis)
de facto
Existing by fact
defectus sanguinis
Failure to issue
deficit omne quod nasciture
Everything that is born passes away (Quintillan)
de fide
Of faith
de fide et officio iudicis non recipitur quaestio
No question can be allowed concerning the faith and duty of the judge
definitum
A thing defined
de fumo in flammam
Out of the smoke into the flame
degeneres animos timor arguit
Fear betrays ignoble souls
de gratia
By favour
de gustibus non est disputandum
In matters of taste, there is no argument
Dei gratia
By the grace of God
Dei iudicium
By the judgement of God
de integro
From the beginning; one more time
dei penates
Guardians of the household (household gods)
Dei plena sunt omnia
All things are full of God
Dei Sponsa
The Bride of God (poem by Patmore)
Dei sub numine viget
It flourishes under the will of God (motto of Princeton University)
delenta est Carthago
Carthage must be destroyed (Cato the Elder)
deliciae humani generis
The delight of mankind (Emperor Titus)
delictum
Offense
delineavit
S/he drew it
delirium tremens
Alcoholic distress; delusions and trembling
delphinum natare doces
You are teaching a dolphin to swim
delphinum silvis appingit, fluctibus aprum
He portrays a dolphin in the wods anda wild boar on the waves (Horace)
de lunatico inquiriendo
A writ to inquire into the insanity of a person
dementia
Insanity
dementia a potu
Insanity from drinking
dementia praecox
Insanity in adolescence
deme supercilio nubem
Remove the cloud from you brow
de minimis
Of the most insignificant things
de minimis non curat lex
The law does not concern itself with trifles
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Of the dead [say] nothing but good (Horace)
de nihilo nihil
Nothing comes from nothing (Persius)
denique caelum
Heaven at last (battle cry of the Crusaders)
denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque
All men do not admire and love the same things (Horace)
de novo
New, fresh, renewed, to begin again
dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
The wolf attackswith his teeth, the bull with his horns (Horace)
dente superbo
With a disdainful tooth (Horace)
dentur tales doses
Give of such doses
Deo adjuvante non timendum
God helping, nothing should be feared
Deo date
Give to God
deo dignus vindice nodus
A knot worthy of god to untie
Deo duce
With God as my leader
Deo duce, ferro comitante
With God as my leader and my sword as my companion
Deo et regi fidelis
Faithful to God and king
Deo favente
With God's favour
Deo gratias (D.G,)
Thanks be to God
Deo juvante
With God's help (motto of Monaco)
de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis
Concerning all things andcertain other matters (circumlocution)
de omni rescibili et quibusdam aliis
Concerning everything knowable and a few other things besides
Deo Optimo Maximo (D.O.M.)
For God, the best and greatest (motto of the Benedictines)
Deo, patriae, amicis
For God, motherland, and friends
deorum cibus est
It is food for the gods
deos enim religuos accepimus, Caesares dedimus
The gods were handed down to us, but we created the Caesars (i.e., the rulers) ourselves
dei fortioribus adsunt
The gods aid the stronger (Tacitus)
Deo volente (D.V.)
God willing
de pilo pendet
It hangs by a hair (reaching a critical stage)
de plano
With ease, without difficulty
de praesenti
For the present
deprendi miserum est
It is wretched tobe detected
De Profundis
From the depths; out of despair (Psalm 130)
de proprio motu
Of one's own motion (spontaneouly)
de rubus
Of things
De Rerum Natura
On the Nature of Things (Lucretius)
desideratum
A thing much desired or needed
Desideria
Longings (poem by Wordsworth)
designatum
That which is designated
desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne
A woman, beautiful above, with a fish's tail (Horace)
desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time (Horace)
desuetudo
disuse, no longer active
desunt cetera
The rest of things is lacking; the remainder is lacking
desunt multa
Many things are lacking
de te fabula narratur
The story is told about you (Horace)
de tempore in tempus
From time to time
detur aliquando otium quesque fessis
Let ease and rest be sometimes granted to the weary (Seneca)
detur digniori
Let it be given to the more worthy
detur pulchriori
Let it be given to the more beautiful
Deum cole, regem serva
Worship God and serve the king
Deus avertat
God forbid
Deus det
God grant
Deus est regit qui omnia
There is a God who rules all things
Deus est summum bonum
God is the chief good
deus ex machina
god from a machine (a person who intervenes to solve a problem at the last minute)
Deus gubernat navem
God steers the ship
Deus lux Mea
God is my light (motto of the Catholic University of America)
Deus misereatur
May God have mercy (Psalm 67)
Deus nobiscum, quis contra?
God is with us, who can be against us?
Deus nobis fiducia
God is our trust (motto of George Washington University)
deus nobis haec otia fecit
God has brought for us this repose (Virgil)
Deus providebit
God will provide
Deus tecum
May God be with you (singular)
Deus vobiscum
May God be with you (plural)
Deus vult
God wills it (motto of the First Crusade)
de verbo in verbum
Word for word
de verborum signifacatione
On the significance of words
dextras dare
To give right hands (to shake hands)
dextro tempore
At the right time (Horace)
dicamus bona verba
Let us speak words of good omen (Terence)
dic bona fice
Tell me in good faith (Plautus)
dicere quae puduit, scribere iussit amor
What [modesty] forbade me to say, love has commanded me to write (Ovide)
dicitur
It is said (they say)
dictis facta suppetant
Let deeds correspond to words
dictum ac factum
[No sooner] said than done
dictum de dicto
Report upon hearsay
dictum de omni et nullo
Maxim of all and nothing
dictum sapienti sat est
A word of the wise is sufficient
diebus alternis
Every other day
diebus tertiis
Every third day
diem ex die
Day by day (continuously)
diem perdidi
I have lost (wasted) a day (Emperor Titus)
dies
Day, daily
Lunae
Monday
Martis
Tuesday
Mercurii
Wednesday
Iovis
Thursday
Veneris
Friday
Saturni
Saturday
Dominica
Sunday
dies a quo
Day from which
dies datus
A given day
dies dominicus
The Lord's day
dies faustus
A day bringing good fortune; auspicious day
dies infaustus
A day bringing bad fortune; an unlucky day
Dies Irae
Day of Wrath (hymn for the Requiem Mass)
dies juridicus
A day on which the court is in session
dies non
A day on which no business can be transacted
dies non juridicus
A day on which the court is not in session
difficiles nugae
Laborious trifles (Martial)
difficilia quae pulchra
Things that are excellent are difficult
digito monstrari
To be pointed out with fingers (Persius)
dignus vindice nodus
A knot worthy of such a liberator (Horace)
di (also dii)
gods (singular: deus)
di immortales virtutem approbare, non adhibere debent
We may expect the gods to approve virtue, but not to endow us with it
di maiores
The greater gods; men of eminence
di meliora
Heaven send us better times
dimidium facti qui coepit habet
He who has begun has the work half done (Horace)
dimidius
One-half
di minores
The lesser gods; men of lesser merit
di penates
The household gods
di pia facta vident
The gods see virtuous deeds (Ovid)
dirige nos Domine
Direct us, O Lord
dirigo
I direct (motto of the state of Maine)
diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis
He pulls down, he builds up, he changes square things to round (Horace)
dis aliter visum
The gods thought otherwise (Virgil)
disce pati
Learn to endure
discere et docere
To learn and to teach
discere docendo
To learn through teaching
disciplina praesidium civitatis
Instruction is the safeguard of the state (motto of the University of Texas)
dis ducibus
Under the direction of the gods
disiecta membra
Scattered limbs; fragments of a work
disiecta membra poetae
Limbs of the dismembered poet (Horace)
dispendia morae
Loss of time (Virgil)
disputandi pruritus ecclesiarum scabies
An itch for disputation is the incurable disease of the church
ditat Deus
God enriches (motto of the US state of Arizona)
dives agris, dives positis in faenore nummis
rich in lands, rich in money lent out at interest (Horace)
divide in partes aequales
Divide into equal parts
divide et impera
Divide and rule or
Divide and conquer or
Divide in order to conquer
divide et regna
Divide and rule (Michiavelli)
divina natura dedit agros, ars humana aedificavit urbes
Divine nature gave us the fields, human skill built the cities (Terence)
divinae particula aurae
Particle of divine spirit (Horace)
divitiae virum faciunt
Riches make the man
dixi
I have spoken (I will say no more)
docendo discitur
One learns by teaching docendo
discimus
We learn by teaching
doce ut discas
Teach in order to learn
doctor utriusque legis
Doctor of both laws (canon and civil)
doctus cum libro
Learned with a book (having book learning)
doctus cum multis libris
Learned with many books (a polymath)
dolium volvitur
An empty cask is easily rolled
dolus
Deceit; fraud
dolus bonus
Permissable deceit
dolus malus
Unlawful deceit
Domine, dirige nos
Lord, direct us (motto of London)
Dominica palmarum
Palm Sunday
dominium eminens
Eminent domain
Domino Optimo Maximo (D.O.M)
To the Lord, best and greatest
Dominus
The Lord
Dominus illuminatio mea
The Lord is my light (motto of the University Oxford, England)
Dominus providebit
The Lord will provide
Dominus vobiscum
May the Lord be with you
domus et placens uxor
A home and a pleasing wife (Horace)
Domus Procerum
The House of Lords
donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos
As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends
dono dedit
S/he gives a gift
dormitat Homerus
[even] Homer sleeps
do ut des
I give so that you may give
do ut facias
I give so that you may do
dramatis personae
List of characters in a play
duabus sellis sedere
To sit in two saddles (to wear two hats)
duas tantum res anxius optat, panem et circenses
Two things only do the people earnestly desire, bread and the circus (Juvenal)
duces tecum
You shall bring it with you (subpoena)
ducit amor patriae
The love of country leads [me]
ductus
Style; manner
ductus figuratus
Figurative or indirect style
ductus simplex
Straightforward or simple style
ductus subtilis
Subtle or deceiving style
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt
Fate leads the willing soul, but drags along the unwilling one (Seneca)
dulce bellum inexpertis
War is sweet to those who have never fought
dulce est desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and proper to die for one's country
dulce quod utile
What is useful is sweet
dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos
As he dies, he remembers his beloved Argos (Virgil)
dulce sodalicium
Sweet companionship; pleasant association
dulcis amor patriae
Sweet is the love of one's country
dulcis domus
Sweet home
dum
While; on condition that...
dum docent, discunt
While they teach, they learn (Seneca)
dum fortuna fuit
While fortune lasted
dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem
So long as we live along human beings, let us cherish humanity (Seneca)
dum loquimor fugerit invida aetas
Even as we speak, time speeds swiftly away (Horace)
dum loquor, hora fugit
Time is flying while I speak (Ovid)
dum solus
While single
dum spiro, spero
While I breathe, I hope (a motto of South Carolina)
dum tacent clamant
Though they are silent, they cry aloud
dum vita est spes est
While there's life, there's hope
dum vitant stulti vitia in contraria currunt
In shunning vices, fools run to the oposite extreme (Horace)
dum vivimus, vivamus
While we live, let us live
duplici spe uti
To have a double hope
dura lex sed lex
The law is hard, but it is the law
durante
During
durante absentia
During [someone's] absense
durante bene placito
During good pleasure; as long as one wishes
durante dolore
While pain lasts
durante minore aetate
During minority; at an early age; while one is young
durante vita
During one's life
durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis
Carry on and preserve yourselvesfor better times (Virgil)
durum hoc est sed ita lex scripta est
This is harsh but the law is written
dux femina facti
A woman was the leader in the deed (Virgil)
dux gregis
Leader of the flock de duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
Of two evils, the lesser is always to be chosen (choose the lesser of two evils)
de minimis non curat praetor/ de minimis non curat lex
A praetor/law does not concern himself with petty matters/with very small matters (don't bother me with small matters)
dura lex sed lex
The law is hard, but it is the law
diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium
Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence.
difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas
It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practise it.
de gustibus non disputandum
One ought not argue about tastes/ there is no arguing about tastes
de facto
From the fact actual or actually
de jure
In law /by right
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Speak nothing but good of the dead
de novo
Anew
deo volente
God willing
de profundis
Out of our depths
dramatis personae
Characters of the play
di te incolumem custodiant
May the Gods guard your safety (an official good-bye phrase)
dabit deushis quoque finem
God will bring an end to this (Virgil)
dabit qui dedit
S/he who has given once will give [again]
da fidei quae fidei sunt
Give to faith that which belongs to faith
da locum melioribus
Give way to your betters (Terence)
damna minus consulta movent
Losses to which we are accustomed affect us less deeply (Juvenal)
damnant quodnon intelligunt
They condemn what they do not understand
damnosa hereditas
Inheritance of damnation, ruinous legacy
damnum absque iniuria
Loss without injury, not subject to remedy
dante Deo
By the gift of God
dapes inemptae
Unbought feasts; homegrown produce
dare pondus idonea fumo
Fit only to give weight to smoke (Persius)
data et accepta
Things given and received; expenses and income
data fata secutus
Following what is decreed by fate (Virgil)
dat, donat, dicat
S/he gives, devotes, dedicates
date et dabitur vobis
Give and it shall be given unto you (the Vulgate translation of the Bible)
date obolum Belisario
Give a penny to Belisarius
dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas
The censures indulge the crows but harass the doves (Juvenal)
Davus sum, non Oedipus
I am Davus, not Oedipus (Terence)
de aequitate
In equity
de ambitu
In bribery
de asini umbra disceptare
To argue about the shadow of an ass (Disareli)
de auditu
From hearsay
De Beata Vita
On the Good Life (St. Augustine)
debellare superbos
To overthrow the proud (Virgil)
de bene esse
Subject to conditions or provisions
debitum
Debt
debitum naturae
Debt of nature (death)
de bona memoria
Of good memory (of a sound mind)
de bonis asportatis
Of the goods carried away
de bonis non administratis
Of the goods not yet administered
de bonis propriis
Out of his own goods
de bono et malo
Of good and bad; come what may
de bono gestu
For good behaviour
decani
To be sung by the dean (antiphonal music)
decanus
Dean; having supervision over ten people
decanta
Pour off
deceptio visus
A deception of vision; an optical illusion
decessit sine prole (DSP)
Died without children
decies repetita placebit
Though ten times repeated, it will continue to please (Horace)
decipimur specie rectie
We are deceived by the semblance of what is right (Horace)
decipi quam fallere est tutius
It is safer to be deceived than to deceive
decipi frons prima multos
The first appearance deceives many
De Civitate Dei
On the City of God (St. Augustine)
de claro die
By the light of day
decori decus addit avito
He adds honor to the ancestral honor
decretum
A decree; a mandate
decubitus
Lying down
decus et tutamen
Honour and defense
de die in diem
From day to day; continuously
de duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
Of two evils, always choose the lesser one (Thomas à Kempis)
de facto
Existing by fact
defectus sanguinis
Failure to issue
deficit omne quod nasciture
Everything that is born passes away (Quintillan)
de fide
Of faith
de fide et officio iudicis non recipitur quaestio
No question can be allowed concerning the faith and duty of the judge
definitum
A thing defined
de fumo in flammam
Out of the smoke into the flame
degeneres animos timor arguit
Fear betrays ignoble souls
de gratia
By favour
de gustibus non est disputandum
In matters of taste, there is no argument
Dei gratia
By the grace of God
Dei iudicium
By the judgement of God
de integro
From the beginning; one more time
dei penates
Guardians of the household (household gods)
Dei plena sunt omnia
All things are full of God
Dei Sponsa
The Bride of God (poem by Patmore)
Dei sub numine viget
It flourishes under the will of God (motto of Princeton University)
delenta est Carthago
Carthage must be destroyed (Cato the Elder)
deliciae humani generis
The delight of mankind (Emperor Titus)
delictum
Offense
delineavit
S/he drew it
delirium tremens
Alcoholic distress; delusions and trembling
delphinum natare doces
You are teaching a dolphin to swim
delphinum silvis appingit, fluctibus aprum
He portrays a dolphin in the wods anda wild boar on the waves (Horace)
de lunatico inquiriendo
A writ to inquire into the insanity of a person
dementia
Insanity
dementia a potu
Insanity from drinking
dementia praecox
Insanity in adolescence
deme supercilio nubem
Remove the cloud from you brow
de minimis
Of the most insignificant things
de minimis non curat lex
The law does not concern itself with trifles
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Of the dead [say] nothing but good (Horace)
de nihilo nihil
Nothing comes from nothing (Persius)
denique caelum
Heaven at last (battle cry of the Crusaders)
denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque
All men do not admire and love the same things (Horace)
de novo
New, fresh, renewed, to begin again
dente lupus, cornu taurus petit
The wolf attackswith his teeth, the bull with his horns (Horace)
dente superbo
With a disdainful tooth (Horace)
dentur tales doses
Give of such doses
Deo adjuvante non timendum
God helping, nothing should be feared
Deo date
Give to God
deo dignus vindice nodus
A knot worthy of god to untie
Deo duce
With God as my leader
Deo duce, ferro comitante
With God as my leader and my sword as my companion
Deo et regi fidelis
Faithful to God and king
Deo favente
With God's favour
Deo gratias (D.G,)
Thanks be to God
Deo juvante
With God's help (motto of Monaco)
de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis
Concerning all things andcertain other matters (circumlocution)
de omni rescibili et quibusdam aliis
Concerning everything knowable and a few other things besides
Deo Optimo Maximo (D.O.M.)
For God, the best and greatest (motto of the Benedictines)
Deo, patriae, amicis
For God, motherland, and friends
deorum cibus est
It is food for the gods
deos enim religuos accepimus, Caesares dedimus
The gods were handed down to us, but we created the Caesars (i.e., the rulers) ourselves
dei fortioribus adsunt
The gods aid the stronger (Tacitus)
Deo volente (D.V.)
God willing
de pilo pendet
It hangs by a hair (reaching a critical stage)
de plano
With ease, without difficulty
de praesenti
For the present
deprendi miserum est
It is wretched tobe detected
De Profundis
From the depths; out of despair (Psalm 130)
de proprio motu
Of one's own motion (spontaneouly)
de rubus
Of things
De Rerum Natura
On the Nature of Things (Lucretius)
desideratum
A thing much desired or needed
Desideria
Longings (poem by Wordsworth)
designatum
That which is designated
desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne
A woman, beautiful above, with a fish's tail (Horace)
desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time (Horace)
desuetudo
disuse, no longer active
desunt cetera
The rest of things is lacking; the remainder is lacking
desunt multa
Many things are lacking
de te fabula narratur
The story is told about you (Horace)
de tempore in tempus
From time to time
detur aliquando otium quesque fessis
Let ease and rest be sometimes granted to the weary (Seneca)
detur digniori
Let it be given to the more worthy
detur pulchriori
Let it be given to the more beautiful
Deum cole, regem serva
Worship God and serve the king
Deus avertat
God forbid
Deus det
God grant
Deus est regit qui omnia
There is a God who rules all things
Deus est summum bonum
God is the chief good
deus ex machina
god from a machine (a person who intervenes to solve a problem at the last minute)
Deus gubernat navem
God steers the ship
Deus lux Mea
God is my light (motto of the Catholic University of America)
Deus misereatur
May God have mercy (Psalm 67)
Deus nobiscum, quis contra?
God is with us, who can be against us?
Deus nobis fiducia
God is our trust (motto of George Washington University)
deus nobis haec otia fecit
God has brought for us this repose (Virgil)
Deus providebit
God will provide
Deus tecum
May God be with you (singular)
Deus vobiscum
May God be with you (plural)
Deus vult
God wills it (motto of the First Crusade)
de verbo in verbum
Word for word
de verborum signifacatione
On the significance of words
dextras dare
To give right hands (to shake hands)
dextro tempore
At the right time (Horace)
dicamus bona verba
Let us speak words of good omen (Terence)
dic bona fice
Tell me in good faith (Plautus)
dicere quae puduit, scribere iussit amor
What [modesty] forbade me to say, love has commanded me to write (Ovide)
dicitur
It is said (they say)
dictis facta suppetant
Let deeds correspond to words
dictum ac factum
[No sooner] said than done
dictum de dicto
Report upon hearsay
dictum de omni et nullo
Maxim of all and nothing
dictum sapienti sat est
A word of the wise is sufficient
diebus alternis
Every other day
diebus tertiis
Every third day
diem ex die
Day by day (continuously)
diem perdidi
I have lost (wasted) a day (Emperor Titus)
dies
Day, daily
Lunae
Monday
Martis
Tuesday
Mercurii
Wednesday
Iovis
Thursday
Veneris
Friday
Saturni
Saturday
Dominica
Sunday
dies a quo
Day from which
dies datus
A given day
dies dominicus
The Lord's day
dies faustus
A day bringing good fortune; auspicious day
dies infaustus
A day bringing bad fortune; an unlucky day
Dies Irae
Day of Wrath (hymn for the Requiem Mass)
dies juridicus
A day on which the court is in session
dies non
A day on which no business can be transacted
dies non juridicus
A day on which the court is not in session
difficiles nugae
Laborious trifles (Martial)
difficilia quae pulchra
Things that are excellent are difficult
digito monstrari
To be pointed out with fingers (Persius)
dignus vindice nodus
A knot worthy of such a liberator (Horace)
di (also dii)
gods (singular: deus)
di immortales virtutem approbare, non adhibere debent
We may expect the gods to approve virtue, but not to endow us with it
di maiores
The greater gods; men of eminence
di meliora
Heaven send us better times
dimidium facti qui coepit habet
He who has begun has the work half done (Horace)
dimidius
One-half
di minores
The lesser gods; men of lesser merit
di penates
The household gods
di pia facta vident
The gods see virtuous deeds (Ovid)
dirige nos Domine
Direct us, O Lord
dirigo
I direct (motto of the state of Maine)
diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis
He pulls down, he builds up, he changes square things to round (Horace)
dis aliter visum
The gods thought otherwise (Virgil)
disce pati
Learn to endure
discere et docere
To learn and to teach
discere docendo
To learn through teaching
disciplina praesidium civitatis
Instruction is the safeguard of the state (motto of the University of Texas)
dis ducibus
Under the direction of the gods
disiecta membra
Scattered limbs; fragments of a work
disiecta membra poetae
Limbs of the dismembered poet (Horace)
dispendia morae
Loss of time (Virgil)
disputandi pruritus ecclesiarum scabies
An itch for disputation is the incurable disease of the church
ditat Deus
God enriches (motto of the US state of Arizona)
dives agris, dives positis in faenore nummis
rich in lands, rich in money lent out at interest (Horace)
divide in partes aequales
Divide into equal parts
divide et impera
Divide and rule or
Divide and conquer or
Divide in order to conquer
divide et regna
Divide and rule (Michiavelli)
divina natura dedit agros, ars humana aedificavit urbes
Divine nature gave us the fields, human skill built the cities (Terence)
divinae particula aurae
Particle of divine spirit (Horace)
divitiae virum faciunt
Riches make the man
dixi
I have spoken (I will say no more)
docendo discitur
One learns by teaching docendo
discimus
We learn by teaching
doce ut discas
Teach in order to learn
doctor utriusque legis
Doctor of both laws (canon and civil)
doctus cum libro
Learned with a book (having book learning)
doctus cum multis libris
Learned with many books (a polymath)
dolium volvitur
An empty cask is easily rolled
dolus
Deceit; fraud
dolus bonus
Permissable deceit
dolus malus
Unlawful deceit
Domine, dirige nos
Lord, direct us (motto of London)
Dominica palmarum
Palm Sunday
dominium eminens
Eminent domain
Domino Optimo Maximo (D.O.M)
To the Lord, best and greatest
Dominus
The Lord
Dominus illuminatio mea
The Lord is my light (motto of the University Oxford, England)
Dominus providebit
The Lord will provide
Dominus vobiscum
May the Lord be with you
domus et placens uxor
A home and a pleasing wife (Horace)
Domus Procerum
The House of Lords
donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos
As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends
dono dedit
S/he gives a gift
dormitat Homerus
[even] Homer sleeps
do ut des
I give so that you may give
do ut facias
I give so that you may do
dramatis personae
List of characters in a play
duabus sellis sedere
To sit in two saddles (to wear two hats)
duas tantum res anxius optat, panem et circenses
Two things only do the people earnestly desire, bread and the circus (Juvenal)
duces tecum
You shall bring it with you (subpoena)
ducit amor patriae
The love of country leads [me]
ductus
Style; manner
ductus figuratus
Figurative or indirect style
ductus simplex
Straightforward or simple style
ductus subtilis
Subtle or deceiving style
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt
Fate leads the willing soul, but drags along the unwilling one (Seneca)
dulce bellum inexpertis
War is sweet to those who have never fought
dulce est desipere in loco
It is sweet to relax at the proper time
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and proper to die for one's country
dulce quod utile
What is useful is sweet
dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos
As he dies, he remembers his beloved Argos (Virgil)
dulce sodalicium
Sweet companionship; pleasant association
dulcis amor patriae
Sweet is the love of one's country
dulcis domus
Sweet home
dum
While; on condition that...
dum docent, discunt
While they teach, they learn (Seneca)
dum fortuna fuit
While fortune lasted
dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem
So long as we live along human beings, let us cherish humanity (Seneca)
dum loquimor fugerit invida aetas
Even as we speak, time speeds swiftly away (Horace)
dum loquor, hora fugit
Time is flying while I speak (Ovid)
dum solus
While single
dum spiro, spero
While I breathe, I hope (a motto of South Carolina)
dum tacent clamant
Though they are silent, they cry aloud
dum vita est spes est
While there's life, there's hope
dum vitant stulti vitia in contraria currunt
In shunning vices, fools run to the oposite extreme (Horace)
dum vivimus, vivamus
While we live, let us live
duplici spe uti
To have a double hope
dura lex sed lex
The law is hard, but it is the law
durante
During
durante absentia
During [someone's] absense
durante bene placito
During good pleasure; as long as one wishes
durante dolore
While pain lasts
durante minore aetate
During minority; at an early age; while one is young
durante vita
During one's life
durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis
Carry on and preserve yourselvesfor better times (Virgil)
durum hoc est sed ita lex scripta est
This is harsh but the law is written
dux femina facti
A woman was the leader in the deed (Virgil)
dux gregis
Leader of the flock de duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum
Of two evils, the lesser is always to be chosen (choose the lesser of two evils)
de minimis non curat praetor/ de minimis non curat lex
A praetor/law does not concern himself with petty matters/with very small matters (don't bother me with small matters)
dura lex sed lex
The law is hard, but it is the law
diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium
Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence.
difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas
It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practise it.
de gustibus non disputandum
One ought not argue about tastes/ there is no arguing about tastes
de facto
From the fact actual or actually
de jure
In law /by right
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
Speak nothing but good of the dead
de novo
Anew
deo volente
God willing
de profundis
Out of our depths
dramatis personae
Characters of the play
di te incolumem custodiant
May the Gods guard your safety (an official good-bye phrase)
- E -
Dictionary of Latin Phrases and Proverbs: E
ecce
behold
ecce agnus Dei
behold the Lamb of God
ecce homo
behold the man (Christ in crown of thorns)
ecce quam bonum
behold how good (Psalm 133)
ecce quomodo moritur
behold the way of death
ecce signum
behold the sign; here is the proof
e contra
on the other hand
e contrario
on the contrary
editio cum notis variorum
an edition with notes of various writers
editio cum privilegio
a licensed and authorized edition of a book
editio princeps
first printed edition of a text
editio vulgata
the common edition for the majority
effectus sequitur causam
the effect follows the cause
effugere non potes necessitates, potes vincere
you cannot escape necessities, but you can overcome them (Seneca)
e flamma petere cibum ego et rex meus
to snatch food out of the flame (Terence)
ego et rex meus
my king and I (Cardinal Wolsey)
egomet mihi ignosco
I myself pardon myself (Horace)
ego spem pretio non emo
I do not purchase hope for a price (Terence)
eheu, fugaces labuntur anni
alas, the fleeting years go by (Horace)
ei incumbit probatio qui dicit non qui negat
the proof lies upon the one who affirms, not the one who denies
ejectamenta
ejected matter, worthless items
ejusdem farinae
of the same flour; persons of the same nature
ejusdem generis
of the same kind; of the same class
elapso tempore
the time having elapsed
elephantem ex musca facis
you are making an elephant out of a fly
elixir vitae
elixir of life
emeritus
one having served his time
emollit mores nee sinit esse feros
it makes gentle the character and does not allow it to be unrefined (Ovid)
empta dolore experientia docet
experience teaches when bought with pain
emptor
buyer, purchaser
emulsio
an emulsion
e necessitate
from necessity; having no alternative
enim vero di nos quasi pilas homines habent
the gods use mortals as their playthings
ens a se
a being in itself
Ens Entium
the Supreme Being
ense et aratro
with sword and plow
ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
by the sword she seeks peaceful repose under liberty (motto of Massachusetts)
ens legis
a creature of the law
ens rationis
rational being
ens realissimum
the most real being
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem
things are not to be multiplied unless necessary (Occam's Razor)
eo animo
with that intention
eo instante
at that moment
eo ipso
by that itself; by that fact
eo loco
at that very place
eo nomine
under the name
Epicuri de grege porcus
a hog from the grove of Epicurus; an exquisite meal (Horace)
e pluribus unum
one out of many (motto of the United States)
epulis accumbere divis
to recline at the feasts of the gods (Virgil)
e re nata
under the present circumstance
ergo
therefore
eripuit caelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis
he snatched the thunderbolt from heaven and the sceptor from tyrants (Benjamin Franklin)
errare est humanum
to err is human (Alexander Pope)
erratum
an error in printing or writing (pi. errata)
erubuit, salva res est
he blushed, the affair is safe (Terence)
eruditio et religio
learning and religion (motto of Duke University)
esse
to be; being; existence
esse est percipi
to be is to be perceived (Bishop Berkeley)
esse quam videri
to be rather than to seem (motto of North Carolina)
esse quam videri bonus malebat
he preferred to be good rather than to merely seem good (Sallust)
esse quid
to be; being thus so
est ars etiam male dicendi
there is an art even to malediction
est autem vis legem simulans
violence may also simulate the law
est brevitate opus, ut currat sententia
terseness is needed so that the thought may run free (Horace)
est deus in nobis
there is a god within us (Ovid)
est et fideli tuta silentio merces
loyalty has its reward secure (Horace)
est modus in rebus
there is a proper measure in things (Horace)
esto perpetua
may she live forever (motto of Idaho)
esto perpetuum
let it be everlasting
esto quod esse videris
be what you seem to be
est quaedam flere voluptas
there is a certain pleasure in crying (Ovid)
est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae
every one is the creator of his own fortune
et alia; et alii (et al.)
and other things; and other people
et alibi
and elsewhere
et campose ubi Troia fruit
and the plains where Troy once was (Virgil)
et cetera (etc.)
and the rest; and so forth
et cum spiritu tuo
and with your spirit
et decus et pretium recti
both the ornament and reward of virtue
et discere et rerum exquire re causas
both to learn and to investigate the causes of things (motto of Georgia)
et ego in Arcadia
and I too (Death) have been in Arcadia
E Tenebris
Out of the Darkness (poem by Oscar Wilde)
et genus et formam regina pecunia donat
money, like the queen, gives them both rank and beauty (Horace
et genus et virtus, nisi cum re, vilior alga est
without substance, honor and valor are more worthless than seaweed (Horace)
et hoc genus omne
and everything of the kind
etiam atque etiam again and again
etiam peribant ruinae
even the ruins have perished (Lucan)
etiam sapientibus cupido gloriae novissima exuitur
the desire for glory is the last infirmity to be cast off even by the wise (Tacitus)
et id genus omne
and everything of the kind
et mihi res, non me rebus subjungere conor
I suit life to myself, not myself to life (Horace)
et nos quoque tela sparsimus
we too have hurled weapons
et nunc et semper
now and always
et passim
and everywhere; scattered thought
et sceleratis sol oritur
the sun shines even on the wicked (Seneca)
et sequens (et seq.)
and the following
et sic de ceteris
and so the rest
et sic de similibus
and so of similar things (or people)
et sic fecit
and he or she did so
et tollens vacuum plus nimio Gloria verticem
Vain glory, who lifts her proud head too high
et uxor (et ux.)
and wife
eventus stultorum magister
the result is the instructor of fools (Livy)
ex abrupto
without preparation
ex abundante cautela
from excessive caution
ex abundantia
out of the abundance
ex abusu non arguitur in usum
from the abuse of a thing there is no arguing against its use
ex acervo
out of a heap
ex adverso
from the opposite side
ex aequo et bono
according to justice and right
ex animo
from the heart; sincerely
ex auctoritate commissa
by virtue of my authority
ex bona fide
out of one's honor; from good faith
ex capite
out of the head; from memory
ex cathedra
from the seat; a position of authority
excelsior
ever higher (motto of the State of New York)
exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis
the exception proves the rule as to things not excepted
exceptis exicipiendibus
things excluded which should be excluded
excerpta
selections or excerpts
excitari, non hebescere
to be excited, not dull
ex commodo
from convenience
ex concesso
from what has been conceded
ex contractu
matter arising out of a contract
excudit
he or she cast it
ex curia
from the court
ex delicto
matter arising out of the crime
ex dono
by gift of; donated by
ex dono Dei
by the gift of Cod
exeat
he or she may go out; allowing student to be absent
exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have raised a monument more durable than bronze (Horace)
exempla sunt odiosa
examples are odious
exempli gratia (e.g.)
odious for the sake of example
exemplum exequatur
sample; copy; model it may be executed
exeunt
they go out; the players leave the stage
exeunt omnes
all the players leave the stage
exercitatio optimus es magister
practice is the best teacher
ex facie
from the face of
ex facto
from the fact or act
ex facto jus oritur
the law arises out of the fact
ex fide fortis
strength through faith
ex granis fit acervus
many grains make a heap
ex gratia
as an act of grace; out of one's favor
exhibeatur
let it be given
exit
he or she goes out; player leaves the stage
exitus acta probat
the end justifies the means (Ovid)
ex lege
arising from the law
ex libris
from the library of (used on bookplates)
exlonginquo
from a distance
ex malis moribus bonae leges natae sunt
from bad usages, good laws have been born
ex mera gratia
through mere favor
ex mero motu
our of simple impulse; spontaneously
ex modo praescripto
as directed
ex more
according to custom
ex natura rei
from the nature of things
ex necessitate rei
from the necessity of the case
ex nihilo
from nothing
ex nihilo nihil fit
from nothing, nothing can be made (Lucretius)
ex officio
by virtue of one's office
Ex Ore Infantium
Out of the Mouth of Babies (Francis Thompson)
ex ore parvulorum veritas
out of the mouth of little children (comes) truth
exorire alquis nortis ex ossibus ultor
rise up from my dead bones, avenger (Virgil)
ex parte
from one side only; partisan
ex pede Herculem
to measure Hercules from his foot; from the sample we are able to estimate the whole
expende Hannibalem
weigh (the dust of) Hannibal (Juvenal)
experientia docet
experience teaches
experientia docet stultos
experience teaches fools
experimentum crucis
a crucial experiment
experto credito
trust in one who has experience
expertus metuit
having had experience, he is afraid (Horace)
explicit
it ends here
explorant adversa viros
misfortune tries men
ex post facto
after the fact; in retrospect
expressio unius est exclusio alterius
the expression of one thing excludes others
expressis verbis
in express terms
ex professo
in an open manner
ex proposito
of a set purpose; by design
ex propriis
from one's own resources
ex proprio motu
of one's own accord; voluntarily
ex quocunque capite
for whatever reason
ex relatione
reason upon relation or report
ex tacito
in a tacit manner
ex tempore
spontaneously, without preparation
ex silentio
in consequence of no contrary evidence
exinctus amabitur idem
the same one will be loved after he's dead
extortor bonorum legumque contortor
one who extorts good citizens and twists the laws (Terence)
extra modum
beyond measure
extra muros
beyond the walls
extra pecuniam non est vita
without money there is no life
ex turpi causa non oritur actio
no immoral matter can lead to a legal action
ex ungue leonem
from the claw (we may judge) a lion; from a sample we may judge the whole
ex uno disce omnes
from one, learn of all; deductive reasoning
eiurare patriam
to renounce one's country
ex usu
of use; advantageous
ex vi termini
from the force of the term
ex voluntate
as a volunteer, without obligation
ex voto
out of a vow; in pursuance of a vow
exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have raised a monument more durable than bronze (from Horace's Odes)
exitus acta probat
The result validates the deeds.
ejustden generis
Of the same kind
e pluribus unum
One out of many
et tu brute
And you too Brutus (Caesar's last words, actually were said in Greek)
ex curia
Out of court
exempli gratia
By way of example
ecce
behold
ecce agnus Dei
behold the Lamb of God
ecce homo
behold the man (Christ in crown of thorns)
ecce quam bonum
behold how good (Psalm 133)
ecce quomodo moritur
behold the way of death
ecce signum
behold the sign; here is the proof
e contra
on the other hand
e contrario
on the contrary
editio cum notis variorum
an edition with notes of various writers
editio cum privilegio
a licensed and authorized edition of a book
editio princeps
first printed edition of a text
editio vulgata
the common edition for the majority
effectus sequitur causam
the effect follows the cause
effugere non potes necessitates, potes vincere
you cannot escape necessities, but you can overcome them (Seneca)
e flamma petere cibum ego et rex meus
to snatch food out of the flame (Terence)
ego et rex meus
my king and I (Cardinal Wolsey)
egomet mihi ignosco
I myself pardon myself (Horace)
ego spem pretio non emo
I do not purchase hope for a price (Terence)
eheu, fugaces labuntur anni
alas, the fleeting years go by (Horace)
ei incumbit probatio qui dicit non qui negat
the proof lies upon the one who affirms, not the one who denies
ejectamenta
ejected matter, worthless items
ejusdem farinae
of the same flour; persons of the same nature
ejusdem generis
of the same kind; of the same class
elapso tempore
the time having elapsed
elephantem ex musca facis
you are making an elephant out of a fly
elixir vitae
elixir of life
emeritus
one having served his time
emollit mores nee sinit esse feros
it makes gentle the character and does not allow it to be unrefined (Ovid)
empta dolore experientia docet
experience teaches when bought with pain
emptor
buyer, purchaser
emulsio
an emulsion
e necessitate
from necessity; having no alternative
enim vero di nos quasi pilas homines habent
the gods use mortals as their playthings
ens a se
a being in itself
Ens Entium
the Supreme Being
ense et aratro
with sword and plow
ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
by the sword she seeks peaceful repose under liberty (motto of Massachusetts)
ens legis
a creature of the law
ens rationis
rational being
ens realissimum
the most real being
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem
things are not to be multiplied unless necessary (Occam's Razor)
eo animo
with that intention
eo instante
at that moment
eo ipso
by that itself; by that fact
eo loco
at that very place
eo nomine
under the name
Epicuri de grege porcus
a hog from the grove of Epicurus; an exquisite meal (Horace)
e pluribus unum
one out of many (motto of the United States)
epulis accumbere divis
to recline at the feasts of the gods (Virgil)
e re nata
under the present circumstance
ergo
therefore
eripuit caelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis
he snatched the thunderbolt from heaven and the sceptor from tyrants (Benjamin Franklin)
errare est humanum
to err is human (Alexander Pope)
erratum
an error in printing or writing (pi. errata)
erubuit, salva res est
he blushed, the affair is safe (Terence)
eruditio et religio
learning and religion (motto of Duke University)
esse
to be; being; existence
esse est percipi
to be is to be perceived (Bishop Berkeley)
esse quam videri
to be rather than to seem (motto of North Carolina)
esse quam videri bonus malebat
he preferred to be good rather than to merely seem good (Sallust)
esse quid
to be; being thus so
est ars etiam male dicendi
there is an art even to malediction
est autem vis legem simulans
violence may also simulate the law
est brevitate opus, ut currat sententia
terseness is needed so that the thought may run free (Horace)
est deus in nobis
there is a god within us (Ovid)
est et fideli tuta silentio merces
loyalty has its reward secure (Horace)
est modus in rebus
there is a proper measure in things (Horace)
esto perpetua
may she live forever (motto of Idaho)
esto perpetuum
let it be everlasting
esto quod esse videris
be what you seem to be
est quaedam flere voluptas
there is a certain pleasure in crying (Ovid)
est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae
every one is the creator of his own fortune
et alia; et alii (et al.)
and other things; and other people
et alibi
and elsewhere
et campose ubi Troia fruit
and the plains where Troy once was (Virgil)
et cetera (etc.)
and the rest; and so forth
et cum spiritu tuo
and with your spirit
et decus et pretium recti
both the ornament and reward of virtue
et discere et rerum exquire re causas
both to learn and to investigate the causes of things (motto of Georgia)
et ego in Arcadia
and I too (Death) have been in Arcadia
E Tenebris
Out of the Darkness (poem by Oscar Wilde)
et genus et formam regina pecunia donat
money, like the queen, gives them both rank and beauty (Horace
et genus et virtus, nisi cum re, vilior alga est
without substance, honor and valor are more worthless than seaweed (Horace)
et hoc genus omne
and everything of the kind
etiam atque etiam again and again
etiam peribant ruinae
even the ruins have perished (Lucan)
etiam sapientibus cupido gloriae novissima exuitur
the desire for glory is the last infirmity to be cast off even by the wise (Tacitus)
et id genus omne
and everything of the kind
et mihi res, non me rebus subjungere conor
I suit life to myself, not myself to life (Horace)
et nos quoque tela sparsimus
we too have hurled weapons
et nunc et semper
now and always
et passim
and everywhere; scattered thought
et sceleratis sol oritur
the sun shines even on the wicked (Seneca)
et sequens (et seq.)
and the following
et sic de ceteris
and so the rest
et sic de similibus
and so of similar things (or people)
et sic fecit
and he or she did so
et tollens vacuum plus nimio Gloria verticem
Vain glory, who lifts her proud head too high
et uxor (et ux.)
and wife
eventus stultorum magister
the result is the instructor of fools (Livy)
ex abrupto
without preparation
ex abundante cautela
from excessive caution
ex abundantia
out of the abundance
ex abusu non arguitur in usum
from the abuse of a thing there is no arguing against its use
ex acervo
out of a heap
ex adverso
from the opposite side
ex aequo et bono
according to justice and right
ex animo
from the heart; sincerely
ex auctoritate commissa
by virtue of my authority
ex bona fide
out of one's honor; from good faith
ex capite
out of the head; from memory
ex cathedra
from the seat; a position of authority
excelsior
ever higher (motto of the State of New York)
exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis
the exception proves the rule as to things not excepted
exceptis exicipiendibus
things excluded which should be excluded
excerpta
selections or excerpts
excitari, non hebescere
to be excited, not dull
ex commodo
from convenience
ex concesso
from what has been conceded
ex contractu
matter arising out of a contract
excudit
he or she cast it
ex curia
from the court
ex delicto
matter arising out of the crime
ex dono
by gift of; donated by
ex dono Dei
by the gift of Cod
exeat
he or she may go out; allowing student to be absent
exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have raised a monument more durable than bronze (Horace)
exempla sunt odiosa
examples are odious
exempli gratia (e.g.)
odious for the sake of example
exemplum exequatur
sample; copy; model it may be executed
exeunt
they go out; the players leave the stage
exeunt omnes
all the players leave the stage
exercitatio optimus es magister
practice is the best teacher
ex facie
from the face of
ex facto
from the fact or act
ex facto jus oritur
the law arises out of the fact
ex fide fortis
strength through faith
ex granis fit acervus
many grains make a heap
ex gratia
as an act of grace; out of one's favor
exhibeatur
let it be given
exit
he or she goes out; player leaves the stage
exitus acta probat
the end justifies the means (Ovid)
ex lege
arising from the law
ex libris
from the library of (used on bookplates)
exlonginquo
from a distance
ex malis moribus bonae leges natae sunt
from bad usages, good laws have been born
ex mera gratia
through mere favor
ex mero motu
our of simple impulse; spontaneously
ex modo praescripto
as directed
ex more
according to custom
ex natura rei
from the nature of things
ex necessitate rei
from the necessity of the case
ex nihilo
from nothing
ex nihilo nihil fit
from nothing, nothing can be made (Lucretius)
ex officio
by virtue of one's office
Ex Ore Infantium
Out of the Mouth of Babies (Francis Thompson)
ex ore parvulorum veritas
out of the mouth of little children (comes) truth
exorire alquis nortis ex ossibus ultor
rise up from my dead bones, avenger (Virgil)
ex parte
from one side only; partisan
ex pede Herculem
to measure Hercules from his foot; from the sample we are able to estimate the whole
expende Hannibalem
weigh (the dust of) Hannibal (Juvenal)
experientia docet
experience teaches
experientia docet stultos
experience teaches fools
experimentum crucis
a crucial experiment
experto credito
trust in one who has experience
expertus metuit
having had experience, he is afraid (Horace)
explicit
it ends here
explorant adversa viros
misfortune tries men
ex post facto
after the fact; in retrospect
expressio unius est exclusio alterius
the expression of one thing excludes others
expressis verbis
in express terms
ex professo
in an open manner
ex proposito
of a set purpose; by design
ex propriis
from one's own resources
ex proprio motu
of one's own accord; voluntarily
ex quocunque capite
for whatever reason
ex relatione
reason upon relation or report
ex tacito
in a tacit manner
ex tempore
spontaneously, without preparation
ex silentio
in consequence of no contrary evidence
exinctus amabitur idem
the same one will be loved after he's dead
extortor bonorum legumque contortor
one who extorts good citizens and twists the laws (Terence)
extra modum
beyond measure
extra muros
beyond the walls
extra pecuniam non est vita
without money there is no life
ex turpi causa non oritur actio
no immoral matter can lead to a legal action
ex ungue leonem
from the claw (we may judge) a lion; from a sample we may judge the whole
ex uno disce omnes
from one, learn of all; deductive reasoning
eiurare patriam
to renounce one's country
ex usu
of use; advantageous
ex vi termini
from the force of the term
ex voluntate
as a volunteer, without obligation
ex voto
out of a vow; in pursuance of a vow
exegi monumentum aere perennius
I have raised a monument more durable than bronze (from Horace's Odes)
exitus acta probat
The result validates the deeds.
ejustden generis
Of the same kind
e pluribus unum
One out of many
et tu brute
And you too Brutus (Caesar's last words, actually were said in Greek)
ex curia
Out of court
exempli gratia
By way of example
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