Academics — PMAQ Flashcards
Influenced by National Source "Latin Everywhere, Everyday" by Elizabeth Heimbach
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase pater familias.
Literal translation: father of the family
Fun Fact: If you are a Latin student, you might expect familias to end in -ae here because it means “of the family,” but –as is an archaic ending, which shows possession. This phrase is sometimes written in English as a single word, as are “bonafide” and “antebellum.” Mater familias is a similar expression that means “mother of the family,” but a mother did not wield the same power as did a Roman father who had the power of life and death over those in his household.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sub poena.
Literal translation: under penalty
More common meaning: a legal document summoning a person to court
Fun Fact: You have probably heard this phrase, which can be a verb written as a single word in English.
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the South Carolina (I).
dum spiro spero
Literal translation: as long as I breathe, I hope
More common meaning: while there is life, there is hope
Fun Fact: A poet is inspired by beauty, an insect breathes through spiracles, and you perspire when you are hot. The base of all three English words, “inspire,” “spiracle,” and “perspire,” is the Latin word spiro, meaning “I breathe.” Dum in Latin has several meanings: “as long as,” “while,” or “until.” Sperare is the infinitive of the Latin verb that means “to hope.” There is another Latin word spes for the noun meaning “hope.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in hoc signo vinces.
Literal translation: in this sign you will conquer
Fun Fact: In 314 CE, two rivals for the throne of the Roman Empire, Constantine and Maxentius, met at the Milvian Bridge north of Rome. There, Constantine had a dream in which he heard the Holy Ghost saying, “In hoc signo vinces.” The sign Constantine saw in his dream was a symbol of Christ consisting of the Greek letters chi and rho which are the first letters of Christ. The Greek letter chi looks like a Latin X, and a rho looks like a P. Although Constantine was not a Christian, he won the battle against Maxentius, became emperor, and ordered the persecution of Christians to cease. Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase emeritus, emerita.
Literal translation: with merit
More common meaning: retired
Fun Fact: Emeritus describes a man who has retired while emerita describes a woman. Emeriti is the plural form for both. You can see “merit” within each word; the implication seems clear that an older person deserves or merits retiring.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Wellesley College.
ministrare quam ministrari
Literal translation: to serve rather than to be served
Fun Fact: Notice that changing the final –e of ministrare to an –i changes the verb from an active to a passive infinitive.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase alter ego.
Literal translation: another self
More common meaning: a perfect substitute or deputy
Fun Fact: Your alter ego shares your thoughts completely. An alter ego can also be one of the two sides of the same person’s personality, as Dr. Jeckyll was the alter ego of Mr. Hyde. Alter in Latin means “the other” when there are only two choices. Ego is the Latin pronoun that means “I.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the University of Chicago.
crescat scientia, vita excolatur
Literal translation: let knowledge grow, let life be perfected
Fun Fact: We saw crescit meaning “it grows” in crescit eundo, the motto of New Mexico, so crescat here is easy to remember. Vita, the Latin word for life, gives us the English words “vital” and “vita- min.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Johns Hopkins University.
veritas vos liberabit
Literal translation: the truth shall make you free
Fun Fact: This familiar phrase makes a perfect motto for a university where students and scholars seek truth.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase cornucopia.
Literal translation: horn of plenty
Fun Fact: Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, is sometimes shown holding a horn shaped basket filled with vegetables, fruit, and wheat. This symbol of abundance is called a cornucopia. It is easy to remember that the Latin word for “horn” is cornu if you think of the English word “unicorn.” Copia, the Latin word for “plenty,” is the root of “copious” meaning “plentiful” in English.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase fiat lux.
Literal translation: let light be made
More common meaning: let there be light
Fun Fact: This phrase comes from the story of creation in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Fiat means “let it be done” or “let it be made.” The word fiat is an English word meaning a “decree” or “command,” because a decree is something that is to be done.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in loco parentis.
Literal translation: in place of a parent
Fun Fact: A school is considered to be responsible for the welfare of its students because it stands in loco parentis.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in absentia.
Literal translation: in one’s absence
Fun Fact: This is an easy expression to remember because the Latin word absentia is so close to the English word “absence.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Arizona.
ditat Deus
Literal translation: God enriches
Fun Fact: Remember the motto of Kentucky that began with the word Deo? Deus in this motto is another form of the same Latin word. It is interesting that the name itself of the state of Arizona comes from two Latin words; aridus meaning “dry” and “zona” meaning “belt” or “zone.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Missouri.
salus populi suprema lex esto
Literal translation: let the safety of the people be the supreme law
Fun Fact: We saw esto in the motto of Idaho, Esto perpetua. Notice that the word populus has changed to populi here so we add the word “of” when we translate it. Salus gives us the English word “salubrious,” which means “healthy.” You might read about an area of the country, which has a salubrious climate.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase pro rata.
Literal translation: according to a fixed share
More common meaning: in proportion
Fun Fact: Often a large debt like a mortgage is too much to pay off all at once so the lender allows the debtor to pay in installments, pro rata. The English verb “prorate” means “to divide evenly.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Maryland.
scuto bonae voluntatis tuae coronasti nos
Literal translation: You (God) have crowned us with the shield of Your good will
Fun Fact: Scuto means “shield” in Latin, and bonae voluntatis means “good will.” You can see that the English word “voluntary,” which means “willing,” is related to voluntatis.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase docendo discitur.
Literal translation: one learns by teaching
Fun Fact: If you have ever helped a friend with homework, you know how true this expression is! Doceo is the Latin word that means “I teach,” and you know that a “docent” is a guide in a museum who teaches you about the displays. Disco, the Latin word for “learn,” gives us the English words “discipline” and “disciple.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps.
semper fidelis
Literal translation: always faithful
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation s.l..
sine loco
Literal translation: without a place
More common meaning: without a place of publication listed
Fun Fact: When you prepare a bibliography for a research paper, you note the publisher’s information from the books you have used for your research. If no place of publication is listed, you simply write s.l..
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Oregon.
alis volat propriis
Literal translation: she flies by her own wings
Fun Fact: “Volatile” in English means “fickle” or “changeable,” or in science, “easily evaporated.” You can see that “volatile” is related to volat, which comes from the Latin verb volare, “to fly.” Propriis gives us the English word “expropriate, to take away,” and alis gives us “alate,” which means “having wings.” What a wonderful image of the state of Oregon taking flight!
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase prima facie.
Literal translation: at first appearance
More common meaning: obvious on the face of it
Fun Fact: Prima is a form of the Latin word primus that means “first,” and facie comes from facies meaning “appearance.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase deus ex machina.
Literal translation: god from the machine
More common meaning: any artificial or improbable device used to resolve the difficulties of a plot
Fun Fact: In an ancient theater production, an actor playing the role of a god could be flown on stage by means of an apparatus like a crane. Today, an abrupt end to a play or novel can be called a deus ex machina ending.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation viz..
videlicet
Literal translation: namely
Fun Fact: Remember the x in Rx that was not really the letter x, but an abbreviation? Here, the letter that looks like a z is really an abbreviation for the rest of the letters in the word videlicet.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase verbatim.
Literal meaning: word for word
Fun Fact: In Latin verbum means not “verb,” but “word,” and the ending –tim is used for some adverbs. You may remember the word seriatim, which means “in series,” and statim that means “immediately.” An exact quotation is verbatim. There is another Latin word literatim, which means “letter by letter,” or “literally.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase modus vivendi.
Literal translation: way of living, lifestyle
Fun Fact: The Latin verb vivo means “live,” and vivendi is a form of vivo. The English word “vivacious,” meaning “lively,” is a derivative of vivo.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation lb..
libra
Literal translation: weight
More common meaning: pound
Fun Fact: A pound is a measure of weight that is the equivalent of sixteen ounces or about half a kilogram. Look for the abbreviation lb on packages of sugar or flour next time you are in a grocery store. It is the abbreviation of the Latin word libra that means “pound.” In England or Scotland, the abbreviation L stands for a pound sterling.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase per se.
Literal translation: by itself
Fun Fact: Per se is a very common expression in English. Latin students have probably learned that the preposition per means “through,” but you can see that per is translated “by” in expressions like per diem, per capita, and per se.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Notley family.
noli mentiri
Literal translation: don’t lie
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Dimsdale family.
quod Deus vult fiet Literal translation: what God wants will be
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the MacMoran family.
pro lusu et praeda
Literal translation: for sport and spoil
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation i.e..
id est
Literal translation: that is
More common meaning: in other words
Fun Fact: Id est is a very common Latin expression found in everyday English. Be careful not to confuse i.e. with e.g., which means “for example.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Mississippi.
virtute et armis
Literal translation: by courage and arms
Fun Fact: Virtute looks like the English word “virtue,” but actually means “courage” in Latin. Armis is a form of arma, the word for “weapons” we saw in the motto of Wyoming, cedant arma togae. The English word “armament” is a cognate.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase pax vobiscum.
Literal translation: peace (be) with you
Fun Fact: Do you remember cum laude, the Latin phrase which means “with praise?” Notice that here cum, the word for “with,” is attached to the end of the word vobis. A similar Latin phrase is pax nobiscum meaning “Peace (be) with us.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase homo sapiens.
Literal translation: wise human
More common meaning: human being
Fun Fact: In the eighteenth century a Swedish botanist named Karl von Linne developed a system of classification for all living plants and animals. He gave each specimen two Latin names. In von Linne’s system of binomial nomenclature homo sapiens is a human being. Homo in Latin means “human being,” and sapiens means “wise.” Von Linne used Latin for his system because Latin was the international language of scholars and scientists at that time. He also took a Latinized form of his own name: Carolus Linnaeus.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation per cent..
per centum
Literal translation: out of each hundred
Fun Fact: This phrase is usually shortened in English and written as one word: “percent.” English words like “cent” and “century” are derived from centum.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase lapsus linguae.
Literal translation: slip of the tongue
Fun Fact: The English word “linguist,” which means an expert in languages, comes from the Latin word lingua meaning “tongue.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase arma virumque cano.
Literal translation: arms and the man I sing
More common meaning: I tell of wars and a hero
Fun Fact: The opening words of the great Roman epic poem, the Aeneid, are “Arma virumque cano”. Arma is a reference to the fighting that Aeneas, the hero of the Aeneid, endures, and virum or “man” refers to Aeneas himself. We derive the English word “virile” meaning “manly” from this Latin word. Notice that the syllable -que is added to virum to mean “and.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Douglas family.
fortes fortuna juvat
Literal translation: fortune helps the brave
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase seriatim.
Literal translation: in series
Fun Fact: The letters –tim are an adverbial ending in Latin, so another way to translate seriatim is “serially.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation ibid..
ibidem
Literal translation: in the same place
Fun Fact: Ibidem or its abbreviation ibid. is used in footnotes when the book has been cited earlier.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the City of Chicago.
urbs in horto
Literal translation: a city in a garden
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Amherst College.
terras irradient
Literal translation: they will light up the lands
Fun Fact: You can see that the English word “radiant,” which means “shining,” is related to irradient. It is interesting that this motto still has the theme of light even though it does not include either lux or lumen.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the University of Washington.
Numen lumen Literal translation: God (is) light
Fun Fact: Remember that numen meant “God” or “Providence” in the motto of Colorado, nil sine Numine, “nothing without God”? If you do, it will be easy for you to remember that numen means “God” in this motto. Lumen is also an interesting word choice. It means “light,” but it refers to lamplight while lux is daylight. “Lumen” is actually an English word for a unit of measurement used for light emission. “Luminous” in English means “bright” or “shining.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Colorado.
nil sine Numine
Literal translation: nothing without God
Fun Fact: “Nil” means nothing in English as well as in Latin. You can also think of the English expres- sion “willy-nilly,” which is short for “will he (want to do something), nil he (not want to do it at all).” Numine is an interesting word because it is related to the Latin verb nuo, “to nod.” We saw a compound of this verb in the motto Annuit coeptis meaning “He (God) has favored our undertakings.” You might wonder what nodding has to do with favoring, but the Romans believed that a divinity showed favor by nodding approval. “Numinous” is an English adjec- tive meaning “supernatural.” You might see it in a description of a special place that has a numinous atmosphere.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Michigan.
si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice
Literal translation: if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around
Fun Fact: You can see why this motto was chosen for Michigan if you know that the state actually is a peninsula. The English word “peninsula” comes from two Latin words, paene meaning “almost” and insula meaning “island.” This makes sense when you consider that a peninsu- la really would be an island if it had water on four sides instead of only three. Another inter- esting derivative comes from the Latin word amoenam meaning “pleasant.” The English word “amenity” means “something that is pleasant but not essential.” Heated towel racks might be an example of an amenity advertised in a real estate listing.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Arkansas.
regnat populus
Literal translation: the people rule
Fun Fact: Do you know the phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus, which means the “Senate and People of Rome?” If so, you will recognize the Latin word populus. The first syllable of regnat appears in many English words that relate to ruling or to kings and queens. “Regalia,” for example, means “elegant attire worn for special occasions.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation n.p.o..
nihil per os
Literal translation: nothing by mouth
Fun Fact: Nihil meaning “nothing” gives us the English word “annihilate,” which means “to destroy completely.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Virginia.
sic semper tyrannis
Literal translation: thus always to tyrants
Fun Fact: When you hear the word tyrannis, you might think of the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus Rex, but the motto of Virginia has nothing to do with dinosaurs! Instead, an actual tyrant is shown on the state seal. He is lying on the ground, and a fierce warrior woman is standing with her foot on his neck. The woman represents Virtus, the spirit of Virginia. Virtus in Latin means “courage.” Sic can be used in English to mean “thus,” “in this way.” When there is a grammar mistake in a quotation, the writer who is making the citation will add sic to show that the error came from the person being quoted, not from the writer. Finally, you can remember that semper means “always” if you remember the motto of West Virginia, montani semper liberi (mountain people are always free).
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the 11th Medical Regiment.
curare
Literal translation: to care for
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation etc..
et cetera
Literal translation: and the rest
Fun Fact: If you have seen the musical “The King and I,” you will remember the king shouting, “Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!” Latin students will recognize that cetera is neuter plural.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in memoriam.
Literal translation: in memory
Fun Fact: This phrase can be found on the obituary page of a newspaper. Latin students who know that in with the accusative means “into” will notice that in does NOT translate “into” in this phrase even though memoriam is accusative.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ignis fatuus.
Literal meaning: foolish fire
More common meaning: will-o’-the-wisp, something misleading
Fun Fact: When swamp gas catches fire spontaneously, the fire is called a will-o’-the-wisp. People sometimes follow an ignis fatuus or swamp fire thinking they are following an actual beacon or lamp. The word for “fire” in Latin is ignis, and fatuus means “foolish.” Think of the English words “ignite” and “fatuous” to help you remember this expression.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase quidnunc.
Literal translation: what now
More common meaning: a busybody
Fun Fact: Quid in Latin means “what,” and nunc means “now.” Someone who is always asking, “What now?” is probably eager to learn the latest gossip and can be called a quidnunc.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase terra incognita.
Literal translation: unknown land
More common meaning: undiscovered territory
Fun Fact: Old maps labeled in Latin sometimes have large blank areas marked terra incognita. These lands were unknown: they had not yet been explored. Incognita is obviously related to the English word “incognito.” If someone is traveling incognito, he or she is in disguise and does not want anyone to recognize who he is. He has probably taken an alias, another name. Remember that the first syllable of “alibi” comes from alius meaning “another.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase casus belli.
Literal translation: cause of war
Fun Fact: Remember the word bellum from the phrase ante bellum? Here is another form of the word. The English word “bellicose” meaning “warlike” is a derivative of bellum.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation vs. / v..
versus
Literal translation: against
Fun Fact: You probably know the word versus from the names of court cases like Brown versus Board of Education or descriptions of contests between opposing teams like the Redskins versus the Cowboys.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation stat..
statim
Literal translation: immediately
Fun Fact: Remember the adverb seriatim? Here is another example of a Latin adverb ending in the letters –tim.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase placebo.
Literal meaning: I will please
More common meaning: an inactive medicine given merely to satisfy a patient
Fun Fact: When scientists want to examine the effects of a new medication, they give a certain number of people in the study a sugar pill instead of the new medicine. The sugar pill is called a placebo because sometimes it seems to please the patients as much as the real medicine. Improvement that occurs because patients believe they have received medication is called a placebo effect.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase mens sana in corpore sano.
Literal translation: a sound mind in a sound body
Fun Fact: It is easy to remember sana and sano if you think of their English opposite: “insane.” You have seen corpore in another form in expressions like habeas corpus and corpus delicti.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase O tempora, O mores.
Literal translation: O the times! O the customs!
Fun Fact: In English, “mores” means “morals” as well as “customs.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sanctum sanctorum.
Literal translation: holy of holies
More common meaning: a very private place
Fun Fact: In English, “sanctify” means “to make holy,” so you can easily remember that both sanctum and sanctorum are forms of the Latin adjective sanctus meaning “holy.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase sic.
Literal translation: thus
Fun Fact: Sic is a word you often see in direct quotations to indicate that a mistake in spelling or grammar came from the source, not from the writer or reporter.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ultima Thule.
Literal translation: farthest Thule
More common meaning: the farthest point, the limit of any journey
Fun Fact: Ultima Thule was believed by the Romans to be the farthest point north. It is interesting to note that in modern times a city in Greenland was actually given the name Thule.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase stet.
Literal translation: let it stand
Fun Fact: When a manuscript is being prepared for publication, an editor writes stet on a page that has been corrected. Stet shows that the page should stand as written, in other words, that no more corrections need to be made to that page. Stet can also be used if the editor later decides to ignore an earlier correction. Then stet means that the original version should stand.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in vacuo.
Literal translation: in a vacuum
More common meaning: in emptiness, without considering other factors
Fun Fact: In Latin the word for empty is vacuus. It has two “u”s in many of its forms, and that is why the English word “vacuum” has two “u”s.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase rara avis.
Literal translation: a rare bird
More common meaning: an unusual person
Fun Fact: A zoo usually has an aviary, a large cage for birds, and an aviator is someone who flies. Both of these English words come from the Latin word avis.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase status quo ante.
Literal translation: the condition in which things (were) before
Fun Fact: You sometimes see this expression with the word ante omitted. Then it means the condition in which things (are) (now).
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase stare decisis.
Literal translation: the decision stands
Fun Fact: Stare is the infinitive of the Latin verb “to stand,” and you can see that decisis is the root of the English word “decision.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Graeme / Graham / Willett family.
noli me tangere
Literal translation: don’t touch me
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of North Carolina.
esse quam videri
Literal translation: to be rather than to seem
Fun Fact: In English the unconjugated form of a verb has two parts: “to” plus the verb. This form is called an “infinitive.” For example, the infinitive of “love” is “to love.” In Latin, present infini- tives are all one word so esse and videri are both infinitives. Notice that we translate both infinitives with “to.” The English word “essence” is a derivative of esse, and this motto clear- ly emphasizes the importance of what people are inside, not what is evident on the outside. Their essence is what matters!
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase mirabile dictu.
Literal translation: amazing to say
Fun Fact: Vergil, the author of the Roman epic the Aeneid, uses this expression whenever his hero encounters something marvelous, like a monster or a god or a ghost.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase nil desperandum.
Literal translation: nothing must be despaired of
More common meaning: never give up
Fun Fact: Nil is a shortened form of nihil. Sometimes people use the word nil instead of zero when they are giving scores of games. You might hear someone say, “The score was 8 – nil,” instead of “The score was 8 to zero.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Episcopal High School.
fortiter, feliciter, fideliter
Literal translation: bravely, happily, faithfully
Fun Fact: These three adverbs rhyme! Notice that they all end in –ter; another adverbial ending is -e as you can see in the Madeira motto Festina lente. It is interesting that each of the roots of these adverbs gives us an English derivative: “fortitude” means “bravery” or “courage,” “felicity” means “happiness,” and “fidelity” means “faithfulness.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase alibi.
Literal translation: elsewhere
More common meaning: defense of being elsewhere when a crime was committed
Fun Fact: To a Roman the word alibi was an adverb formed from “al,” short for alius meaning “other” and ibi meaning “there, in that place.” Today a person accused of a crime has a strong defense if he has an alibi that confirms that he was in another place at the time the crime was committed.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sine qua non.
Literal translation: without which not
More common meaning: the essential element, a necessity
Fun Fact: You have seen the Latin word sine in the expressions sine die and sine loco; this new phrase, thus, will be easy to remember.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase genius loci.
Literal translation: guardian spirit of a place
Fun Fact: The Romans believed that spirits inhabited all sorts of inanimate objects like doorways and trees. It is no surprise to discover that they believed a place with a special feeling or atmosphere had its own genius loci.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase nemo est supra leges.
Literal translation: no one is above the law
Fun Fact: Nemo in Latin means “no one.” Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo and Disney’s animated fish have the same name, so this should be an easy expression to learn.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sui juris.
Literal translation: in one’s own right
More common meaning: having full legal capacity, i.e., not a child
Fun Fact: You can see the root of the English word “jury” in the Latin word for “law” or “right.” Latin students know that a Roman, whose alphabet did not include the letter j would have written iuris, instead of juris.
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the state of Wyoming.
cedant arma togae
Literal translation: let arms yield to the toga
More common meaning: let war yield to peace
Fun Fact: You have probably seen pictures or statues of Roman orators wearing robes called togas. The toga was considered the national garment of Rome, and the right to wear one was accorded to male Roman citizens only. The poet Vergil proudly called the Romans the gens togata, the toga wearing people. Other nations were scornfully known as the bracati, the trouser wear- ing people. Togas were made of wool and were long enough to wrap around the wearer twice. They were held in place by careful draping, never with pins. Thus, a man wearing a toga had to keep it in place with his left hand. Some wealthy Roman households actually included a valet called a vestiplicus who was skilled in the art of draping a toga. Because a toga was so bulky and difficult to keep in place, it was completely unsuitable for a soldier. In this motto, “toga” is used to symbolize peace while arma or “weapons” stand for “war.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Grattan family.
pro patria vivere et mori
Literal translation: to live and die for (one’s) country
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase e pluribus unum.
Literal translation: out of more (ingredients) one (stew)
More common meaning: out of many (backgrounds) one (nation)/out of many (states) one (nation)
Fun Fact: You probably recognize these words as the motto of the United States. You can see the motto on the penny, the dollar bill, and the Great Seal of the United States. We sometimes speak about the United States as a melting pot society; thus it is interesting that the Romans used this expression to describe a dish like stew.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of West Virginia.
montani semper liberi
Literal translation: mountain people (are) always free
Fun Fact: Montani looks like its meaning, but semper is hard to remember unless you know the English word “sempiternal”, which means “always, forever.” Liberi begins with the same syl- lables as “liberty.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Albion College / Alfred College.
lux fiat
Literal translation: let there be light
Fun Fact: We just saw lux in the motto of Yale, and here we have an echo of the words from the book of Genesis. It is interesting that “fiat” is a verb in Latin but a noun in English, which means an “order” or “decree.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ne plus ultra.
Literal translation: no more beyond
More common meaning: the pinnacle, the top
Fun Fact: If you are the best at something, you cannot go beyond your summit of achievement; you are the ne plus ultra!
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the United States (I).
e pluribus unum
Literal translation: out of more one
More common meaning: one out of many
Fun Fact: To Romans long ago this phrase was a description of stew or soup, one dish made from lots of different ingredients. To Americans today this motto is a reminder that our nation is made up of people from many different backgrounds and cultures. Another way to look at the phrase is to remember that we have one federal government made up of many states. You will see these Latin words on the Great Seal of the United States. They are also on the dollar bill, the penny, and the quarter.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in vino veritas.
Literal translation: in wine (there is) truth
Fun Fact: This expression is a reminder that when people drink too much, they may become so uninhibited that they speak more bluntly than usual.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase vade mecum.
Literal meaning: go with me
More common meaning: a reference book or handbook carried at all times
Fun Fact: Notice that the Latin preposition cum, which means “with,” comes after the word me. We saw the same kind of reversed word order in the phrase pax vobiscum.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase de novo.
Literal translation: from the new
More common meaning: anew
Fun Fact: Novo is a form of novus, the Latin word for “new.” You can see that the English word “novice,” which means “beginner,” is related to novus.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Booth / Warren family.
non mihi, sed Deo et reg
Literal translation: not for me, but for God and for king
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Harvard University.
veritas
Literal translation: truth
Fun Fact: “Verity” meaning an “established truth,” like “veracious,” is an English derivative of veritas. If you read the Harry Potter books, you may remember a potion called “veritaserum,” which makes people tell the truth.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase morituri te salutamus.
Literal translation: we (who are) about to die salute you
Fun Fact: Sometimes the phrase, Ave Caesar, “Hail Caesar,” is given as the first part of this expression. Gladiators were indeed expected to fight to the death. You can see that morituri is related to mortuis and mori, words you already know from other expressions.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase qui tacet consentit.
Literal translation: he who is silent consents
More common meaning: (One) who is silent consents
Fun Fact: When you say nothing, you are giving approval silently. The English word “tacit” means “silent.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase pro se.
Literal translation: on one’s own behalf
More common meaning: in one’s own defense
Fun Fact: Most people want a lawyer to defend them if they are charged with a crime, but occasionally someone wants to mount a defense pro se. Don’t confuse pro se (on one’s own behalf) with per se (by itself, intrinsically)!
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Lincolne family.
non vi, sed mente
Literal translation: not by force, but by mind
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation R.I.P..
resquiescat in pace
Literal translation: may he/she rest in peace
Fun Fact: It is interesting that R.I.P. stands for “rest in peace” in both Latin and English. R.I.P. often appears on gravestones.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the 497th Field Artillery Regiment.
nunc aut numquam
Literal translation: now or never
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the 507th Parachute Regiment.
descende ad terram
Literal translation: descend to earth
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ex post facto.
Literal translation: from what is done afterward
More common meaning: retroactively, subsequently
Fun Fact: When a new law or regulation goes into effect, it is not fair to apply the new ruling to an action performed before the new rule was in place. The U.S. constitution specifically forbids such ex post facto laws.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of District of Columbia / D.C..
justitia omnibus
Literal translation: justice for all
Fun Fact: Justitia looks like its English counterpart, and omnibus is translated ‘for all” because Latin words ending in the letters –bus often include an English preposition like “to” or “for” when they are translated. “Omnibus” is actually an English word, which means an “anthology of all the works of a particular author.” Long ago, “omnibus” had a different meaning in English: it meant a large carriage big enough to transport lots of people at one time. It was useful “for all.” Nowadays, we use the ending of the word to mean a big vehicle. We call it a bus.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Yale University.
lux et veritas
Literal translation: light and truth
Fun Fact: Lux, which means “light,” is often part of mottoes of schools and colleges because it sym- bolizes the power of education to lighten the darkness of ignorance. The Latin word lux has other forms in which the x changes to a c. This helps us understand a word like “translu- cent,” which means “allowing light to enter.” Veritas or “truth” is another favorite theme of school mottoes. You may know the English word “veracious,” which means “truthful.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase onus probandi.
Literal translation: burden of proving
More common meaning: burden of proof
Fun Fact: This legal expression is easy to recognize if you know that the letters b and v are closely related. You can also think of the English word “probation,” which means a period of time during which a person is proving his worth. Another English derivative is the word “approbation,” which means “approval.”
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the United States (II).
annuit coeptis
Literal translation: He (God) has nodded at our undertakings
More common meaning: He (God) has favored our undertakings
Fun Fact: When you look at a dollar bill, you will see two other Latin phrases besides E Pluribus Unum. Both are quotations from the great Roman poet Vergil. Annuit Coeptis comes from Book 9 of the Aeneid, Vergil’s epic poem about the founding of Rome. It is interesting that annuit lit- erally means “nods,” but it comes to mean, “nods agreement” or “nods favor.” Coeptis is relat- ed to the verb coepi meaning “to begin.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase summa cum laude.
Literal translation: with highest praise
Fun Fact: Like cum laude and magna cum laude, summa cum laude is a mark of academic distinction. Summa cum laude is awarded to graduates with the highest grade point averages.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase magnum opus.
Literal translation: great work
More common use: masterpiece
Fun Fact: A craftsman in the Middle Ages was required to serve first as an apprentice and then as a journeyman as he perfected his skills. In order to become a master craftsman he was expected to create a work worthy of a master. The word for “work” in Latin is opus. A work of classical music is classified by opus number, and you may have seen a movie about a music teacher called Mr. Holland’s Opus.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation ab init..
ab initium
Literal translation: from the beginning
Fun Fact: Initium means “beginning” in Latin. This is easy to learn if you remember that your initial begins your name and that an initiation is a ceremony for people who are beginning to participate in an activity.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase veni, vidi, vici.
Literal meaning: I came, I saw, I conquered
More common meaning: a piece of cake, a slam dunk
Fun Fact: Julius Caesar wrote these three verbs in a famous dispatch announcing a victory he had won in battle against Pharnaces, King of Pontus. Today the phrase means an easy victory of any kind.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sui generis.
Literal translation: of its own kind
More common meaning: unique
Fun Fact: In Linnaeus’ system of binomial nomenclature, each plant and animal has both a genus and a species name. The Latin word genus means “kind” or “sort,” and sui means “of its own.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sub rosa.
Literal translation: under the rose
More common meaning: secretly
Fun Fact: If you have a secret to tell and you are very anxious not to be overheard, you might go outside in the garden where no one is likely to eavesdrop on your conversation.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Madeira School.
festina lente
Literal translation: make haste slowly
Fun Fact: This expression is associated with the Emperor Augustus who changed the whole Roman system of government over a period of many years. While the phrase may seem to be a par- adox, we really are saying the same thing when we say, “Haste makes waste.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation S.P.Q.R..
Senatus Populusque Romanus
Literal translation: The Senate and the People of Rome
Fun Fact: This famous phrase embodies the power of the Roman Republic. Notice that the word for “and” is the syllable –que attached to the end of Populus. In Rome today, you see the letters S.P.Q.R. on manhole covers, trashcans, and street lights. None of these, of course, existed in ancient times. They were installed during the 1920’s and 1930’s when the Fascist dictator Mussolini ruled Italy.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard.
semper paratus
Literal translation: always prepared
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Kansas.
ad astra per aspera
Literal translation: to the stars through difficulties
Fun Fact: English words like “astronomy,” “astrology,” “astronaut” all are derived from the Latin word astra, which means “stars.” A flower called an aster looks like a star and so does the symbol * which is known as an asterisk. Aspera literally means “rough” or “difficult” in Latin, but it sounds better in English to translate it as the noun “difficulty.” You may know the English word “asperity,” which means “sharpness” or “roughness.” You might speak with asperity to someone who has annoyed you. It is interesting that the motto of the Royal Air Force, per ardua ad astra can also be translated “To the stars through difficulties.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase cum laude.
Literal translation: with praise, with honor
Fun Fact: This Latin phrase appears on diplomas of outstanding students who have maintained a certain grade point average. The English word “laud,” meaning “praise,” comes from this Latin root, as does “laudatory,” meaning “praiseworthy,” and “laudable,” meaning “commendable.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase de minimis non curat lex.
Literal translation: the law does not care about the smallest things
More common meaning: the law is not concerned with trifles
Fun Fact: This maxim means that a court will not listen to frivolous suits. The phrase is also used in science to describe a negligible amount of a substance. If, for example, a food has only trace amounts of a contaminant, the level is regarded as de minimis, and the food is considered pure.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase memento mori.
Literal translation: be mindful of dying
More common meaning: remember (that you) are mortal
Fun Fact: In English a memento is a souvenir, while in Latin memento is an imperative verb meaning “remember.” The phrase dulce et decorum est pro patria mori will help you remember that mori means “to die.” A victorious Roman general celebrating his military success with an elaborate parade rode in a chariot. Behind him stood a servant who repeated the words memento mori so that the general would remain humble and not begin to think of himself as a god.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation et al..
et alia
Literal translation: and the others
Fun Fact: Do you remember the word alibi? Now, remember that the syllable “al” means “other,” and this will be an easy phrase to learn. Et al. is used in bibliographies when a book or article has a long list of joint authors. Alia is the neuter plural form of the Latin word alius, and Latin students may know that alii is the masculine plural, and aliae the feminine plural.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Cooper / Walsh family.
noli irritare leonem
Literal translation: do not irritate a lion
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase ex nihilo nihil fit.
Literal translation: nothing is made from nothing
Fun Fact: This phrase states the obvious; zero plus zero equals zero is another way to say the same thing in English. The phrase also reminds us that nothing is free, and you have to work for what you get.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ave atque vale.
Literal translation: hail and farewell
More common meaning: hello and good-bye
Fun Fact: The Roman poet Catullus used these words in a poem addressed to his dead brother. Today a valedictorian gives a farewell speech to say “ave atque vale” at a graduation ceremony.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the U.S. Forestry Service.
arbor potestas
Literal translation: tree power
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase novus ordo seclorum.
Literal translation: new order of the ages
More common meaning: new world order
Fun Fact: This quotation comes from the Bucolics of Vergil, and it is an especially appropriate phrase to describe the United States whose democracy was an entirely new form of government. Latin students may have learned the word saeculum meaning “age” or “generation.” Seclorum is the genitive plural of saeculum, but the dipthong ae has been simplified to the letter e, and the u has dropped out.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in medias res.
Literal translation: into the midst of things
Fun Fact: The opening scenes of an ancient epic like the Iliad or the Odyssey, can be confusing because the story picks up in the middle of the action.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of New York.
excelsior
Literal translation: higher
Fun Fact: Have you ever sung a Christmas carol with the refrain, Gloria in excelsis Deo? Those Latin words mean “Glory to God in the highest.” Here, excelsior is another form of excelsis. It is called a comparative because you use it when you compare two things. Notice that in Latin comparatives end in –ior while in English they end in –er.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation q.v..
quod vide
Literal translation: which see
More common meaning: refer to
Fun Fact: Like confer (cf.), quod vide (q.v.) appears in dictionaries and encyclopedias to guide readers to other related entries in the same reference book.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation ad inf..
ad infinitum
Literal translation: to the infinite
More common meaning: endlessly
Fun Fact: The Latin word finis means “end,” and the prefix in means “without.” Thus in+finis means “without an end” or “endless.” The English word “infinite” means exactly the same thing.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Connecticut.
qui transtulit sustinet
Literal translation: He (God) who transplanted sustains
Fun Fact: Connecticut was one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States, and the state motto reminds us that the first colonists were “transplanted” from England. “To sustain” means “to maintain.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase alumnus, alumna.
Literal translation: foster child
More common meaning: graduate of a school or college
Fun Fact: The Latin word for a boy cared for by an alma mater is alumnus; for a girl the Latin word is alumna. Similarly, in English, a boy or man who graduates from a school or college is an alumnus (plural: alumni) while a girl or woman graduate is an alumna (plural: alumnae).
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the 12th Field Artillery Regiment.
facta non verba
Literal translation: deeds not words
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase et tu Brute?.
Literal translation: You also, Brutus? Even you, Brutus?
Fun Fact: Caesar is thought to have recognized his friend and former ally Brutus among his assassins. Notice that Brutus’s name changes to Brute in Latin because he is being addressed directly.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase ignorantia legis neminem excusat.
Literal translation: ignorance of the law excuses no one
Fun Fact: This is another expression that states the obvious: you cannot avoid getting in trouble by simply saying you did not know your actions were against the rules!
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase vice versa.
Literal translation: the order having been changed
More common meaning: turn and about
Fun Fact: One group in a Physical Education class might run laps while the other swims. When the groups switch activities, the swimmers run laps, and vice versa.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Clayton family.
quod sors fert ferimus
Literal translation: what fate brings we bear
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase vivat.
Literal translation: may he (she) live
More common meaning: long live…
Fun Fact: Vivat is from the Latin verb vivo, which means “to live.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase habeas corpus.
Literal translation: may you have the body (of evidence)
More common meaning: right of citizens to avoid unlawful imprisonment
Fun Fact: One of the most treasured traditions of American democracy is the notion that a citizen cannot be imprisoned indefinitely without a trial. A prisoner has the right to present a document called a writ of habeas corpus to a judge who must bring the case to court or dismiss it in a timely manner.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase lapsus calami / lapsus pennae.
Literal translation: slip of the pen
Fun Fact: If you leave out a word or write the same word twice, you have made a lapsus pennae. Lapsus, which means “slip” in Latin, looks like the English word “lapse.” There are two words for “pen” because the Romans sometimes wrote with a sharpened reed called a calamus, or sometimes with a feather quill called a penna.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Dartmouth College.
vox clamantis in deserto
Literal translation: a voice of (one) crying in the desert
Fun Fact: In the New Testament this phrase describes John the Baptist who announced the arrival of Jesus. You can see that “acclamation” in English is related to clamantis. “Acclamation” means a “shout of approval.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase locum tenens.
Literal translation: (one) holding a place
More common meaning: a substitute
Fun Fact: You already know the word for “place” in Latin if you remember the phrase in loco parentis, and tenens is a form of the verb teneo meaning “hold.” The English word “tenacious,” which means “holding persistently,” comes from this verb. Sometimes you will see the word locum used by itself to mean “substitute.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ex officio.
Literal translation: from the office
More common meaning: by virtue of one’s position
Fun Fact: Actual membership in a particular group is not required for an important executive to participate in the group’s activities. The executive is allowed to be involved because of the power inherent in the office.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation ca. / c..
circa
Literal translation: around, approximately
Fun Fact: You will see the abbreviation ca. or c. in history books when the exact date of an event is unknown.
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the New Mexico.
crescit eundo
Literal translation: it grows by going
More common meaning: it grows as it goes
Fun Fact: The Roman poet Vergil used this phrase in the Aeneid to describe the monster Rumor, who grows larger as she goes from one person to another. Here, however, the phrase means that New Mexico is a state that keeps getting bigger and better as it grows. A “crescendo” in music is a passage in which the volume keeps growing louder so it is easy to remember that the verb crescit means “grow.” Latin verbs ending in the letters –sco are called incep- tives, and they indicate something that is just beginning to happen. For example, the Latin verb adolesco means “to begin to grow up.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation M.O..
modus operandi
Literal translation: way of operating
Fun Fact: Modus means “way” or “manner” in Latin, and opero is a Latin verb which means “operate.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Alabama.
audemus jura nostra defendere
Literal translation: we dare to defend our rights
Fun Fact: “Audacious” means “bold” in English, and you can see that it is related to audemus. You can also see that “jury” is a derivative of jura. Latin students will remember that the Latin alpha- bet did not include the letter j so the letter i was used both as a vowel and as a consonant. This means that a Roman would have written iura, not jura.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation N.B..
nota bene
Literal translation: note well
More common meaning: pay attention
Fun Fact: If you did not know that N.B. stands for “note well,” you might assume that you were supposed to write something in your notebook when you saw those letters.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Kentucky.
Deo gratias habeamus
Literal translation: let us have thanks to God
Fun Fact: You probably know the English word “deity” meaning “god” or “goddess.” You can see that “deity” is related to deo, a form of the Latin word deus. You can also see that “gratify,” “grace” and “gratitude” are English words derived from the Latin word gratia.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase rebus.
Literal translation: by things
More common meaning: a puzzle which uses pictures of things
Fun Fact: If you have ever written “I love you” on a valentine using a picture of an eye for “I” and a heart for “love,” you have made a rebus! Like re, rebus is a form of the Latin word res meaning “thing, matter, affair.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Olympic Games.
citius, altius, fortius
Literal translation: more quickly, more highly, more bravely More common meaning: quicker, higher, braver
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase sine die.
Literal translation: without a day
More common meaning: without a date set to reassemble
Fun Fact: If you hear on the nightly news broadcast that the Senate has adjourned sine die, and you do not know that the Latin word for “day” is dies, you might think this expression had to do with death! Of course, the news item merely means that the date to meet again has not been set.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in situ.
Literal translation: in place
More common meaning: in its original position
Fun Fact: You can see that the English word “site” is derived from the Latin word situ(s). Do not confuse “site” with its homonyms “cite,” which means “quote,” or “sight,” which means “vision.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase tempus fugit.
Literal translation: time flies
Fun Fact: This is a familiar expression! You might find it written on a sundial or on a grandfather clock.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase cogito ergo sum.
Literal translation: I think, therefore I am
Fun Fact: Notice that in Latin the pronoun “I” is understood with the verb sum. Descartes was a mathematician as well as a philosopher. You can thank Descartes for much of what you learn today in algebra. You might be interested to know that Descartes was frail as a youth and spent much of each day resting in bed.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase exeat.
Literal translation: let him/her leave
More common meaning: a permission to leave
Fun Fact: You might find the expression exeat in a book about an English boarding school. In Latin exeat is a subjunctive verb, not a noun at all!
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation C.V..
curriculum vitae
Literal translation: lap of life
More common meaning: resume, summary of one’s career
Fun Fact: A horse race in ancient Rome had seven laps. Each lap was called a curriculum. We use the word “curriculum” in English to mean the material students learn in school, but your curriculum vitae summarizes both your educational background and your work experience.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase pro forma.
Literal translation: on behalf of the form
More common meaning: for the sake of appearance
Fun Fact: A pro forma handshake does not imply friendship, it just means that the two people are following a tradition and being polite.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase lapsus memoriae.
Literal translation: slip of the memory
Fun Fact: Be careful not to suffer a lapsus memoriae when you are learning new Latin expressions this week!
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Massachusetts.
ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
Literal translation: with a sword she seeks peaceful quiet with liberty
Fun Fact: Ensis and gladius are synonyms in Latin. Both mean “sword.” If you remember that a petition in English is a document that seeks something or that you seek food when you have an appetite or that competitors all seek to win, petit is easy to remember. When we trans- late petit as “she seeks,” “she” means Massachusetts. It may seem odd to speak of seeking “peaceful quiet with liberty by means of a sword,” but we all realize that we have to be ready to defend our liberty.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in toto.
Literal translation: in total
More common meaning: entirely
Fun Fact: You might think toto had something to do with Oz, but it comes from the Latin word totus, which means “all” or “total.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase quis custodiet ipsos custodes?.
Literal translation: who will guard the guards themselves?
Fun Fact: You know the English words “custody” and “custodian” so it will be easy to remember that both custodiet and custodes have to do with guards. This phrase is a reminder that even a person in a position of trust may need supervision.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation P.S..
post scriptum
Literal meaning: written after
More common meaning: an afterthought added to a completed letter or book
Fun Fact: Here is another familiar phrase. People used P.S. when they made additions to letters, now they use it with e-mail. You can easily remember that post means “after” if you think of the English word “postpone.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Atomic Energy Commission.
de minimis maximum
Literal translation: from the smallest (particles) (comes) the greatest (power)
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Ash / Ashe family.
non nobis, sed omnibus
Literal translation: not for us, but for all
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase quid pro quo.
Literal translation: something for something
More common meaning: tit for tat
Fun Fact: Quid pro quo can describe a situation in which one person seeks revenge from another who has harmed him. Here, quid pro quo means “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The phrase can also refer to a situation in which a kind deed is repaid with kindness.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation pro tem..
pro tempore
Literal translation: for the time being
More common meaning: temporarily
Fun Fact: If a person is filling a position pro tem., it is not a long term commitment. You may know someone who has worked as a temp. employee.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ex libris.
Literal translation: from the books
More common meaning: from the library (of)
Fun Fact: Do not confuse the Latin word liber, which means “book,” with libra, which means “weight” or “pound.” The English word “library” will help you remember this. If you are a Latin student, you probably know the Latin word for “free” which is liber, libera, liberum, and you can think of the word “liberty” to remember it.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase calvo turpius est nihil comato.
Literal translation: nothing (is) uglier than a bald (man) with hair.
Fun fact: This is not a phrase that you will see very often, but it is an easy one to understand: even today people make fun of a man with a comb-over!
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
Literal translation: after this, therefore on account of it
Fun Fact: In Latin hoc means “this” or “it,” propter means “on account of,” and ergo means “therefore.” This phrase is used in logic to remind us that just because something happened before something else did, the first event is not necessarily the cause of the second one. For example, it might appear at first glance that a water shortage was the result of the drought, when in fact a broken pipe bringing water from another part of the country was the true cause.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ab ovo usque ad mala.
Literal translation: from egg(s) to apples
More common meaning: from beginning to end
Fun Fact: This phrase makes sense if you know a little bit about ancient dining customs. Most Romans ate only a snack for breakfast and lunch. Dinner, however, was more elaborate. Hard-boiled eggs (ova) were sometimes served as appetizers, and dessert often included fruit like apples (mala). An English phrase, “from soup to nuts,” means the same thing. The Latin word ovum is an English word itself and gives us the words “oval” and “ovary.” You may sometimes see just the words ab ovo instead of the whole phrase. Ab ovo means “from the egg, from the beginning.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Oklahoma.
labor omnia vincit
Literal translation: work conquers all
Fun Fact: You have heard people say, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” This motto says the same thing in different words. It is interesting that the word labor is the same in Latin and in English, and you probably know two common English derivatives of labor: “laborious” meaning “tedious” and “elaborate” meaning “elegant.” You can also probably guess that the English word “invincible” means “unconquerable” when you know that vincit means “con- quer.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Princeton University.
Dei sub numine viget
Literal translation: under the providence of God it flourishes
Fun Fact: If you are vigorous, you are flourishing!
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase pons asinorum.
Literal translation: bridge of donkeys More common meaning: Euclid’s fifth proposition in Geometry
Fun Fact: During Medieval times, all students studied Euclid’s Geometry. The solution to Euclid’s fifth proposition required a diagram resembling a bridge, and a student who could not solve the problem was considered an ass.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase ars gratia artis.
Literal translation: art for the sake of art
Fun Fact: Ars gratia artis is the motto of MGM studios. You can see the phrase on a banner under the MGM lion on the company logo. It means creating something beautiful for its own sake, not for the sake of profit.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Winchester College.
aut disce aut discede
Literal translation: either learn or leave
Fun Fact: This motto from an English school sounds a bit harsh! Notice that “college” here does not mean post secondary school. Rather it refers to what we call a high school. In Latin aut…aut means “either…or.” You may remember the phrase Docendo discitur, “one learns by teach- ing.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in vitro.
Literal translation: in a glass container
More common meaning: in a test tube
Fun Fact: The Latin word for “glass” is vitrum, and in vitro means “in a glass container.” Today in vitro is used in science to indicate research done in a test tube as opposed to research done in vivo which is carried out on living organisms. When you see the letters IVF, they stand for in vitro fertilization, i.e., fertilization in a test tube.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Idaho.
esto perpetua
Literal translation: be forever
Fun Fact: “Perpetual” in English makes perpetua easy to remember, and you can see that esto is relat- ed to esse, “to be.” The ending –to makes the verb a command. Grammar books call a com- mand an imperative.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ex tempore.
Literal translation: out of the time, at the moment
More common meaning: on the spur of the moment
Fun Fact: When people speak ex tempore, they are speaking without any preparation. In fact, that is exactly what the English word “extemporaneous” means.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase viva voce.
Literal translation: by the living voice
More common meaning: orally, aloud
Fun Fact: Voce is a form of the Latin word vox that means “voice,” and you can see that “vocal” and “vociferous” are derivatives.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Bisshopp family.
pro Deo et ecclesia
Literal translation: for God and Church
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ad hominem.
Literal translation: to the man
More common meaning: personal
Fun Fact: Today we expect political candidates to avoid criticizing the private lives of their rivals, but in ancient Rome, speakers like Cicero often made vicious personal attacks on their enemies.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation op. cit..
opus citatum / opere citato
Literal meaning: work cited
Fun Fact: Like the abbreviation ibid., op. cit. can sometimes be found in footnotes. Writers use op. cit. to avoid writing out the full title of a work from which they have already quoted. You know the word opus from the phrase magnum opus.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in flagrante delicto.
Literal translation: in a burning crime
More common meaning: caught in the act, caught red-handed
Fun Fact: Flagrante means “burning.” It is the root of the English word “flagrant,” which means “shockingly noticeable.” Delicto means “crime.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Duke University.
eruditio et religio
Literal translation: learning and religion
Fun Fact: “Erudition” means “learning” in English.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase finis.
Literal translation: the end
Fun Fact: Have you ever seen finis at the end of a book or a long story?
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase non sequitur.
Literal translation: it does not follow
More common meaning: an illogical statement
Fun Fact: Suppose you heard someone say, “I love ice cream. Vanilla is my favorite flavor. The sky is blue.” You might be a little confused by the last sentence, and it could be called a non sequitur because it is not connected logically to the previous ideas. It is simply a random thought. You may have seen a comic strip called “Non Sequitur” which appears in some newspapers.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase panem et circenses.
Literal translation: bread and circuses
Fun Fact: Roman politicians gave free bread and free entertainment to the poor people of Rome to keep them quiet and contented. A companion originally meant someone with whom you shared bread, and circuses are still a source of entertainment.
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation e.g..
exempli gratia
Literal translation: for the sake of an example
More common meaning: for example
Fun Fact: This is one of the most common Latin expressions found in English. It is the equivalent of the phrase “for example.”
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation P.M..
post meridiem
Literal translation: after noon
Fun Fact: Here is a familiar phrase. It is the opposite of ante meridiem (A.M.).
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase tabula rasa.
Literal translation: blank slate
Fun Fact: The eighteenth century philosopher John Locke used this phrase to explain his notion that character and intelligence are not inborn. He said that an infant’s mind is a tabula rasa at birth, and that a child’s personality is shaped by life experiences. Locke believed that character is a product of nurture rather than of nature. The nature vs. nurture debate is still a matter of discussion.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase amicus curiae.
Literal translation: friend of the court
More common meaning: a person who advises the court on a matter before it
Fun Fact: Someone who is not involved in a lawsuit may submit background information to a judge in a document called an amicus curiae brief. Amicus is the Latin word for “friend,” and “amicable” in English means “friendly.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase nolo contendere.
Literal translation: I do not want to contest
More common meaning: plea by a defendant essentially admitting guilt
Fun Fact: Remember that Latin pronouns are often understood? Here the –o of nolo indicates that the subject is “I.” A person accused of a crime may enter this plea without technically admitting any guilt. A court can then assign punishment even though there has been no admission of guilt.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of Iona College.
certa bonum certamen
Literal translation: fight the good fight
Fun Fact: Certa is the command form of the verb certo, which means “to vie, fight, struggle.” You can see that certa is related to the noun certamen. Some Latin students like to participate in a quiz game called certamen.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase cui bono.
Literal translation: to whom for a good
More common meaning: to whose advantage, for whose benefit
Fun Fact: Do you remember the expression bona fide? Bona meant “good,” and here bono is another form of the same word.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Ohio.
imperium in imperio
Literal translation: an empire in an empire
Fun Fact: In the late eighteenth century, Ohio territory must have seemed big enough to be its own country or empire! “Imperial” in English means “having supreme power.”
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the U.S. Naval Academy.
ex scientia tridens
Literal translation: from knowledge the trident
More common meaning: power over the sea from knowledge
Fun Fact: To understand this motto you need to know that scientia in Latin means “knowledge” in gen- eral, not just knowledge of specific subjects like Biology and Chemistry. Similarly, the three-pronged trident, which is the symbol of Neptune, god of the sea, here clearly symbol- izes power over the sea.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase magna cum laude.
Literal translation: with great praise
Fun Fact: You already know the phrase cum laude, so just think of “magnify” and “magnificent,” and you will remember that magna means “great.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase per capita.
Literal translation: by heads
More common meaning: individually
Fun Fact: You often see this expression used in phrases like “per capita income,” meaning the average income of each individual.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase errare humanum est.
Literal translation: to err is human
More common meaning: everybody makes mistakes
Fun Fact: English words like “err” and “error” are clearly related to this Latin verb errare.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
Literal translation: it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country
Fun Fact: The Roman author Horace wrote these words in a famous ode. During World War I, the English poet Wilfred Owen, used the phrase as the title of a bitter and moving poem about the horrors of trench warfare.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase peccavi.
Literal translation: I have sinned
Fun Fact: The Latin verb peccare means “to sin.” There are two interesting English derivatives of peccare: “impeccable” meaning “perfect” and “peccadillo” meaning a “little mistake.” Peccavi is a famous expression because a nineteenth century British general fighting in a part of India called Sind sent a legendary telegram with the single word peccavi to report his victory over the region. The message was a pun because he meant, “I have [conquered] Sind,” not “I have sinned.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase persona non grata.
Literal translation: unwelcome person
Fun Fact: A country can designate a visitor as a persona non grata for any number of reasons including suspected terrorist activities or criminal charges lodged in the person’s own country. A person who has been declared a persona non grata must leave the country immediately.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase non compos mentis.
Literal translation: not sound of mind
Fun Fact: Mentis is another form of the Latin word mens, which you met in the expression mens sana in corpore sano. The expression non compos mentis is used to describe someone who is not competent to manage his own affairs.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Campbell family.
quae recta sequor
Literal translation: what (things) (are) right I follow More common meaning: I follow the things that are right.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase credo.
Literal translation: I believe
More common meaning: a set of firm beliefs
Fun Fact: Credo is a verb in Latin that means “I believe.” Notice that the pronoun “I” is understood. The Christian creed begins with this word; thus it has come to mean a person’s whole system of belief.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase terra firma.
Literal translation: solid earth, firm ground
Fun Fact: Terra is the Latin root of English words like “terrain,” “terrarium” and “subterranean.” An ATV is an all terrain vehicle that can go anywhere on land.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase exit.
Literal translation: he/she leaves
More common meaning: way out
Fun Fact: Exit is a Latin verb, but an English noun. Exit can be used as a stage direction telling an actor to leave the stage.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase sic transit gloria mundi.
Literal translation: thus passes the glory of the world
Fun Fact: This phrase is similar to our expression, “You can’t take it with you.” It is interesting that in Latin transit is a verb meaning “pass” while in English it is a noun meaning “transportation.” Mundi gives us the English word “mundane” which means “secular, commonplace,” or “ordinary.”
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meaning for the abbreviation dram. pers..
dramatis personae
Literal translation: the masks of a drama
More common meaning: (the cast of) characters in a play
Fun Fact: Roman actors wore masks called personae that enabled them to project their voices and allowed a single actor to play several roles in the same production. All ancient actors were men so a mask was essential equipment for an actor playing a female role.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase mandamus.
Literal translation: we command
More common meaning: order by a higher court
Fun Fact: Mando means “I command” in Latin. The ending –mus indicates that the subject of the verb is the pronoun “we.” You might find this word used in a news story reporting that a writ of mandamus was issued requiring a lower court to perform a specific task. A writ is a formal document.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase res ipsa loquitur.
Literal translation: the thing speaks for itself
More common meaning: the situation is obvious
Fun Fact: You already know that the Latin word res can be translated “thing.” Loquitur is easy to remember if you think of English words like “eloquent,” which means “articulate,” or “loquacious,” which means “talkative.”
Give the Latin phrase, the literal translation, and the more common meanings for the abbreviation Rx.
recipe
Literal translation: take
More common meanings: (1) recipe = directions for cooking a particular dish (2) Rx = symbol for a prescription
Fun Fact: Recipe is a command in Latin, which means “take.” In cooking, a recipe is followed by the list of ingredients. A pharmacist, like a cook, takes various ingredients to make up a prescription. Scribes in the Middle Ages simply wrote the letter R with a cross to show that they were leaving off the letters –ecipe. Thus, the x is not really the letter x; rather, it is an abbreviation.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ipso facto.
Literal translation: by the fact itself
More common meaning: by that very fact
Fun Fact: Facto is a form of factum, the Latin word for “fact” or “deed.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase in re.
Literal translation: in the matter (of)
Fun Fact: Modern lawyers do not use Latin very often, but old court cases are sometimes known by the names of the parties concerned.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the City College of New York.
respice, adspice, prospice
Literal translation: look to the past, look to the present, look to the future
Fun Fact: These three commands seem to sum up the purpose of education. If you remove the pre- fix of each word, the root –spice meaning “look” is left. This root comes into English in words like “conspicuous,” which means “obvious.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase per diem.
Literal translation: by the day
More common meaning: daily allowance
Fun Fact: Some businesses and organizations have a fixed amount which employees are allowed to spend each day when they are traveling. This allowance is called a per diem. Dies is the Latin word for “day.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ignoramus.
Literal translation: we are ignorant
More common meaning: an extremely ignorant person
Fun Fact: If you know Latin, you know that the ending –mus is a verb ending, not a noun ending. Ignoramus, however, is an English noun meaning an “ignorant person.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase re.
Literal translation: in the matter, thing, affair
More common meaning: regarding
Fun Fact: When people see re in an e-mail, they sometimes think it means “reply,” but re is actually the ablative of the Latin word res (thing or affair). You saw re in the legal expression in re, meaning “in the matter of,” and you remember that in re can be used in the titles of court cases.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase annuit coeptis.
Literal translation: He (God) has nodded at our undertakings
More common meaning: He (God) has favored (our) undertakings
Fun Fact: This phrase is printed on the back of the U.S. dollar bill above the pyramid. It comes from Book IX of Vergil’s great Roman epic, the Aeneid.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase exeunt omnes.
Literal translation: they all leave
Fun Fact: Like exit, exeunt omnes is a stage direction that tells actors the scene is over.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the Fairfax County, Virginia.
fare fac
Literal translation: say (it), do (it)!
Give the Latin phrase, literal translation, and common meaning for the motto of the United States (III).
novus ordo seclorum
Literal translation: a new order of ages
More common meaning: new world order
Fun Fact: Before he wrote the Aeneid, Vergil wrote a book called the Bucolics to celebrate the land of Italy and a life of farming. This phrase comes from the fourth book of the Bucolics. It is sometimes translated, “A new order of ages” because seclorum comes from the Latin word seclum (also spelled saeclum or saeculum) which means “age” or “generation.”
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase festina lente.
Literal translation: make haste slowly
Fun Fact: The Emperor Augustus is said to have chosen this phrase as his personal credo. It might seem impossible to hurry slowly, but the phrase makes sense if you think of the fable of the tortoise and the hare. The hare made haste but lost the race. The slower, more careful tortoise plugged along steadily and came in first.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in extremis.
Literal translation: among the last things
More common meaning: in extreme circumstances, at the point of death
Fun Fact: Extremis means the farthest away (last) from the point of view of the speaker. In this phrase extremis is translated “last.” It is interesting that the English word “extremities” means “fingers” and “toes,” the farthest parts of your body.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase pro bono publico.
Literal translation: for the people’s good
More common meaning: free
Fun Fact: Lawyers, doctors, and teachers frequently do work without charge for people who cannot afford to pay them for their services. This work is done pro bono publico, “for the people’s good.” Sometimes, the phrase is shortened to pro bono.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the motto of the state of Maine.
dirigo
Literal translation: I direct
Fun Fact: When a Latin verb ends in –o, the pronoun “I” is understood as the subject. This means that dirigo is translated, not simply “direct,” but rather “I direct.” You may have heard the phrase, “As goes Maine, so goes the nation.” That expression comes from the fact that in presiden- tial elections, the votes of a small number of voters in one community in Maine are always counted quickly, and, in the days before computer projections, these votes were used to pre- dict the outcome of the whole election. The state motto is a reflection of this tradition.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation Q.E.D..
quod erat demonstrandum
Literal translation: that which was to be proved
Fun Fact: You might put this phrase or its abbreviation at the end of a math problem to show that your final answer is correct, and that you have proved what the problem required you to prove.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase post mortem.
Literal translation: after death
More common meaning: examination of a corpse
Fun Fact: If someone dies under mysterious circumstances, a post mortem will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Give the Latin phrase and the literal translation for the abbreviation verb. sap..
verbum sapienti / verbum sat sapienti / verbum sapientibus
Literal meaning: a word to the wise (is) sufficient
Fun Fact: This expression can be written several different ways: sat is short for the Latin word satis, which means “sufficient, enough.” You can remember satis easily if you think of the English word “satisfy.” Sapientibus is the plural of sapienti; both mean “to the wise,” and you can see that they are both forms of sapiens, a word you know from the phrase homo sapiens. In English the word “sapient” means “wise” or “discerning.” Verbum gives us the English word “verbose” which means “wordy.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase per annum.
Literal translation: by the year
More common meaning: annually
Fun Fact: You saw another form of annum in the phrase anno Domini.
Give the literal translation for the Latin phrase mea culpa.
Literal translation: (by) my fault
Fun Fact: These words are part of a prayer of confession. Culpa, the Latin word for “fault,” gives us English words like “culpable,” which means “guilty,” and “exculpate,” which means “to clear of guilt.”
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase in utero.
Literal translation: in the womb
More common meaning: unborn
Fun Fact: You can see that the English word “uterus,” which is another word for “womb,” is the same word in Latin.
Give the literal translation and more common meaning for the Latin phrase ex cathedra.
Literal translation: from (the bishop’s) chair
More common meaning: with authority
Fun Fact: The church where a bishop is based is a cathedral, and in a cathedral there is an actual chair for a bishop. However, a pronouncement ex cathedra does not have to come from a bishop; it can come from anyone speaking with the authority of his or her office.
