Certamen Flashcards
What is the Latin motto of Virginia, which translates into English as “thus always to
tyrants”?
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS
What is the Latin motto of South Carolina, which translates as “while I breathe, I hope”?
DUM SPIRO SPERO
What is the Latin motto of Arkansas, which translates as “the populace rules”?
REGNAT POPULUS
Give the Latin name of the tunic traditionally worn by Roman brides.
TUNICA RECTA
What was the Latin name of the bright orange veils that Roman brides wore over the
upper portion of their faces?
FLAMMEUM
Which of the three forms of Roman marriage involved a fictitious sale of the bride?
COEMPTIO
What is the Latin phrase represented by the abbreviation “e.g.”?
EXEMPLI GRATIA
What is the Latin phrase represented by the abbreviation “i.e.”?
ID EST
What is the Latin phrase represented by the abbreviation “q.v.”?
QUOD VIDE
What type of Roman building, subdivided into cenacula, is analogous to our modern-day
apartment building?
INSULA
In nicer insulae, the ground floor was rented out to one tenant, similar to a modern-day
penthouse. What is the term for the collection of shops in humbler insulae?
TABERNAE
Insulae often caught on fire. What was the name of Roman firemen, who also served as
watchmen and policemen?
VIGILES
Which of a Roman’s three names indicated his gens?
NOMEN
Which of his names was equivalent to a first name?
PRAENOMEN
What sort of name did Romans receive for performing a great deed?
AGNOMEN
“Citius, Altius, Fortius,” which is translated as “Higher, Faster, Stronger,” is the Latin
motto of what organization?
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
In the Latin motto for Paris, “fluctuat nec mergitur,” what does “fluctuat” mean?
IT FLOATS / SURGES / FLUCTUATES
What is the translation of London’s motto, “Domine dirige nos”?
LORD DIRECT US
On what day did the Ides fall in October?
15th
On what day did the Nones fall in October?
7th
On what day did the Kalends fall in October?
1st
The letters “a.m.” abbreviate what full Latin phrase?
ANTE MERIDIEM
The letters “A.D.” abbreviate what full Latin phrase?
ANNO DOMINI
The letters “N.B.” abbreviate what full Latin phrase?
NOTA BENE
What did the ancient Romans call their public baths?
THERMAE/BALNEAE
What was the entrance fee to the baths for men?
ONE QUADRANS
What was the name of the dressing room?
APODYTERIUM
What bundle of rods symbolized the dictator’s absolutely authority?
FASCES
What type of gladiator fought with a net and trident in the arena?
RETIARIUS
What type of gladiator fought blind?
ANDABATA
What type of gladiator fought animals?
BESTIARIUS
What Latin phrase refers to the characters in a play?
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
What is the meaning of the Latin phrase “ars celare artem”?
IT IS ART TO COVER (ONE’S) ART
Give the Latin phrase which means “Art is long, but life is short.”
ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS
. Romans, like most people, loved to gamble. During what holiday was gambling permitted in
Rome?
SATURNALIA
The Romans often gambled using tesserae or tali. Distinguish between them
TESSERAE ARE DICE; TALI ARE KNUCLEBONES
The anti-gaming law didn’t apply to this game analogous to chess, because the outcome
was dependent on player skill rather than chance.
LATRUNCULI
What did the Romans call apartment blocks?
ĪNSULAE
What did the Romans call the main entrance hall of a house?
ĀTRIUM
What did the Romans call the alcoves on either side of the atrium?
ĀLAE
Many people carry the title ‘doctor.’ Give the Latin for which the abbreviation M.D stands
MEDICINAE DOCTOR
What Latin abbreviation would a doctor use for your prescription?
RX
Give the Latin and its English meaning for Rx
RECIPE - TAKE
When teenagers do something extremely dumb, it has become commonplace to shout
“YOLO” first. What Latin expression roughly conveys the same sense as the phase for which
YOLO stands, “You Only Live Once?”
CARPE DIEM
Rappers are also fond of saying “YOLO.” What Latin phrase might be appropriate for the
front of Snoop Dogg’s house?
CAVE CANEM
2 Assuming someone “YOLO’d,” as it were, and this was their last act, what Latin phrase
would be usable after their death?
POST MORTEM/DE MORTUĪS NIL NISI BONUM
What toga, whitened with chalk, was worn by a candidate running for office?
TOGA CANDIDA
What toga was worn by a victorious general in his triumphal procession?
TOGA PICTA
What toga was worn by the average citizen?
TOGA VIRILIS/TOGA LĪBERA/TOGA PŪRA
Give the Latin equivalent for “breakfast.”
IENTACULUM
Give the Latin equivalent for “lunch.”
PRANDIUM
Give the Latin equivalent for “dinner.”
CĒNA
As many are aware, Harvard and Yale are rivals. What is the Latin motto of Yale?
LUX ET VERITAS
What is Harvard’s Latin motto?
VERITAS
What is the meaning of Lux et Veritas?
LIGHT AND TRUTH
What was the name of the dividing fence or wall which stretched across the middle of the
circus?
SPĪNA
In a Roman circus, what were the mētae?
GOALPOSTS/TURNING POINTS
In a Roman circus, what were the carcerēs?
STARTING GATES
C.E. is an abbreviation for the English phrase ‘Common Era.’ What Latin abbreviation often
serves as an equivalent?
A.D.
Give the Latin for A.D
ANNO DOMINI
What is the Latin for which the abbreviation P.M. stands?
POST MERIDEIM
(I would chalenge and say P.M. also means post mortem)
In addition to its phenomenal undergraduate program, Yale also is known for its law school.
Lawyers are required to do a certain amount work without pay each year. What is the Latin
expression for these types of cases?
PRO BONŌ (PUBLICŌ)
What does pro bonō publicō mean?
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD/WELFARE
When a lawyer presents evidence, he hopes that the jury will accept it at first sight. What
Latin phrase means “at first glance”?
PRIMA FACIE
In terms of Roman life and culture, which of the following terms is unrelated to the rest:
confarreatiō, ūsus, coemptio, mango?
MANGO
What is a mango?
A SLAVE-DEALER
What is a flammeum?
BRIDAL VEIL
What reform did Numa make to the calendar set up by Romulus?
ADDED JANUARY & FEBRUARY
What early king of Rome followed the wise advice given him by the water nymph Egeria,
making many reforms to the Roman religion?
NUMA
(POMPILIUS)
What temple built by Numa always had its doors kept shut in times of peace?
TEMPLE OF JANUS
Give the English translation for the motto of Yale University, Lux et Veritas
LIGHT AND TRUTH
Now try the motto of Connecticut, Qui transtulit sustinet
HE WHO TRANSPLANTED SUSTAINS
Now try the motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum
FROM/OUT OF MANY, ONE
What is the meaning of the Latin noun prandium?
LUNCH
What is the meaning of the Latin noun proelium?
BATTLE
What is the meaning of the Latin noun praetor?
JUDGE/LEADER
In what room of a Roman house would one find the compluvium and impluvium?
ATRIUM
In what room was the arca located?
TABLINUM
What was the triclinium?
DINING ROOM
Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation A.M
ANTE MERIDIEM-BEFORE NOON
Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation et.al
ET ALII/ALIA-AND OTHERS
Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation cf
CONFER-COMPARE
What bridge, the first built across the Tiber, was defended against the Etruscans by Horatius
Cocles?
PŌNS SUBLICIUS
Under the reign of what king was this bridge built?
ANCUS MARCIUS
Which hill on the other side of the Tiber was connected to Rome by the Pōns Sublicius?
JANICULUM
Where in ancient Rome could all the following be found: carceres, mappa, metae,
quadriga, factiones?
THE CIRCUS / THE
CHARIOT RACE-TRACK /
CIRCUS MAXIMUS
What were factiones?
RACING FACTIONS/COMPANIES
How many laps were in a typical roman chariot race?
7 LAPS
What Latin phrase means “a slip of the tongue?”
LAPSUS LINGUAE
What Latin phrase means “a slip of the pen?”
LAPSUS CALAMI
What Latin phrase means “let the buyer beware?”
CAVEAT EMPTOR
What was the name for the amulet worn by Roman children to ward off evil spirits?
BULLA (AUREA)
During what festival on the 17th of March would a Roman boy stop wearing his bulla?
LIBERALIA
Give the Latin term for the rattle given to Roman children
CREPUNDIA
Translate the motto of Brown University, in deo speramus
IN GOD WE
TRUST (HOPE)
Translate the motto of Columbia University, in lumine tuo videbimus lumen.
IN YOUR LIGHT WE SHALL SEE LIGHT
Translate the motto of Johns Hopkins University, veritas vos liberabit.
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
Regina viarum was another name for what major road, which ran from Rome to Brundisium?
VIA APPIA/
APPIAN WAY
Translate regina viarum
QUEEN OF ROADS
Name the Roman censor who constructed the Via Appia in 312 BC
APPIUS CLAUDIUS CAECUS
.How many tables of laws did the Decemvirī tabulate?
TWELVE
Please give the Latin term for the eventual set of laws that was produced by both
commissions of the Decemvirī.
DUODECIM TABULAE
The attempted rape of what woman by Appius Claudius led to the eventual resignation
of the Decemvirī?
VERGINIA
Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation Rx.
RECIPE-TAKE
Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation gtt.
GUTTAE - DROPS
How often should you take a medicine labeled q.i.d.?
FOUR TIMES A DAY
What was the Roman ientaculum?
BREAKFAST
What was cena?
DINNER
What did the Romans call dessert?
SECUNDA MENSA
Give the Latin words and English meaning of the abbreviation e.g.
EXEMPLƮ
GRATIƖ, “FOR (THE
SAKE OF AN) EXAMPLE”
What Latin abbreviation is often confused with e.g. and is more specifically used to
indicate an explanation rather than an example?
I.E. (ID EST)
What are you supposed to do if you are reading a scholarly journal that makes a major
argument and then, in parentheses, has “cf.” followed by a citation to the page of a book
on a related topic?
COMPARE THE POINT ARGUED BY THIS JOURNAL TO
WHEREVER THAT REFERENCE IS IN THE BOOK (accept anything
that shows understanding of confer = compare)
What part of the house would the Romans call the large hall, which housed the impluvium
and the compluvium?
ATRIUM
What part of the Roman house was the “wings” of the atrium that housed the imagines?
ALAE
What were the imagines?
WAXED FIGURES / MASKS(OF ANCESTORS)
What two-word Latin phrase commonly used in English offers an antonym to the concept of
a revolution and refers to “the existing state of affairs”?
STATUS QUO
What two-word Latin phrase is commonly used in English to refer to the college (or high
school) from which you graduate?
ALMA MATER
2 Finally, once you land a job, you may end up on assignment out of town for some period
of time on the company’s expense. What two-word Latin phrase is commonly used to
refer to the daily allowance you are paid to cover the cost of your meals and other
incidentals?
PER DIEM
What kind of toga did common citizens wear?
TOGA VIRILIS/ TOGA PURA
What kind of toga, with a purple border did young boys and magistrates wear?
TOGA PRAETEXTA
What kind of toga did victorious generals wear during a triumph?
TOGA PICTA
What part of the Roman baths was the hot room?
CALDARIUM
What part of the Roman baths would a Roman go to, to enjoy a cool dip?
FRIGIDARIUM
Before a Roman could enjoy these rooms, what changing room would they visit first?
APODYTERIUM
- Which of the following would be most likely to embody the Latin abbreviation ad lib. in his
or her daily work? security guard, college counselor, tightrope walker, jazz soloist,
professional wrestler
JAZZ SOLOIST
Which of the following words or phases in English is etymologically connected to the
Latin root of ad lib.? “women’s lib,” “healthy libido,” “left-wing liberal,” and
“absolutely livid.
HEALTHY LIBIDO
Let’s say a professional wrestler begins to ad lib too much and begins to cause injuries
among his colleagues, who must act as his opponents during televised matches. What
Latin phrase might apply to him if he keep this up too long and becomes shunned by his
co-workers?
PERSONA NON GRATA
Which of the following Latin abbreviations contains an abbreviated version of a word for a
Latin number? op. cit., M.D., A.M., per cent, and A.D.
PER CENT
Of that same list, which contains a word that is often paired in abbreviated form with an
abbreviation for philosophiae?
M.D.
Finally, of the same list above, which abbreviation contains two words in the ablative
case?
OP. CIT. (opere citƗtǀ)
What office was at the top of cursus honorum.
CONSUL
Who carried the fasces, or the bundle of sticks that signified the power of magistrates?
LICTORES / LICTOR(S)
A Roman consul had 12 lictores, what special event in Rome would give a man 24
lictores?
DICTATOR
Kaeso, Lucius, Gnaeus, Quintus and Publius are all examples of what part of a Roman’s
name?
PRAENOMEN
What Roman praenomen was abbreviated A.?
AULUS
Differentiate between the praenomens abbreviated Ti. and T. ?
TI = TIBERIUS T = TITUS
. Of the Latin mottoes sƯc transit gloria mundƯ, errƗre hnjmƗnum est, dƝ mortuƯs nil nisi
bonum, and in hǀc signǀ vincƝs, which one, when spoken in a context for which the
quotation was intended, would best be accompanied by a sheepish shrug?
ERRƖRE HNjMƖNUM EST
Which one might a despairing teacher who has taught 10 years of outstanding Latin II
Honors students mutter ironically when grading the D-averaging papers of his current,
inexplicably underachieving class?
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI
What three-word Latin phrase not listed in the tossup best summarizes the give-and-take
nature of ancient pagan religion in which a god might be reasonably expected to offer
protection or answer a prayer if a sacrifice was offered in exchange?
QUID PRO QUO
. From the following list, which does not belong because of meaning and why: māla, ōva,
uvae, strigilēs, nucēs?
STRIGILES–NOT A FOOD
Define all of the foods from the list.
APPLES, EGGS, GRAPES, NUTS (respectively)
What, to the Romans, was a malum Punicum?
POMEGRANATE
What one Latin word, with what meaning, is shared by the abbreviations p.m. and p.s.?
POST – AFTER
What Latin word, with what meaning, is shared by the abbreviations a.c. and a.m.?
ANTE – BEFORE
What one Latin word, with what meaning, is shared by the abbreviations R.I.P. and
b.i.d.?
IN – IN
According to its Latin motto, which state requires you to only look around if you seek a
pleasant peninsula?
MICHIGAN
According to its Latin motto, what state ought not to be messed with because its citizens
dare to defend their rights?
ALABAMA
According to its Latin motto, what state’s citizens should have no concerns because
mountaineers are always free?
WEST VIRGINIA
At a Roman funeral, the eldest male relative was often responsible for the laudātio. What
was this?
EULOGY/SPEECH OF PRAISE
There might also be a conclāmātio. What was this?
RITUAL SHOUTING OF THE DEAD PERSON’S NAME (3x)
Outside of what sacred boundary would the dead person be buried?
POMERIUM
In the Roman Forum, what was the function of a basilica?
(LAW) COURT
What was the Latin term for the elected official who presided over a basilica?
PRAETOR
What Roman elected official might one find planning games and making sure the city
looks generally pretty?
AEDILES/AEDILE
What temple in the Roman Forum, though not built until 167 BC, was vowed by
Camillus to commemorate the achievement of increased rights for plebeians?
(TEMPLE OF) CONCORD
What honor, shared by Romans including Cicero and Augustus, did Camillus achieve for
saving the city from Brennus and the Gauls?
PATER PATRIAE
. What law of 287 B.C. ended the fifth and final succession of the plebs by making the laws of
plebeians binding on all citizens?
LEX HORTENSIA
What earlier law, passed in 445 B.C., allowed intermarriage between plebeians and
patricians?
LEX CANULEIA
Just before the passage of the Lex Canuleia, what group of men was responsible for the
codification of Roman law?
DECEMVIRI
. What three word Latin quotation of Seneca the Younger reminds us that nobody is perfect
and literally means “to make a mistake is human”.
ERRĀRE HUMĀNUM EST
In one of his Satires the author Juvenal gives us what five word Latin quotation as a
reminder to take care of our mental and physical health?
MENS SANĀ IN CORPORE SANŌ
What three word quotation of the philosopher Descartes inspires us to always believe in
ourselves, and literally means “I think therefore I am”?
COGITŌ ERGO SUM
What was the term given to the slave-dealers in ancient Rome?
MANGONES
What was done to the feet of newly arrived slaves before they were sold?
WHITENED WITH CHALK
If a slave had FUG branded on his forehead, what did that indicate about the slave?
HE HAD TRIED TO RUN AWAY / FUG = FUGITIVUS
What term designated a female Roman head of household?
MATERFAMILIAS
What term refers to the power that a Roman master had over the slaves in his household?
PATRIA POTESTAS
What is the name for the ceremony at which a woman laid a newborn baby at the feet of
the father? If the father picked up the baby, it was accepted into the family; if not, the
child was exposed
SUSCEPTIO
Of Brown University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and Princeton University,
which school does not belong because of the tense of the verb in its Latin motto?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
In what tense is the verb of Columbia’s motto?
FUTURE
Translate into English the motto of Columbia “In lumine tuō vidēbimus lumen”.
IN YOUR LIGHT WE SHALL SEE LIGHT
What city came into conflict with Rome after the Mamertine revolt and fought the
Republic for control of the Mediterranean in three wars?
CARTHAGE
