Collegiate Questions—Novice

Question 1

Where might you find the abbreviations D.M. and H.I.S. — dīs mānibus and hīc iacet sēpultus — and the phrase requiēscat in pāce?

Answer 1

A TOMBSTONE / GRAVE

B1: Happy belated Halloween! Continuing on this spooky theme, give the two-word Latin phrase that means “after death.”

POST MORTEM

B2: In the context of honoring the dead, translate the Latin phrase “Dē mortuīs nīl nisi bonum.”

SPEAK ONLY GOOD OF THE DEAD // OF THE DEAD, (SAY) NOTHING BUT GOOD
[ACCEPT EQUIVALENTS]

Question 2

What Latin phrase consists of three perfect tense verbs, all alliterative and all two syllables, and indicates the speed with which Caesar defeated his enemies by coming, seeing, and conquering?

Answer 2

VĒNĪ, VĪDĪ, VĪCĪ

B1: What three-word Latin phrase did Julius Caesar utter before crossing the Rubicon?

ĀLEA IACTA EST

B2: What two-word Latin phrase translates the Greek phrase speude bradeōs, a proverb used by Augustus that means “make haste slowly”?

FESTĪNĀ LENTĒ

Question 3

Lūx et Vēritās is the motto of what university, at whose Kline Biology Tower you are currently hearing this Certamen question?

Answer 3

YALE UNIVERSITY

B1: What is the motto of Harvard University, where some of you may compete in another Certamen tournament in March?

VĒRITĀS

B2: Give the three-word Latin motto of the state you are currently in.

QUĪ TRĀNSTULIT SUSTINET

Question 4

Your Latin teacher wrote you a letter. Give the Latin and English for the abbreviation that they may have used near the very end of their letter, which is abbreviated P.S.

Answer 4

POST SCRĪPTUM, WRITTEN AFTERWARDS / AFTER THE WRITING

B1: In this letter, your Latin teacher dates the year: 2023 A.D. Give the Latin and English of the abbreviation A.D.

ANNŌ DOMINĪ, IN THE YEAR OF THE/OUR LORD

B2: You received this letter at 11:11 A.M. Give the Latin and English of the abbreviation A.M.

ANTE MERĪDIEM, BEFORE NOON/ MIDDAY

Question 5

Of the states California, New York, South Carolina, and Maine, which is the only one whose motto consists of more than one word, since it means “while I breathe, I hope”?

Answer 5

SOUTH CAROLINA

B1: Give the Latin for South Carolina’s motto.

DUM SPĪRŌ SPĒRŌ

B2: Give the Latin phrase and English for New York’s motto.

EXCELSIOR, {EVER UPWARD // HIGHER}