Latin Phrases Flashcards
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/07/25/latin-words-and-phrases-every-man-should-know/
1
Q
a posteriori
A
from the latter – knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence
2
Q
a priori
A
from what comes before – knowledge or justification is independent of experience
3
Q
faber est suae quisque fortunae
A
every man is the artisan of his own fortune –
quote by Appius Claudius Caecus
4
Q
acta non verba
A
deeds, not words
5
Q
ad hoc
A
to this – improvised or made up
6
Q
ad hominem
A
to the man – below-the-belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument
7
Q
ad honorem
A
for honor
8
Q
ad infinitum
A
to infinity
9
Q
ad nauseam
A
used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea
10
Q
ad victoriam
A
to victory – more commonly translated into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans
11
Q
alea iacta est
A
the die has been cast
12
Q
alias
A
at another time – an assumed name or pseudonym
13
Q
alibi
A
elsewhere
14
Q
alma mater
A
nourishing mother – used to denote one’s college/university
15
Q
amor patriae
A
love of one’s country
16
Q
amor vincit omnia
A
love conquers all
17
Q
annuit cœptis
A
He (God) nods at things being begun – or “he approves our undertakings,” motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill
18
Q
ante bellum
A
before the war – commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the American Civil War
19
Q
ante meridiem
A
before noon – A.M., used in timekeeping
20
Q
aqua vitae
A
water of life – used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in France
21
Q
arte et marte
A
by skill and valour
22
Q
astra inclinant, sed non obligant
A
the stars incline us, they do not bind us – refers to the strength of free will over astrological determinism
23
Q
audemus jura nostra defendere
A
we dare to defend our rights – state motto of Alabama
24
Q
audere est facere
A
to dare is to do
25
audio
I hear
26
aurea mediocritas
golden mean -- refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes
27
auribus teneo lupum
I hold a wolf by the ears -- a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version is, "to have a tiger by the tail"
28
aut cum scuto aut in scuto
either with shield or on shield -- do or die, "no retreat"; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle
29
aut neca aut necare
either kill or be killed
30
aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I will either find a way or make one -- said by Hannibal, the great ancient military commander
31
barba non facit philosophum
a beard doesn't make one a philosopher
32
bellum omnium contra omnes
war of all against all
33
bis dat qui cito dat
he gives twice, who gives promptly -- a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts
34
bona fide
good faith
35
bono malum superate
overcome evil with good
36
carpe diem
seize the day
37
caveat emptor
let the buyer beware -- the purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need
38
circa
around, or approximately
39
citius altius fortius
faster, higher, stronger -- modern Olympics motto
40
cogito ergo sum
"I think therefore I am" -- famous quote by Rene Descartes
41
contemptus mundi/saeculi
scorn for the world/times -- despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher's rejection of a mundane life and worldly values
42
corpus christi
body of Christ
43
corruptissima re publica plurimae leges
when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous -- said by Tacitus
44
creatio ex nihilo
creation out of nothing -- a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context
45
cura te ipsum
take care of your own self -- an exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others
46
curriculum vitae
the course of one's life -- in business, a lengthened resume
47
de facto
from the fact -- distinguishing what's supposed to be from what is reality
48
deo volente
God willing
49
deus ex machina
God out of a machine -- a term meaning a conflict is resolved in improbable or implausible ways
50
dictum factum
what is said is done
51
disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus
learn as if you're always going to live; live as if tomorrow you're going to die
52
discendo discimus
while teaching we learn
53
docendo disco, scribendo cogito
I learn by teaching, think by writing
54
ductus exemplo
leadership by example
55
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt
the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling -- attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca
56
dulce bellum inexpertis
war is sweet to the inexperienced
57
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
it is sweet and fitting to die for your country
58
dulcius ex asperis
sweeter after difficulties
59
e pluribus unum
out of many, one -- on the U.S. seal, and was once the country's de facto motto
60
emeritus
veteran -- retired from office
61
ergo
therefore
62
et alii
and others -- abbreviated et al.
63
et cetera
and the others
64
et tu, Brute?
last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," used today to convey utter betrayal
65
ex animo
from the heart -- thus, "sincerely"
66
ex libris
from the library of -- to mark books from a library
67
ex nihilo
out of nothing
68
ex post facto
from a thing done afterward -- said of a law with retroactive effect
69
fac fortia et patere
do brave deeds and endure
70
fac simile
make alike -- origin of the word "fax"
71
flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo
if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell -- Virgil's Aeneid
72
fortes fortuna adiuvat
fortune favors the bold
73
fortis in arduis
strong in difficulties
74
gloria in excelsis Deo
glory to God in the highest
75
habeas corpus
you should have the body -- a legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention
76
habemus papam
we have a pope -- used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope
77
historia vitae magistra
history, the teacher of life -- from Cicero; also "history is the mistress of life"
78
hoc est bellum
this is war
79
homo unius libri (timeo)
(I fear) a man of one book -- attributed to Thomas Aquinas
80
honor virtutis praemium
esteem is the reward of virtue
81
hostis humani generis
enemy of the human race -- Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general
82
humilitas occidit superbiam
humility conquers pride
83
igne natura renovatur integra
through fire, nature is reborn whole
84
ignis aurum probat
fire tests gold -- a phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances
85
in absentia
in the absence
86
in aqua sanitas
in water there is health
87
in flagrante delicto
in flaming crime -- caught red-handed, or in the act
88
in memoriam
into the memory -- more commonly "in memory of"
89
in omnia paratus
ready for anything
90
in situ
in position -- something that exists in an original or natural state
91
in toto
in all or entirely
92
in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus
then we will fight in the shade -- made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300
93
in utero
in the womb
94
in vitro
in glass -- biological process that occurs in the lab
95
incepto ne desistam
may I not shrink from my purpose
96
intelligenti pauca
few words suffice for he who understands
97
invicta
unconquered
98
invictus maneo
I remain unvanquished
99
ipso facto
by the fact itself -- something is true by its very nature
100
labor omnia vincit
hard work conquers all
101
laborare pugnare parati sumus
to work, (or) to fight; we are ready
102
labore et honore
by labor and honor
103
leges sine moribus vanae
laws without morals [are] vain
104
lex parsimoniae
law of succinctness -- also known as Occam's Razor, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one
105
lex talionis
the law of retaliation
106
magna cum laude
with great praise
107
magna est vis consuetudinis
great is the power of habit
108
magnum opus
great work -- said of someone's masterpiece
109
mala fide
in bad faith -- said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or mislead someone; opposite of bona fide
110
malum in se
wrong in itself -- a legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong
111
malum prohibitum
wrong due to being prohibited -- a legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law
112
mea culpa
my fault
113
meliora
better things -- carrying the connotation of "always better"
114
memento mori
remember that [you will] die -- was whispered by a servant into the ear of a victorious Roman general to check his pride as he paraded through cheering crowds after a victory; a genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of his death
115
memento vivere
remember to live
116
memores acti prudentes futuri
mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be
117
modus operandi
method of operating -- abbreviated M.O.
118
montani semper liberi
mountaineers [are] always free -- state motto of West Virginia
119
morior invictus
death before defeat
120
morituri te salutant
those who are about to die salute you -- popularized as a standard salute from gladiators to the emperor, but only recorded once in Roman history
121
morte magis metuenda senectus
old age should rather be feared than death
122
mulgere hircum
to milk a male goat -- to attempt the impossible
123
multa paucis
say much in few words
124
nanos gigantum humeris insidentes
dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants -- commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants"
125
nec aspera terrent
they don't terrify the rough ones -- frightened by no difficulties, less literally "difficulties be damned"
126
nec temere nec timide
neither reckless nor timid
127
nil volentibus arduum
nothing [is] arduous for the willing
128
nolo contendere
I do not wish to contend -- that is, "no contest"; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn't admit guilt, but will accept punishment for a crime
129
non ducor, duco
I am not led; I lead
130
non loqui sed facere
not talk but action
131
non progredi est regredi
to not go forward is to go backward
132
non scholae, sed vitae discimus
we learn not for school, but for life -- from Seneca
133
non sequitur
it does not follow -- in general, a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent), often used in humor
134
non sum qualis eram
I am not such as I was -- or "I am not the kind of person I once was"
135
nosce te ipsum
know thyself -- from Cicero
136
novus ordo seclorum
new order of the ages -- from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States
137
nulla tenaci invia est via
for the tenacious, no road is impassable
138
obliti privatorum, publica curate
forget private affairs, take care of public ones -- Roman political saying which reminds that common good should be given priority over private matters for any person having a responsibility in the State
139
panem et circenses
bread and circuses -- originally described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman mob; today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters
140
para bellum
prepare for war -- if you want peace, prepare for war—if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack
141
parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus
when you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things -- sometimes translated as, "once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely"
142
pater familias
father of the family -- the eldest male in a family
143
pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina
if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you don't, money is your master
144
per angusta ad augusta
through difficulties to greatness
145
per annum
by the year
146
per capita
by the person
147
per diem
by the day
148
per se
through itself
149
persona non grata
person not pleasing -- an unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person
150
pollice verso
with a turned thumb -- used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator
151
post meridiem
after noon -- P.M., used in timekeeping
152
post mortem
after death
153
postscriptum
thing having been written afterward -- in writing, abbreviated P.S.
154
praemonitus praemunitus
forewarned is forearmed
155
praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes
lead in order to serve, not in order to rule
156
primus inter pares
first among equals -- a title of the Roman Emperors
157
pro bono
for the good -- in business, refers to services rendered at no charge
158
pro rata
for the rate
159
quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu
it is how well you live that matters, not how long -- from Seneca
160
quasi
as if or as though
161
qui totum vult totum perdit
he who wants everything loses everything -- attributed to Seneca
162
quid agis
what's going on? -- what's up, what's happening, etc.
163
quid pro quo
this for that -- an exchange of value
164
quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur
whatever has been said in Latin seems deep -- or "anything said in Latin sounds profound"; a recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more important or "educated"
165
quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
who will guard the guards themselves? -- commonly associated with Plato
166
quorum
of whom -- the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional
167
requiescat in pace
let him rest in peace -- abbreviated R.I.P.
168
rigor mortis
stiffness of death
169
scientia ac labore
knowledge through hard work
170
scientia ipsa potentia est
knowledge itself is power
171
semper anticus
always forward
172
semper fidelis
always faithful -- U.S. Marines motto
173
semper fortis
always brave
174
semper paratus
always prepared
175
semper virilis
always virile
176
si vales, valeo
when you are strong, I am strong
177
si vis pacem, para bellum
if you want peace, prepare for war
178
sic parvis magna
greatness from small beginnings -- motto of Sir Frances Drake
179
sic semper tyrannis
thus always to tyrants -- attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar's assassination, and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln's assassination; whether it was actually said at either of these events is disputed
180
sic vita est
thus is life -- the ancient version of "it is what it is"
181
sola fide
by faith alone
182
sola nobilitat virtus
virtue alone ennobles
183
solvitur ambulando
it is solved by walking
184
spes bona
good hope
185
statim (stat)
immediately -- medical shorthand
186
status quo
the situation in which or current condition
187
subpoena
under penalty
188
sum quod eris
I am what you will be -- a gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death
189
summa cum laude
with highest praise
190
summum bonum
the supreme good
191
suum cuique
to each his own
192
tabula rasa
scraped tablet -- "blank slate"; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge
193
tempora heroica
Heroic Age
194
tempus edax rerum
time, devourer of all things
195
tempus fugit
time flees -- commonly mistranslated "time flies"
196
terra firma
firm ground
197
terra incognita
unknown land -- used on old maps to show unexplored areas
198
vae victis
woe to the conquered
199
vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas
vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity -- from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)
200
veni vidi vici
I came, I saw, I conquered -- famously said by Julius Caesar
201
verbatim
repeat exactly
202
veritas et aequitas
truth and equity
203
versus
against
204
veto
I forbid
205
vice versa
to change or turn around
206
vincit qui patitur
he conquers who endures
207
vincit qui se vincit
he conquers who conquers himself
208
vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
[a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind
209
virile agitur
the manly thing is being done
210
viriliter agite
act in a manly way
211
viriliter agite estote fortes
quit ye like men, be strong
212
virtus tentamine gaudet
strength rejoices in the challenge
213
virtute et armis
by virtue and arms -- or "by manhood and weapons"; state motto of Mississippi
214
vive memor leti
live remembering death
215
vivere est vincere
to live is to conquer -- Captain John Smith's personal motto
216
vivere militare est
to live is to fight
217
vox populi
voice of the people
