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Misc. > Latin Phrases > Flashcards

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

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2
Q

a priori

A

from what comes before – knowledge or justification is independent of experience

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3
Q

faber est suae quisque fortunae

A

every man is the artisan of his own fortune –

quote by Appius Claudius Caecus

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4
Q

acta non verba

A

deeds, not words

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5
Q

ad hoc

A

to this – improvised or made up

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6
Q

ad hominem

A

to the man – below-the-belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument

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7
Q

ad honorem

A

for honor

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8
Q

ad infinitum

A

to infinity

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9
Q

ad nauseam

A

used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea

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10
Q

ad victoriam

A

to victory – more commonly translated into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans

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11
Q

alea iacta est

A

the die has been cast

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12
Q

alias

A

at another time – an assumed name or pseudonym

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13
Q

alibi

A

elsewhere

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14
Q

alma mater

A

nourishing mother – used to denote one’s college/university

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15
Q

amor patriae

A

love of one’s country

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16
Q

amor vincit omnia

A

love conquers all

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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

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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

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19
Q

ante meridiem

A

before noon – A.M., used in timekeeping

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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

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21
Q

arte et marte

A

by skill and valour

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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

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23
Q

audemus jura nostra defendere

A

we dare to defend our rights – state motto of Alabama

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24
Q

audere est facere

A

to dare is to do

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25
Q

audio

A

I hear

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26
Q

aurea mediocritas

A

golden mean – refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes

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27
Q

auribus teneo lupum

A

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”

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28
Q

aut cum scuto aut in scuto

A

either with shield or on shield – do or die, “no retreat”; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle

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29
Q

aut neca aut necare

A

either kill or be killed

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30
Q

aut viam inveniam aut faciam

A

I will either find a way or make one – said by Hannibal, the great ancient military commander

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31
Q

barba non facit philosophum

A

a beard doesn’t make one a philosopher

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32
Q

bellum omnium contra omnes

A

war of all against all

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33
Q

bis dat qui cito dat

A

he gives twice, who gives promptly – a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts

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34
Q

bona fide

A

good faith

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35
Q

bono malum superate

A

overcome evil with good

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36
Q

carpe diem

A

seize the day

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37
Q

caveat emptor

A

let the buyer beware – the purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need

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38
Q

circa

A

around, or approximately

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39
Q

citius altius fortius

A

faster, higher, stronger – modern Olympics motto

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40
Q

cogito ergo sum

A

“I think therefore I am” – famous quote by Rene Descartes

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41
Q

contemptus mundi/saeculi

A

scorn for the world/times – despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher’s rejection of a mundane life and worldly values

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42
Q

corpus christi

A

body of Christ

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43
Q

corruptissima re publica plurimae leges

A

when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous – said by Tacitus

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44
Q

creatio ex nihilo

A

creation out of nothing – a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context

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45
Q

cura te ipsum

A

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

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46
Q

curriculum vitae

A

the course of one’s life – in business, a lengthened resume

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47
Q

de facto

A

from the fact – distinguishing what’s supposed to be from what is reality

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48
Q

deo volente

A

God willing

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49
Q

deus ex machina

A

God out of a machine – a term meaning a conflict is resolved in improbable or implausible ways

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50
Q

dictum factum

A

what is said is done

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51
Q

disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus

A

learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if tomorrow you’re going to die

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52
Q

discendo discimus

A

while teaching we learn

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53
Q

docendo disco, scribendo cogito

A

I learn by teaching, think by writing

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54
Q

ductus exemplo

A

leadership by example

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55
Q

ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt

A

the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling – attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca

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56
Q

dulce bellum inexpertis

A

war is sweet to the inexperienced

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57
Q

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

A

it is sweet and fitting to die for your country

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58
Q

dulcius ex asperis

A

sweeter after difficulties

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59
Q

e pluribus unum

A

out of many, one – on the U.S. seal, and was once the country’s de facto motto

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60
Q

emeritus

A

veteran – retired from office

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61
Q

ergo

A

therefore

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62
Q

et alii

A

and others – abbreviated et al.

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63
Q

et cetera

A

and the others

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64
Q

et tu, Brute?

A

last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” used today to convey utter betrayal

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65
Q

ex animo

A

from the heart – thus, “sincerely”

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66
Q

ex libris

A

from the library of – to mark books from a library

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67
Q

ex nihilo

A

out of nothing

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68
Q

ex post facto

A

from a thing done afterward – said of a law with retroactive effect

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69
Q

fac fortia et patere

A

do brave deeds and endure

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70
Q

fac simile

A

make alike – origin of the word “fax”

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71
Q

flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo

A

if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell – Virgil’s Aeneid

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72
Q

fortes fortuna adiuvat

A

fortune favors the bold

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73
Q

fortis in arduis

A

strong in difficulties

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74
Q

gloria in excelsis Deo

A

glory to God in the highest

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75
Q

habeas corpus

A

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

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76
Q

habemus papam

A

we have a pope – used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope

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77
Q

historia vitae magistra

A

history, the teacher of life – from Cicero; also “history is the mistress of life”

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78
Q

hoc est bellum

A

this is war

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79
Q

homo unius libri (timeo)

A

(I fear) a man of one book – attributed to Thomas Aquinas

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80
Q

honor virtutis praemium

A

esteem is the reward of virtue

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81
Q

hostis humani generis

A

enemy of the human race – Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general

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82
Q

humilitas occidit superbiam

A

humility conquers pride

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83
Q

igne natura renovatur integra

A

through fire, nature is reborn whole

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84
Q

ignis aurum probat

A

fire tests gold – a phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances

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85
Q

in absentia

A

in the absence

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86
Q

in aqua sanitas

A

in water there is health

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87
Q

in flagrante delicto

A

in flaming crime – caught red-handed, or in the act

88
Q

in memoriam

A

into the memory – more commonly “in memory of”

89
Q

in omnia paratus

A

ready for anything

90
Q

in situ

A

in position – something that exists in an original or natural state

91
Q

in toto

A

in all or entirely

92
Q

in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus

A

then we will fight in the shade – made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300

93
Q

in utero

A

in the womb

94
Q

in vitro

A

in glass – biological process that occurs in the lab

95
Q

incepto ne desistam

A

may I not shrink from my purpose

96
Q

intelligenti pauca

A

few words suffice for he who understands

97
Q

invicta

A

unconquered

98
Q

invictus maneo

A

I remain unvanquished

99
Q

ipso facto

A

by the fact itself – something is true by its very nature

100
Q

labor omnia vincit

A

hard work conquers all

101
Q

laborare pugnare parati sumus

A

to work, (or) to fight; we are ready

102
Q

labore et honore

A

by labor and honor

103
Q

leges sine moribus vanae

A

laws without morals [are] vain

104
Q

lex parsimoniae

A

law of succinctness – also known as Occam’s Razor, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one

105
Q

lex talionis

A

the law of retaliation

106
Q

magna cum laude

A

with great praise

107
Q

magna est vis consuetudinis

A

great is the power of habit

108
Q

magnum opus

A

great work – said of someone’s masterpiece

109
Q

mala fide

A

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
Q

malum in se

A

wrong in itself – a legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong

111
Q

malum prohibitum

A

wrong due to being prohibited – a legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law

112
Q

mea culpa

A

my fault

113
Q

meliora

A

better things – carrying the connotation of “always better”

114
Q

memento mori

A

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
Q

memento vivere

A

remember to live

116
Q

memores acti prudentes futuri

A

mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be

117
Q

modus operandi

A

method of operating – abbreviated M.O.

118
Q

montani semper liberi

A

mountaineers [are] always free – state motto of West Virginia

119
Q

morior invictus

A

death before defeat

120
Q

morituri te salutant

A

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
Q

morte magis metuenda senectus

A

old age should rather be feared than death

122
Q

mulgere hircum

A

to milk a male goat – to attempt the impossible

123
Q

multa paucis

A

say much in few words

124
Q

nanos gigantum humeris insidentes

A

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
Q

nec aspera terrent

A

they don’t terrify the rough ones – frightened by no difficulties, less literally “difficulties be damned”

126
Q

nec temere nec timide

A

neither reckless nor timid

127
Q

nil volentibus arduum

A

nothing [is] arduous for the willing

128
Q

nolo contendere

A

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
Q

non ducor, duco

A

I am not led; I lead

130
Q

non loqui sed facere

A

not talk but action

131
Q

non progredi est regredi

A

to not go forward is to go backward

132
Q

non scholae, sed vitae discimus

A

we learn not for school, but for life – from Seneca

133
Q

non sequitur

A

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
Q

non sum qualis eram

A

I am not such as I was – or “I am not the kind of person I once was”

135
Q

nosce te ipsum

A

know thyself – from Cicero

136
Q

novus ordo seclorum

A

new order of the ages – from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States

137
Q

nulla tenaci invia est via

A

for the tenacious, no road is impassable

138
Q

obliti privatorum, publica curate

A

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
Q

panem et circenses

A

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
Q

para bellum

A

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
Q

parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus

A

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
Q

pater familias

A

father of the family – the eldest male in a family

143
Q

pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina

A

if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you don’t, money is your master

144
Q

per angusta ad augusta

A

through difficulties to greatness

145
Q

per annum

A

by the year

146
Q

per capita

A

by the person

147
Q

per diem

A

by the day

148
Q

per se

A

through itself

149
Q

persona non grata

A

person not pleasing – an unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person

150
Q

pollice verso

A

with a turned thumb – used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator

151
Q

post meridiem

A

after noon – P.M., used in timekeeping

152
Q

post mortem

A

after death

153
Q

postscriptum

A

thing having been written afterward – in writing, abbreviated P.S.

154
Q

praemonitus praemunitus

A

forewarned is forearmed

155
Q

praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes

A

lead in order to serve, not in order to rule

156
Q

primus inter pares

A

first among equals – a title of the Roman Emperors

157
Q

pro bono

A

for the good – in business, refers to services rendered at no charge

158
Q

pro rata

A

for the rate

159
Q

quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu

A

it is how well you live that matters, not how long – from Seneca

160
Q

quasi

A

as if or as though

161
Q

qui totum vult totum perdit

A

he who wants everything loses everything – attributed to Seneca

162
Q

quid agis

A

what’s going on? – what’s up, what’s happening, etc.

163
Q

quid pro quo

A

this for that – an exchange of value

164
Q

quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur

A

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
Q

quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

A

who will guard the guards themselves? – commonly associated with Plato

166
Q

quorum

A

of whom – the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional

167
Q

requiescat in pace

A

let him rest in peace – abbreviated R.I.P.

168
Q

rigor mortis

A

stiffness of death

169
Q

scientia ac labore

A

knowledge through hard work

170
Q

scientia ipsa potentia est

A

knowledge itself is power

171
Q

semper anticus

A

always forward

172
Q

semper fidelis

A

always faithful – U.S. Marines motto

173
Q

semper fortis

A

always brave

174
Q

semper paratus

A

always prepared

175
Q

semper virilis

A

always virile

176
Q

si vales, valeo

A

when you are strong, I am strong

177
Q

si vis pacem, para bellum

A

if you want peace, prepare for war

178
Q

sic parvis magna

A

greatness from small beginnings – motto of Sir Frances Drake

179
Q

sic semper tyrannis

A

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
Q

sic vita est

A

thus is life – the ancient version of “it is what it is”

181
Q

sola fide

A

by faith alone

182
Q

sola nobilitat virtus

A

virtue alone ennobles

183
Q

solvitur ambulando

A

it is solved by walking

184
Q

spes bona

A

good hope

185
Q

statim (stat)

A

immediately – medical shorthand

186
Q

status quo

A

the situation in which or current condition

187
Q

subpoena

A

under penalty

188
Q

sum quod eris

A

I am what you will be – a gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death

189
Q

summa cum laude

A

with highest praise

190
Q

summum bonum

A

the supreme good

191
Q

suum cuique

A

to each his own

192
Q

tabula rasa

A

scraped tablet – “blank slate”; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge

193
Q

tempora heroica

A

Heroic Age

194
Q

tempus edax rerum

A

time, devourer of all things

195
Q

tempus fugit

A

time flees – commonly mistranslated “time flies”

196
Q

terra firma

A

firm ground

197
Q

terra incognita

A

unknown land – used on old maps to show unexplored areas

198
Q

vae victis

A

woe to the conquered

199
Q

vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas

A

vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity – from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)

200
Q

veni vidi vici

A

I came, I saw, I conquered – famously said by Julius Caesar

201
Q

verbatim

A

repeat exactly

202
Q

veritas et aequitas

A

truth and equity

203
Q

versus

A

against

204
Q

veto

A

I forbid

205
Q

vice versa

A

to change or turn around

206
Q

vincit qui patitur

A

he conquers who endures

207
Q

vincit qui se vincit

A

he conquers who conquers himself

208
Q

vir prudens non contra ventum mingit

A

[a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind

209
Q

virile agitur

A

the manly thing is being done

210
Q

viriliter agite

A

act in a manly way

211
Q

viriliter agite estote fortes

A

quit ye like men, be strong

212
Q

virtus tentamine gaudet

A

strength rejoices in the challenge

213
Q

virtute et armis

A

by virtue and arms – or “by manhood and weapons”; state motto of Mississippi

214
Q

vive memor leti

A

live remembering death

215
Q

vivere est vincere

A

to live is to conquer – Captain John Smith’s personal motto

216
Q

vivere militare est

A

to live is to fight

217
Q

vox populi

A

voice of the people

Misc. (11 decks)

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