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POSI > LANGUAGE > Latin Wit
Latin
Wit
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F]
[G] [H] [I] [J] [K]
[L]
[M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V]
A
| Ab
ovo |
From the egg; from the beguinning |
| A
contrario |
On the contrary |
| Abusus
non tollit usum |
Wrong use does not preclude proper use |
| Acerbum
sane et luctuosum nuntium |
Acerbic and sad news |
| Ad
nauseam |
To the point of disgust |
| Ad
(in) usum delphini |
For the use of the dauphin (expurgated) |
| Ad
experimentum |
As an experiment |
| Ad
hoc |
For this purpose, with respect to this |
| Ad
hominem |
Appealing to a person's physical and emotional urges, rather
than her or his intellect |
| Ad
metalla |
The condamnation in the minings |
| Ad
multos annos |
To many years |
| Ad
rem |
To the point |
| Advocatus
nascitur, non fit |
A lawyer is born, not made (Cicero) |
| A
fortiori |
All the more so, with greater reason |
| Age
quod agis |
Do what you do well, pay attention to what you are doing |
| Alea
jacta est |
The dice is cast (Julius Caesar) |
| Alma
mater |
Nourishing mother; one's old school, college, university |
| Alieno
nomine |
With an other name |
| Alter
idem amicissimus |
Another self-most friendly |
| Amat
victoria curam |
Victory favors those who take pains |
| Amicus
certus in re incerta cernitur |
A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter |
| Amor
caecus est |
Love is blind |
| Amor
ordinem nescit |
Love does not know order (St. Jerome) |
| Amor
platonicus |
Platonic love |
| Annus
pauca in verba redactus |
The year summarized in a few words |
| Arduum
sane munus |
A truly arduous task |
| Arguendo |
For the sake of argument |
| Ars
perdita |
A lost art |
| Astra
inclinant, non necessitant |
The stars incline; they do not determine |
| At
est bonus, ut melior vir non alius quisquam, at tibi amicus |
But he is a good man, so that not another man is better, but
he is your friend (Horace) |
| Aut
Caesar aut nihil |
Either Caesar or nothing |
| Ave,
Imperator, morituri te salutamus |
Hail, Caesar; we who are about to die salute you |
B
| Bene
legere saecla vincere |
To read well is to master the ages. (Latin
motto inscribed over the north door of Loan Hall, Doe Library,
University of California; from Emeritus Professor Isaac Flagg) |
| Bona
fides |
Good faith |
| Bonum
est faciendum et prosequendum, et malum vitandum |
The goal of human conduct is to do and pursue good and to
avoid evil (St. Thomas Aquinas) |
C
| Caelum
videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus |
He bid them look at the sky and lift their faces
to the stars (Ovid.) |
| Caput
mundi |
Head of the world |
| Caritas
amicitia quaedam est hominis ad deum |
Charity is a kind of love of man for god (St. Thomas
Aquinas) |
| Casus
conscientiae |
A case of conscience |
| Causa
belli |
Cause of war |
| Causa
celebrationis |
A cause for celebration |
| Caveat
emptor! |
Let the buyer be careful! |
| Cedant
arma togae |
Let generals yield to civilians (let arms yield to the toga) |
| Ceteris
paribus |
All else being equal |
| Continuando |
By way of continuing |
| Contra
bonos mores |
Against the good morals |
| Contra
formam humani generis |
Contrary to the human nature (monster) |
| Cotidiana
vilescunt |
Familiarity breeds contempt |
| Credite
amori vera dicenti |
Believe love speaking the truth (St. Jerome) |
| Credo
ut intelligam |
I believe in order that I may understand (St. Augustine) |
| Cuius
regio, eius religio |
Whose district it is, his religion it is |
| Cura
nihil aliud nisi ut valeas |
Pay attention to nothing except that you do well (Cicero) |
| Cura
ut valeas |
Take care |
| Custos
morum |
Keeper of morals |
D
| Damnant
quod non intellegunt |
They condemn what they do not understand |
| De
bene esse |
It shall be so, as long as it is well |
| De
facto |
By force |
| De
jure |
Legally |
| De
lana caprina rixari |
To argue over goat's wool (over nothing) |
| De
Maria numquam satis |
About Mary, nothing (is) enough |
| De
more |
According to custom |
| Delenda
est Carthago |
Let Carthage be destroyed |
| Deus
qui nobis vitam eodem tempore et libertatem dedit |
The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time
(Thomas Jefferson) |
| Dies
amaritudinis |
Days of bitterness |
| Dies
nefasti |
Blackletter days |
| Divine
et impera |
Divide and rule (Niccolo Machiavelli) |
| Do
ut des |
I give so that you give back |
| Docendo
discitur |
By teaching, one learns |
| Domini
voluntas fiat |
The will of the lord be done |
| Dulce
est dissipere in loco |
It is pleasant to tarry on a topic |
| Dulce
et decorum est pro patria mori |
It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country (Horace) |
| Dum
tempus habemus, operemur bonum |
While we have the time, let us do good |
| Dura
lex, sed lex |
The law is tough, but it is law |
E
| E
pluribus unum |
One out of many (Motto of the United States) |
Ecclesia
semper reformada est |
The church must always be reformed |
| Esse
quam videri |
To be rather than to seem |
| Et
id omnegenus |
And that whole type |
| Est
queadam fiere voluptas |
There is a certain pleasure in weeping |
| Evinvere
malum bono |
To prevail over evil with good |
| Ex
cearulo |
Out of the blue |
| Ex
gratia |
As a favour |
| Ex
nihilo |
From nothing |
| Ex
umbris ei imaginibus in veritatem |
From shadows and images to the truth |
| Ex
ungue leonem |
By the claw the lion is revealed |
| Exitus
acta probat |
The outcome proves the deeds (the end justifies the means) |
| Experientia
docet |
Experience teaches |
| Experto
credite |
Believe the expert |
| Expressis
verbis |
With expressed words |
| Extra
ecclesiam nulla salus |
Outside the church, there is no salvation |
F
| Facilis
descentus averni |
Easy to descent to the hell |
| Factus
est Deus homo ut homo fieret Deus |
God was made a man so that a man might become a God |
| Falsus
in uno, falsus in omnibus |
Untrue in one thing, untrue in everything |
| Felix
culpa |
Oh happy mistake |
| Festina
lente |
Make haste slowly |
| Fides
quaerens intellectum |
Faith seeking understanding |
| Fides
sola iustificat |
Faith alone justifies |
| Finis
coronat opus |
The end crowns the work |
| Frangar
non flectar |
I am broken, I am not deflected |
G
| Grammatici
certant et adhuc sub lucide lis est |
Grammarians dispute and the case is still before
the court |
| Grande
nimis |
Too great |
H
| Hoc
est in votis |
This is in my prayers |
| Hoc
est verum et nihili nisi verum |
This is the truth and nothing but the truth |
| Homo
proponit, sed Deus disponit |
Man proposes but God disposes |
| Horas
numero, nisi serenas |
I count the hours, not only the happy ones (inscription
on solar clocks) |
I
| Ille
dolet vere qui sine teste dolet |
He truly grieves who grieves when none is there |
| Illegitimis
nil carborundum |
Don't let the bastards grind you down |
| In
angustis |
In difficulties |
| In
camera |
In chamers (in secret) |
| In
capite et in membris |
In root and branch |
| In
casu extremae necessitatis |
In case of extreme necessity |
| In
Deo speramus |
In God we trust |
| In
medio futissimus ibis |
You will go safest in the middle |
| In
necessariis unitas, in dubilis libertas, in omnibus caritas |
In necessary things, unity; in dubious things, liberty; in
all things, charity (St. Augustine) |
| In
pari materia |
Of like kind |
| In
silvam ne ligna feras |
Don't carry logs into the forest (Horace) |
| Indulgentiam
quaeso |
I ask your indulgence |
| Inquietum
est cornostrum, donec requiescat in te |
Our heart is restless, until it rests in you (St. Augustine) |
| Intellectum
valde amat |
Love the intellect strongly (St. Augustine) |
| Intelligo
me intelligere |
I understand that I understand (St. Augustine) |
| Intelligo
me velle |
I understand that I will (St. Augustine) |
| Inter
vivos |
Living |
| Interdico
aliqui aqua et igni |
I forbid someone water and fire - I send someone in exile |
| Interdiction
aquae et igni |
Exile |
| Interest
reipublicae ut sit finis litium |
It is in the republic interest that there be an end to lawsuits |
| Interfice
errorem, diligere errantem |
Kill the sin, love the sinner (St. Augustine) |
| Interna
corporis |
The private matters |
| Intrinsicus
sunt cavi |
They are hollow inside |
| Iocandi
causa |
For joke's shake |
Ipsa
scientia potestas est |
For knowledge itself is power |
| Iuris
prudentia |
Law science |
K
L
| Laborum
dulce lenimen |
Sweet solace of labors |
| Laudatores
temporis acti |
Praisers of time past |
| Lectio
brevior lectio potior |
The shortest reading is the more probable reading |
| Lex
communis omnium |
The common law of all |
| Lex
malla, lex nulla |
A bad law is no law (St. Thomas Aquinas) |
| Lex
naturalis |
Natural law |
| Lex
terrae |
Law of the land |
| Liberum
arbitrium |
Free will |
| Libris
clausis, styllis depositis |
Books closed, pens put down |
| Licentia
liquendi |
Liberty of speaking |
| Locum
tenens |
One holding a place |
M
| Magna
Dii curant, parva neglegunt |
Gods are concerned with important things, trifles
they ignore |
| Magnum
malum |
A great evil |
| Mea
culpa |
My mistake |
| Melius
tarde, quam nunquam |
Better late than never |
| Mens
legislatoris |
The intent of the legislator |
| Minimis
optime peractis, maxima bene agentur |
After the smallest things have been well completed, the greatest
things will be done well |
| Minus
habens |
Absentminded |
| Mondificatis
mondificandis |
What was to be modified having been modified |
| Mole
sua |
By its own weight |
| More
Socratico |
By the Socratic method |
| Multum
in parvo |
Much in little |
| Multun,
non multa |
Much, not many (quality not quantity) |
| Mutatis
mutandis |
What was to be changed having been changed |
N
| Natura
nihil fit in frustra |
Nature does nothing in vain |
| Ne
quid nimis |
Nothing in excess |
| Ne
supra crepidam sutor iudicaret |
Let a cobbler not judge beyond a sandal (Pliny the Elder) |
| Nemo
dat quod non habet |
No one gives what he does not have |
| Nemo
liber est qui corpori servit |
No one is free who is a slave to his body |
| Nemo
malus felix |
No evil man is happy (Juvenal) |
| Nihil |
Nothing |
| Nil
desperandum |
Never despair |
| Non
est ei similis |
There is no one like him |
| Non
omnes qui habemt citharam sunt citharoedi |
No one who own harps are harpists |
| Non
omnia possumus omnes |
Everyone cannot do everything |
| Non
omnis moriar |
I shall not completely die (Horace) |
| Norma
loquendi |
The standard of speech |
| Novus
ordo seclorum |
A new order of the ages is born (inscription on the
reverse of the great seal of USA) |
| Nullius
in verba |
(Rely) on the words on no one (Horace) |
| Nullus
est instar domus |
There is no place like home |
O
| Omne
initium est difficile |
Every beguinning is difficult |
| Omnes
vulnerant, ultima necat |
All (hours) wound, the last kills (inscription on solar
clocks) |
| Omne
trium perfectum |
Everything that comes in threes is perfect |
| Optimus
magister, bonus liber |
The best teacher is a good book |
| Optimus
status rerum |
The best state of things |
P
| Pacta
sunt servanda |
Treaties should be respected |
| Pars
pro toto |
Part of the whole |
| Pax
et bonum! |
Peace and sanvation! |
| Peccatum
tacituritatis |
Sin of silence |
| Pecunia
in arbotis non crescit |
Money does not grow on trees |
| Per
angusta in augusta |
Through difficulties to great things |
| Plusque
minusque |
More or less |
| Post
tenebras lux |
After the darkness, light |
| Praetio
prudentia praestat |
Prudence supplies a reward |
| Primum
non nocere |
The first thing is to do no harm (Hippocratic oath) |
| Pro
opportunitate |
As circumstances allow |
| Pro
tanto |
To a certain extent |
| Puris
omnia pura |
To the pure all things are pure |
Q
| Quam
terribilis est haec hora |
How fearful is this hour |
| Qui
bene cantat, bis orat |
He who sings well, prays twice |
| Qui
tacet consentire videtur |
He that is silent is thought to consent |
| Qui
vivat atque floreat ad plurimos annos |
May he live and flourish for many years |
| Quid
nunc? |
What now? |
| Quid
pro quo |
Something for something |
| Quieta
non movere |
Not to move (things lying) quiet |
| Quis
custodiet ipsos custodes? |
Who shall keep watch over the guardians? |
| Quis
separabit? |
Who shall separate us? |
| Quo
ad hoc |
As much as this (to this extent) |
| Quo
animo? |
With what spirit? (or intent?) |
| Quod
erat demonstrandum |
Which was to be shown or demonstrated |
| Quod
erat faciendum |
Which was to be done |
R
| Repetitio
est mater memoriae/ studiorum/ |
Repetition is the mother of memory/studies |
| Res
firma mitescere nescit |
A firm resolve does not know how to weaken |
| Res
publica |
The public object (Roman State) |
S
| Salvo
pudore |
Decence being observed |
| Scito
te ipsum |
Know yourself |
| Scribere
est agere |
To write is to act |
| Seniores
priores |
Elders first |
| Se
vis pacem para bellum |
If you want peace, prepare a war |
| Sic
me deus adjuvat |
So help me God |
| Sic
passim |
Thus everywhere |
| Sic
transit gloria mundi |
Thus passes the glory of the world |
| Sine
nobilitatis |
Without nobility (SNOB) |
| Sobria
inebrietas |
Sober intoxication |
| Sol
omnibus lucet |
The sun shines upon us all (Petronius) |
| Spectaculorum
procedere debet |
The show must go on |
| Status
quo ante |
The state in which it was before |
| Sub
secreto |
In secret |
| Sub
silentio |
In silence |
| Suggestio
veri, suggestio falsi |
An intimation of truth, an intimation of falcity |
| Suo
jure |
In one's rightful place |
| Suum
cuique pulchrum est |
To each his own is beautiful (Cicero) |
T
| Tabula
rasa |
Clean state |
| Tempus
fugit |
Time is fugitive |
| Tempus
neminem manet |
Time waits fo no one |
| Timor
mortis conturbat me |
The fear of death confounds me |
| Tolerabiles
ineptiae |
Bearable absurdities |
| Totus
mundus agit historiem |
The whole world plays the actor (is a play) |
U
| Ubi
amor, ibi oculus |
Where love is, there is insight |
| Ubi
supra |
Where mentioned above |
| Ubique |
Everywhere |
| Ultima
ratio regum |
The final argument of kings |
| Unitas
mirabile vinculum |
The wonderful bond of unity |
| Unum
necessarium |
The one necessary |
| Urbanus
et instructus |
A gentleman and a scholar |
| Urbi
et orbi |
In the city and the World |
| Utile
et dulce |
Useful and pleasant |
V
| Verba
de futuro |
Words about the future |
| Verbum
sapienti |
A word to the wise |
| Vere
jus summum, summa malitiae |
Oh, truly the greatest justice is height of injustice |
| Vide
et credere |
See and believe |
| Vincit
omnia amor |
Love conquers all |
| Vincit
omnia veritas |
Truth conquers all |
| Vinculum
unitatis |
The bond of unity |
| Virtus
in medio stat |
Virtue stands in the middle |
| Vis
medicatrix naturae |
The healing power of nature |
| Vita
brevis, ars lunga |
Life is short, art is long |
| Vita
sine libris mors est |
Life without books is death |
| Vivat
rex |
Long live the King |
| Vivos
voco, mortuos plango |
I call the living, I mourn the dead (on a church bell) |
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