Latin expressions - Classic and modern

A

• A bene placito - At one's pleasure
• A capite ad calcem - From head to heel
• A cappella - In church style, i.e., vocal music only
• A contrario - From a contrary position
• A cruce salus - From the cross comes salvation
• A Deo et Rege - From God and the King
• A fortiori - With yet stronger reason
• A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi - A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place)
• A mari usque ad mare - From sea to sea (Motto of Canada)
• A mensa et thoro - From board and bed (legal separation)
• A pedibus usque ad caput - From feet to head
• A posse ad esse - From possibility to actuality
• A posteriori - From what comes after; inductive reasoning based on observation
• A priori - From what comes before
• A verbis ad verbera - From words to blows
• Ab absurdo - From the absurd (establishing the validity of an argument by pointing out the absurdity of an opponent's position)
• Ab aeterno - From the beginning of time
• Ab asino lanam - Wool from an ass, blood from a stone (impossible)
• Ab hinc - From here on
• Ab imo pectore - From the bottom of the chest (from the heart) (Julius Caesar)
• Ab incunabulis - From the cradle
• Ab initio - From the beginning
• Ab intestato - Having made no will
• Ab origine - From the origin
• Ab ovo usque ad mala - From the egg to the apples (from start to finish) (Horace)
• Ab ovo - From the egg
• Ab urbe condita - From the foundation of the city (Rome)
• Ab/Ex uno disce omnes - From one person, learn all people
• Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit - He has left, absconded, escaped, and disappeared
• Absente reo - In absence of the defendant
• Absit invidia - No offense intended
• Absit omen - May the omen be absent (may this not be an omen)
• Absum! - I'm outta here!
• Abusus non tollit usum - Wrong use does not preclude proper use
• Abutebaris modo subjunctivo denuo - You've been misusing the subjunctive again
• Abyssus abyssum invocat - Hell calls hell; one misstep leads to another
• Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam - It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice
• Acta est fabula, plaudite! - The play is over, applaud! (Said to have been Emperor Augustus' last words)
• Acta non verba - Action not words
• Acta sanctorum - Deeds of the saints
• Actus reus - Wrongful act (as opposed to mens rea, the wrongful intention or guilty mind)
• Ad absurdum - To the point of absurdity
• Ad acta - To archives; no longer actual
• Ad alta - To the summit
• Ad astra per aspera - To the stars through difficulty
• Ad astra - To the stars
• Ad augusta per angusta - To high places by narrow roads
• Ad captandum vulgus - To appeal to the crowd (often used of politicians making false or insincere promises)
• Ad clerum - To the clergy
• Ad eundem gradum - To the same level
• Ad eundem - Of admission to the same degree at a different university
• Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit - To boldly go where no man has gone before
• Ad fontes - To the sources (motto of Renaissance Humanism)
• Ad fundum - To the bottom / To the end (said during a toast, like "bottoms up!")
• Ad hoc - For a particular purpose (improvised, made up in an instant)
• Ad hominem - Appealing to a person's physical and emotional urges, rather than their intellect
• Ad honorem - In honor; honor not bearing any material advantage
• Ad idem - Of the same mind
• Ad infinitum - To infinity without end
• Ad interim - For the meantime
• Ad libitum (ad lib) - At one's pleasure
• Ad limina apostolorum - To the thresholds of the Apostles
• Ad litem - For a lawsuit or action
• Ad locum - At the place
• Ad lucem - Towards the light (motto of the University of Lisbon)
• Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (AMDG) - For the greater glory of God
• Ad multos annos - To many years! (Many happy returns!)
• Ad nauseum - To the point of making one sick
• Ad perpetuam rei memoriam - For the perpetual remembrance of the thing
• Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora - Eggs today are better than chickens tomorrow (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)
• Ad referendum - Subject to reference
• Ad rem - To the point
• Ad valorem - By the value (e.g., ad valorem tax)
• Ad vitam aeternam - For all time
• Ad vitam paramus - We are preparing for life
• Ad vitam - For life
• Addendum - A thing to be added
• Adeste Fideles - Be present, faithful ones
• Adsum - Here! Present!
• Adversus incendia excubias nocturnas vigilesque commentus est - Against the dangers of fires, he (Augustus) conceived of the idea of night guards and watchmen
• Adversus solem ne loquitor - Don't speak against the sun (don't waste time arguing the obvious)
• Advocatus diaboli - The devil's advocate
• Aegrescit medendo - The disease worsens with the treatment; the remedy is worse than the disease
• Aegri somnia - A sick man's dreams (Horace)
• Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur - It is said that for a sick man, there is hope as long as there is life
• Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem - Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even (Horace)
• Aeronavis abstractio a prestituto cursu - Hijacking
• Aetatis (aet.) - Age
• Aeternum vale - Farewell forever
• Affidavit - A sworn written statement usable as evidence in court
• Age quod agis - Do what you do well; pay attention to what you are doing
• Age. Fac ut gaudeam - Go ahead, make my day!
• Agenda - Things to be done
• Agnus Dei - The Lamb of God
• Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est - Yes, that is a very large amount of corn
• Alea iacta est - The die has been cast (Caesar)
• Alias - Otherwise
• Alibi - Elsewhere
• Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent - Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people (Publilius Syrus)
• Alis volat propriis - She flies with her own wings (state motto of Oregon)
• Alma Mater - Nourishing mother (one's old school or university)
• Alter ego - Other 'I' or 'Other Self'
• Alter ipse amicus - A friend is another self
• Alterum ictum faciam - I'm going to take a mulligan
• Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi - The deepest rivers flow with the least sound (still waters run deep)
• Alumnus - Nursling (former pupil)
• Amantes sunt amentes - Lovers are lunatics
• Amantium irae amoris integratio est - The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love (Terence)
• Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur - Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time
• Amat victoria curam - Victory favors those who take pains
• Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore - I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting (Cicero)
• Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi? - Baby, sweetheart, would I lie to you?
• Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur - A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter
• Amicus curiae - Friend of the court
• Amicus humani generis - A friend of the human race (philanthropist)
• Amicus verus est rara avis - A true friend is a rare bird
• Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur - We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving (Syrus)
• Amor caecus est - Love is blind
• Amor est vitae essentia - Love is the essence of life (Robert B. Mackay)
• Amor ordinem nescit - Love does not know order (St. Jerome)
• Amor patriae - Love of country
• Amor platonicus - Platonic love
• Amor tussisque non celantur - Love, and a cough, are not concealed (Ovid)
• Amor vincit omnia - Love conquers all (Virgil)
• Amoto quaeramus seria ludo - Joking aside, let us turn to serious matters (Horace)
• An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur? - Don't you know, my son, how little wisdom rules the world?
• Anguis in herba - A snake in the grass; a treacherous person (Vergil)
• Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri? - Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face?
• Animis opibusque parati - Prepared in minds and resources (ready for anything)
• Animus facit nobilem - The spirit makes (human) noble
• Anno (an.) - Year
• Anno Domini (AD) - In the year of the Lord
• Anno hegirae (AH) - In the year of the hegira
• Anno mundi - In the year of the world
• Anno regni - In the year of reign
• Anno urbis conditae (AUC) - From the year of founding of the city (Rome)
• Annuit coeptis - God has favored us
• Annus bisextus - Leap year
• Annus horribilis - A horrible year
• Annus mirabilis - Year of wonders
• Ante litteram - Before the letter
• Ante meridiem (a.m.) - Before midday
• Ante mortem - Before death
• Ante prandium (A.p.) - Before a meal
• Ante - Before
• Antebellum - Before the war
• Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem - In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags
• Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus! - Let's all wear mood rings!
• Apage Satanas - Begone, Satan
• Appareo Decet Nihil Munditia? - Is It Not Nifty?
• Apudne te vel me? - Your place or mine?
• Aqua fortis - Nitric acid
• Aqua pura - Pure water
• Aqua vitae - Water of life (brandy)
• Aquila non captat muscas - The eagle doesn't capture flies (don't sweat the small things)
• Arbiter elegantiae - Judge in matters of taste
• Arcana imperii - Secrets of the empire
• Arduum sane munus - A truly arduous task
• Arguendo - For the sake of argument
• Argumentum ad hominem - An argument against the man; attacking an opponent's character rather than the subject
• Argumentum ad ignorantiam - Arguing from ignorance
• Armis Exposcere Pacem - They demanded peace by force of arms (inscription seen on medals)
• Ars gratia artis - Art for art's sake (motto of MGM)
• Ars longa, vita brevis - Art is long, but life is short
• Ars sine scienta nihil est - Art without science is nothing
• Artium baccalaureus - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Artium magister - Master of Arts (MA)
• Ascendo tuum - Up yours
• Asinus asinum fricat - The ass rubs the ass (conceited people flatter each other about qualities they do not possess)
• Aspice, officio fungeris sine spe honoris amplioris - Face it, you're stuck in a dead-end job
• Aspirat primo Fortuna labori - Fortune smiles upon our first effort (Virgil)
• Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit - Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill (Cicero)
• Astra inclinant, non necessitant - The stars incline; they do not determine
• Astra non mentiuntur, sed astrologi bene mentiuntur de astris - The stars never lie, but the astrologers lie about the stars
• Aude sapere - Dare to know
• Audaces fortuna iuvat - Fortune favors the bold (Virgil)
• Audere est facere - To dare is to do (motto of Tottenham Hotspur)
• Audi et alteram partem - Hear the other side too
• Audiatur et altera pars! - Let us hear the opposite side!
• Audio, video, disco - I hear, I see, I learn
• Auget largiendo - He increases by giving liberally
• Aura popularis - The popular breeze (Cicero)
• Aurea mediocritas - The golden mean (an ethical goal; truth and goodness are generally found in the middle) (Horace)
• Auribus tenere lupum - I hold a wolf by the ears (I am in a dangerous situation and dare not let go) (Terence)
• Aurora australis - The Southern lights
• Aurora borealis - The Northern lights
• Aurora Musis amica - Dawn is friend of the muses (early bird catches the worm)
• Aut Caesar aut nihil - Caesar or nothing (all or nothing)
• Aut disce aut discede - Either learn or leave
• Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit - The fellow is either mad or he is composing verses (Horace)
• Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - I will either find a way or make one
• Aut vincere aut mori - Either conquer or die
• Auxilio ab alto - By help from on high
• Avarus animus nullo satiatur lucro - A greedy mind is satisfied with no amount of gain
• Ave atque vale - Hail and farewell (Catullus)
• Ave caesar! Morituri te salutamus - Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you (gladiators before the fight)

B

• Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt! - Save the whales!
• Beata Virgo (Maria) - The Blessed Virgin (Mary)
• Beatae memoriae - Of blessed memory
• Beati pacifici - Blessed are the peacemakers
• Beati pauperes spiritu - Blessed are the poor in spirit
• Beatus - The blessed one
• Bella detesta matribus - Wars, the horror of mothers (Horace)
• Bella gerant alii - Let others wage war
• Bellum omium contra omnes - Everyman's struggle against everyman (Thomas Hobbes)
• Belua multorum es capitum - The people are a many-headed beast
• Bene legere saecla vincere - To read well is to master the ages (Professor Isaac Flagg)
• Bene qui latuit, bene vixit - One who lives well, lives unnoticed (Ovid)
• Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare - Well, if you don't understand plain Latin, I'm not going to dirty my hands on you
• Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere - To accept a favor is to sell freedom (Publilius Syrus)
• Bibere venenum in auro - Drink poison from a cup of gold
• Bis dat qui cito dat - He gives twice who quickly gives (Publilius Syrus)
• Bis in die (bid) - Twice a day
• Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit - He is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms (Syrus)
• Bis repetita placent - The things that please are those that are asked for again and again (Horace)
• Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria - He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest conquers himself (Syrus)
• Bis vivit qui bene vivit - He lives twice who lives well
• Bona fide - In good faith; well-intentioned, fairly
• Bona fides - Honest intention
• Bona fortuna - Good luck!
• Bona officia - Good services
• Bonum commune communitatis - General welfare; common good of the community
• Bonum commune hominis - Common good of man
• Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis - Good wine gladdens a person's heart
• Bovina Sancta! - Holy cow!
• Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur! - Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!
• Braccae tuae aperiuntur - Your fly is open
• Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita - Life is too short to dance with ugly women
• Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita - Life is too short to dance with ugly men
• Brevis esse latoro obscurus fio - When I try to be brief, I speak gobbledegook
• Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior - Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes (Publilius Syrus)
• Busillis - Baffling puzzle or difficult point

C

• Cacoethes scribendi - An insatiable urge to write (Juvenal)
• Cadit quaestio - The question drops
• Caeca invidia est - Envy is blind (Livy)
• Caeci caecos ducentes - Blind are led by the blind
• Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei - The heavens declare the glory of God
• Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt - They change the sky, not their soul, who run across the sea (Horace)
• Caelum videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus - He bid them look at the sky and lift their faces to the stars (Ovid)
• Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris - If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar
• Camera obscura - Hidden room; an early photographic or painting technique utilizing optical pinholes
• Canis meus id comedit - My dog ate it
• Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet - A timid dog barks more violently than it bites (Curtius Rufus)
• Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse! - A wig? I never would have guessed!
• Caro putridas es! - You're dead meat
• Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the beer!
• Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero - Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow (Horace)
• Carpe diem - Seize the day (opportunity) (Horace)
• Casus belli - An act used to justify war
• Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam - I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head
• Causarum justia et misericordia - For the causes of justice and mercy
• Causa mortis - Cause of death
• Cave ab homine unius libri - Beware of anyone who has just one book (Latin Epigram)
• Cave canem, te necet lingendo - Beware of the dog, he may lick you to death
• Cave canem - Beware of the dog
• Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules - If I were you, I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults
• Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui - Beware what you say, when, and to whom
• Cave - Beware!
• Caveat Emptor - Let the buyer beware (he buys at his own risk)
• Caveat Venditor - Let the seller beware
• Caveat - Let him/her beware
• Cedant arma togae - Let arms yield to the toga (let violence give place to law)
• Cedo maiori - I yield to a greater person
• Certamen bikini-suicidus-disci mox coepit? - Does the Bikini-Suicide-Frisbee match start soon?
• Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse - You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore
• Certum est, quia impossibile - It is certain, because it is impossible (Tertullianus)
• Cetera desunt - The rest is missing
• Ceteris paribus - All else being equal
• Christus rex - Christ the King
• Cineri gloria sera venit - Fame comes too late to the dead
• Circa (c.) - Approximately
• Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis - I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
• Clara pacta, boni amici - Clear agreements, good friends
• Codex Juris Canonici - Book of canon law
• Cogita ante salis - Think before you leap
• Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur - Nobody should be punished for his thoughts
• Cogito ergo doleo - I think, therefore I am depressed
• Cogito sumere potum alterum - I think I'll have another drink
• Cogito, ergo sum - I think, therefore I am (René Descartes)
• Commodum ex iniuria sua nemo habere debet - No person ought to have advantage from his own wrong
• Commune bonum - The common good
• Commune periculum concordiam parit - Common danger brings forth harmony
• Communi consilio - By common consent
• Compos mentis - Of sound mind (and judgment)
• Concordia discors - Discordant harmony
• Concordia res parvae crescent - Work together to accomplish more
• Conditio sine qua non - Condition without which not; an essential condition
• Confer (cf.) - Compare
• Confiteor - I confess
• Congregatio de Propaganda Fide - Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
• Coniecturalem artem esse medicinam - Medicine is the art of guessing (Aulus Cornelius Celsus)
• Coniunctis viribus - With united powers
• Conlige suspectos semper habitos - Round up the usual suspects
• Consensu omnium - By the agreement of all
• Consensus audacium - An agreement of rash men (a conspiracy) (Cicero)
• Consuetudinis magna vis est - The force of habit is great (Cicero)
• Consule planco - In the consulship of Plancus (in the good old days) (Horace)
• Consummatum est - It is completed (Christ's last words, John 19:30)
• Contra felicem vix deus vires habet - Against a lucky man a god scarcely has power
• Contra mundum - Against the world
• Contraria contrariis curantur - The opposite is cured with the opposite (Hippocrates)
• Coram populo - In the presence of the people (Horace)
• Cornix cornici oculos non effodiet - A crow doesn't rip out the eyes of another crow
• Cornucopia - Horn of plenty
• Corpus Christi - The body of Christ
• Corpus delicti - The body of a crime (the substance or fundamental facts of a crime)
• Corpus Juris Canonici - The body of canon law
• Corpus Juris Civilis - The body of civil law
• Corpus vile - Worthless body
• Corrigenda - A list of things to be corrected (in a book)
• Corripe Cervisiam - Seize the beer!
• Corruptio optimi pessima - Corruption of the best is worst
• Coruscantes disci per convexa caeli volantes - Flying saucers
• Cotidiana vilescunt - Familiarity breeds contempt
• Cotidie damnatur qui semper timet - The man who is constantly in fear is every day condemned (Syrus)
• Crapulam terriblem habeo - I have a terrible hangover
• Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit, cras amet - May he love tomorrow who has never loved before
• Credidi me felem vidisse! - I thought I saw a puddy tat!
• Credite amori vera dicenti - Believe love speaking the truth (St. Jerome)
• Credo elvem etiam vivere - I believe Elvis lives
• Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse - I think we're on the same wavelength
• Credo quia absurdum - I believe it because it is absurd (Tertullian)
• Credo ut intelligam - I believe in order that I may understand (St. Augustine)
• Credula vitam spes fovet et melius cras fore semper dicit - Credulous hope supports our life, and always says that tomorrow will be better (Tibullus)
• Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit - The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew (Juvenalis)
• Crescite et multiplicamini - Increase and multiply
• Crimen falsi - Perjury
• Crudelius est quam mori semper timere mortem - It is more cruel to always fear death than to die (Seneca)
• Crux - Puzzle
• Cui bono? - For whose benefit is it? (Cicero)
• Cui dono lepidum novum libellum? - To whom do I give my new elegant little book? (Catullus)
• Cui malo? - Who suffers a detriment?
• Cui peccare licet peccat minus - One who is allowed to sin, sins less (Ovid)
• Cuius regio, eius religio - He who rules, his religion
• Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare - Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one
• Cuivis dolori remedium est patientia - Patience is the cure for all suffering
• Culpa - A sin
• Culpam poena premit comes - Punishment closely follows crime as its companion (Horace)
• Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt - When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults
• Cum grano salis - With a grain of salt (Pliny the Elder?)
• Cum homine de cane debeo congredi - Excuse me, I've got to see a man about a dog
• Cum laude magnum - With great success
• Cum laude - With praise
• Cum tacent, clamant - When they remain silent, they cry out (Cicero)
• Cum - With
• Cur etiam hic es - Why are you still here?
• Cura nihil aliud nisi ut valeas - Pay attention to nothing except that you do well (Cicero)
• Cura posterior - A later concern
• Cura ut valeas - Take care
• Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent - Slight griefs talk, great ones are speechless (Seneca)
• Curriculum vitae - The course of one's life
• Cursum perficio - My journey is over, or I finish my journey
• Custos morum - Guardian of morals

D

• Da mihi basilia mille - Kiss me with a thousand kisses
• Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo! - Make me chaste and pure, but not yet!
• Da mihi sis bubulae frustrum assae, solana tuberosa in modo gallico fricta, ac quassum lactatum coagulatum crassum - Give me a hamburger, french fries, and a thick shake
• Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam - I'll have a light beer
• Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo - I'll have a pizza with everything on it
• Damnant quod non intellegunt - They condemn what they do not understand
• Data et accepta - Expenditure and receipts
• De asini umbra disceptare - To argue about the shadow of an ass (petty things for petty minds)
• De bene esse - It shall be so, as long as it is well
• De die in diem - From day to day
• De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum - Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen (Thomas à Kempis)
• De facto - Something that is automatically accepted
• De gustibus non est disputandum - There's no accounting for taste
• De inimico non loquaris sed cogites - Don't wish ill for your enemy; plan it
• De integro - Repeat again from the start
• De iure - By law; according to law
• De minimis non curat praetor - The authority or king, or law does not care about trivial things
• De minimis - With respect to trifles
• De mortuis nil nisi bonum - Say nothing but good about the dead (Chilon)
• De nihilo nihil - Nothing comes from nothing (Lucretius)
• De novo - Anew
• De profundis - Up from the depths (of misery)
• De rervm natvra - On the nature of things (title of Marcus Aurelius's magnum opus)
• Decrevi - I have decreed
• Dei gratia - By the grace of God
• Delenda est carthago - Carthage must be destroyed
• Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit - The wolf attacks with his fang, the bull with his horn (Horace)
• Deo adiuvante - With God's help
• Deo favente - With God's favor
• Deo gratias - [We give] thanks to God
• Deo Optimo Maximo - To God, the Best, the Greatest
• Deo vindice - God will prove us right (motto of the Confederate States of America)
• Deo volente - God willing
• Desunt cetera - The rest is missing
• Deus absconditus - A god who is hidden from man
• Deus commodo muto consisto quem meus canis sententia existo - (Roughly) God, with generosity, resembles my dog's opinion
• Deus ex machina - A contrived or artificial solution (literally, 'a god from a machine')
• Deus Misereatur - May God have mercy
• Deus vobiscum - God be with you
• Deus vult! - God wills it! (Slogan of the Crusades)
• Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit! - God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!
• Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem! - The devil made me do it!
• Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am
• Dictum sapienti sat est - A word to a wise person is sufficient
• Die dulci freure - Have a nice day
• Diem perdidi - I have lost a day (another day wasted) (Titus)
• Dies felices - Happy Days
• Dies Irae - Day of Wrath, or Judgment Day
• Dies natalis - Birthday
• Dies non - Business-free day
• Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem - It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love (Catullus)
• Difficile est saturam non scribere - It is hard not to write satire (Juvenalis)
• Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas - It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you practice it (Pliny the Younger)
• Diis aliter visum - The Gods decided otherwise
• Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium - Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence (Seneca)
• Diligite justitiam, o judices terrae - Cherish justice, O judges of the earth
• Dimidium facti qui coepit habet - Half is done when the beginning is done (Horace)
• Dira necessitas - The dire necessity (Horace)
• Discere docendo - To learn through teaching
• Disiecti membra poetae - Limbs of a dismembered poet (Horace)
• Disjecta membra - The scattered remains
• Divide et impera - Divide and conquer
• Dixi - I have spoken (I will say no more on the matter)
• Do ut des - I give so that you give back
• Docendo discitur - It is learned by teaching (Seneca)
• Doli capax - Capable of crime
• Domine, dirige nos - Lord, direct us
• Domino optimo maximo - To the Lord, the best and greatest
• Dominus illuminatio mea - The Lord is my light
• Dominus providebit - The Lord will provide
• Dominus tecum - May the Lord be with you (Singular)
• Dominus vobiscum - May the Lord be with you (Plural)
• Domus dulcis domus - Home sweet home
• Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos - As long as you are fortunate, you will have many friends
• Donna nobis pacem - Grant us peace
• Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus - Never tickle a sleeping dragon (motto of Harry Potter's alma mater)
• Dramatis personae - Characters of the play
• Duc, sequere, aut de via decede - Lead, follow, or get out of the way
• Ducator meus nihil agit sine lagunculae leynidae accedunt - My calculator does not work without batteries
• Duco ergo sum - I calculate, therefore I am
• Dulce bellum inexpertis - War is sweet for those who haven't experienced it (Pindaros)
• Dulce est desipere in loco - It is sweet to relax at the proper time
• Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country (Horace)
• Dulcius ex asperis - Through difficulty, sweetness
• Dum excusare credis, accusas - When you believe you are excusing yourself, you are accusing yourself (St. Jerome)
• Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem - As long as we are among humans, let us be humane (Seneca)
• Dum spiramus tuebimur - While we breathe, we shall defend
• Dum spiro, spero - While I breathe, I hope (Cicero)
• Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum - While we have the time, let us do good
• Dum vita est spes est - While life is, hope is
• Dum vivimus, vivamus - While we live, let us live (Epicurean philosophy)
• Dura lex, sed lex - The law is harsh, but it is the law

E

• E contrario - From a contrary position
• E pluribus unum - From many, one (motto of the USA)
• E re nata - As circumstances dictate
• E vestigio - From where one stands
• Ecce homo - Behold the man
• Ecce signum - Behold the proof
• Editio princeps - First printed edition
• Ego et rex meus - I and my King
• Ego me bene habeo - With me all is well (last words) (Burrus)
• Ego nolo caesar esse - I don't want to be Caesar (Florus)
• Ego spem pretio non emo - I do not purchase hope for a price
• Ego - Consciousness of one's own identity
• Eheu fugaces labuntur anni - Alas, the fleeting years slip by (Horace)
• Eheu, litteras istas reperire non possum - Unfortunately, I can't find those particular documents
• Eiusdem generis - Of the same kind
• Elizabeth Regina/Eduardus Rex (E.R.) - Queen Elizabeth/King Edward
• Emeritus - Honorary; by merit
• Emitte lucem et veritatem - Send out light and truth
• Ense et aratro - With sword and plow (citizen-soldier)
• Eo ipso - By that very act
• Eo nomine - Under that name
• Epistula non erubescit - A letter doesn't blush (Cicero)
• Eram quod es, eris quod sum - I was what you are, you will be what I am (grave inscription)
• Ergo bibamus - Therefore, let us drink
• Ergo - Therefore
• Errare humanum est - To err is human (Seneca)
• Errata - A list of errors (in a book)
• Erratum - Error
• Escariorium lavator - Dishwashing machine
• Esse est percipi - Being is perception (Mauser)
• Esse quam videri - To be, rather than to seem (state motto of North Carolina)
• Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre quod credis - Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe (St. Augustine)
• Est deus in nobis - There is a god inside us
• Est modus in rebus - There is a middle ground in things (Horace)
• Est queadam fiere voluptas - There is a certain pleasure in weeping (Ovid)
• Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima? - Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat?
• Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre? - Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?
• Esto perpetua - Let it be forever
• Esto perpetue - May you last forever
• Et alii/aliae - Other persons/things
• Et cetera/etcetera (etc.) - And the rest
• Et in arcadia ego - I, also, am in Arcadia
• Et sequens (et seq.) - And the following
• Et sequentes (et seqq.) - And those that follow
• Et sic de ceteris - And so of the rest
• Et tu, Brute - And you, Brutus
• Et uxor (et ux.) - And wife
• Etiam capillus unus habet umbram - Even one hair has a shadow (Publilius Syrus)
• Eventus stultorum magister - Events are the teacher of the stupid persons
• Experientia docet stultos - Experience teaches fools
• Experientia docet - Experience is the best teacher
• Experimentum crucis - Critical experiment
• Expressio unius est exclusio alterius - The mention of one thing may exclude others
• Extempore - Without premeditation
• Exterioris pagina puella - Cover Girl
• Extinctus amabitur idem - The same [hated] man will be loved after he's dead (Horace)
• Extra ecclesiam nulla salus - Outside the Church [there is] no salvation
• Extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur - The judgment of one exceeding his territorial jurisdiction is disobeyed with impunity

F

• Fabas indulcet fames - Hunger sweetens the beans
• Faber est suae quisque fortunae - Every man is the artisan of his own fortune (Appius Claudius Caecus)
• Faber quisque fortunae suae - Each man is the maker of his own fortune
• Fabricati diem - Make my day
• Fac me cocleario vomere! - Gag me with a spoon!
• Fac ut nemo me vocet - Hold my calls
• Fac ut vivas - Get a life
• Facile princeps - Acknowledged leader
• Facilis descensvs averno - The descent to Avernus (Hell) is easy
• Facilius est multa facere quam diu - It is easier to do many things than to do one for a long time (Quintilianus)
• Facilius per partes in cognitionem totius adducimur - We are more easily led part by part to an understanding of the whole (Seneca)
• Facito aliquid operis, ut te semper diabolus inveniat occupatum - Always do something, so that the devil always finds you occupied (St. Jerome)
• Facta, non verba - Deeds, not words
• Factum est - It is done
• Fallaces sunt rerum species - The appearances of things are deceptive (Seneca)
• Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus - False in one thing, false in all
• Fama crescit eundo - The rumor grows as it goes (Vergil)
• Fama nihil est celerius - Nothing is swifter than rumor
• Fama semper vivat - May his/her fame last forever
• Fama volat - The rumor has wings (Vergil)
• Fames est optimus coquus - Hunger is the best cook
• Farrago fatigans! - Thuffering thuccotash!
• Fas est et ab hoste doceri - It's proper to learn even from an enemy (Ovid)
• Favete linguis - To keep a (religious) silence (Horace)
• Fax mentis incedium gloriae - The passion of glory is the torch of the mind
• Fecit (fec.) - Made by
• Feles mala! cur cista non uteris? stramentum novum in ea posui - Bad kitty! Why don't you use the cat box? I put new litter in it
• Feles mala! - Bad kitty!
• Felis qvi nihil debet - Happy [is] he who owes nothing
• Felix culpa - Happy fault
• Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas - Happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things (Vergil)
• Felo de se - Suicide
• Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt - Men readily believe what they want to believe (Caesar)
• Festina lente - Make haste slowly
• Fiat justitia (et ruat caelum) - Let justice be done (though the heavens fall)
• Fiat lux - Let there be light
• Fiat volvntas tua - Let Thy will [be done] (Biblical)
• Fiat - Let it be done
• Fide, non armis - By faith, not arms
• Fidei defensor - Defender of the faith
• Fides punica - Treachery (Livy)
• Fides quaerens intellectum - Faith seeking understanding
• Fidus Achates - Faithful Achates (friend)
• Filioque - And from the son
• Finem respice - Look to the end [before setting forth]
• Finis coronat opus - The ending crowns the work (Ovid)
• Finis - The end
• Flagrante delicto - Literally while the crime is blazing; caught red-handed
• Flamma fumo est proxima - Flame follows smoke (there is no smoke without fire) (Plautus)
• Floreat regina regina - May it flourish (motto of the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Floruit - Flourished
• Fluctuat nec mergitur - It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink
• Fons et origo - The source and origin
• Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit - Perhaps someday we will look back upon these things with joy
• Forsan miseros meliora sequentur - For those in misery perhaps better things will follow (Virgil)
• Fortes et liber - Strong and free (Alberta)
• Fortes fortuna adiuvat - Fortune favors the brave (Terence)
• Fortes fortuna iuvat - Fortune favors the brave
• Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter - Bravely, faithfully, perhaps successfully
• Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo - Resolutely in action, gently in manner
• Fortitudine vincimus - By endurance we conquer
• Fortius quo fidelius - Strength through loyalty
• Fortuna amicos parat, inopia amicos probat - Fortune prepares friends, abundance tests them
• Fortuna vitrea est; tum cum splendet frangitur - Fortune is glass; just when it gleams brightest it shatters
• Fortuna caeca est - Fortune is blind (Cicero)
• Fortunatus sum! Pila mea de gramine horrido modo in pratum lene recta volvit! - Isn't that lucky! My ball just rolled out of the rough and onto the fairway!
• Frangar non flectar - I am broken, I am not deflected
• Frater, ave atque vale - Brother, hello and good-bye (Catullus)
• Fronti nulla fides - No reliance can be placed on appearance (don't judge a book by its cover)
• Frustra laborant quotquot se calculationibus fatigant pro inventione quadraturae circuli - Futile is the labor of those who fatigue themselves with calculations to square the circle (Michael Stifel, 1544)
• Fugit hora - The hour flies
• Fugit inreparabile tempus - Irretrievable time flies (Virgil)
• Functus officio - Having discharged his duty and thus ceased to have any authority
• Furnulum pani nolo - I don't want a toaster

G

• Gaudeamus igitur (iuvenes dum sumus) - Therefore, let us rejoice (while we are young)
• Genius loci - The guardian spirit of the place
• Gens togata - The toga-clad race; the Romans
• Genus irritabile vatum - The irritable race of poets (Horace)
• Gladiator in arena consilium capit - The gladiator is formulating his plan in the arena (too late) (Seneca)
• Gloria filiorum patres - The glory of sons is their fathers
• Gloria in excelsis deo - Glory to God in the highest
• Gloria Patri - Glory to the Father
• Gloria virtutis umbra - Glory is the shadow of virtue
• Gloria - Glory
• Gloriosum est iniurias oblivisci - It is glorious to forget the injustice
• Gnothe seauton - Know thyself (Greek)
• Graeca sunt, non leguntur - It is Greek, you don't read that
• Gramen artificiosum odi - I hate Astroturf
• Gratia placenti - For the sake of pleasing
• Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit - Captive Greece conquered her savage victor (Horace)
• Graviora manent - Greater dangers await
• Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo - The drop excavates the stone, not with force but by falling often (Ovid)

H

• Habeas corpus - You must have the body (justify an imprisonment)
• Habemus Papam - We have a pope
• Habetis bona deum - Have a nice day
• Hac lege - With this law
• Haec olim meminisse iuvabit - Time heals all things
• Haec trutina errat - There is something wrong with this scale
• Hannibal ante portas! - Hannibal is at the doors! The enemy/danger is at the doors!
• Haud ignota loquor - I say things that are known
• Helluo librorum - A glutton for books (bookworm)
• Heu! Tintinnuntius meus sonat! - Darn! There goes my beeper!
• Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt! - Hey, we're all in line here!
• Hic et nunc - Here and now
• Hic habitat felicitas - Here dwells happiness
• Hic jacet (HJ) - Here lies (written on gravestones or tombs)
• Hic jacet sepultus (HJS) - Here lies buried
• Hic puer est stultissimus omnium! - This boy is the stupidest of all!
• Hinc illae lacrimae - Hence these tears (Terence)
• Historia est vitae magistra - History is the tutor of life
• Hoc erat in votis - This was among my prayers
• Hoc est in votis - This is in my prayers
• Hoc est vivere bis vita posse priore frvi - To live twice is to make useful profit from one's past
• Hoc natura est insitum, ut quem timueris, hunc semper oderis - It's an innate thing to always hate the one we've learnt to fear
• Hoc tempore obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit - In these days, friends are won through flattery, the truth gives birth to hate (Terence)
• Hocine bibo aut in eum digitos insero? - Do I drink this or stick my fingers in it?
• Hodie mihi, cras tibi - Today for me, tomorrow for you
• Homines libenter quod volunt credunt - Men believe what they want to (Terentius)
• Homines, dum docent, discunt - Men learn while they teach (Seneca)
• Homo doctvs is se semper divitias habet - A learned man always has wealth within himself
• Homo homini lupus - Man is a wolf to man
• Homo nudus cum nuda iacebat - Naked they lay together, man and woman
• Homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus - One is innocent until proven guilty
• Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit - Man proposes, but God disposes
• Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto - I am human, therefore nothing human is strange to me
• Homo sum - I am a man
• Homo vitae commodatus non donatus est - Man has been lent to life, not given (Publilius Syrus)
• Honor virtutis praemium - Honor is the reward of virtue
• Honores mutant mores - The honors change the customs (power corrupts)
• Honoris causa (h.c.) - As in doctorate, an honorary degree
• Horas non numero nisi serenas - I count only the bright hours (inscription on ancient sundials)
• Horribile dictu - Horrible to tell
• Horror vacui - Fear of empty places
• Hostis humani generis - Enemy of the human race
• Huc accedit zambonis! - Here comes the Zamboni!
• Humum mandere - To bite the dust
• Hunc tu caveto - Beware of this man

I

• Ibidem (Ib.) - In the same place (in a book)
• Id certum est quod certum reddi potest - That is certain that can be made certain
• Id est (i.e.) - That is to say
• Id est mihi, id non est tibi! - It is mine, not yours!
• Id imperfectum manet dum confectum erit - It ain't over until it's over
• Id tibi praebet speciem lepidissimam! - It looks great on you!
• Idem quod (i.q.) - The same as
• Idem - The same
• Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (INRI) - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
• Ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes viros - Fire tests gold; adversity tests strong men
• Ignis fatuus - Foolish fire (will-o-the-wisp)
• Ignorantia juris neminem excusat - Ignorance of the law excuses no one
• Ignoratio elenchi - An ignorance of proof
• Ignotus (ign.) - Unknown
• Ille dolet vere, qui sine teste dolet - He mourns honestly who mourns without witnesses (Martialis)
• Ille mi par esse deo videtur - He seems to me to be equal to a god (Catullus)
• Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down
• Illiud latine dici non potest - You can't say that in Latin
• Illius me paenitet, dux - Sorry about that, chief
• Imitatores, servum pecus! - Imitators, you slavish crowd! (Horace)
• Imperator/Imperatrix (Imp.) - Emperor/Empress
• Imperator - Emperor
• Imperium et libertas - Empire and liberty (Cicero)
• Imperium in imperio - An empire within an empire
• Impossibilium nulla obligatio est - Nobody has any obligation to the impossible (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
• Imprimatur - Let it be printed
• Imprimis - In first place
• In absentia - In one's absence
• In actu - In practice
• In aere aedificare - Build (castles) in the air (St. Augustine)
• In aeternum - For eternity
• In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides - You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself (Petronius)
• In articulo mortis - At the moment of death
• In banco - On the bench
• In camera - In private chamber
• In capite - In chief
• In cauda venenum - In the tail [is the] poison
• In curia - In court
• In dentibus anticis frustrum magnum spiniciae habes - You have a big piece of spinach in your front teeth
• In distans - At a distance
• In dubiis non est agendum - In dubious cases, you should not act
• In dubio pro reo - In doubt in favor of the accused
• In dubio - In doubt
• In esse - In existence
• In excelsis - In the highest
• In extenso - At full length
• In extremis - In extremity
• In fine - At the end
• In flagrante delicto - In the very act of committing an offense
• In forma pauperis - In the form of a poor person
• In futuro - In the future
• In gremio legis - In the protection of the law
• In his ordo est ordinem non servare - In this case the only rule is not obeying any rules
• In hoc signo vinces - In this sign, you will be victorious (Eusebios)
• In infinitum - To infinity; without end
• In libris libertas - In books (there is) freedom
• In limine - On the threshold, at the very outset
• In loco parentis - In the place of a parent
• In loco - In the place of
• In magnis et voluisse sat est - To once have wanted is enough in great deeds (Propertius)
• In media res - In or into the middle of a sequence of events (Horace)
• In medias res - Into the midst of things
• In medio stat virtus - Virtue stands in the middle (Horace)
• In medio tutissimus ibis - In the middle of things you will go most safe (Ovid)
• In memoriam - To the memory of
• In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas - In necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity
• In nomine Domini - In the name of the Lord
• In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti - In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
• In nubibus - In the clouds
• In nuce - In a nutshell
• In omnia paratus - Prepared for all things
• In ovo - In the egg
• In pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello - In peace, like a wise man, he appropriately prepares for war
• In pace - In peace
• In pari materia - Of like kind
• In partibus infidelium - In parts inhabited by unbelievers
• In parvo - In miniature
• In perpetuum - For ever
• In personam - Against the person
• In pleno - In full
• In pontificalibus - In the proper vestments of a pope or cardinal
• In posse - In possibility
• In posterum - Till the next day
• In praesenti - At the present time
• In principio - In the beginning
• In propria persona - In person
• In puris naturalibus - Completely naked
• In quaestione versare - To be under investigation
• In re - Referring to
• In rem - Against the matter (property)
• In rerum natura - In the nature of things
• In saecvla saecvlorvm - For ages of ages forever
• In se - In itself
• In silico - By means of a computer simulation
• In silvam ne ligna feras - Don't carry logs into the forest (Horace)
• In situ - In position
• In specie - In kind
• In spiritu et veritate - In spirit and truth (Versio Vulgata)
• In statu quo - In the same state
• In terrorem - As a warning; to terrify others
• In totidem verbis - In so many words
• In toto - As a whole, absolutely, completely
• In transitu - In passing, on the way
• In usu - In use
• In utero - In the womb
• In vacuo - In a vacuum or empty space
• In vinculis etiam audax - In chains yet still bold (free)
• In vino veritas - The truth is in wine (a drunk person tells the truth)
• In virtute sunt multi ascensus - There are many degrees in excellence (Cicero)
• In vitro - In a test tube (literally glass)
• In vivo - In the living (thing)
• Incipit - Begin here
• Incredibile dictu - Incredible to say
• Index librorum prohibitorum - Official list of forbidden books
• Indulgentiam quaeso - I ask your indulgence
• Infinitus est numerus stultorum - Infinite is the number of fools
• Infra dignitatem (dig.) - Undignified; beneath one's dignity
• Infra - Below, underneath
• Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est - Inhumanity is harmful in every age (Cicero)
• Iniqua nunquam regna perpetuo manent - Stern masters do not reign long (Seneca Philosophus)
• Iniuria non excusat iniuriam - One wrong does not justify another
• Insanabile cacoethes scribendi - An incurable passion to write (Juvenal)
• Insculpsit - He/she engraved it
• Instrumentum aeri temperando - Air conditioner
• Insula gilliganis - Gilligan's Island
• Integer vitae scelerisque purus - Blameless of life and free from crime
• Intellectum valde amat - Love the intellect strongly (St. Augustine)
• Intelligenti pauca - Few words suffice for he who understands
• Intelligo me intelligere - I understand that I understand (St. Augustine)
• Inter alia - Among other things
• Inter alios - Amongst other people
• Inter arma silent leges - In time of war, laws are silent
• Inter caecos regnat strabo - Among blinds the squinting rules (Erasmus)
• Inter caesa et porrecta - There's many a slip twixt cup and lip
• Inter canum et lupum - Between a dog and a wolf
• Inter nos - Between ourselves
• Inter partes - Made between two parties
• Inter se - Between themselves
• Inter spem et metum - Between hope and fear
• Inter vivos - Between living (people)
• Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum - Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe
• Interfice errorem, diligere errantem - Kill the sin, love the sinner (St. Augustine)
• Interregnvm - Period between rules; anarchy, lawlessness
• Intra muros - Within the walls
• Intra vires - Within the power
• Inventas vitam iuvat excoluisse per artes - Let us improve life through science and art (Vergil)
• Ipsa qvidem pretivm virtvs sibi - Virtue is its own reward
• Ipsa scientia potestas est - Knowledge itself is power (Bacon)
• Ipsi dixit - He himself said it (Cicero)
• Ipsissima verba - The exact words
• Ipso facto - By that very fact
• Ipso iure - By operation of the law
• Ira furor brevis est - Anger is a brief insanity (Horace)
• Ire fortiter quo nemo ante iit - To boldly go where no man has gone before (Star Trek)
• Isto pensitaris? - You get paid for this crap?
• Ita erat quando hic adveni - It was that way when I got here
• Ita est - Yes/It is so
• Ite, misse est - Go, the Mass is finished
• Iubilate Deo - Rejoice in God
• Iunctis viribus - By united efforts
• Iure divino - By divine law
• Iure humano - By human law
• Ius civile - Civil law
• Ius gentium - The law of nations
• Ius primae noctis - The right of the first night
• Ivs est ars boni et aeqvi - Law is the art of the good and the just
• Ivs gentivm - Right of tribes; law of nations

J

• Justitia omnibus - Justice for all

L

• Labera lege - Read my lips
• Labor omnia vincit - Work conquers all things (Virgil)
• Labra lege - Read my lips
• Lachryma Christi - Christ's tears
• Lapsus alumni - Error made
• Lapsus calami - A slip of the pen
• Lapsus linguae - A slip of the tongue
• Lapsus memoriae - A slip of the memory
• Lapsus nivium! - Avalanche!!
• Lares et penates - Household gods
• Latet anguis in herba - A snake lies in the grass (Vergil)
• Latine dictum - Spoken in Latin
• Latine loqui coactus sum - I have this compulsion to speak Latin
• Latro! fremo! - Woof woof! Grrrr!
• Laudant illa, sed ista legunt - Some (writing) is praised, but other is read (Martialis)
• Laudatores temporis acti - Praisers of time past
• Laus Deo - Praise be to God
• Lavdem virtvtis necessitati damvs - We give to necessity the praise of virtue
• Lectori Salutem (L.S.) - Greetings to the reader
• Lectio brevior lectio potior - The shortest reading is the more probable reading
• Lector benevole - Kind reader
• Legatus a latere - Advisor from the side
• Lege atque lacrima - Read 'em and weep
• Lege et lacrima - Read it and weep
• Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus - We are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free (Cicero)
• Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus - The burden is made light which is borne well (Ovid)
• Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est - The designated hitter rule has got to go
• Lex domicilii - The law of a person's home country
• Lex fori - The law of the forum (country)
• Lex loci - The law of the place
• Lex malla, lex nulla - A bad law is no law (St. Thomas Aquinas)
• Lex non scripta - The unwritten (common) law
• Lex scripta - The written law
• Lex talionis - The law of revenge
• Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt - Men gladly believe that which they wish for (Caesar)
• Liberae sunt nostrae cogitationes - Our thoughts are free (Cicero)
• Liberate te ex inferis - Save yourself from hell
• Libertas inaestimabilis res est - Liberty is a thing beyond all price (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
• Libra solidus denarius (L.S.D.) - Pounds, shillings, pence
• Licentia liquendi - Liberty of speaking
• Licentia poetica - Poetic license (Seneca)
• Licet - It is allowed
• Lingua franca - French tongue; the common or universal language
• Literati - Men of letters
• Litoralis - Beach bum
• Litterae humaniores - The humanities
• Loco citato (lc) - In the passage just quoted
• Locum tenens - One occupying the place (deputy)
• Locus classicus - The most authoritative source, classical passage
• Locus delicti - The scene of the crime
• Locus desperatus - A hopeless passage
• Locus enim est principum generationis rerum - For place is the origin of things (Roger Bacon)
• Locus in quo - The place in which something happens
• Locus poenitentiae - A place for repentance
• Locus sigilli (l.s.) - The place of the seal
• Locus standi - Place of standing
• Longo intervallo - After a long gap
• Loquitur (loq.) - He/she speaks
• Luctor et emergo - I struggle but I'll survive
• Luke sum ipse patrem te - Luke, I am your father (Star Wars)
• Lumen naturale - Natural light
• Lupus est homo homini - Man is wolf to man
• Lupus in fabula - The wolf in the tale (speak of the wolf, and he will come) (Terence)
• Lusus naturae - A freak of nature
• Lux et veritas - Light and Truth
• Lux mundi - The light of the world

M

• Machina improba! Vel mihi ede potum vel mihi redde nummos meos! - You infernal machine! Give me a beverage or give me my money back!
• Maecenas atavis edite regibus - Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors. (Horace)
• Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter - Necessity is the mother of all invention.
• Magister Artium (MA) - Master of arts.
• Magister mundi sum! - I am the master of the universe!
• Magna charta - Great paper.
• Magna cum laude - With great honour or academic distinction.
• Magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum - The great thing is to know when to speak and when to keep quiet.
• Magnas inter oper inops - A pauper in the midst of wealth. (Horace)
• Magnificat - It magnifies.
• Magnum bonum - A great good.
• Magnum opus - Great work, the major work of one's life.
• Magnus frater spectat te - Big Brother is watching you.
• Maior risus, acrior ensis: quadragesima octava regula quaesitus - The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife: the 48th rule of acquisition.
• Mala fide - In bad faith (something done fraudulently).
• Male parta male dilabuntur - What has been wrongly gained is wrongly lost. (Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.) (Cicero)
• Malum consilium quod mutari non potest - It's a bad plan that can't be changed. (Publilius Syrus)
• Malum prohibitum - A prohibited wrong. A crime that society decides is wrong for some reason, not inherently evil.
• Malum quidem nullum esse sine aliquo bono - There is, to be sure, no evil without something good. (Pliny the Elder)
• Manus in mano - Hand in hand.
• Manus manum lavat - One hand washes the other. The favor for the favor. (Petronius)
• Mare clausum - A closed sea.
• Mare liberum - An open sea.
• Mare nostrum - Our sea. (Mediterranean)
• Margaritas ante porcos - Pearls before swine. To give something valuable to someone not respecting it.
• Mater artium necessitas - Necessity is the mother of invention.
• Mater dolorosa - Sorrowful mother. (Virgin Mary)
• Mater memento mori - Remember your mortality.
• Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus - Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
• Mater - Mother.
• Materfamilias - Mother of family.
• Materia medica - Medical matter.
• Materiam superabat opus - The workmanship was better than the subject matter. (Ovid)
• Maxima debetur puero reverentia - We owe the greatest respect to a child.
• Maximus in minimis - Great in little things.
• Me fallit - I do not know.
• Me iudice - I being judge; in my judgement.
• Me oportet propter praeceptum te nocere - I'm going to have to hurt you on principle.
• Me transmitte sursum, caledoni! - Beam me up, Scotty!
• Mea culpa - Through my fault.
• Mea maxima culpa - Through my very great fault.
• Mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo - My conscience means more to me than all speech. (Cicero)
• Medice, cura te ipsum! - Physician, heal thyself! (Versio Vulgata)
• Medici graviores morbos asperis remediis curant - Doctors cure the more serious diseases with harsh remedies. (Curtius Rufus)
• Medicus curat, natura sanat - The physician treats, nature cures.
• Medio tutissimus ibis - You will go safest in the middle. (Moderation in all things) (Ovid)
• Mei capilli sunt flagrantes - My hair is on fire.
• Meliora cogito - I strive for the best.
• Melitae amor - Love of Malta.
• Melius est praevenire quam praeveniri - Better to forestall than to be forestalled.
• Melius frangi quam flecti - It is better to break than to bend.
• Melius tarde, quam nunquam - Better late than never.
• Mellita, domi adsum - Honey, I'm home.
• Memento mori - Remember that you must die.
• Memento vivere - A reminder of life (literally remember that you have to live).
• Memorabilia - Memorable things.
• Memorandum - A note of; a thing to be remembered.
• Memoria in aeterna - In everlasting remembrance.
• Memoriter - From memory.
• Mendacem memorem esse oportet - A liar needs a good memory. (Quintilianus)
• Mens agitat molem - The mind moves the matter. (Vergil)
• Mens rea - Guilty mind.
• Mens regnum bona possidet - An honest heart is a kingdom in itself. (Seneca)
• Mens sana in corpore sano - A sound mind in a sound body. (Juvenalis)
• Mens sibi conscia recti - A mind conscious of its rectitude.
• Meum cerebrum nocet - My brain hurts.
• Meum pactum dictum - My word is my bond.
• Mihi cura futuri - My concern is the future.
• Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi - Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.
• Millennium (millennia) - A thousand year period.
• Minime senuisti! - You haven't aged a bit!
• Minus habens - Absentminded.
• Mirabile dictu - Wonderful to say/relate. (Vergil)
• Mirabile visu - Wonderful to behold.
• Miserere - Have mercy.
• Missa solemnis - Solemn Mass. (high Mass)
• Mittimus - We send (to prison).
• Modus agendi - Manner of operation.
• Modus operandi (m.o.) - Way of operating.
• Modus vivendi - Way of living.
• Monstra mihi pecuniam! - Show me the money!
• Moratorium - A delay.
• Morituri te salutant - Those who are about to die salute you.
• Mors ultima linea rerum est - Death is everything's final limit. (Horace)
• Mors ultima ratio - Death is the final accounting.
• Mortvi non mordant - Dead men don't bite; Dead men tell no tale.
• Motu proprio - Of one's own initiative.
• Mulier taceat in ecclesia - Let the woman be silent in church. (Paul)
• Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur - Many fear their reputation, few their conscience. (Pliny)
• Multis post annis - Many years later.
• Multum in parvo - Much in little. (small but significant)
• Multum, non multa - Much, not many (quality not quantity).
• Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur - The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived!
• Mundus vult decipi - The world wants to be deceived.
• Munit haec et altera vincit - One defends and the other conquers.
• Mus uni non fidit antro - A mouse does not rely on just one hole. (Plautus)
• Musica delenit bestiam feram - Music soothes the savage beast.
• Mutatis mutandis - The necessary changes having been made.
• Mutato nomine - The name being changed.
• Mvlti svnt vocati, pavci vero electi - Many are called [but] few are chosen.
• Mvndvs vvlt decipi - The world wishes to be deceived; there's a sucker born every minute.
• Mvtatis mvtandis - The things that ought to have changed having been changed; with the necessary substitutions having been made.

N

• Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est - Knowledge is power. (Sir Francis Bacon)
• Nascentes morimur - From the moment we are born, we begin to die.
• Natale solum - Native soil.
• Natura abhorret a vacua - Nature abhors a vacuum.
• Natura in minima maxima - Nature is the greatest in the smallest things.
• Natura nihil fit in frustra - Nature does nothing in vain.
• Natura, artis magistra - Nature, the mistress of art.
• Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret - You can drive nature out with a pitchfork, but she always comes back.
• Navigare necesse est - To sail is necessary.
• Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum! - Don't you dare erase my hard disk!
• Ne cede malis - Yield not to evils.
• Ne feceris ut rideam - Don't make me laugh.
• Ne humanus crede - Trust no human.
• Ne nimium - Not too much.
• Ne plus ultra - No further. Impassable obstacle.
• Ne quid nimis - Nothing in excess. (Terence)
• Nec laudas nisi mortuos poetas: tanti non est, ut placeam, perire - If only dead poets are praised, I'd rather go unsung.
• Nec mortem effugere quisquam nec amorem potest - No one is able to flee from death or love.
• Nec possum tecum vivere, nec sine te - I am able to live neither with you, nor without you. (Martial)
• Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres - As a true translator, you will take care not to translate word for word. (Horace)
• Necesse est multos timeat quem multi timent - He must fear many, whom many fear. (Laberius)
• Necessitas non habet legem - Necessity knows no law.
• Negotium populo romano melius quam otium committi - The Roman people understand work better than leisure.
• Nemine contradicente (nem. con.) - With no one speaking in opposition. Unanimously.
• Nemine dissentiente (nem. diss.) - With no one disagreeing.
• Nemo ante mortem beatus - Nobody is blessed before his death. We never know what the future holds!
• Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi - Moreover, there is no one who can rule unless he can be ruled. (Seneca)
• Nemo dat quod non habet - No one gives what he does not have.
• Nemo gratis mendax - No man lies freely. A person with no reason to lie is telling the truth.
• Nemo hic adest illius nominis - There is no one here by that name.
• Nemo liber est qui corpori servit - No one is free who is a slave to his body.
• Nemo malus felix - No bad man is lucky. (Juvenal)
• Nemo me impune lacessit - No one provokes me with impunity. (Motto of the Kings of Scotland)
• Nemo nisi mors - Nobody except death (will part us). (Inscription in the wedding ring of the Swedish Queen Katarina Jagellonica)
• Nemo propheta in patria sua - No one is considered a prophet in his hometown/homeland.
• Nemo repente fuit turpissimus - No one ever became thoroughly bad in one step. (Juvenal)
• Nemo risum praebuit, qui ex se coepit - Nobody is laughed at, who laughs at himself. (Seneca)
• Nemo saltat sobrius nisi forte insanit - Nobody dances sober unless he's insane.
• Nemo saltat sobrius - No man dances sober.
• Nemo sine iudex - No one is a judge of himself.
• Nemo sine vitio est - No one is without fault. (Seneca the Elder)
• Nemo surdior est quam is qui non audiet - No man is more deaf than he who will not hear.
• Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum - No man by fearing reaches the top. (Syrus)
• Nervos belli, pecuniam. (Nervus rerum.) - The nerve of war, money. (The nerve of things.) (Cicero)
• Nescio quid dicas - I don't know what you're talking about.
• Neutiquam erro - I am not lost.
• Nihil ad rem - Nothing to do with the point.
• Nihil agere delectat - It is pleasant to do nothing. (Cicero)
• Nihil aliud scit necessitas quam vincere - Necessity knows nothing else but victory. (Syrus)
• Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione - I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult.
• Nihil declaro - I have nothing to declare.
• Nihil est ab omni parte beatum - Nothing is good in every part. (Horace)
• Nihil est incertius volgo - Nothing is more uncertain than the (favour of the) crowd. (Cicero)
• Nihil est miserum nisi cum putes - Nothing is unfortunate if you don't consider it unfortunate. (Boethius)
• Nihil est--In vita priore ego imperator romanus fui - That's nothing--in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor.
• Nihil obstat - Nothing stands in the way.
• Nihil sub sole novum - Nothing new under the sun.
• Nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecunia possit - No fort is so strong that it cannot be taken with money. (Cicero)
• Nihil - Nothing.
• Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendum - Thinking nothing done, while anything was yet to do.
• Nil actum reputa si quid superest agendum - Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done. (Lucan)
• Nil admirari - To admire nothing. (Horace)
• Nil agit exemplum, litem quod lite resolvit - Not much worth is an example that solves one quarrel with another. (Horace)
• Nil desperandum! - Never despair! (Horace)
• Nil homini certum est - Nothing is certain for man. (Ovid)
• Nil sine numine - Nothing without the Divine Will.
• Nill illigitimi carborundum - Do not let the bastards get you down.
• Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis - Unless you will have believed, you will not understand. (St. Augustine)
• Nisi prius - Unless previously.
• Nisi - Unless.
• Nolens volens - Whether one likes it or not; willing or unwilling.
• Noli equi dentes inspicere donati - Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. (St. Jerome)
• Noli me tangere! - Don't touch me! (Versio Vulgata)
• Noli me voca, ego te vocabo - Don't call me. I'll call you.
• Noli nothis permittere te terere - Don't let the bastards get you down.
• Noli simul flare sobereque - Don't whistle and drink at the same time.
• Noli turbare circulos meos! - Don't upset my calculations! (Archimedes)
• Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem - Don't force it, get a bigger hammer.
• Nolle prosequi - Do not pursue.
• Nolo contendere - I do not wish to contend.
• Nomen est omen - The name is the sign.
• Nomina stultorum parietibus haerent - The names of foolish persons adhere to walls (Fools' names and fools' faces are often seen in public places).
• Nominatim - By name.
• Non bis in idem - Not twice for the same thing.
• Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat - It's not the heat, it's the humidity.
• Non compos mentis - Not in possession of one's senses.
• Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema - I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.
• Non erravi perniciose! - I did not commit a fatal error!
• Non est ad astra mollis e terris via - There is no easy way from the earth to the stars. (Seneca)
• Non est ei similis - There is no one like him.
• Non est mea culpa - It's not my fault.
• Non Gradus Anus Rodentum! - Not Worth A Rat's Ass!
• Non ignara mals, miseris svccvrrere disco - No stranger to misfortune [myself], I learn to relieve the sufferings [of others].
• Non illigitamus carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down.
• Non licet - It is not allowed.
• Non liquet - It is not clear.
• Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis - Not for you, not for me, but for us - the foundation of a good relationship.
• Non mortem timemus, sed cogitationem mortis - We do not fear death, but the thought of death. (Seneca)
• Non multa, sed multum - Not many, but much. (Meaning, not quantity but quality) (Plinius)
• Non nobis, Domine - Not unto us, O Lord.
• Non omne quod licet honestum est - Not everything that is permitted is honest. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
• Non omne quod nitet aurum est - Not all that glitters is gold.
• Non omnes qui habemt citharam sunt citharoedi - Not all those who own a musical instrument are musicians. (Bacon)
• Non omnia moriar - Not all of me will die. (Horace)
• Non omnia possumus omnes - Not all of us are able to do all things (We can't all do everything.) (Virgil)
• Non omnis moriar - Not all of me will die. (his works would live forever) (Horace)
• Non placet - It does not please.
• Non plaudite. Modo pecuniam jacite - Don't applaud. Just throw money.
• Non plus ultra! (Nec plus ultra!) - Nothing above that!
• Non prosequitur - He does not proceed.
• Non quis, sed quid - Not who, but what.
• Non rape me si placet - Please don't rob me.
• Non scholae sed vitae discimus - We do not learn for school, but for life. (Seneca)
• Non semper erit aestas - It will not always be summer (be prepared for hard times).
• Non sequitur - It does not follow.
• Non serviam - I will not serve.
• Non sibi sed suis - Not for one's self but for one's people.
• Non sibi, sed patriae - Not for you, but for the fatherland.
• Non sum pisces - I am not a fish.
• Non sum qualis eram - I am not what / of what sort I was (I'm not what I used to be.)
• Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum - Do not take as gold everything that shines like gold.
• Non timetis messor - Don't Fear the Reaper.
• Non uno die roma aedificata est - Rome was not built in one day.
• Non ut edam vivo, sed vivam edo - I do not live to eat, but eat to live. (Quintilianus)
• Non vereor ne illam me amare hic potuerit resciscere; quippe haud etiam quicquam inepte feci - I don't think anyone knows I love the girl; I haven't done anything really silly yet.
• Non, mihi ignosce, credo me insequentem esse - No, excuse me, I believe I'm next.
• Nonne amicus certus in re incerta cernitur? - A friend in need is a friend in deed.
• Nonne de novo eboraco venis? - You're from New York, aren't you?
• Nonne macescis? - Have you lost weight?
• Nosce te ipsum - Know thyself. (Inscription at the temple of Apollo in Delphi.)
• Nota bene (nb.) - Note well. Observe carefully.
• Novus homo - A new Man; a man who was the first in his family to be elected to an office.
• Novus ordo saeculorum - A new order of ages.
• Novus ordo seclorum - A new order for the ages. (Appears on the U.S. one-dollar bill)
• Nulla avarita sine poena est - There is no avarice without penalty. (Seneca)
• Nulla dies sine linea - Not a day without a line. Do something every day! (Apeles, Greek painter)
• Nulla regula sine exceptione - There is no rule/law without exception.
• Nulla res carius constat quam quae precibus empta est - Nothing is so expensive as that which you have bought with pleas. (Seneca)
• Nulla vit melior quam bona - There's no life better than a good life.
• Nulli expugnabilis hosti - Conquered By No Enemy. (Motto of Gibraltar)
• Nulli secundus - Second to none.
• Nullius in verba - (Rely) on the words on no one. (Horace)
• Nullo metro compositum est - It doesn't rhyme.
• Nullum crimen sine lege, nulla poena sine lege - No crime and no punishment without a (pre-existing) law.
• Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius - Nothing is said that hasn't been said before. (Terence)
• Nullum gratuitum prandium - There is no free lunch!
• Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae - There is no one great ability without a mixture of madness.
• Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est - No generation is closed to great talents. (Seneca)
• Nullus est instar domus - There is no place like home.
• Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - There is no book so bad that it is not profitable on some part. (Pliny the Younger)
• Numen - Divine power.
• Numero pondere et mensura Deus omnia condidit - God created everything by number, weight and measure. (Isaac Newton)
• Numerus clausus - A restricted number.
• Nummus americanus - Greenback. ($US)
• Numquam aliud natura, aliud sapientia dicit - Never does nature say one thing and wisdom say another.
• Numquam non paratus - Never unprepared.
• Numquam se minus solum quam cum solus esset - You are never so little alone as when you are alone. (Cicero)
• Nunc dimittis - Now let depart.
• Nunc est bibendum - Now we must drink. (Horace)
• Nvdvm pactvm - A nude pact; an invalid agreement, a contract with illusory benefits or without consideration, hence unenforceable.
• Nvllvm qvod tetiget non ornavit - He touched none he did not adorn - not simply 'the Midas touch', or 'he left things better than he found them', but a tribute to a Renaissance man.
• Nvnc avt nvnqvam - Now or never.
• Nvnc pro tvnc - Now for then; retroactive.

O

• O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! - Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world! (Lucilius)
• O di immortales! - Good heavens! (Uttered by Cicero on the Senate floor)
• O diem praeclarum! - Oh, what a beautiful day!
• O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum! - An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf! (Cicero)
• O quam cito transit gloria mundi! - O how quickly passes the glory of the world!
• O sancta simplicitas! - Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)
• O tempora, O mores! - Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero)
• O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem! - Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
• Obesa cantavit - The fat lady has sung.
• Obiit (ob.) - He/she died.
• Obiter (ob.) - In passing.
• Obiter dictum - Something said in passing - parenthetical remark.
• Oblitus sum perpolire clepsydras! - I forgot to polish the clocks!
• Obscurum per obscurius - The obscure by means of the more obscure.
• Obsta principiis - Resist the beginnings - Nip it in the bud.
• Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur - Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease. (Publius Syrus)
• Occasio facit furem - Opportunity makes a thief.
• Oderint dum metuant - Let them hate provided that they fear. (Seneca)
• Odi et amo - I hate (her), and I love (her). (Catullus)
• Odium theologicum - Theological hatred. (A special name for the hatred generated in theological disputes)
• Olevm addere camino - To pour fuel on the stove; adding gasoline to a fire.
• Olevm perdisti - You have lost oil; you've wasted your time on this criticism for a misallocation of resources.
• Olim habeas eorum pecuniam, numquam eam reddis: prima regula quaesitus - Once you have their money, you never give it back: the 1st rule of acquisition.
• Olim - Formerly.
• Omne ignotum pro magnifico est - We have great notions of everything unknown. (Tacitus)
• Omne initium est difficile - Every beginning is difficult.
• Omne trium perfectum - Everything that comes in threes is perfect.
• Omne tvlit pvnctvm qvi miscvit vtile dvlci - [He] has gained every point who has combined [the] useful [with the] agreeable.
• Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant - All men cheerfully obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus)
• Omnes deteriores svmvs licentia - Too much freedom debases us.
• Omnes lagani pistrinae gelate male sapiunt - All frozen pizzas taste lousy.
• Omnes una manet nox - The same night awaits us all. (Horace)
• Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat - All (hours) wound, the last kills. (Inscription on solar clocks)
• Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - Everything which I used to say could not happen will happen now. (Ovid)
• Omnia mea mecum porto - All that is mine, I carry with me. (My wisdom is my greatest wealth) (Cicero)
• Omnia mihi lingua graeca sunt - It's all Greek to me.
• Omnia mors aequat - Death equals all things.
• Omnia munda mundis - Everything is pure to pure ones.
• Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis - All things change, and we change with them.
• Omnia mutantur, nihil interit - Everything changes, nothing perishes. (Ovid)
• Omnia vincit amor - Love conquers all.
• Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori - Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. (Vergil)
• Omnium gatherum - Assortment.
• Omnium rerum principia parva sunt - Everything has a small beginning. (Cicero)
• Onus probandi - The burden of proof.
• Opere citato (op. cit.) - In the work just quoted.
• Optimis parentibus - To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book.
• Optimus magister, bonus liber - The best teacher is a good book.
• Opus Dei - The work of God.
• Ora et labora - Pray and work. (St. Benedict)
• Ora pro nobis - Pray for us.
• Oratvr fit, poeta nascitvr - An orator is made [but] a poet is born.
• Orbes volantes exstare - Flying saucers are real.
• Orbiter dictum/dicta - Said by the way (miscellaneous remarks).
• Orcae ita - Pretty straightforward.
• Ore rotundo - With full voice.
• Osculare pultem meam! - Kiss my grits!

P

• Pace tua - With your consent.
• Pace - By leave of.
• Pacta sunt servanda - Agreements are to be kept. (Cicero)
• Pactum serva - Keep the faith.
• Pallida mors - Pale Death. (Horace)
• Palmam qui meruit ferat - Let him who has earned it bear the reward.
• Panem et circenses - Bread and circuses. Food and games to keep people happy. (Juvenalis)
• Par pare refero - I return like for like; tit for tat retaliation.
• Parens patriae - Parent of the country.
• Pares cvm paribvs - Like persons with like persons. Birds of a feather flock together.
• Pari passu - With equal pace - moving together.
• Pars maior lacrimas ridet et intus habet - You smile at your tears but have them in your heart. (Martialis)
• Particeps criminis - Partner in crime.
• Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus - Mountains will be in labour, and an absurd mouse will be born. (All that work and nothing to show for it)
• Parva leves capiunt animas - Small things occupy light minds (small things amuse small minds).
• Parva scintilla saepe magnam flamam excitat - The small sparkle often initiates a large flame.
• Passim - All through.
• Pater familias - Father of the family.
• Pater historiae - The father of history.
• Pater Noster - Our Father (The first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin).
• Pater patriae - Father of the country.
• Patria est communis omnium parens - Our native land is the common parent of us all. (Cicero)
• Patris est filius - He is his father's son.
• Paucis verbis, quid est deconstructionismus? - What, in a nutshell, is deconstructionism?
• Paucis verbis - In a few words.
• Pavesco, pavesco - I'm shaking, I'm shaking.
• Pavpertas omnivm artivm repertrix - Poverty [is the] inventor of all the arts; necessity is the mother of invention.
• Pax et bonum! - Peace and salvation!
• Pax tecum - May peace be with you (Singular).
• Pax vobiscum - May peace be with you (Plural).
• Pax - Peace.
• Peccatum tacituritatis - Sin of silence.
• Peccavi - I have sinned.
• Peculium - Property.
• Pecunia in arbotis non crescit - Money does not grow on trees.
• Pecunia non olet - Money has no smell. Money doesn't stink. (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth) (Vespasianus)
• Pecvniate obedivnt omnia - All things obey money. Money makes the world go round.
• Pede poena claudo - Punishment comes limping. Retribution comes slowly, but surely. (Horace)
• Pendente lite - While a suit is pending.
• Penetalia mentis - The innermost recesses of the mind. Heart of hearts.
• Per accidens - By accident.
• Per angusta in augusta - Through difficulties to great things.
• Per annum (p.a.) - Yearly.
• Per ardua ad astra - Through difficulties to the stars.
• Per aspera ad astra - Through the thorns to the stars.
• Per capita - Per head.
• Per cent (per centum) - Per hundred.
• Per contra - On the contrary.
• Per diem - Per day; daily allowance.
• Per fas et nefas - Through right or wrong.
• Per impossibile - As is impossible; a way to qualify a proposition that cannot ever be true.
• Per mensem - Monthly.
• Per procurationem (per pro) - By delegation to.
• Per se - By or in itself.
• Per varios usus artem experientia fecit - Through different exercises practice has brought skill. (Manilius)
• Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim - Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. (Ovid)
• Periculum in mora - There is danger in delay. (Livy)
• Perpetuo vincit qui utitur clementia - He is forever victor who employs clemency. (Syrus)
• Perpetuum mobile - Perpetual motion.
• Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est - The check is in the mail.
• Persona (non) grata - (Un)welcome person.
• Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes - Flatterers are the worst type of enemies.
• Pessimus inimicorum genus, laudantes - The worst kind of enemies, those who can praise. (Tacitus)
• Petitio principii - An assumption at the start.
• Philosophum non facit barba! - The beard does not define a philosopher. (Plutarch)
• Pictor ignotus - Painter unknown.
• Pinxit - He/she painted it.
• Pistrix! Pistrix! - Shark! Shark!
• Placebo - I will please. Medical expression for remedies with no medical effect, which improve one's medical condition only because one believes they do.
• Placet - It pleases.
• Pleno iure - With full authority.
• Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate - Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.
• Plusque minusque - More or less.
• Plvres crapvla qvam gladivs - Drunkenness [kills] more than the sword.
• Poeta nascitur, non fit - The poet is born, not made.
• Poli, poli, di umbuendo - Slowly, slowly we will get there.
• Pone ubi sol non lucet! - Put it where the sun don't shine!
• Posse (posse comitatus) - The power of the country.
• Possunt quia posse videntur - They can because they think they can.
• Post bellum - After the war.
• Post coitem - After sexual intercourse.
• Post factum - After the fact.
• Post hoc ergo propter hoc - After this, therefore because of this.
• Post hoc - After this.
• Post meridiem (p.m.) - After midday.
• Post mortem - After death. (Nowadays, the autopsy performed by a coroner)
• Post obitum - After death.
• Post partum - After childbirth.
• Post proelia praemia - After the battles come the rewards.
• Post scriptum (ps) - After what has been written.
• Post tenebras lux - After the darkness, light.
• Postatem obscuri lateris nescitis - You do not know the power of the dark side.
• Potes currere sed te occulere non potes - You can run, but you can't hide.
• Potest ex casa magnus vir exire - A great man can come from a hut. (Seneca)
• Potestatem obscuri lateris nescis - You don't know the power of the dark side. (Star Wars)
• Potius mori quam foedari - Rather to die than to be dishonoured (death before dishonour).
• Potius sero quam numquam - It's better late than never. (Livy)
• Praemonitus, pramunitus - Forewarned, forearmed.
• Praetio prudentia praestat - Prudence supplies a reward.
• Prehende uxorem meam, sis! - Take my wife, please!
• Prescriptio in manibus tabellariorium est - The check is in the mail.
• Pretium iustum est - The Price is Right.
• Prima facie - At first sight; on the face of it. (In law, an obvious case that requires no further proof)
• Primum mobile - Prime mover.
• Primum non nocere - The first thing is to do no harm. (Hippocratic oath)
• Primum viveri deinde philosophari - Live before you philosophize, or Leap before you look.
• Primus inter pares - First among equals.
• Principiis obsta - Resist the beginnings.
• Pro bono (pro bono publico) - For the good of the public.
• Pro di immortales! - Good Heavens!
• Pro et contra - For and against.
• Pro forma - As a matter of formality.
• Pro hac vice - For this occasion.
• Pro memoria - For a memorial.
• Pro nunc - For now.
• Pro opportunitate - As circumstances allow.
• Pro patria - For one's country.
• Pro rata - In proportion to the value. (Per hour for example)
• Pro re nata (prn) - For an occasion as it arises.
• Pro se - On one's own behalf.
• Pro tanto - So far.
• Pro tempore (pro tem.) - For the time being.
• Probae esti in segetem sunt deteriorem datae fruges, tamen ipsae suaptae enitent - A good seed, planted even in poor soil, will bear rich fruit by its own nature. (Accius)
• Probatum est - It has been proved.
• Probitas laudatur et alget - Honesty is praised and left in the cold. (Juvenal)
• Promotor fidei - Promoter of the faith.
• Promoveatur ut amoveatur - Let him be promoted to get him out of the way.
• Propino fibi salutem! - Cheers!
• Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris - It is human nature to hate a person whom you have injured.
• Proxime accessit - He/she came close.
• Proximo (prox.) - Of the next month.
• Proximus sum egomet mihi - I am closest to myself. (Charity begins at home.) (Terence)
• Pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant - Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things.
• Pulvis et umbra sumus - We are dust and shadow. (Horace)
• Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum - Garbage in, garbage out.
• Puris omnia pura - To the pure all things are pure.
• Puri sermonis amator - A lover of pure speech. (Terence)

S

• Saepe creat molles aspera spina rosas - Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses. (Ovid)
• Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit - Often it is not even advantageous to know what will be. (Cicero)
• Saepe stilum vertas - May you often turn the stylus (You should make frequent corrections.)
• Salus populi suprema lex - The safety of the people is the supreme law. (Cicero)
• Salva veritate - With truth preserved.
• Salve (plural salvete) - Hail; welcome.
• Salve sis - May you be well.
• Salve veritate - Saving the truth.
• Salve(te) - Greetings!
• Salve - Hello.
• Sanctum sanctorum - The holy of holies.
• Sane ego te vocavi. forsitan capedictum tuum desit - I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken.
• Sapere aude! - Dare to be wise! (Horace)
• Sapiens nihil affirmat quod non probat - A wise man states as true nothing he does not prove (don't swear to anything you don't know firsthand).
• Sartor resartus - The tailor patched.
• Sat sapienti - Enough for a wise man. (Plautus)
• Satis - Enough.
• Satius est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis, quam innocentem damnari - It is better that a crime is left unpunished than that an innocent man is punished. (Corpus Iuris Civilis)
• Scala Caeli - The ladder of heaven.
• Scala naturae - The ladder of nature.
• Scandalum magnatum - Scandal of magnates.
• Schola cantorum - School of singers.
• Scientia est potentia - Knowledge is power.
• Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem - Science has no enemies but the ignorants.
• Scilicet (sc.) - That is to say.
• Scio cur summae inter se dissentiant! Numeris Romanis utor! - I know why the numbers don't agree! I use Roman numerals!
• Scio me nihil scire - I know that I know nothing. Certain knowledge cannot be obtained. (Socrates)
• Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter - Your knowledge is nothing when no one else knows that you know it.
• Sciri facias - Cause (him) to know.
• Scito te ipsum - Know yourself.
• Scribere est agere - To write is to act.
• Scripsit - He/she wrote it.
• Sculpsit - He/she engraved it.
• Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)
• Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet - He who feared he would not succeed sat still. (For fear of failure, he did nothing.) (Horace)
• Semper fidelis - Always faithful.
• Semper idem - Always the same thing. (Cicero)
• Semper inops quicumque cupit - Whoever desires is always poor. (Claudian)
• Semper letteris mandate - Always get it in writing!
• Semper paratus - Always prepared.
• Semper superne nitens - Always striving upwards.
• Semper ubi sub ubi ubique - Always wear underwear everywhere.
• Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) - The Senate and the Roman people.
• Sensu lato - Broadly speaking.
• Sensu stricto - Strictly speaking.
• Sensu stricto, nullo metro compositum est - Strictly speaking, it doesn't rhyme.
• Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare - I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
• Sequens (seq.) - The following (one).
• Sequens mirabitur aetas - The following age will be amazed.
• Sequentia (seqq.) - The following (ones).
• Seriatim - One after another in order.
• Serva me, servabo te - Save me and I will save you. (Petronius Arbiter)
• Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos - If God is with us who is against us.
• Si fallatis officium, quaestor infitias eat se quicquam scire de factis vestris - If you fail, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your activities.
• Si fecisti nega! - If you did it, deny it (stonewall!)
• Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit - If the end is good, everything will be good (all's well that ends well).
• Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
• Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes - Essentially it says, 'if you can read this, you're overeducated.'
• Si hoc non legere potes tu asinus es - If you can't read this, you're an ass.
• Si minor plus est ergo nihil sunt omnia - If less is more, then nothing is everything.
• Si monumentum requiris circumspice - If you seek a monument, look around.
• Si post fata venit gloria non propero - If glory comes after death, I'm not in a hurry (if one must die to be recognised, I can wait).
• Si sapis, sis apis - If you are wise, be a bee.
• Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses - If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher. (Boethius)
• Si tu id aeficas, ei venient. Ager somnia - If you build it, they will come.
• Si vis amari, ama - If you wish to be loved, love. (Seneca)
• Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for the war. (Vegetius)
• Sic ad nauseam - And so on to the point of causing nausea.
• Sic erat in fatis - So it was fated.
• Sic faciunt omnes - Everyone is doing it.
• Sic friatur crustum dulce - That's the way the cookie crumbles.
• Sic itur ad astra - Such is the path to the stars (i.e., Gain reputation) (Vergil)
• Sic passim - Thus everywhere.
• Sic semper tyrannis - Thus always to tyrants - a statement often accompanying a regicide.
• Sic transit gloria mundi - So passes the glory of the world.
• Sic volo, sic iubeo - I want this, I order this. (Juvenalis)
• Sic - Thus, just so.
• Silent enim leges inter arma - Laws are silent in times of war. (Cicero)
• Simia quam similis, turpissimus bestia, nobis! - How like us is that very ugly beast the monkey. (Cicero)
• Simplex munditiis - Unaffected by manners. (Horace)
• Simpliciter - Naturally; without qualification.
• Sine cura - Without a care.
• Sine die - Without a day (indefinitely).
• Sine ira et studio - Without anger or bias. (Tacitus)
• Sine loco (sl) - Without place.
• Sine nobilitatis - Without nobility (SNOB).
• Sine prole (sp) - Without issue.
• Sine qua non - Something/someone indispensable.
• Sine sole sileo - Without the sun I'm silent. (Sundial inscription)
• Siste, viator - Wait, traveler - inscription on Roman tombstones.
• Sit tibi terra levis - May the earth be light upon you - tombstone inscription.
• Sit vis vobiscum - May the Force be with you. (Star Wars)
• Sobria inebrietas - Sober intoxication.
• Sol omnibus lucet - The sun shines upon us all. (Petronius)
• Sola lingua bona est lingua mortua - The only good language is a dead language.
• Solitudinem fecerunt, pacem appelunt - They made a desert and called it peace. (Tacitus)
• Solum potestis prohibere ignes silvarum - Only you can prevent forest fires.
• Sona si latine loqueris - Honk if you speak Latin.
• Sotto voce - In soft voice.
• Spectaculorum procedere debet - The show must go on.
• Spectatvm venivnt, venivnt spectentvr vt ipsae - They come to see, they come that they themselves be seen; to see and be seen.
• Spemque metumque inter dubiis - Hover between hope and fear. (Vergil)
• Spero melior - I hope for better things.
• Spero nos familiares mansuros - I hope we'll still be friends.
• Spiritus asper - Rough breathing.
• Spiritus lenis - Smooth breathing.
• Splendide mendax - Splendidly false. (Horace)
• Splendor sine occasu - Splendour without end.
• Stabat Mater - The mother was standing.
• Stare decisis - To stand by things decided.
• Status quo - The current state of being.
• Stercus accidit - Shit happens.
• Stet - Let it stand.
• Struit insidias lacrimis cum femina plorat - When a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears. (Dionysius Cato)
• Studium discendi voluntate quae cogi non potest constat - Study depends on the good will of the student, a quality which cannot be secured by compulsion.
• Stultior stulto fuisti, qui tabellis crederes! - Idiot of idiots, to trust what is written!
• Stultorum calami carbones moenia chartae - Chalk is the pen of fools, walls (their) paper. No Graffiti please. Showing that graffiti is nothing new.
• Stultorum infinitus est numerus - Infinite is the number of fools. (Bible)
• Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes - It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid. (Publilius Syrus)
• Stultus est sicut stultus facit - Stupid is as stupid does.
• Sua cuique voluptas - Everyone has his own pleasures.
• Sub dio - Under the open sky.
• Sub iudice - Under a judge.
• Sub judice - Before a court.
• Sub lite - In dispute.
• Sub poena - Under penalty of law.
• Sub rosa - Under the rose. Secretly or in confidence.
• Sub secreto - In secret.
• Sub silentio - In silence.
• Sub sole nihil novi est - There's nothing new under the sun.
• Sub voce (sv) - Under the voice.
• Subucula tua apparet - Your slip is showing.
• Suggestio falsi - Suggestion of something false.
• Suggestio veri, suggestio falsi - An intimation of truth, an intimation of falsity.
• Sui generis - Of his/her/its kind.
• Sui iuris - Of one's own right.
• Sum, ergo edo - I am, therefore I eat.
• Summa cum laude - With highest honor.
• Summam scrutemur - Let's look at the bottom line.
• Summum bonum - The highest good.
• Summum ius, summa iniuria - The extreme law is the greatest injustice. (Cicero)
• Sumptus censum ne superet - Let not your spending exceed your income (live within your means).
• Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt - These are the tears of things, and our mortality cuts to the heart. (Vergil)
• Sunt pueri pueri, puerilia tractant - Children are children, (therefore) children do childish things.
• Suntne vacci laeti - Are your cows happy?
• Suo iure - In one's own right.
• Suo jure - In one's rightful place.
• Suos cuique mos - Everyone has his customs. (Gellius)
• Supra - Above or on an earlier page.
• Sursum corda - Lift up your hearts (to God).
• Suum cuique pulchrum est - To each his own is beautiful. (Cicero)
• Svi generis - Of its own kind; unique.

T

• Tabula rasa - A clean slate. Person that knows nothing.
• Tacet - Silence.
• Tam diu minime visu! - Long time, no see!
• Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio - I am as dead as the nehru jacket.
• Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas - We should learn as long as we may live. (We live and learn.) (Seneca Philosophus)
• Tamquam alter idem - As if a second self. (Cicero)
• Tanta stultitia mortalium est - What fools these mortals be.
• Tantum eruditi sunt liberi - Only the educated are free. (Epictetus)
• Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum - So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds. (Lucretius)
• Tarditas et procrastinatio odiosa est - Delay and procrastination is hateful. (Cicero)
• Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure - I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.
• Te capiam, cunicule sceleste! - I'll get you, you wascally wabbit!
• Te Deum - Thee, God [we praise].
• Te igitur - Thee, therefore.
• Te nosce - Know thyself.
• Te precor dulcissime supplex! - Pretty please with a cherry on top!
• Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis - The times change, and we change with them. (John Owen)
• Tempore - In the time of.
• Tempus edax rerum - Time is the devourer of things (time flies).
• Tempus fugit, non autem memoria - Time flies, but not memory.
• Tempus fugit - Time flees.
• Tempus incognitum - Time unknown.
• Tempus neminem manet - Time waits for no one.
• Tempus omnia sed memorias privat - Time deprives all but memories.
• Ter in die (t.i.d.) - Three times a day.
• Terminus a quo - The end from which.
• Terminus ad quem - The end to which.
• Terra firma - Solid ground.
• Terra incognita - Unknown land.
• Terra nullius - Uninhabited land.
• Tertium quid - A third something.
• Tetigisti acu - You have hit the nail on the head. (Plautus)
• Theatrum mundi - The theatre of the world.
• Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas - Thank you for not smoking.
• Timendi causa est nescire - Ignorance is the cause of fear. (Seneca)
• Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes - I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts. (Virgil)
• Tintinnuntius meus sonat! - There goes my beeper!
• Tolerabiles ineptiae - Bearable absurdities.
• Totidem verbis - In so many words.
• Totum dependeat! - Let it all hang out!
• Trahimur omnes laudis studio - We are all led on by our eagerness for praise. (Cicero)
• Transire suum pectus mundoque potiri - To overcome one's human limitations and become master of the universe.
• Transit umbra, lux permanet - Shadow passes, light remains (On a sun dial).
• Tu autem - You, also.
• Tu fui, ego eris - What you are, I was. What I am, you will be. (This is found on graves and burial sites)
• Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito - Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them.
• Tu quoque Brute, file mi! - You too Bruto, my son! (Caesar's last words)
• Tu quoque - You likewise.
• Tu stupidus es - You are dumb.
• Tu, rattus turpis! - You dirty rat!
• Tua mater tam antiquior ut linguam latine loquatur - Your mother is so old she speaks Latin.
• Tua toga suspina est - Your toga is backwards.
• Tuis pugis pignore! - You bet your bippy!
• Tum podem extulit horridulum - You are talking shit.

U

• Uberrimae fidei - Of the utmost good faith.
• Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where love is, there is insight.
• Ubi bene, ibi patria - Where you feel good, there is your home.
• Ubi concordia, ibi victoria - Where is the unity, there is the victory. (Publius Syrus)
• Ubi dubium ibi libertas - Where there is doubt, there is freedom.
• Ubi est mea anaticula cumminosa? - Where's my rubber ducky?
• Ubi fumus, ibi ignis - Where there's smoke, there's fire.
• Ubi maior, minor cessat - The weak (minor) capitulates before the strong (major).
• Ubi mel ibi apes - Where honey, there bees, i.e., if you want support, you must offer something in return.
• Ubi revera (Ubi re vera) - When, in reality.
• Ubi spiritus est cantus est - Where there is spirit there is song.
• Ubi sunt? - Where are they (the good old days)?
• Ubi supra - Where (cited) above.
• Ubicumque homo est, ibi benefici locus est - Wherever there is a man, there is a place of/for kindness/service.
• Ubique - Everywhere.
• Ultima ratio regum - The final argument of kings.
• Ultima ratio - Ultimate sanction.
• Ultima Thule - The most distant Thule.
• Ultimo (ult.) - Of the previous month.
• Ultimus Romanorum - The last of the Romans.
• Ultra posse nemo obligatur - No one is obligated beyond what he is able to do.
• Ultra vires - Beyond the powers or legal authority.
• Un idea perplexi na - The idea is strange to us.
• Una hirundo non facit ver - One swallow does not make summer. (Horace)
• Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem - The one safety for the vanquished is to abandon hope of safety; knowing there is no hope can give one the courage to fight and win.
• Una voce - With one's voice.
• Unitam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant! - May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
• Unitas mirabile vinculum - The wonderful bond of unity.
• Unum necessarium - The one necessary.
• Unus multorum - One of many. (Horace)
• Urbanus et instructus - A gentleman and a scholar.
• Urbem lateritiam invenit, marmoream reliquit - He found a city [Rome] of bricks and left a city of marble. (Augustus)
• Urbi et orbi - To the city [Rome] and to the globe - a blessing of the pope.
• Ut ameris, ama! - To be loved, love!
• Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas - Although the power is lacking, the will is commendable. (Ovid)
• Ut dictum (ut dict.) - As directed.
• Ut humiliter opinor - In my humble opinion.
• Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet - As loyal as she began, so she remains.
• Ut infra - As below.
• Ut sementem feceris, ita metes - As you sow, so shall you reap. (Cicero)
• Ut si! - As if!
• Ut sit magna, tamen certe lenta ira deorum est - The wrath of the gods may be great, but it certainly is slow.
• Ut supra (ut sup.) - As above.
• Uti foro - To play the market.
• Uti possidetis - As you possess.
• Uti, non abuti - To use, not abuse.
• Utile et dulce - Useful and pleasant.
• Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant! - May barbarians invade your personal space!
• Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant! - May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!
• Utinam populus romanus unam cervicem haberet! - If only the Roman people had one neck!
• Uva uvam videndo varia fit - A grape changes color in seeing another grape. A bad/good friend makes you a bad/good person.

V

• Vacca foeda - Stupid cow.
• Vacca, vacca, vacca - Cow, cow, cow.
• Vade in pace - Go in peace. (Roman way of saying goodbye)
• Vade mecum - Come with me. A constant companion.
• Vae victis! - Woe to the conquered! (vanquished) (Livy)
• Vagans - Cruising.
• Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur - Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.
• Vale, lacerte! - See you later, alligator!
• Vale - Farewell.
• Valui ad satanam in computatrum meum invocandum - I succeeded in summoning satan into my computer.
• Vanitas vanitatvm, omnis vanitas - Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
• Varia lecto (v.l.) - Variant reading.
• Variatio delectat - There's nothing like change! (Cicero)
• Variorum - Of various people.
• Velle est posse - To be willing is to be able.
• Veni vidi duci - I came, I saw, I calculated.
• Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
• Veni, Vidi, Visa - I Came, I Saw, I Shopped.
• Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire - I came, I saw, I want to go home.
• Venienti occurrite morbo - Meet the misfortune as it comes. (Persius)
• Venire facias - You must make come.
• Ventis secundis, tene cursum - Go with the flow.
• Ventis secundis, tene/tenete cursum - The winds being favorable, hold the course.
• Verba de futuro - Words about the future.
• Verba movent, exempla trahunt - Words move people, examples draw/compel them. Deeds, not words, give the example.
• Verba volant, (littera) scripta manet - Words fly away, the written (letter) remains.
• Verbatim et litteratim - Word for word and letter for letter.
• Verbatim - Exactly as said.
• Verbum sapienti satis est (verb. sap.) - A word to the wise is sufficient. Enough said.
• Veritas Lux Mea - The truth enlightens me / The truth is my light.
• Veritas numquam perit - Truth never perishes. (Seneca)
• Veritas odit moras - Truth hates delay. (Seneca)
• Veritas vincit - Truth conquers.
• Veritas vos liberabit - The truth will set you free.
• Verso - Reverse.
• Versus - Against.
• Verum et factum convertuntur - The true and the made are interchangeable. One can know with certainty only what he has created himself.
• Verveces tui similes pro ientaculo mihi appositi sunt - I have jerks like you for breakfast.
• Vesanum poetam qui sapiunt fugiunt - Anyone with a brain flees a versifying poet.
• Vescere bracis meis - Eat my shorts.
• Vestigia terrent - The footprints frighten me. (Horace)
• Vestis virum reddit - The clothes make the man. (Quintilianus)
• Veto - I forbid.
• Vi et armis - By force and arms.
• Via Crucis - The Way of the Cross.
• Via Dolorosa - The Way of Sorrow.
• Via Lactea - The Milky Way.
• Via media - A middle way or course.
• Via - By way of.
• Vice versa - In reverse order.
• Vice - In place of.
• Victis honor - Honour to the vanquished.
• Victoria Imperatrix Regina (VIR) - Victoria, Empress and Queen.
• Victoria Regina (VR) - Queen Victoria.
• Victoria Regina et Imperatrix (VRI) - Victoria, Queen and Empress.
• Victoria, non praeda - Victory, not loot.
• Victurus te saluto - He who is about to win salutes you.
• Vide et credere - See and believe.
• Vide ut supra - See the above.
• Vide - See.
• Videlicet (viz.) - That is to say; To wit; Namely.
• Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor - I see the better way and approve it, but I follow the worse way.
• Videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit? - How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic? (Cicero)
• Vidistine nuper imagines moventes bonas? - Seen any good movies lately?
• Vigilando, agendo, bene consulendo, prospera omnia cedunt - By watching, by doing, by consulting well, these things yield all things prosperous. (Sallust)
• Vincere est totum - To win is everything.
• Vincit omnia amor - Love conquers all.
• Vincit omnia veritas - Truth conquers all.
• Vincit qui se vincit - He conquers who conquers himself.
• Vinculum unitatis - The bond of unity.
• Vinum bellum iucunumque est, sed animo corporeque caret - It's a nice little wine, but it lacks character and depth.
• Vinum et musica laetificant cor - Wine and music gladden the heart.
• Vir bonus, dicendi peritus - A good man, skilled in speaking. (Definition of an orator) (Cato the Elder)
• Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit - A wise man does not urinate against the wind.
• Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur - It is a wise man who speaks little.
• Vires acquirit eundo - It gains strength by going / as it goes. (Virgil)
• Virginibus puerisque - For maidens and youths.
• Virgo intacta - Intact virgin.
• Viri sunt viri - Men are slime.
• Virtus in medio stat - Virtue stands in the middle.
• Virtute et armis - By courage and by arms.
• Virtvs probata florescit - Manly excellence in trial flourished.
• Virtvtis fortvna comes - Good luck is the companion of courage.
• Virum mihi, Camena, insece versutum - Tell me, O Muse, of the skillful man. (Livius Andronicus)
• Virus - Poison or slime.
• Vis comica - Sense of humour.
• Vis consili expers mole ruit sua - Brute force bereft of wisdom falls to ruin by its own weight. (Discretion is the better part of valor) (Horace)
• Vis inertiae - The power of inertia - why things never change.
• Vis maior - Higher force.
• Vis medicatrix naturae - The healing power of nature.
• Visa - Things seen.
• Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio - Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway.
• Visne saltare? - Do you want to dance?
• Vita brevis, ars lunga - Life is short, art is long.
• Vita contin git. Vive com eo - Life happens. Live with it.
• Vita luna! - Crazy life!
• Vita mutatur, non tollitur - Life is changed, not taken away.
• Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est - Life is more than merely staying alive.
• Vita sine libris mors est - Life without books is death.
• Vitam impendere vero - To risk one's life for the truth.
• Vitam regit fortuna, non sapientia - Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives. (Cicero)
• Vitanda est improba siren desidia - One must avoid that wicked temptress, Laziness. (Horace)
• Vitiis nemo sine nascitur - No-one is born without faults. (Horace)
• Viva voce - With living voice.
• Vivat regina - Long live the queen.
• Vivat rex - Long live the king.
• Vivat, crescat, floreat! - May he/she/it live, grow, and flourish!
• Vive hodie - Live today (not tomorrow).
• Vive vt vivas - Live that you may live.
• Vivere commune est, sed non commune mereri - Everybody lives; not everybody deserves to.
• Vivere disce, cogita mori - Learn to live; Remember death. (Sundial