A bene placito - At one's pleasure
A bove majori discit arare minor - The young ox learns to plough from the older
A capite ad calcem - From head to heel
A cappella - Vocals 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 fonte puro pura defluit aqua - From a clear spring clear water flows
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 latere - From the side (of a pope's envoy)
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, as opposed to deductive, or a priori
A priori - From what comes before
A re decedunt - They wander from the point
A teneris unguiculis - From tender little nails, from the earliest childhood.
A verbis ad verbera - From words to blows
A verbis legis non est recedendum - There must be no departure from the words of the law
A vinculo matrimonii - From the bounds of matrimony
Ab absurdo - From the absurd (establishing the validity of your argument by pointing out the absurdity of your opponent's position)
Ab actu ad posse valet illatio - From what has happened we may infer what will happen
Ab aeterno - From the beginning of time
Ab alio spectes alteri quod feceris - As you do to another, expect another to do to you
Ab amicis honesta petamus - We must ask what is proper from our friends
Ab asino lanam - Wool from an ass, blood from a stone impossible
Ab hinc - From here on
Ab honesto virum bonum nihil deterret - Nothing deters a good man from the performance of his duties
Ab imo pectore - From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart) (quote from Julius Caesar)
Ab inconvenienti - From the inconvenience
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 right to the apples (From start to finish) (Horace)
Ab ovo - From the egg
Ab urbe condita - From the foundation of the city.
Ab/Ex uno disce omnes - From one person, learn all people
Abeunt studia in mores - Pursuits become habits
Abi in pace - Depart in peace
Abiit nemine salutato - He went away without bidding anyone farewell
Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit - He has left, absconded, escaped and disappeared
Abite nummi, ego vos mergam, ne mergar a vobis - Away with you, money, I will sink you that I may not be sunk by you
Abnormis sapiens - Wise without instruction (Horace)
Absente reo - In absence of the defendant
Absit invidia - No offence intended
Absit omen - May the omen be absent. (may this not be an omen)
Absque argento omnia vana - Without money all is in vain
Absque sudore et labore nullum opus perfectum est - Without sweat and toil no work is made perfect
Abundat dulcibus vitiis - He abounds with alluring fruits (quote from Quintilian)
Abusus non tollit usum - Wrong use does not preclude proper use
Abyssus abyssum invocat - Hell calls hell; one mistep leads to another
Accede ad ignem hunc, jam calesces plus satis - Approach this fire, and you will soon be too warm (Terrence)
Accensa domo proximi, tua quoque periclitatur - When the house of your neighbour is in flames, your own is in danger
Acceptissima semper // munera sunt, auctor quae pretiosa facit - Those gifts are always the most acceptable which our love for the donor makes precious (Ovid)
Accidit in puncto, et toto contingit in anno - It happens in an instant and occurs throughout the year
Accidit in puncto, quod non contingit in anno - That may happen in a moment, which does not occur in a whole year
Accipe, sume, cape, sunt verba placentia papae - Take, have, and keep, are pleasant words from a pope
Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam - It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice
Accipio revocamen - I accept the recall (quote from Ovid)
Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat - The mind intent upon false appearances refuses to admit better things (Horace)
Acer et vehemens bonus orator - A good orator is pointed and forcible (quote from Cicero)
Acerrima proximorum odia - The hatred of those most nearly connected is the bitterest of all (Tacit)
Acerrimus ex omnibus nostris sensibus est sensus videndi - The keenest of all our senses is the sense of sight (Cicero)
Acribus initiis, incurioso fine - Zealous at the commencement, careless towards the conclusion (Tacit)
Acriora orexim excitant embammata - Savory seasonings stimulate the appetite
Acta est fabula, plaudite! - The play is over, applaud! (This Latin quote is said to have been emperor Augustus' last words)
Acta sanctorum - Deeds of the saints
Ad absurdum - To the point of absurdity
Ad acta - To archives. Not actual any more
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 calamitatem quilibet rumor valet - Every rumor is believed when directed against the unfortunate (Syrus)
Ad Calendas Graecas - At the Greek Calends (meaning never)
Ad captandum vulgus - To appeal to the crowd
Ad clerum - To the clergy
Ad connectendas amicitias, tenacissimum vinculum est morum similitudo - For cementing friendship, resemblance of manners is the strongest tie (Pliny the Younger)
Ad consilium ne accesseris, antequam voceris - - Do not go to the council-chamber before you are summoned
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 generic 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 her or his intellect
Ad honorem - In honour. Honour not baring 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 libitur - As desired
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 mala quisque animum referat sua - Let each person recall to mind his own mishaps (Ovid)
Ad mensuram aquam bibit - He drinks water by measure
Ad minora me demittere no recusabo - I will not refuse to descent to the most minute details (Quintilian)
Ad mores natura recurrit damnatos, fixa et mutari nescia - Human nature ever reverts to its depraved courses, fixed and immutable (Juvenal)
Ad multos annos - To many years!, i.e. Many happy returns!
Ad nauseam - To the point of making one sick
Ad nomen vultus sustulit illa suos - On hearing her name she raised her eyes (Ovid)
Ad nullum consurgit opus, cum corpore languet - The mind cannot grapple with any task when the body is languid (Gallus)
Ad omnem libidinem projectus homo - A man disposed to every species of dissipation
Ad perditam securim manubrium adjicere - To throw the helve after the lost hatchet. To give way to dispair.
Ad perniciem solet agi sinceritas - Sinceity is frequently impelled to its own destruction (Phaedrus)
Ad perpetuam rei memoriam - For the perpetual remembrance of the thing
Ad populum phaleras, ego te intus et in cute novi - Display your trappings to the vulgar, I know you inside and out.
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 respondendum quaestioni - To answer the question.
Ad suum quemque aequum est quaestum esse callidum - It is only right that every one should be alive to his own advantage (Plautus)
Ad tristem partem strenua suspicio - The minds of men who have been unfortunate are prone to suspicion (Syrus)
Ad turpia virum bonum nulla spes invitat - No expectation can allure a good man to the commission of evil (Seneca)
Ad unum corpus humanum supplicia plura quam membra - One human body is liable to more pains than the members of which it is composed (St. Cyprian)
Ad utrumque paratus - Prepared for either alternative
Ad valorem - By the value, e.g. Ad valorem tax
Ad vitam aeternam - For all time, for eternity
Ad vitam paramus - We are preparing for life
Ad vitam - For life
Adaequarunt judices - The judges were equally devided
Adde parum parvo, magnus acervus erit - Add a little to a little, and there will be a great heap (adaptation of a quote from Ovid)
Adde, quod injustum rigido jus dicitur ense; dantur et in medio vulnera saepe foro. - Besides, iniquitous retaliation is dealt with the cruel sward, and wounds are often inflicted in the midst of the court of justice (Ovid)
Addendum - A thing to be added
Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est - Of such importance is to be well trained in youth (Virgil)
Adeo ne hominem immutare ex amore, ut non cognoscas eundem esse - Is it possible that a man can be so changed by love, that you could not recognize him to be the same? (quote from Terrence)
Adeste, fideles! - Be present, faithful ones!
Adeste, si quid mihi restat agendum! - Be at hand, if there is anything more for me to do. (Emperor Severus last words, according to F. Bacon)!
Adhibenda est in jocando moderatio - Moderation should be used in joking (Cicero)
Adhibenda est munditia, non odiosa, neque exquisita nimis, tantum quae fugiat agrestem ac inhumanam negligentiam - We should exhibit a certain degree of neatness, not too exquisite or affected, and equally remote from rustic and unbecoming carelessness (Cicero)
Adhuc sub judice lis est - The point is still in dispute before the judge (Horace)
Aditus est ipsi ad omnes facilis et pervius - He has free and ready access to everyone.
Adolescentem verecundum esse decet - A young man ought to be modest (Plautus)
Adornare verbis benefacta - To enhance the value of a favor by kind expressions (Pliny the Younger)
Adscriptus glebae - Belonging to the soil, attached to the soul (of peasants)
Adsit regula, peccatis quae poenas irroget aequas - Let a law be made which inflicts punishment commensurate with the crime (Horace)
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 your time arguing the obvious)
Aeacus in poenas ingeniosus erit - Aeacus will refine in devising tortures (for you) (Ovid)
Aegrescit medendo - The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease
Aegri somnia vana - A sick man's delusive 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 (Cicero)
Aemulatio aemulationem parit - Emulation begets emulation
Aemulus studiorum et laborum - The rival of pursuits and labors (Cicero)
Aequa lege necessitas sortitur insignes et imos - Fate, by an impartial law, is allotted both to the conspicuous and the obscure (Horace)
Aequa tellus pauperi recluditur, regumque pueris - The impartial earth is opened alike for the pauper and the children of kings (Horace)
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem - Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. (Horace)
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem, non secus in bonis ab insolenti temperatam laetitia - In arduous circumstances remember to preserve calmness of soul, and equally in prosperous moments restrain excessive joy (Horace)
Aequitas enim lucet ipsa per se - Equity shines by her own light (Cicero)
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
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 propiis - 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
Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi - The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. (still waters run deep)
Alumnus - Nursling (former student)
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)
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur - A true friend is discerned during an uncertain matter
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. (quote from Syrus, a famous writer of Latin maxims)
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. (one of the most famous Latin quotes, found in 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 then, my son, how little wisdom rules the world?
Anguis in herba - A snake in the grass. A treacherous person. (Vergil)
Anicularum lucubrationes - Old wives' tales
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
Ante bellum - Before the war
Aqua pura - Pure water
Aqua vitae - Water of life
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. Directing an argument against an opponent's character rather than the subject at hand
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 (work) is long, but life is short
Ars sine scientia nihil est - Art without science is nothing. (I would also claim that the opposite is true)
Artium baccalaureus - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Artium magister - Master of Arts (MA)
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 outdues 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 astrologs lie about the stars
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 to be 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 i.e., 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. (famous Latin phrase supposedly said by gladiators before the fight)
Ave Maria - Hail Mary
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