Pronouncing Dictionary of Classic Words and Phrases
Including legal phrases, maxims, mottoes, quotations, proverbs, Latin abbreviations, classic allusions and references of common occurrence in books, periodicals, newspapers and speech.
Key to Pronunciation
The long (marked) vowels are pronounced as in the following words: fāte, fāre, cāre; mē; mīne; mōte; mūte. The short vowels, which include all not marked as above, are pronounced as in the following words: pat; pet; pit; pot; put. The accented syllable in each word is indicated by a mark placed immediately after it.
A
Ab extra (ex´trā).—From without.
Ab initio (in-ish´i-ō).—From the beginning.
Ab origine (or-ī´jin-e).—From the commencement.
Ab ovo (ō´vō).—From the egg—i. e., the beginning. The egg in many ancient mythologies was the supposed origin of life.
Ab ovo usque ad mala (us´kwe ad mā´la).—From the egg to the apples—i. e., from the beginning to the end (the Roman custom being to begin dinner with eggs and end with fruit).
Ab uno disce omnes (ū´nō dis´se om´nēs).—From a single instance infer the whole.
Ab urbe condita—A. U. C. (ur´be kon´di-tā).—From the (year of) building the city (Rome), 753 B. C.
A capite ad calcem (ā kap´i-te ad kal´sem).—From head to heel.
Accipe hoc (ak´sip-e hock).—Accept this.
Ac etiam (ak esh´i-am).—And also.
Ad arbitrium (ar-bit´ri-um).—At pleasure.
Ad captandum vulgus (cap-tan´dum vul´gus).—To catch the rabble.
Ad extremum (ex-tre´mum).—At last.
Ad finem (fī´nem).—To the end.
Ad hominem (hom´in-em).—To the man.
Ad infinitum (in-fī-nī´tum).—To infinity.
Ad interim (in´ter-im).—Meanwhile.
Ad Kalendas Graecas (kal´en-das grē´kas).—At the Greek kalends—i. e., never (there being no kalends in the Greek year).
Ad libitum (lib´it-um).—At pleasure.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam (mā-jor´em Dē´ī glor´i-am).—For the greater glory of God. The motto of the Order of the Jesuits, founded by Ignatius Loyola (1539).
Ad nauseam (naw´se-am).—To disgust.
Ad quod damnum (kwod dam´num).—To what damage.
Ad referendum (ref-er-en´dum).—For further consideration.
Ad rem.—To the point.
Ad unguem (un´gwem).—To a nail—i.e., to a nicety, exactly. An expression borrowed from sculptors, who in modeling, give the finishing touch with the nail.
Ad unum omnes—Cicero (ū-num om´nēs).—All to a man.
Ad valorem (va-lor´em).—According to the value.
Ad vivum (vi´vum).—To the life.
Aegrescit medendo (e-gres´sit med-en´dō).—The disorder increases with the remedy, i. e., the remedy is worse than the disease.
Aequam servare mentem (ē-kwam ser-vār´e men´tem).—To preserve a well-balanced mind; to be unmoved.
Aequo animo (ē´kwo an´im-o).—With resignation, contentedly.
Aetatis suae (ē-tā´tis sū´ē).—Of his (or her) age.
A fortiori (for-shi-or´ī).—With stronger reason.
Alere flammam (al´er-e flam´mam).—To feed the flame.
Alias (al´i-as).—Otherwise.
Alibi (al´i-bī).—Elsewhere. Legal phrase implying that the accused in a criminal case was not on the scene of a crime at the time of its committal.
Alma Mater (al´ma mā´ter).—Benign mother. An expression used by college men, who speak of their college as their Alma mater.
Alter ego (al´ter egg´o).—Another self.
Alter idem (al´ter ī-dem).—Another exactly similar.
Amantium irae amoris integratio est—(am-an´shi-um ī´rē a-mor´iss inte-grā-shi-o est).—The quarrels of lovers are renewals of love.
A mensa et thoro (ā men´sā et thor´ō).—From table and bed. A legal phrase used by the judge in pronouncing the decree of separation in the Divorce Court.
Amicus humani generis (am-ī-cus hu-mā´nī gen´er-iss).—A friend of the human race.
Amor patriæ (am´or pat´ri-ē).—Love of one’s native land.
Anguis in herba—Virgil (an´gwiss in her´bā).—A snake in the grass.
Animo et fide (an´im-o et fī´dē).—By courage and faith.
Anno aetatis suae (an´no ē-tā´tiss sū´ē).—In the year of his (or her) age.
Anno Christi, A. C. (an´no kriss´tī).—In the year of Christ.
Anno Domini, A. D. (an´no Dom´inī).—In the year of our lord.
Anno mundi, A. M. (an´no mun´dī).—In the year of the world. The date of the Creation is given by Bishop Usher as 4004 B. C.
Ante meridiem, A. M. (an´te mer-ī´di-em).—Before noon.
A posse ad esse (ā poss´e ad ess´e).—From possibility to actuality.
A posteriori (ā pos-tē-ri-or´ī).—From the effect to the cause; that is, an argument by induction.
A priori (ā prī-or´ī).—From the cause to the effect; that is, an argument by deduction.
Aqua fortis (ak´wa for´tiss).—Strong water. A common name for nitric acid.
Aqua vitae (ak´wa vī´tē).—Water of life. Alcohol, brandy.
Arbiter elegantiarum (ar´bit-er ele-gan-shi-air´um).—An authority in matters of taste.
Arcana imperii (ar-kā´na im-per´ī-ī).—Secrets of the state.
Ardentia verba (ar-den´shi-a ver´ba).—Burning words.
Argumentum ad hominem (ar-gu-men´tum ad hom´-i-nem).—An argument to the man. An argument in refutation drawn from an opponent’s own principles.
Argumentum ad invidiam (ar-gu-men´tum ad in-vid´-i-am).—An argument appealing to low passions.
Argumentum ad judicium (ar-gu-men´tum ad ju-dish´i-um).—An appeal to the judgment.
Argumentum ad populum (ar-gu-men´tum ad pop´-u-lum).—An appeal to popular prejudice.
Argumentum baculinum (ar-gu-men´tum back-u-li-num).—The argument of the cudgel; appeal to force. Club-law.
Ars celare artem (ars sell-air´e ar´tem).—True art is to conceal art.
Ars longa, vita brevis (ars lon´ga vī´ta brev´iss).—Art is long, life short.
Artium magister, A. M. or M. A. (ar´ti-um ma-jis´ter).—Master of Arts.
Audi alteram partem (aw´dī al´ter-am par´tem).—Hear the other side.
Aura popularis—Cicero (aw´ra pop-u-lair´iss).—The shifting breeze of popular favor.
Aurea mediocritas—Horace (aw´re-a med-i-ok´ri-tass).—The golden mean.
Aut Cæsar, aut nullus (awt Cæsar awt nul´lus).—Either Cæsar or no one.
Aut vincere aut mori (awt vin´ser-e awt mor´ī).—Either to conquer or to die.
A verbis ad verbera (ā ver´bīs ad ver´ber-a).—From words to blows.
A vinculo matrimonii (ā vin´ku-lo mat-ri-mō´nī-ī).—From the bond of marriage.
B
Bis dat, qui cito dat (biss dat kwī sī´tō dat).—He gives twice who gives quickly.
Bona fide (bō´nā fī´dē).—In good faith.
Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio—Horace (brev´iss ess´e lab-or´ō ob-sku´rus fīo).—When I strive to be concise I become obscure.
Brutum fulmen (Bru´tum ful´men).—A harmless thunderbolt.
C
Cacoethes loquendi (kak-o-ē´thēs lo-kwen´dī).—An itch for speaking.
Cacoethes scribendi (skrī-ben´dī).—An itch for scribbling.
Capias (kap´i-ass).—You may take. A writ to authorize the seizure of a defendant’s person (legal).
Caput mortuum (kap´ut mor´tu-um),—The dead head—i.e., the worthless remains.
Caret (care´et).—It is wanting.
Casus belli (kā´sus bell´ī).—A cause for war.
Caveat actor (kav´e-at ak´tor).—Let the doer beware. Law term signifying a notice to stay legal proceedings.
Caveat emptor (emp´tor).—Let the purchaser beware. Term used to show that the vendor does not hold himself responsible for the condition of the goods.
Cetera desunt (sē´ter-a dē-sunt).—The rest is wanting.
Ceteris paribus (sē´ter-is pair´i-bus).—Other things being equal.
Circa—c. (sir´kā).—About, towards (of time).
Circulus in probando (sir´ku-lus in pro-ban´dō).—A circle in the proof; using the conclusion as one of the arguments.
Cogito ergo sum (coj´i-tō er´gõ sum).—I think, therefore I exist. The famous dictum of Descartes, the philosopher.
Commune bonum (com-mū´ne bō´num).—A common good.
Compos mentis (com´pos men´tiss).—Of sane mind.
Conscia mens recti (con´shi-a mens rek´tī).—A mind conscious of rectitude.
Contra bonos mores (con´tra bō´nōs mor´ēz).—Against good manners.
Copia verborum (cō´pi-a ver-bor´um).—Plenty of words.
Coram nobis (cor´am nō´biss).—In our presence; before us.
Corpus delicti (cor´pus de-lik´tī).—The body, i. e. substance, of the offense.
Crimine ab uno disce omnes (krī´min-e ab ū´nō dis´se om´nēz).—From one crime learn the nature of all.
Cui bono? (kī bō´nō).—For whose benefit is it?
Cum grano salis (cum grā´nō sā´lis).—With a grain of salt, i. e., with some allowance.
Cum privilegio (priv-i-le´ji-ō).—By privilege.
Curiosa felicitas (ku-ri-ō´sa fē-lī´si-tas).—Felicity of expression.
D
Data (dā´ta).—Things given or taken for granted.
De auditu (dē aw-dī´tū).—By hearsay.
Deceptio visus (dē-sep´shi-ō vī´sūs).—An optical illusion.
De facto (dē fac´tō).—In point of fact. A legal phrase used to describe that which is fact as opposed to that which is legal.
Dei gratia (Dē´ī grā´shi-ā).—By the grace of God. A phrase used in respect to a sovereign, in royal proclamations, and on coins of the realm.
Disjecta membra (dis-jek´ta mem´bra).—Scattered remains.
Divide et impera (dī´vi-dē et im´per-ā).—Divide and govern.
Docendo discimus (dō-sen´dō dis´si-mus).—By teaching we learn.
Dominus providebit (Dom´īn-us prō-vid-ē´bit).—The Lord will provide.
Dramatis personæ (drä´ma-tiss per-sō´nē).—Characters of a play.
Dulce domum (dul´sē dō´mum).—Sweetly homeward.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori—Horace (dul´-se et de-kor´um est pro pat´ri-ā mōr´ī).—It is pleasant and befitting to die for one’s country.
Dum spiro, spero (dum spi´ro, sper´ō).—While I breathe, I hope.
Dum vivimus, vivamus (vī´vim-us, vī-vā´mus).—While we live, let us live—i. e., whilst we have life, let us enjoy it.
Durante vita (du-ran´te vī´tā).—During life.
E
Ecce homo! (ek´se hom´o).—Behold the man! A name given to representations of the suffering Savior, because Pilate used those words when Christ came forth wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe (St. John xix. 5).
Editio princeps (e-dish´io prin´seps).—Original edition.
Emeritus (ē-mer´itus).—A soldier who has served his time, a veteran: hence, one retired from active official duties, as an Emeritus professor.
E pluribus unum (ē plūr´i-bus ūnum).—From many, one. Motto of United States.
Esse quam videri malim (es´se kwam vī-dē´rī mā-lim).—I prefer to be, rather than seem to be.
Esto quod es (es-tō quod ēz).—Be what thou art.
Et cetera (et sē´ter-a), &c., or etc. And so forth.
E tenebris oritur lux (ē ten´e-brīs or´i-tur lux).—Out of darkness there arises light.
Et sequentes (et se-kwen´tēs).—And those that follow.
Et sequentia (se-kwen´shia)—et seq.—And what follows.
Et sic de ceteris (et sik dē sē´terīs).—And so of the rest.
Et tu, Brute (tū Brū´te).—And thou also, Brutus! The words were used by Cæsar when he discovered Brutus among the conspirators who assassinated him in the senate-house, B. C. 44.
Ex æquo (ē´kwo).—In like manner, equally.
Ex animo (an´imo).—From the soul, heartily.
Ex cathedra (kath´e-drā).—From the chair—i. e., with authority. The phrase originally referred to the decisions given by popes and prelates in their pontifical character; it is now used in reference to any decision given with the air of authority.
Exceptio probat regulum (ex-sep´shio prō-bat reg´u-lum).—The exception proves the rule.
Ex curia (kū´riā).—Out of court. Originally every full Roman citizen belonged to one of the thirty curiæ or divisions of the city, and was entitled to vote on the laws submitted to his curia. The phrase ex curia was applied to those who had no right to vote in the curia. It is now used to denote a person who has no locus standi before any tribunal.
Ex delicto (dē-lik´tō).—From the crime.
Exempli gratia—e. g. (ex-em´plī grā´shia).—By way of example.
Exeunt (eks´e-unt).—They go out. Used by the older playwrights to indicate the departure of some of the performers from the stage.
Exit (eks´it).—He (or she) goes out.
Exitus acta probat (ex´it-us ak´ta prō´bat).—The event justifies the deed. Motto of George Washington.
Ex nihilo nihil fit (ex nī´hillo ni´hill fit).—Out of nothing nothing comes.
Ex officio (of-fish´iō).—By virtue of his office: e. g., the president of a society is ex officio a member of all committees of the society.
Ex parte (par´te).—On one side only. A phrase indicating an application, concerning a pending action, to a judge by one party in the action in the absence of the other.
Experientia docet sapientiam (ex-pe-ri-en´shia dō´set sap-i-en´shi-am).—Experience teaches wisdom.
F
Faber est quisque fortunæ suæ—Sallust (fab´er est kwis´kwe for-tū´nē sū´ē).—Every man is the maker of his own fortune.
Facile princeps (fas´il-e prin´seps).—Easily the chief—i. e., the admitted chief.
Facilis descensus Averno—Virgil (fas´il-iss dē-sen´sus av-er´nō).—The descent to Avernus (or hell) is easy: the downward road is an easy one. Avernus was a lake of Campania, near which was the cave through which Æneas descended to the lower world.
Fac simile (fak sim´il-e).—Do the like. An exact copy.
Factotum (fak-tō´tum).—Do everything. A man of all work.
Fecit (fē´sit).—He did it. Generally affixed to the pedestal of a statue by the sculptor who executed it.
Felicitas habet multos amicos (fē´lī´si-tas hab´et mul´tōs am-ī´kōs).—Happiness has many friends: i. e., friends flock around those who are prosperous.
Feræ naturæ (fer´ē na-tū´rē).—Of the nature of a wild beast.
Festina lente (fes-tī´nā len´tē).—Hasten slowly: i. e., do nothing in a hurry.
Fiat justitia, ruat cœlum (fī´at jus-tish´i-a rū´at sē´lum).—Let justice be done, even though the heavens should fall.
Fiat lux (fi´at lux).—Let there be light.
Fides Punica (fī´dēs Pū´nik-a).—Punic (i. e. Carthaginian) faith: treachery. A proverbial expression among the Romans for faithlessness.
Fidus Achates (fī´dus Akā´tēz).—The faithful Achates: a true friend. Achates was the distinguished companion of Æneas in his wanderings after his flight from Troy.
Fieri facias (fī´erī fas´i-ass).—Cause it to be done. Usually written fi. fa. The title of a writ of execution issued to give effect to the judgment of a court of justice.
Finem respice (fī´nem res´piss-e).—Look to the end.
Finis coronat opus (fī´nis korō´nat op´us).—The end crowns the work.
Flagrante delicto (de-lik´tō).—In the act of committing the crime: i. e., in the very act.
Fortes fortuna juvat (fōr´tēs fortū´na ju´vat).—Fortune helps the brave.
Fortis cadere, cedere non potest (for´tiss kad´er-e sē´der-e non pot´est).—The brave may fall, but cannot yield.
Fortiter et recte (for´tit-er et rek´tē).—Courageously and uprightly.
Fortitudine et prudentia (forti-tu´din-e et prūden´shi-ā).—By fortitude and prudence.
Fortuna favet fatuis (fortu´na fav´et fat´uīs).—Fortune favors idiots.
Fortunæ filius (for-tu´nē fil´ius).—A son of fortune—i.e., one favored by fortune.
Fortuna sequator (sekwā´tur).—Let fortune follow.
Frangas non flectes (fran´gas non flek´tēs).—You may break, but you shall not bend, me.
Fronti nulla fides (fron´tī null´a fī´dēs).—Do not judge by appearances.
Frustra laborat qui omnibus placere studet (frus´trā labōr´at kwī om´nibus pla-sē´re stū´det).—He labors in vain who studies to please all.
Fugit irreparabile tempus—Virgil (fū´jit ir-rep-ar-ā´-bil-e tem´pus).—Time, once gone, can never be regained.
Furor arma ministrat—Virgil (fū´ror ar´ma min´is-trat).—Rage supplies them with arms.
Furor loquendi (fu´ror lo-kwen´dī).—A rage for speaking.
Furor poeticus (po-ēt´ik-us).—Poetical fire.
Furor scribendi (skrī-ben´dī).—A rage for writing.
G
Gaudeamus (gawdeā´mus).—Let us rejoice.
Gloria in excelsis Deo (glor´i-a in ex-sel´sis dē´ō).—Glory to God in the highest. The opening words of the greater doxology sung in the ancient Church; chiefly used in the Communion service and private devotion.
Gratis (grā´tiss).—Free; for nothing.
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed semper cadendo (gut´ta kav´at lap´id-em non vī sed sem´per ka-den´dō).—The drop hollows the stone not by force, but by constant falling.
H
Haud passibus æquis—Virgil (hawd pass´i-bus ē´kwīs).—With unequal steps.
Hic et ubique (hik et ubī´kwe).—Here and everywhere. (“Here, there, and everywhere.”)
Hic jacet (hik ja´set).—Here lies. An inscription frequently carved on monuments dedicated to deceased persons.
Hoc age (hok aj´e).—Do this.
Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto—Terence (hom´o sum humā´nī nī´hil ā mē ali-ē´num pū´to).—I am a man: I count nothing human indifferent to me.
Honesta mors turpi vita potior—Tacitus (hones´ta maws tur´pī vī´tā pō´shior).—An honorable death is preferable to a base life.
Honor virtutis præmium (hon´or virtu´tiss prē´mium).—Honor is the reward of virtue (or valor).
Humani generis decus (humā´nī jen´er-iss dek´us).—The glory of the human race. These words are inscribed on Sir Isaac Newton’s monument on the rood-screen in Westminster Abbey.
Humanum est errare (humā´num est errā´re).—It is human to err. “To err is human, to forgive, divine.”—Pope.
I
Ibidem (ibī´dem).—In the same place.
Idem (ī´dem).—The same.
Id est (i. e.).—That is, that is to say.
Ignis fatuus (ig´niss fat´u-us).—A deceiving fire: a Will-o’-the-wisp; an inflammable gas frequently seen over marshes, which leads the traveler who pursues it into the bog.
Ignorantia legis excusat neminem (ignoran´shia lē´jis excū´sat nem´inem).—Ignorance of the law excuses nobody.
Imo pectore (ī´mo pek´tor-e).—From the bottom of the heart.
Impedimenta (im-pedi-men´ta).—The baggage of an army; luggage in traveling.
Imperium in imperio (imper´ium in imper´io).—One government within another.
Imprimatur (imprimā´tur).—Let it be printed. The term is used to signify the permission to print a book.
Imprimis (im-prī´miss).—In the first place, chiefly, especially.
In æternum (in ēter´num).—Forever.
In articulo mortis (ar-tik´ulo mor´tis).—At the point of death.
In capite (kap´i-te).—In chief.
In cauda venenum (kaw´dā venē´num).—There is poison in the tail. The sting of the scorpion is at the tip of its tail.
In cœlo quies (se´lo kwī´ēs).—There is rest in heaven.
In commendam (commen´dam).—In recommendation.
In curia (kū´ri-ā).—In the court.
Index expurgatorius (in´dex expurgator´ius).—A list of prohibited books. The term employed for the list of books which are allowed to be read after revision by the papal authorities. The I. E. was commenced by Pope Paul IV. (1555), and published by Pope Pius IV. (1559), after organization by the Council of Trent (1545-1563). Press censorship exists in Russia and some other nations.
In esse (ess´e).—In being.
In extenso (exten´so).—At full length.
In extremis (extrē´miss).—At the point of death.
In flagrante delicto (flā-gran´te delik´ō).—In the very act.
In formâ pauperis (for´mā paw´per-iss).—As a poor man. A law term denoting the status of a person who, having just cause of action, has no money to pay costs, counsel under these circumstances being appointed by the court.
In foro conscientiæ (for´ō con-shi-en´shi-ē).—Before the tribunal of conscience.
Infra dignitatem (in´frā dignitā´tem).—Beneath one’s dignity.
In hoc signo vinces (in hoc sig´nō vin´sēs).—Under this standard (sign) thou shalt conquer. Motto of the Emperor Constantine, who first used it on his standard (labarum) in the battle against Maxentius, A. D. 312.
In limine (lī-min-e)—At the threshold.
In loco parentis (lō´kō paren´tiss).—In the place of a parent. A law term denoting the guardian who takes charge of a child in the event of the death or mental incapacity of its parents.
In medias res (med´i-ass rēs).—Into the midst of things, e. g., to come to the point at once.
In medio virtus (med´i-o vir´tus).—Virtue lies in the mean.
In memoriam (memor´i-am).—To the memory of.
In nomine (nom´i-ne).—In the name of.
In nubibus (nū´bi-bus).—In the clouds.
In nuce (nū´se).—In a nutshell.
In pace (pā´se).—In peace.
In perpetuum (per-pet´u-um).—Forever.
In posse (poss´e).—Possible.
In præsenti (prē-sen´tī).—At present, now.
In propria persona (prō´pri-ā persō´nā).—In person. A law term applied to a litigant who conducts his own case.
In puris naturalibus (pūr´īs naturā´li-bus).—Stark naked.
In re (rē).—In the matter of (legal).
In rerum natura (rēr´um natū´rā).—In the nature of things.
In situ (sī´tū).—In its original situation.
In statu pupillari (stā´tū pupillār´ī).—In the state of being a ward (legal).
In statu quo (kwō).—In the state in which it was, we were, etc. (legal).
In tenebris (ten´e-brīs).—In darkness.
Inter alia (in´ter al´i-a).—Among other things (legal).
Inter nos (nōs).—Between ourselves.
Inter pocula (pō´ku-la).—At one’s cups.
Inter se (in´ter sē).—Among themselves.
In toto (tō´tō).—In the whole; entirely.
Intra muros (in´trā mū´rōs).—Within the walls.
In transitu (trans´i-tū).—On the passage.
In vacuo (vak´u-ō).—In a space devoid of air.
In vino veritas (vī´no ver´i-tas).—There is truth in wine—i. e., the truth comes out under its influence.
Ipse dixit (ip´se dix´it).—He himself said it: dogmatic assertion.
Ipsissima verba (ipsīss´i-ma ver´ba).—The very words.
Ipso facto (ip´so fak´to).—In the fact itself.
Ipso jure (ip´so ju´re).—By the law itself.
Ira furor brevis est—Horace (ī´ra fū´ror brev´iss est).—Anger is a short madness.
Ita lex scripta est (it´a lex scrip´ta est).—Thus the law is written.
J
Jacta alea est (jak´ta ā´le-a).—The die has been cast. Famous phrase said to have been used by Julius Cæsar on crossing (49 B. C.) the Rubicon, the sacred boundary of the domestic Roman Empire, by which act he declared war against Pompey and the Senate.
Jure divino (jū´re dīvī´no).—By divine law.
Jure humano (humā´no).—By human law.
Jus civile (jus sīvī´le).—The civil law. The term commonly used to describe the Roman law and the various modern systems based upon it, as contrasted with the English common law.
Jus divinum (dīvī´num).—The divine law; the law which is right with respect to things divine.
Jus gentium (jen´shium).—The law of nations; the law that all nations esteemed to be equitable.
L
Laborare est orare (laborār´e est orār´e).—To labor is to pray (or Work is worship).
Labore et honore (labōr´e et honōr´e).—By industry and honor.
Labor ipse voluptas (lab´or ip´se vo-lup´tas).—Labor itself a pleasure.
Labor omnia vincit (lab´or om´ni-a vin´sit).—Labor conquers all things.
Lapsus calami (lap´sus cal´a-mi).—A slip of the pen.
Lapsus linguæ (lin´gwē).—A slip of the tongue.
Lapsus memoriæ (mem-ōr´i-ē).—A slip of the memory.
Lares et Penates (Lār-ēs et Penā´tēs).—Household gods.
Latet anguis in herba—Virgil (la´tet an´gwis in her´bā).—A snake is concealed in the grass.
Laus Deo (laws Dē´o).—Praise to God.
Lex non scripta (skrip´ta).—The unwritten law—i. e., the common law.
Lex scripta.—The written law—i. e., the statute law.
Lex talionis (tal-i-ō´niss).—The law of retaliation.
Lex terræ (ter´rē).—The law of the land.
Loco citato—loc. cit. (lok´ō sit-ā´tō).—In the place quoted.
Locus in quo (kwō).—The place in which (legal).
Locus sigilli (si-jill´ī).—The place of the seal.
Lusus naturæ (lū´sus natū´rē).—A freak of nature.
M
Magna est veritas, et prævalebit (mag´na est very´tass et prē-val-ē´bit).—Great is truth, and it will prevail.
Magni nominis umbra (mag´nī nom´i-niss um´bra).—The shadow of a great name.
Magnum bonum (mag´num bō´num).—A great good.
Magnum opus (op´us).—A great work. The chief work of a distinguished author is frequently so called.
Mala fide (mā´lā fī´dē).—In bad faith.
Mandamus (mandā´mus).—We command: a law writ.
Manibus pedibusque—Terence (man´i-bus pedi-bus´kwe).—With hands and feet—i. e., with might and main.
Materia medica (mā-ter´i-a med´ic-ca).—Substances used in medicine.
Mea culpa (mē´ā kul´pā).—By my fault.
Medio tutissimus ibis (med´i-o tū-tiss´imus ī´bis).—The middle is the safest course.
Me judice (jū´di-se).—I being judge; i. e., in my own opinion.
Memento mori (me-men´tō mor´ī).—Remember that you must die. Words used at Egyptian banquets to remind the guests of their mortality.
Memorabilia (memorabil´i-a).—Things to be remembered. The name of a work by Xenophon, the Athenian general, historian, and philosopher (c. 445-359 B. C.).
Mensa et thoro (men´sā et thor´ō).—From bed and board.
Mens conscia recti (mens con´shia rek´tī).—A mind conscious of rectitude.
Mens sana in corpore sano (mens sā´na in kor´por-e sā´no).—A sound mind in a healthy body.
Meo animo (mē´o an´im-o).—In my opinion.
Meo periculo (per-ī´kulo).—At my own risk.
Meum et tuum (mē´um et tū´um).—Mine and thine.
Mirabile dictu—Virgil (mī-rā´bil-e dik´tū).—Wonderful to tell.
Mirabile visu (vī´su).—Wonderful to see.
Mirabilia (mī-ra-bil´i-a).—Wonderful things.
Mittimus (mit´i-mus).—We send. A writ by which a culprit is committed to jail. A legal phrase for the writ transferring records from one court to another.
Modo et forma (mod´o et for´mā).—In manner and form.
Modus operandi (mod´us operan´dī).—The manner of operation.
More suo (su´o).—In his own way.
Mors janua vitæ (maws jan´u-a vī´tē).—Death the gate of life.
Mors omnibus communis (om´nibus kommū´nis).—Death is common to all of us.
Mors ultima linea rerum est—Horace (ul´tim-a lī´ne-a rēr´um est).—Death is the boundary line of all things.
Mos pro lege (mōs pro lē´je).—Custom for law (a law phrase).
Motu proprio (mō´tū prō´priō).—Of his own accord.
Multum in parvo (mul-tum in par´vō).—Much in little.
Mutatis mutandis (mu-tā´tis mu-tan´dis).—Things being changed which ought to be changed; i. e., with necessary changes.
N
Necessitas non habet legem (necess´it-ass non hab´et lē´jem).—Necessity has no law.
Ne fronti crede (nē front´tī krē´de).—Trust not to appearances.
Nem. con.—abbreviation for nemine contradicente (nem´in-e contra-dī-sent´e).—No one speaking in opposition: without opposition.
Nem. dis.—abbreviation for nemine dissentiente (dis-sen-shi-en´te).—No one dissenting: without a dissenting voice.
Ne plus ultra (nē plus ul´trā).—No more beyond: i. e., perfection.
Ne quid nimis—Terence (nē kwid nim´iss).—Not too much of anything; i. e., shun extremes.
Nescit vox missa reverti—Horace (nes´sit vox miss´a rever´tī).—The spoken word cannot be recalled.
Ne sutor ultra crepidam—Pliny (sū´tor ul´tra crep´i-dam).—Let the cobbler stick to his last; i. e., let everyone attend to his own business.
Nihil ad rem (ni´hil ad rem).—Nothing to the point.
Nullum quod tetigit non ornavit (kwod tet´i-git non ornā´vit).—He touched nothing which he did not adorn. These Latin words form part of Dr. Johnson’s epitaph on Oliver Goldsmith in Westminster Abbey.
Nil conscire sibi—Horace (con-sī´re sib´ī).—To be conscious of no wrong.
Nil desperandum.—Never despair.
Nisi Dominus frustra (ni´si dom´in-us frus´trā).—Unless the Lord be with us, we strive in vain. Motto of the City of Edinburgh.
Nisi prius (ni´si prī´us)—literally, Unless previously. A trial at Nisi Prius may be defined as a trial, before a judge and jury, of a civil action that has been brought in one of the superior courts.
Nolens volens (nō´lens vō´lens).—Whether he will or not.
Noli me tangere (nō´lī me tan´jer-e).—Don’t touch me.
Nolle prosequi (noll´e prō´sek-wī).—To be unwilling to proceed (legal term). An undertaking by a plaintiff that he will not proceed with part or the whole of his suit.
Non compos mentis (kom´poss men´tiss).—Not sound in mind.
Non constat (kon´stat).—It does not appear.
Non est inventus (inven´tus).—He has not been found.
Non licet (liss´et).—It is not lawful.
Non multa, sed multum (mul´ta sed mul´tum).—Not many things, but much.
Non obstante (ob-stan´te).—Notwithstanding.
Non omnia possumus omnes—Virgil (om´ni-a poss´u-mus om´nēs).—We cannot, all of us, do all things.
Non quo sed quomodo (kwō sed kwō´mod-ō).—Not by whom, but in what manner.
Non sequitur (sek´wit-ur).—It does not follow.
Non sibi, sed patriæ (sib´i sed pat´ri-ē).—Not for himself, but for his country.
Nosce teipsum (nos´se tē-ip´sum).—Know thyself. The Latin form of the Greek inscription over the portico of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Noscitur ex sociis (noss´i-tur ex sō´si-īs).—He is known by his companions.
Nota bene (N. B.) (nō´tā bē´nē).—Mark well.
Novus homo (nov´us hom´o).—A new man—one who has raised himself from obscurity. Term applied to men who in the days of the Roman Republic and Empire rose to distinction but did not belong to an ancient gens.
Nulli secundus (null´ī se-kun´dus).—Second to none.
Nunc aut nunquam (nunk awt nun´kwam).—Now or never.
O
Obiit (ob´i-it).—He (or she) died. An inscription on tombs, indicating the fact of the death of the person interred.
Obiter dictum (ob´it-er dik´tum).—A thing said by the way, incidentally; plural, obiter dicta.
Odium theologicum (ō´di-um theo-loj´i-kum).—Hatred among divines. Theological controversy usually provoking great bitterness on the part of the disputants.
Omnia ad Dei gloriam (om´ni-a ad Dē´ī glor´i-am).—All things to the glory of God.
Omnia bona bonis (om´ni-a bō´na bō´nīs).—To the good all things are good.
Onus probandi (ō´nus pro-ban´dī).—The burden of proving (legal).
Optimates (op-ti-mā´tēs).—Aristocrats. Literally, the best. In ancient times the aristocracy was composed of men selected for their superior vigor as the best in the tribe.
Opum furiosa cupido—Ovid (op´um furi-ō´sa ku-pī´dō).—The ungovernable greed for wealth.
Ora et labora (ōr´ā et lab-ōr´ā).—Pray and work.
Ora pro nobis (ōr´ā pro nō´bis).—Pray for us. The words of the refrain of the well-known hymn in the Roman Catholic mass.
Ore rotundo (ōr´ē rō-tun´dō).—With round, full voice.
O tempora! O mores!—Horace (tem´por-a mor´ēz).—O the times! O the manners!
Otium cum dignitate (ō´shi-um kum dig-ni-tā´te).—Ease with dignity.
Otium sine dignitate (sin´e).—Ease without dignity.
P
Pace tua (pā´se tū´ā).—With your permission.
Pacta conventa (pak´ta con-ben´ta).—Terms agreed on.
Pari passu (par´i pass´u).—With equal pace; in equal proportion.
Pariter pax bello—Cornelius Nepos (par´it-er pax bell´o).—Peace is produced by war: i. e. by a show of hostile preparations war is often averted.
Particeps criminis (par´ti-seps krī´min-iss).—A sharer in the guilt: an accomplice (legal).
Passim (pas´sim).—Everywhere.
Pater noster (pat´er nos´ter).—Our father. The two first words at the commencement of the Lord’s Prayer.
Pater patriæ (pat´er pat´ri-ē).—The father of his country. The name given to Cicero by the Roman Senate. The term was also applied to some other distinguished Romans. In later times Andrea Dorea and George Washington were thus distinguished.
Patres conscripti (pat´rēz kon-skrip´tī), i. e. patres et conscripti.—Fathers and elect—the title of the assembled Senate.
Patria cara, carior libertas (pat´ri-a cār´a cār´i-or lib´er-tas).—My country is dear, but liberty is dearer.
Pax in bello (bell´o).—Peace in war—i. e., a weak prosecution of hostilities.
Pax vobiscum (vo-bis´kum).—Peace be with you.
Peccavi (pek-kā´vī).—I have sinned.
Pendente lite (pen-den´te lī´te).—While the lawsuit is pending (legal).
Peraget angusta ad augusta (per-ag´et an-gus´ta ad aw-gus´ta).—Through difficulties to grandeur.
Per annum.—By the year.
Per centum.—By the hundred.
Per contra.—Contrariwise.
Per diem (dī´em).—By the day.
Per fas et nefas (fass et nef´ass).—Through right and wrong.
Per mare, per terras (mar´e ter´ras).—By sea and by land: i. e., everywhere.
Permitte Divis cetera (per-mitt´e dī´vīs sē´ter-a).—Leave the rest to the gods.
Per saltum (salt´um).—By a leap. A legal phrase frequently used.
Per se.—By itself (legal).
Perseverando (per-sev-er-an´dō).—By perseverance.
Petitio principii (pet-ī´shi-o prin-sip´i-i).—A begging of the question.
Pinxit (pinks´it).—He painted it; word placed in the corner of a canvas after the signature of the artist.
Plebs (pleb´s).—Common people. The name given to the third and lowest rank of the orders into which the Roman state was divided.
Pleno jure (plē´no jū´re).—With full authority.
Pluries (plū´ri ēz).—Often, frequently.
Poeta nascitur, non fit—Horace (po-ē´ta nass´it-ur non fit).—A poet is born, not made.
Pons asinorum (ass´in-or´um).—The bridge of asses (applied to Euclid i. 5).
Posse comitatus (poss´e com-i-tā´tūs).—The power of the county. A legal phrase expressing the power of the county or citizens, who are summoned to assist an officer, as the sheriff, in suppressing a riot or executing any legal process.
Post bellum auxilium (pōst bell´um awx-il´i-um).—Help after the war.
Postea (post´e-ā).—Afterwards.
Post factum nullum consilium (fak´tum null´um con-sil´i-um).—After the deed is done there is no need for consultation.
Post meridiem—P. M. (mer-ī´di-em).—After mid-day.
Post mortem.—After death. Term applied to the examination of a body to discover the cause of death.
Post nubila Phœbus (nū´bil-a fē´bus).—After clouds the sun shines. Phœbus Apollo, “the radiant Apollo,” a god who personified the sun.
Post obitum (ob´it-um).—After death. An undertaking given to a usurer to repay a loan on the death of a relative, from whom money is expected, is called a post obit.
Post tenebras lux (ten´e-bras).—After darkness comes light.
Postulata (post-u-lā´ta).—Things demanded.
Prima facie (prī´mā fā´si-ē).—On the first view or appearance. A legal term frequently employed to denote that on the evidence already given there is a good case for further investigation.
Primum mobile (prī´mum mō´bil-e).—The source of motion: the mainspring.
Primus inter omnes (prī´mus in´ter om´nēs).—The first among all.
Primus inter pares (par´ēs).—The first among his equals or peers: e. g., an archbishop among bishops.
Principia, non homines (prin-sip´i-a non hom´in-ēs).—Principles, not men.
Principiis obsta (prin-sip´i-īs ob´sta).—Withstand the beginnings (i. e. of evil).
Pro aris et focis (ar´is et fō´sīs).—For our altars and our hearths.
Pro bono publico (prō bōnō pub´li-kō).—For the public good.
Pro et con.—For and against.
Profanum vulgus—Horace (pro-fā´num vul´gus).—The common herd.
Pro forma (for´mā).—For the sake of form.
Pro hac vice (hak vi´se).—For this time.
Pro patria (pat´ri-ā).—For our country.
Pro rata (rā´ta).—Proportionally.
Pro rege, lege, et grege (rē´je lē´je et grej´e).—For the king, the law, and the people.
Pro re nata (rē na´tā).—Under the present circumstances, as matters are.
Pro salute animæ (sal-ū´te an´im-ē).—For the welfare of the soul.
Pro tanto (tan´to).—As far as it goes.
Pro tempore—pro. tem. (tem´por-e).—For the time being.
Punica fides (pū´nik-a fīdēs).—Punic (or Carthaginian) faith, i. e. treachery.
Q
Quantum (kwan´tum).—As much, so much.
Quantum sufficit (kwan´tum suf-fī´sit).—As much as is sufficient. A term frequently used in medical prescriptions, as Q. S.
Quasi (kwā´si).—As if, just as, as it were.
Quid nunc? (kwid nunk).—What now? What news? Also applied as a name to a person who is always seeking to satisfy his curiosity as to current news.
Quid pro quo (kwid prō kwō).—One thing for another.
Quoad hoc (kwō´ad hok).—To this extent.
Quo animo? (kwō an´im-ō).—With what purpose or intention?
Quod erat demonstrandum—Q. E. D. (kwod er´at dem-on-stran´dum).—Which was to be proved. A term used in geometry at the end of propositions, to indicate that the theorem is proved.
Quod erat faciendum—Q. E. F. (fas-i-en´dum).—Which was to be done. A term used in geometry at the end of problems, to show that they have been solved.
Quod scripsi, scripsi (skrip´sī).—What I have written, I have written. Words used by Pilate when he refused to alter the inscription he had written over the crucified Savior.
Quod vide—q. v. (vī´de).—Which see.
Quo jure (kwō jū´re).—By what right.
Quomodo (kwō-mod-o).—In what manner, how.
Quondam (kwon´dam).—At one time, once, formerly.
Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat (kwōs dē´us vult per´der-e, prī´us dē-men´tat).—Those whom God has a mind to destroy, He first deprives of their senses.
R
Rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno—Ovid (rār´a av´iss in ter´rīs nī-grō´kwe sim-ill´im-a sig´no).—A rare bird on the earth, and very like a black swan: i. e., a prodigy. This species being almost entirely unknown in the time of the Romans.
Recipe (res´ip-e).—Receive.
Recte et suaviter (rek´tē et swa´vit-er).—Justly and pleasantly.
Redeunt Saturnia regna (red´e-unt sat-ur´ni-a reg´na).—The age of Saturn (i. e. the golden age) returns.
Reductio ad absurdum (re-duk´shi-o ad ab-surd´um).—A reducing a position to an absurdity.
Rem acu tetigisti (rem ak´ū teti-gist´ī).—You have hit the nail on the head (lit. touched the matter with a needle-point).
Requiescat in pace—R. I. P. (rek-wi-ess´kat in pā´se).—May he (or she) rest in peace. Symbol used on monuments, expressing a prayer for the repose of the soul.
Res gestæ (rēs jest´ē).—Exploits.
Res judicata (jūdi-ka´ta).—A case or suit already decided.
Respice finem (res´-piss-e fī´nem).—Look to the end.
Respublica (rēs-pub´lik-a).—The common weal; the commonwealth. Name applied to the Roman state prior to the time of the Empire.
Resurgam (re-sur´gam).—I shall rise again. Frequently inscribed on memorials to the dead.
Ride si sapis (rī´de sī sap´iss).—Laugh if you are wise; i. e., the wise cultivate a cheerful habit of mind.
Ruat cœlum (rū´at sē´lum).—Let the heavens fall.
Rus in urbe (russ in ur´be).—The country in town.
S
Sal atticum (sal at´tik-um).—Attic salt—i. e., wit. Salt was used both by the Greeks and Romans as the common term for wit; Attic (i. e. Athenian) wit being especially delicate and elegant.
Salus populi suprema est lex (sal´us pop´u-li su-prē´ma est lex).—The welfare of the people is the supreme law.
Salve (sal´vē).—How are you? I hope you are well. A form of familiar salutation among the Romans.
Salvo jure (sal´vō jū´re).—Saving the right.
Sanctum sanctorum (sank´tum sank-tor´um).—The holy of holies. In ecclesiastical law the chancel of a church is so called; also frequently applied to a private room or study.
Sartor resartus (sar´tor re-sar´tus).—The tailor patched. The title of Carlyle’s well-known work.
Satis superque (sat´iss su-per´kwe).—Enough and more than enough.
Satis verborum (ver-bor´um).—Enough of words.
Secundum artem (sek-un´dum ar´tem).—According to rule.
Secundum naturam (na-tūr´am).—According to nature.
Semper avarus eget—Horace (sem´per av-ār´us ej´et).—The covetous man is ever in want.
Semper felix (fē´lix).—Always happy.
Semper fidelis (fid-ē´liss).—Always faithful.
Semper idem (ī´dem).—Always the same. (This is the masculine form; the feminine form is e´a-dem, and the neuter id´em—all three singular.)
Semper paratus (par-a´tus).—Always ready.
Senatus populusque Romanus—S. P. Q. R. (sen-ā´tus popu-lus´kwe Ro-mā´nus).—The senate and the Roman people.
Seniores priores (sen-i-or´ēz pri-or´ēz).—Elders first. Elderly persons being accorded in ancient times special reverence. Cicero (106-43 B. C.) wrote a work, De Senectute, in praise of old age.
Seriatim (ser-i-ā´tim).—In a series.
Servabo fidem (ser-vā´bō fid´em).—I will keep faith.
Sic (sik).—Thus: so. Generally used ironically to call attention to a literary error.
Sic itur ad astra—Virgil (sik it´ur ad ass´tra).—Such is the way to immortality (lit., to the stars).
Sic passim (pas´sim).—So everywhere.
Sic transit gloria mundi (sik trans´it glor´i-a mun´dī).—Thus passes away earthly glory. Words said to have been used at the inauguration of the early Popes.
Sic vos non vobis—Virgil (sik vōs non vō´biss).—Thus you toil, but not for yourselves. The poet here refers to bees, who make honey, but not for their own use.
Similia similibus curantur (sim-il´i-a sim-il´i-bus ku-ran´tur).—Like things are cured by like. Motto of homœopathic school of medicine.
Sine die (sin´e dī´ē).—Without a day being appointed: indefinitely.
Sine invidia (in-vid´i-ā).—Without envy.
Sine odio (ō´di-ō).—Without hatred.
Sine qua non (sin´e kwā non).—An indispensable condition.
Siste, viator (sis´te vi-ā´tor).—Stop, traveler.
Si vis pacem, para bellum (sī viss pā´sem par´ā bell´um).—If you wish for peace, prepare for war.
Sola nobilitas virtus (sō´la no-bil´itas vir´tus).—Virtue alone is true nobility.
Sola virtus invicta (sō´la vir´tus in-vik´ta).—Virtue alone is invincible.
Spectemur agendo (spek-tē´mur a-jen´dō).—Let us be tried by our actions.
Spes mea in Deo (spēs mē´a in Dē´o).—My hope is in God.
Spes tutissima cœlis (spēs tu-tiss´im-a sē´līs).—The safest hope is in heaven.
Sponte sua (spon´te su´ā).—Of one’s own accord.
Stat magni nominis umbra—Lucan (stat mag´nī nom´in-iss um´bra).—He stands the shadow of a mighty name.
Status quo (stā´tus kwō).—The state in which. A legal term indicating the position in which a case stood before certain action was taken in it.
Status quo ante bellum (an´te bell´um).—The state in which both parties were before the war.
Stet.—Let it stand—i. e., remain as it was.
Sua cuique voluptas (sū´a ku-ī´kwe vol-up´tas).—Every man has his own pleasures.
Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re (su-ā´vit-er in mod´o for´ti-ter in rē).—Gentle in the manner, but vigorous in the deed.
Sub judice (jū´diss-e).—Under consideration. A legal phrase used to indicate that a case is still under consideration, during which time it is held to be contempt of court to comment upon the case in the public press or elsewhere.
Sub pœna (pē´nā).—Under a penalty.
Sub rosa (rō´sā).—Under the rose: privately. The rose in ancient times was the emblem of silence, and was used in decorations to show that anything said during the entertainment was not to be divulged. Cupid presented Harpocrates (the god of Silence) with a rose, not to betray the amours of Venus.
Sub silentio (sil-en´shi-o).—In silence.
Sufficit (suf-fī´sit).—It is enough.
Sui generis (sū´ī jen´er-iss).—Of its own kind; i. e., not referable to any particular class.
Summum bonum (sum´mum bō´num).—The chief good.
Suo marte (sū´o mar´te).—By one’s own exertions, without the assistance of others.
Suppressio veri (sup-press´i-o vēr´ī).—Suppression of the truth.
Suum cuique (su´um ku-ī´kwe).—Let every man have his own.
T
Tabula rasa (tab´u-la rā´sa).—A smooth or blank tablet. From the waxen tablets on which the ancients wrote with a sharp instrument called a stilus or style, and with the broad upper end of which writing was erased.
Tanto melior! (tan´tō mel´i-or).—So much the better! well done! excellent!
Telum imbelle sine ictu—Virgil (tē´lum im-bell´e sin´e ik´tū).—A feeble weapon, thrown without effect.
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis (tem´-por-a mū-tan´tur et nōs mū-tā´mur in ill´īs).—The times are changed, and we with them.
Tempus fugit (fū´jit).—Time flies. A Latin inscription frequently seen upon sun-dials and old church clocks.
Tempus omnia revelat (om´nia re-vē´lat).—Time unveils all things.
Terra firma (ter´ra firm´a).—Solid earth; a safe footing.
Terra incognita (ter´ra in-kog´nit-a).—An unknown country.
Tertium quid (ter´shi-um kwid).—A third something. A logical term.
Toga virilis (tog´a vir-ī liss).—The garb of manhood, assumed by Roman youth in their sixteenth year with considerable ceremony, usually at the feasts of Bacchus in March.
Totidem verbis (tot´id-em ver´bis).—In just so many words.
Toto cœlo (tō´tō sē´lō).—By the whole heavens: diametrically opposite.
Tria juncta in uno (trī´a junk´ta in ū´no).—Three joined in one.
Troja fuit (Trō´ja fū´it).—Troy was—i. e., exists no longer. Refers to the destruction of Troy by the Greeks (1184 B. C.).
Tu quoque, Brute! (tū kwō´kwe Brū´tē).—And thou too, Brutus! When Brutus, the friend and favorite of Julius Cæsar, struck the latter at his assassination, he uttered the words Tu quoque, Brute! pulled his toga over his face, and sank, pierced with wounds, at the foot of Pompey’s statue.
U
Ubique (ub-ī´kwe).—Everywhere.
Ubi supra (ub´i su´prā).—Where above mentioned.
Ultima ratio regum (ul´tim-a rā´shi-o rē´jum).—The last argument of kings. Louis XIV. placed this inscription on his great guns.
Ultima Thule (ul´tim-a Thū´lē).—The utmost boundary or limit. Thule was an island regarded by the ancients as the most northerly point in the whole earth, and variously supposed to have been Iceland and one of the Shetland group.
Ultimus Romanorum (ul´tim-us Ro-man-or´um).—The last of the Romans.
Ultra vires (ul´trā vī´rēs).—Beyond one’s powers; beyond the rights possessed (legal).
Uno animo (ū´no an´im-o).—Of the same opinion.
Usque ad nauseam (us´kwe ad naw´se-am).—To utter disgust.
Ut infra (in´frā).—As below.
Ut supra (su´prā).—As above.
V
Vade mecum (vā´de mē´cum).—Go with me: a constant companion. Title given to medical and other handbooks for convenient reference.
Vale (valē´), or Valeas (val´e-ass).—Farewell, adieu. The usual parting salutation of the Romans.
Valeat quantum valere potest (val´e-at kwant´um val-ēr´e pot´est).—Let it pass for what it is worth.
Valete, ac plaudite (val-ē´te ak plaud´it-e).—Farewell, and clap. (The concluding words of a Latin comedy.)
Vanitas vanitatum (van´it-ass van-it-ā´tum).—Vanity of vanities.
Variæ lectiones (var´i-ē lek-shi-ō´nēs).—Various readings.
Variorum notæ (var-i-or´um nō´tē).—The notes of various authors.
Varium et mutabile semper femina—Virgil (var´i-um et mū-tā´bil-e sem´per fē´min-a).—A woman is ever changeable and capricious.
Velis remisque (vē´līs rē-mīs´kwe).—With sails and oars—i. e., with tooth and nail, with might and main.
Veni, vidi, vici (vē´nī, vī´dī, vī´sī).—I came, I saw, I conquered. By these three words—so easy was the victory—Julius Cæsar informed the Senate of his having defeated Pharnaces near Zela, 47 B.C.
Ventis secundis (ven´tīs se-kun´dīs).—With favorable winds.
Verbatim et literatim (ver-bā´tim et lit-er-ā´tim).—Word for word and letter for letter.
Verba volant, scripta manent (ver´ba vol´ant, scrip´ta man´ent).—Words fly, writings remain.
Verbum sat sapienti (ver´bum sat sap-i-en´tī).—A word is enough to a wise man.
Veritas odium parit—Terence. Truth procures hatred.
Veritas vincit (very´tass vin´sit).—Truth conquers.
Versus (ver´sus).—Against. A legal term.
Vestigia (ves-tī´ji-a).—Tracks; traces.
Vestigia nulla retrorsum (ves-tī´ji-a null´a ret-ror´sum).—No steps backward.
Vetera extollimus, recentium incuriosi—Tacitus (vet´er-a ex-toll´im-us re-sen´shi-um in-ku-ri-ō´sī).—We exalt the deeds of old, being indifferent to those of recent times.
Vexata quæstio (vex-ā´ta kwēs´ti-o).—A much-debated question.
Via (vī´ā).—By way of.
Via media (vī´a med´i-a).—A middle course.
Vice (vi´se).—In the place of.
Vice versa (vi´se ver´sā).—The terms being exchanged.
Vide (vī´dē)—See.
Vide et crede (vī´de et krē´de).—See and believe.
Vide ut supra (vī´de ut sū´prā).—See as above; see the preceding statement.
Videlicet—viz. (vid-ē´liss-et).—To wit; namely.
Vi et armis (vī et ar´mīs).—By force and arms—i.e., by main force.
Vincit amor patriæ (vin´sit am´or pat´ri-ē).—The love of our country prevails.
Vincit omnia veritas (vin´sit óm´ni-a very´tass).—Truth conquers all things.
Vincit veritas (vin´sit very’tass).—Truth conquers.
Vinculum matrimonii (vin’ku-lum mā-tri-mō´ni-i).—The bond of marriage.
Vindex injuriæ (vin’dex in-jū´ri-ē).—An avenger of injury.
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur (vir sap´it kwī paw´sa lok´-wit-ur).—He is a wise man who says but little.
Virtus est vitium fugere—Horace (vir´tus est vish´i-um fū´jer-e).—It is virtue to avoid vice.
Virtuti nihil obstat et armis (vir-tū´tī ni´hil ob´stat et ar´mīs).—Nothing can resist valor and arms.
Virtuti non armis fido (vir-tū´tī non ar´mīs fī´dō).—I trust to virtue, and not to arms.
Virtutis amor (vir-tū´tiss am´or).—The love of virtue.
Vis inertiæ (viss in-er´shi-ē).—The power of inertia: passive resistance.
Vivat regina! (vī´vat rē-jī´na).—Long live the Queen! The phrase formerly used at the conclusion of royal proclamations.
Vivat rex! (vī´vat rex).—Long live the King!
Viva voce (vī´vā vō´se).—By the living voice: by oral testimony. That portion of an examination in which the candidate is tested as to his knowledge of the subject by an examiner who personally interrogates him.
Vivida vis animi (vī´vid-a viss an´im-ī).—The vigorous strength of intellect: the lively vigor of genius.
Vivit post funera virtus (vi´vit post fū´ner-a vir´tus).—Virtue survives the grave.
Vox et præterea nihil (vox et prē-ter´e-ā ni´hil).—A voice and nothing more.
Vox populi, vox Dei (pop´u-lī, Dē´ī).—The voice of the people is the voice of God. Quoted as a proverb by William of Malmesbury, author of “De Gestis Regum Anglorum,” twelfth century.
Vulgo (vul´gō).—Generally, commonly.
Vultus est index animi (vul´tus est in´dex an´im-ī).—The countenance is the index of the mind.