Latin phrases

Ad hoc

For this (specific) purpose

Ad infinitum

To infinity

Ad libitum (ad lib)

At one's pleasure (improvised)

Ad nauseam

To the point of sickness

Alea iacta est

The die is cast (Julius Caesar)

Alias

Otherwise (another name)

Alma mater

Nourishing mother (school or university)

Alter ego

Another self

A priori

From before (logical reasoning without evidence)

A posteriori

From after (reasoning based on evidence)

Bona fide

In good faith (genuine)

Carpe diem

Seize the day

Caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware

Ceteris paribus

Other things being equal

Corpus delicti

Body of the crime

Cum laude / Magna cum laude / Summa cum laude

With praise / Great honor / Highest honor

De facto

In fact

De jure

By law

E pluribus unum

Out of many, one (USA motto)

Ergo

Therefore

Et al. (et alia)

And others

Et cetera (etc.)

And the rest

Ex libris

From the library of (bookplates)

Fiat

Let it be done (official decree)

Habeas corpus

You shall have the body (legal right)

Id est (i.e.)

That is (in other words)

In loco parentis

In place of a parent

In medias res

Into the middle of things (narrative device)

In memoriam

In memory of

In vino veritas

In wine, there is truth

Ipso facto

By the fact itself

Mea culpa

My fault

Mens sana in corpore sano

A healthy mind in a healthy body

Memento mori

Remember that you must die

Modus operandi (M.O.)

Method of operation

Non sequitur

It does not follow (illogical statement)

Novus ordo seclorum

New order of the ages (US dollar)

Pax Romana

Roman peace

Per annum

Per year

Per capita

Per person

Per diem

Per day

Persona non grata

Unwelcome person

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

After this, therefore because of this (logical fallacy)

Post mortem

After death (autopsy)

Prima facie

At first glance

Pro bono

For the public good (free legal work)

Quid pro quo

Something for something (exchange)

Rara avis

Rare bird (unique person)

Requiescat in pace (RIP)

Rest in peace

Semper fidelis

Always faithful (US Marines)

Semper paratus

Always prepared (Coast Guard)

Sic semper tyrannis

Thus always to tyrants (Virginia motto)

Sic transit gloria mundi

Thus passes the glory of the world

Status quo

The existing state of affairs

Sub rosa

Under the rose (in secret)

Sui generis

Unique, in its own category

Tempus fugit

Time flies

Terra incognita

Unknown land

Veni, vidi, vici

I came, I saw, I conquered (Caesar)

Verbatim

Word for word

Vice versa

The other way around

Ab initio

From the beginning

Ad hominem

Against the person (personal attack)

Amicus curiae

Friend of the court (legal brief)

De novo

From the new (start over)

Ex post facto

After the fact (retroactive law)

Lex talionis

Law of retaliation

Nolo contendere

No contest (legal plea)

Non compos mentis

Not sound of mind (insanity defense)

Pro tempore (pro tem)

For the time being

Res ipsa loquitur

The thing speaks for itself

Ad astra per aspera

To the stars through hardships

Circa (c.)

Around (approximate dates)

In vitro

In glass (test tube experiment)

In vivo

In life (experiment in a living organism)

Locus classicus

Classic example

Mutatis mutandis

With necessary changes

Non plus ultra

The highest point (perfection)

Reductio ad absurdum

Argument leading to absurdity

Tabula rasa

Blank slate (John Locke’s philosophy)

Vita brevis, ars longa

Life is short, art is long

Ab urbe condita (AUC)

From the founding of the city (Rome, 753 BC)

Aegrescit medendo

The remedy is worse than the disease

Annuit coeptis

He has favored our undertakings (US dollar)

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country (Horace)

Et tu, Brute?

And you, Brutus? (Caesar's last words in Shakespeare)

Fiat lux

Let there be light (Genesis)

Hannibal ad portas!

Hannibal is at the gates! (Roman warning)

O tempora! O mores!

Oh, the times! Oh, the customs! (Cicero)

Panem et circenses

Bread and circuses (Roman political strategy)

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)

Ad astra

To the stars

Audemus jura nostra defendere

We dare defend our rights

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Faster, Higher, Stronger (Olympic motto)

Fiat justitia, ruat caelum

Let justice be done, though the heavens fall

Labor omnia vincit

Work conquers all

Lux et veritas

Light and truth (Yale motto)

Nihil sub sole novum

Nothing new under the sun

Pax vobiscum

Peace be with you

Sic itur ad astra

Thus one goes to the stars