by Barbara Casey | Oct 27, 2015 | Latin Phrases + Numerals, Tutorials
Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of Latin words and phrases that writers might find useful in their articles, blog posts and books.
Here’s the whole list of Latin words, phrases and sayings:
a cappella – in church (vocal music only)
adeste fideles – come, faithful people
ad hoc – for a particular purpose (only)
ad infinitum – to infinity (without end)
ad nauseum – to a sickening degree
alma mater – fostering mother (a school or university you attended or from which you graduated)
a mari usque ad mare – from sea to sea (motto of Canada)
annus horribilis – a horrible year
ante – before
antebellum – before the war
a posteriori – from the latter
a priori – from the former
arcana – secrets (mysterious knowledge known only to initiates)
ars gratia artis – art for art’s sake
ave atque vale – hail and farewell
beatae memoriae – of blessed memory
bene – good
bis in die – twice a day
bona fide – (adjective) in good faith, well-intentioned, fairly
bona fides – (noun) honest intention
bona fortuna – good luck!
bovina sancta – holy cow!
carpe diem – seize the day
caveat emptor – let the buyer beware (i.e. – take the risk)
cave canem – beware of the dog
cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I am
commune bonum – the common good
corpus christi – the body of Christ
crux – puzzle
cum laude – with praise
de facto – something that is automatically accepted
de novo – anew
Dei Gratia – by the grace of God
Deus vobiscum – God be with you
dramatis personae – characters of the play
ecce homo – behold the man
emeritus – honorary, by merit
eo ipso – by that very act
e pluribus unum – out of many, one
ergo – therefore
errata – a list of errors
et cetera – and the rest (etcetera, etc.)
ex cathedra – from the chair (of authority)
ex libris – from the library (of)
ex tempore – off the cuff, without preparation
fiat lux – let there be light
finis – the end
Gloria in excelsis Deo – Glory to God in the highest
habeas corpus – you must have the body (you must justify an imprisonment)
hic et nunc – here and now
in absentia – in one’s absence
in extremis – in extreme circumstances (e.g. – at point of death)
in loco parentis – in the place of a parent
in perpetuum -forever
in toto – totally, entirely
modus operandi – a way of operating
omnia vincit amor – love conquers all
post mortem – after death
post partum – after childbirth
pro bono publico – for the public good
quater in die (Q.I.D.) – take 4 times a day
qui bono? – who benefits?
quid pro quo – something for something
quo vadis? – where are you going?
regina – queen
rex – king
rigor mortis – the rigidity of death
tabula rasa -a clean slate
tempus fugit – time flees (more common: time flies)
terra firma – solid ground
And let’s not forget…
“Illegitimi Non Carborundum” – fake Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
a cappella – in church (vocal music only)
adeste fideles – come, faithful people
ad hoc – for a particular purpose (only)
ad infinitum – to infinity (without end)
ad nauseum – to a sickening degree
alma mater – fostering mother (a school or university you attended or from which you graduated)
a mari usque ad mare – from sea to sea (motto of Canada)
annus horribilis – a horrible year
ante – before
antebellum – before the war
a posteriori – from the latter
a priori – from the former
arcana – secrets (mysterious knowledge known only to initiates)
ars gratia artis – art for art’s sake
ave atque vale – hail and farewell
beatae memoriae – of blessed memory
bene – good
bis in die – twice a day
bona fide – (adjective) in good faith, well-intentioned, fairly
bona fides – (noun) honest intention
bona fortuna – good luck!
bovina sancta – holy cow!
carpe diem – seize the day
caveat emptor – let the buyer beware (i.e. – take the risk)
cave canem – beware of the dog
cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I am
commune bonum – the common good
corpus christi – the body of Christ
crux – puzzle
cum laude – with praise
de facto – something that is automatically accepted
de novo – anew
Dei Gratia – by the grace of God
Deus vobiscum – God be with you
dramatis personae – characters of the play
ecce homo – behold the man
emeritus – honorary, by merit
eo ipso – by that very act
e pluribus unum – out of many, one
ergo – therefore
errata – a list of errors
et cetera – and the rest (etcetera, etc.)
ex cathedra – from the chair (of authority)
ex libris – from the library (of)
ex tempore – off the cuff, without preparation
fiat lux – let there be light
finis – the end
Gloria in excelsis Deo – Glory to God in the highest
habeas corpus – you must have the body (you must justify an imprisonment)
hic et nunc – here and now
in absentia – in one’s absence
in extremis – in extreme circumstances (e.g. – at point of death)
in loco parentis – in the place of a parent
in perpetuum -forever
in toto – totally, entirely
modus operandi – a way of operating
omnia vincit amor – love conquers all
post mortem – after death
post partum – after childbirth
pro bono publico – for the public good
quater in die (Q.I.D.) – take 4 times a day
qui bono? – who benefits?
quid pro quo – something for something
quo vadis? – where are you going?
regina – queen
rex – king
rigor mortis – the rigidity of death
tabula rasa -a clean slate
tempus fugit – time flees (more common: time flies)
terra firma – solid ground
And let’s not forget…
“Illegitimi Non Carborundum” – fake Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
