Fool those dumb ad-inserting ISPs
Ad absurdum | To absurdity |
Ad astra | To the stars; to the utmost |
Ad hoc | Formed for a specific purpose |
Ad hominem | Personal, relating to an individual |
Ad infinitum | Forever, endlessly |
Ad majorem Dei gloriam | To the greater glory of God |
Ad nauseam | Endlessly, to a disgusting or ridiculous degree |
Ad valorem | According to the value (of goods) |
A fortiori | All the more; said of a second conclusion that is even more logical than the first |
Alea jacta est* | The die is cast |
Alma mater | One’s university or college |
Alter ego | One’s second self |
Amicus curiae | Friend of the court |
Anno domini | In the year of the Lord |
Annus horribilis | Terrible year |
Annus mirabilis | Wonderful year |
Ante bellum | Before the war |
A posteriori | Making conclusions based on fact rather than obvious principles |
A priori | Making conclusions based on theory rather than fact |
Aqua vitae | Literally “water of life,” designating brandy or other strong liquor |
Argumentum ad hominem | Argument based on personal attacks rather than the person’s reasonings |
Ars gratia artis. | Art for art’s sake |
Ars longa, vita brevis | Art is long, life is short |
Bona fide | In good faith; genuine |
Bona fides | Documents proving identity or authority |
Camera obscura | Camera with a dark chamber and an aperture that uses mirrors to project an image on to a screen |
Carpe diem | Enjoy the day; take advantage while the opportunity is there |
Casus belli | Grounds for fighting, especially a war |
Caveat | Caution |
Caveat empto | Let the buyer beware |
Cogito ergo sum | I think, therefore I am (from Descartes) |
Compos mentis | Of sound mind |
Corpus delicti | Facts of the crime; body of the crime |
Cui bono | To whose benefit; to what purpose |
Cum grano salis | With a grain of salt |
Cum laude | With honors |
De facto | Existing by fact and not by choice |
De gustibus non est disputandum | To each his own taste |
Dei gratia. | By the grace of God |
De jure | By right according to a legal system |
Delirium tremens | Alcoholic withdrawal syndrome |
Deo gratias | Thanks to God |
Deo volente | God willing |
De profundis | Arising from extreme despair or pain |
E pluribus unum | Out of many, one; from many, one |
Ergo | Therefore |
Et al(alii) | And other things |
Et cetera | And so forth |
Ex cathedra | From a position of authority |
Exempli gratia | For example |
Ex libris | From the library of |
Ex officio | By virtue of an office held |
Ex post facto | After the fact; by reason of something having been done afterwards |
Factotum | One who does everything; jack-of-all-trades |
Gratis | Free |
Habeas corpus | Writ requiring the appearance of prisoner in court to determine if he has been legally detained |
Homo sapiens | Member of the human species |
Horribile dictu | Terrible to relate |
Id | Part of the psyche that is the source of psychic energy |
Id est | That is (abbreviated i.e.) |
Imprimatur | Official sanction to publish a text (especially from a bishop or pope) |
In absentia | In the absence of the person concerned |
In camera | In secret |
In excelsis | In the highest |
In extremis | In great danger, especially of dying |
In flagrante delicto | In the act of committing a crime |
Ignis fatuus | Evanescent phosphorescent light seen at night over a marshy area will-o’-the wisp; something misleading |
In hoc signo vinces | In this sign thou will conquer |
In loco parentis | In the place of the parent |
In media res | In the middle of things, especially a plot or play |
In memoriam | In memory of, especially in an obituary notice |
In situ | In its original place |
Inter alia | Among other things |
In toto | As a whole, completely |
In vino veritas | In wine, there is truth—that is, one speaks freely under the influence of drink |
In vitro | In a test tube |
Ipso facto | By the very fact itself |
Lapsus linguae | Slip of the tongue |
Libido | Sexual drive |
Magna cum laude | With high honors |
Magnum opu | (an artist’s, writer’s) Greatest work |
Mare | Sea; especially those dark areas on the moon and Mars |
Mea culpa | Admission of guilt |
Memento mori | Any reminder of your mortality |
Mens sana in corpore sano | Sound mind in a sound body |
Mirabile dictu | Wonderful to relate |
Modus operandi (MO) | Method of operation |
Modus vivendi | Life style; temporary arrangement for two parties living together but at odds with one another |
Mores | Morals or customs of a country or group |
Mutatis mutandis | Allowing for the necessary changes |
Ne plus ultra | Furthest point attainable; most perfect of anything |
Nolle prosequi | (in law) Prosecutorial statement not to further pursue a suit |
Nolo contendere | Defendant’s plea accepting conviction but without admitting guilt |
Non compos mentis | Not of sound mind |
Non sequitu | Conclusion that does not follow from the premise |
Nota bene (NB | Take note of what follows |
Obiter dictum | Passing remark; (in law) judge’s offhand remark |
Omnia vincit amor | Love conquers all |
Opus | Creative work, especially a musical composition |
O tempora! O mores! | Oh the times! Oh the manners! (exclamation from Cicero suggesting displeasure with changing times, changing values) |
Paterfamilias | Head of family |
Pater patriae | Father of his country; founder of the nation |
Pax | Peace |
Pax Romana | Area over which Roman law and authority was sovereign |
Pax vobiscum | Peace be with you |
Pax vobiscum | Peace be with you |
Peccavi | Admission of having been in the wrong |
Per annum | Per year |
Per capita | Per person |
Per diem | Per day |
Per se | By itself |
Persona | Characters in a drama; (in psychology) outward personality as seen by others |
Persona non grata | An unacceptable person |
Post mortem (P.M.) | After death |
Post scriptum (P.S.) | Literally “written after,” for an additional note to a letter |
Prima facie | At first view; a prima facie case is one in which initial evidence is thought sufficient to justify further examination and prosecution |
Primus inter pares | First among equals |
Pro bono | For the public good |
Pro et con | For and against (as an argument) |
Pro forma | As a matter of formality or etiquette |
Prosit! | To your health! |
Pro tempore | For the time being |
Quid pro quo | Something for something |
Quod erat demonstrandum | Which was to be proved |
Quod erat faciendum | Which was to be done |
Quondam | Formerly |
Quo vadis | Where are you going? |
Rara avis | Something or someone rarely encountered |
Re | With regard to |
Reductio ad absurdum | Manner of disproving a premise by assuming a conclusion to be incorrect and going back to show that it was impossible |
Requiescat in pace (RIP) | Rest in peace |
Rigor mortis | Stiffness of a corpse developing within hours of death |
Semper fidelis | Ever faithful |
Sic transit gloria mundi | Thus passes the glory of the world |
Sine qua non | Literally “without which nothing,” for something indispensable |
Stare decisis | Policy of law that the court will abide by a previous decision |
Status quo | Existing state of affairs |
Sub rosa | In secret |
Sui generis | Unique; in a class by itself |
Tabula rasa | Clean slate |
Tempus fugit | Time passes quickly |
Terra firma | Solid ground |
Terra incognita | Unexplored region, be it geographical, scientific, etc. |
Ultima thule | Furthest point accessible; any distant place |
Urbi et orbi | To the city, Rome, and to the world (used in a Papal blessing or pronouncement) |
Vade mecum | Literally “go with me,” for a handbook or something used as a ready reference |
Verbatim | Word for word |
Veritas | Truth |
Vice versa | The order being reversed |
Vox populi | Voice of the people |
Vox populi, vox dei | Voice of the people is the voice of God |
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