Dead language or not, we love Latin
It’s a matter of taste and style, but not long
ago American writers attempted to demonstrate their credentials to the
world by including Latin and French phrases within works. A dash of Latin
was expected of the moderately educated throughout the Western world.
– Words and Phrases –
annus mirabilis – wonderful year
arbiter elegantiae – judge of the elegant; one who knows the good things in life
bona fides – good faith; credentials
carpe diem – sieze the day; enjoy the present
casus belli – cause justifying a war
caveat emptor – buyer beware
cui bono? – for whose advantage?
caeteris paribus – all things being equal
de facto – of fact; it is
de gustibus non est disputandum – no disputing tastes; there is no accounting for taste
Dei gratia – by the grace of God
Deo gratias – thanks to God
Deo volente – God willing
dis aliter visum – it seemed otherwise to the gods
Dominus vobiscum – Lord be with you
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori – sweet and seemly it is to die for one’s country
ecce homo – behold man
ex cathedra – with authority
ex more – with or according to customs
exempli gratia – for example (e.g.)
genius loci – spirit of the location
hic et ubique – here and everywhere
hinc illae lacrimae – hence, those tears
humanum est errare – to err is human; human is to err
id est – that is (i.e.)
in extremis – at death
in hoc signo vinces – by this sign, you conquer
in loco parentis – in place of the parent
in medias res – into the middle of things; the heart of the matter
in omnia paratus – prepared for all; ready for anything
in perpetuum – forever; perpetually
in propia persona – in person; in one’s own life or words
in statu quo – as things were
in toto – entirely; in total
ipso jure – the law itself
jure divino – Divine law
labor omnia vincit – labor conquers all things; effort results in victory
laborare est orare – to work is to pray
laus Deo – praise God
loco citato – in the location cited
loquitur – he speaks
mens sana in corpore sano – of sound mind in a healthy body
meum et tuum – mine and yours
modus operandi – mode of operating
morituri te salutamus – we who are about to die, salute you
motu proprio – of one’s own accord; on your own
multum in parvo – there is much in little
nemo me impune lacessit – no one attacks me with impunity
nil admirari – wondering at nothing
nolens volens – willing or not
Nota Bene – note well; pay special attention to
omnia vincit amor – love conquers all
opere citato – in the volume cited; in the book cited
otium cum dignitate – leisure with dignity
passim – here and there
pater patriae – father of his country
pax vobiscum – peace be with you
persona non grata – unwelcome person
primus inter pares – first among equals
pro bono publico – for the public good
pro Deo et ecclesia – for God and the Church
pro forma – as a matter of form; standard
quod erat demonstrandum – which was demonstrated; that which was shown
requiescat in pace – rest in peace
sic – thus; so it was
sic passim – so throughout
sic semper tyrannis – thus always to tyrants
sine die – some day; not a particular time
sine quo non – without which, nothing; it is essential
tempus fugit – time flies
timeo Danaos et dona ferentes – I fear the Greeks, even when they bear gifts
verbatim et literatim – word for word, letter for letter
Now, even if you were not fortunate enough to take Latin in school,
you possess enough to impress some editors and readers. Use these phrases
wisely… and sparingly.