List of Latin phrases (F-L)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page lists direct English translations of Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations of Greek phrases, as Greek rhetoric and literature reached its peak centuries before that of Ancient Rome.

This list spans letters F to L. See List of Latin phrases for the main list.

Contents
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
Top of page – See also – External links

[edit] F

Latin Translation Notes
Faber est suae quisque fortunae "Every man is the artisan of his own fortune" Appius Claudius Caecus. Motto of Fort Street High School in Petersham, Sydney , Australia.
fac fortia et patere "do brave deeds and endure" Motto of Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, Australia.
fac simile "make a similar thing" Origin of the word facsimile, and, through it, of fax.
facta, non verba "actions, not words" Motto of United States Navy Destroyer Squadron 22 and Joint Task Force 2, Star of the Sea College, Convent of Holy Child Jesus School, Layton Hill, Blackpool, and Southwood Boys' Grammar School in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia.
falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus "false in one thing, false in everything" A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness who willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter. The underlying motive for attorneys to impeach opposing witnesses in court: the principle discredits the rest of their testimony if it is without corroboration.
felo de se "felon from himself" An archaic legal term for one who commits suicide, referring to early English common law punishments, such as land seizure, inflicted on those who killed themselves.
fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt "as a rule, men willingly believe that which they wish to" People believe what they wish to be true, even if it isn't. Attributed to Julius Caesar.
festina lente "hurry slowly" An oxymoronic motto of Augustus. It encourages proceeding quickly, but with calm and caution. Equivalent to 'More haste, less speed'.
fiat iustitia et pereat mundus "let justice be done, even should the world perish" Motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
fiat justitia ruat caelum "let justice be done should the sky fall" Attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus.
fiat lux "let light be made" Less literally, "let light arise" or "let there be light" (cf. lux sit). From the Latin translation of Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God said, 'Let light be made', and light was made"). The motto of the University of California, University of Washington, Waynesburg University, Angelo State University, University of Lethbridge, Rollins College, Hiram College, Alfred University and Kitsilano Secondary School. It is also the motto of the Conservatorium High School in Sydney, Australia. It is incorporated into the logo of the University of Liverpool and Emmanuel College at the University of Queensland.
Fiat Slug
(Dog Latin)		 "Let the Banana Slug be our Mascot" Mock Latin originating during the 1980s, when the late Chancellor Robert Sinsheimer of the University of California at Santa Cruz declared, against the wishes of many students, that the sea lion should be the campus mascot. Eventually the students and the Slug mascot prevailed.
Fiat Voluntas Dei "May God's will be done"
Fiat Voluntas Tua "Thy will be done" The motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Fidei Defensor (Fid Def) or (fd) "Defender of the Faith" A title given to Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on October 17, 1521 before Henry became a heresiarch. Still used by the British monarchs, it appears on all British coins, usually abbreviated.
fides qua creditur "the faith by which it is believed" the personal faith which apprehends, contrasted with fides quae creditur
fides quae creditur "the faith which is believed" the content of "the faith," contrasted with fides qua creditur
fides quaerens intellectum "faith seeking understanding" the motto of Saint Anselm, found in his Proslogion
fidus Achates "faithful Achates" A faithful friend. From the name of Aeneas's faithful companion in Virgil's Aeneid.
finis vitae sed non amoris "The end of Life is not the end of Love"
Fit caedes omnibus locis "Let there be slaughter everywhere" Caesar's Gallic Wars, Book 7.
flagellum dei "scourge of god" Referred to Attila the Hun, when he led his armies to invade the Western Roman Empire.
flectere si nequeo superos, Achaeronta movebo "If I cannot move heaven I will raise hell" Virgil's Aeneid - Book 7
floreat etona "May Eton Flourish" Motto of Eton College
floruit "one flourished" Indicates the period when a historical figure whose birth and death dates are unknown was most active.
fluctuat nec mergitur "she wavers and is not immersed" Motto of Paris.
fons et origo "the spring and source" "The fountainhead and beginning". The source and origin.
fortes fortuna adiuvat "fortune favours the brave" "Fortes Fortuna Juvat" is the motto of the 3d Regiment of the United States Marine Corps
fortis cadere, cedere non potest "The brave may fall, but cannot yield" Motto of Fahnestock Family Arms.
fortis est veritas "truth is strong" Motto on the coat of arms of Oxford, England.
fortis et liber "strong and free" Motto of Alberta.
fortiter et fideliter "bravely and faithfully" Motto of The King's School, Sydney.

[edit] G

Latin Translation Notes
gaudeamus igitur "therefore let us rejoice" First words of a famous academic anthem used, among other places, in The Student Prince.
gaudium in veritate "joy in truth"
generalia specialibus non derogant "universal things do not detract from specific things" A principle of legal statutory interpretation: If a matter falls under a specific provision and a general provision, it shall be governed by the specific provision.
genius loci "spirit of place" The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually depicted as a snake.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo "Glory to God in the Highest" Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title and beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Gloria Patri "Glory to the Father" The beginning of the Lesser Doxology.
gloriosus et liber "glorious and free" Motto of Manitoba
Gradibus ascendimus "Ascending by degrees" Motto of Grey College, Durham
graviora manent "heavier things remain" In other words, "more severe things await" or simply "the worst is yet to come".
gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo "a drop hollows a stone not by force, but by often falling" From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10, 5.

[edit] H

Latin Translation Notes
habeas corpus "you may have the body" A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of legal writs to bring a person before a court or judge, most commonly habeas corpus ad subjiciendum ("you may have the body to bring up"). Commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention.
habemus papam "we have a pope" Used after a Roman Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope.
hac lege "with this law"
haec olim meminisse iuvabit "one day, this will be pleasing to remember" Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look back on this and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also, motto of the Jefferson Society.
Hannibal ante portas "Hannibal before the gates" Refers to wasting time while the enemy is already here. Attributed to Cicero.
Hannibal ad portas "Hannibal is at the gates" Roman parents would tell their misbehaving children this, invoking their fear of Hannibal.
haud ignota loquor "I speak not of unknown things" Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's Aeneid, 2.91.
hic abundant leones "here lions abound" Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
hic et nunc "here and now"
hic jacet (HJ) "here lies" Also rendered hic iacet. Written on gravestones or tombs, preceding the name of the deceased. Equivalent to hic sepultus ("here is buried"), and sometimes combined into hic jacet sepultus (HJS), "here lies buried".
hic manebimus optime "here we'll stay excellently" According to Titus Livius the phrase was pronounced by Marcus Furius Camillus, addressing the senators who intended to abandon the city, invaded by Gauls, in 390 BCE circa. It is used today to express the intent to keep one's position even if the circumstances appear adverse.
hic sunt dracones "here there are dragons" Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
hic sunt leones "here there are lions" Written on uncharted territories of old maps.
hinc illae lacrimae "hence those tears" From Terence, Andria, line 125. Originally literal, referring to the tears shed by Pamphilus at the funeral of Chrysis, it came to be used proverbally in the works of later authors, such as Horace (Epistula XIX, 41).
historia vitae magistra "history, the teacher of life" From Cicero, Tusculanas, 2, 16. Also "history is the mistress of life".
hoc age "do this" Motto of Bradford Grammar School, often purposefully mistranslated by pupils as "Just do it!".
hoc est bellum "This is war"
hoc est Christum cognoscere, beneficia eius cognoscere "To know Christ is to know his benefits" Famous dictum by the Reformer Melanchthon in his Loci Communes of 1521
Hoc Est Enim Corpus Meum "This is my Body" The words of Jesus reiterated in Latin during the Roman Catholic Eucharist. May be the source of the expression "hocus-pocus".[citation needed]
homo homini lupus "man [is a] wolf to man" First attested in Plautus' Asinaria ("lupus est homo homini"). The sentence was drawn on by Hobbes in Leviathan as a concise expression of his human nature view.
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum
(Dog Latin)		 "a wise man does not pee into the wind" In Latin, urinare (later urinari) does not mean "to urinate" but "to plunge underwater".
homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto "I am a human being; nothing human is strange to me" From Terence, Heautontimoroumenos. Originally "strange" or "foreign" (alienum) was used in the sense of "irrelevant", as this line was a response to the speaker being told to mind his own business, but it is now commonly used to advocate respecting different cultures and being humane in general. Puto ("I consider") is not translated because it is meaningless outside of the line's context within the play.
homo unius libri (timeo) "(I fear) a man of one book" Attributed to Thomas Aquinas
hominem non morbum cura "Treat the Man, not the Disease" Motto of the Far Eastern University - Institute of Nursing
honor virtutis praemium "esteem is the reward of virtue" Motto of Arnold School, Blackpool, England
honoris causa "for the sake of honor" Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science honoris causa".
hora somni (h.s.) "at the hour of sleep" Medical shorthand for "at bedtime".
horas non numero nisi serenas "I do not count the hours unless they are sunny" A common inscription on sundials.
hortus in urbe "A garden in the city" Motto of the Chicago Park District, a playful allusion to the city's motto, urbs in horto, q.v.
horribile dictu "horrible to say" That is, "a horrible thing to relate". A pun on mirabile dictu.
hostis humani generis "enemy of the human race" Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general.
hypotheses non fingo "I do not fabricate hypotheses" From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert that any hypotheses are true".

[edit] I

Latin Translation Notes
ibidem (ibid.) "in the same place" Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to the last source previously referenced.
id est (i.e.) "that is" "That is (to say)", "in other words", or sometimes "in this case", depending on the context. Never equivalent to exempli gratia (e.g.).[1]

Id est, i.e., "that is", is commonly abbreviated "i.e."; in this usage it is sometimes followed by a comma, depending on style.[2]
idem (id.) "the same" Used to refer to something that has already been cited. See also ibidem.
idem quod (i.q.) "the same as" Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient.
Idus Martiae "the Ides of March" In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March refers to the 15th day of March. In modern times, the term is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, the story of which was famously retold in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.[1] The term has come to be used as a metaphor for impending doom.
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (INRI) "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" Based on the Bible. "This One is King of the Jews" was written in Latin, Greek and Aramaic at the top of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
igne natura renovatur integra "through fire, nature is reborn whole" An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate meaning for the acronym INRI.
igni ferroque "with fire and iron" A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also rendered as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.
ignis aurum probat "fire tests gold" A phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto of the Prometheus Society
ignis fatuus "foolish fire" Will o' the wisp.
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum "Therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war" Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Epitoma rei militaris (See also in this list Si vis pacem, para bellum)
Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat "ignorance of the law does not excuse" A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does not allow one to escape liability.
ignoratio elenchi "ignorance of the issue" The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't prove or support the proposition it claims to. An ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt to mislead or confuse the opposing party is known as a red herring. Elenchi is from the Greek elenchos.
ignotum per ignotius "unknown by means of the more unknown" An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained. Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.
ignotus (ign.) "unknown"
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Dog Latin)		 "Don't let the bastards grind you down" Mock Latin originating during World War II, used and known in many forms since then. Motto of General Joseph Stilwell.
imago Dei "image of God" From the religious concept that man was created in "God's image".
imitatio dei "imitation of a god" A principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).
imperium in imperio "an order within an order" 1. A group of people who owe utmost fealty to their leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger group to the authority of the internal group's leader(s).
2. A "fifth column" organization operating against the organization within which they seemingly reside.
imperium sine fine "an empire without an end" In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, neverending empire, the endless (sine fine) empire.
imprimatur "let it be printed" An authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).
in absentia "in the absence" Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.
in actu "in act" "In the very act/In reality".
in articulo mortis "at the point of death"
in camera "in the chamber" Figuratively, "in secret". See also camera obscura.
in casu "in the event" "In this case".
in cauda venenum "the poison is in the tail" Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said of an account that proceeds gently, but turns vicious towards the end — or more generally waits till the end to reveal an intention or statement that is undesirable in the listener's eyes.
in Deo speramus "in God we hope" Motto of Brown University.
in dubio pro reo "in doubt, on behalf of the [alleged] culprit" Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision must be in favor of the accused (in that anyone is innocent until there is proof to the contrary).
in duplo "in double" "In duplicate".
in effigie "in the likeness" "In (the form of) an image", "in effigy" as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in person".
in esse "in existence" In actual existence; as opposed to in posse.
in extenso "in the extended" "In full", "at full length", "completely", "unabridged".
in extremis "in the furthest reaches" In extremity; in dire straits. Also "at the point of death" (cf. in articulo mortis).
in fidem "into faith" To the verification of faith.
in fieri "in becoming" Thus, "pending".
in fine (i.f.) "in the end" At the end.

The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the end of page 157".
in flagrante delicto "in a blazing wrong", "while the crime is blazing" Equivalent to the English idiom "caught red-handed": caught in the act of committing a crime. Sometimes carried the connotation of being caught in a "compromising position".
in flore "in blossom" Blooming.
in foro "in forum" Legal term for "in court".
in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni "We enter the circle at night and are consumed by fire" A palindrome said to describe the behavior of moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.
in hoc signo vinces "by this sign you will conquer" Words Constantine claimed to have seen in a vision before the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
in hunc effectum "for this purpose" Describes a meeting called for a particular stated purpose only.
in illo tempore "in that time" "at that time", found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used to mark an undetermined time in the past.
in inceptum finis est "[roughly]the way you begin is how you will end"
in limine "at the outset" Preliminary, in law referring to a motion that is made to the judge before or during trial, often about the admissibility of evidence believed prejudicial
in loco "in the place" That is, "at the place".

The nearby labs were closed for the weekend, so the water samples were analyzed in loco.
in loco parentis "in the place of a parent" A legal term meaning "assuming parental (i.e., custodial) responsibility and authority". Primary and secondary teachers are typically bound by law to act in loco parentis.
in luce Tua videmus lucem "in Thy light we see light" Motto of Valparaiso University.
in lumine tuo videbimus lumen "in your light we will see the light" Motto of Columbia University and Ohio Wesleyan University.
in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum "into your hands I entrust my spirit" According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on the cross.
in medias res "into the middle of things" From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late point in, the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Lusíadas and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.
in memoriam "into the memory" Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring a deceased person.
in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas "in necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity" "Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed to Augustine of Hippo.
in nuce "in a nut" I.e. "in potentiality." Comparable to "potential", "to be developed".
In omnia paratus "Ready for anything." Motto of the so-called secret society of Yale in the television show Gilmore Girls.
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro "Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book" Quote by Thomas a Kempis.
in partibus infidelium "in the parts of the infidels" That is, "in the land of the infidels", infidels here referring to non-Christians. After Islam conquered a large part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as titular sees.
in pectore "in the heart" A Cardinal named in secret by the pope. See also ab imo pectore.
in personam "into a person" "Directed towards a particular person". In a lawsuit in which the case is against a specific individual, that person must be served with a summons and complaint to give the court jurisdiction to try the case. The court's judgment applies to that person and is called an "in personam judgment." In personam is distinguished from in rem, which applies to property or "all the world" instead of a specific person. This technical distinction is important to determine where to file a lawsuit and how to serve a defendant. In personam means that a judgment can be enforceable against the person, wherever he or she is. On the other hand, if the lawsuit is to determine title to property (in rem), then the action must be filed where the property exists and is only enforceable there.
in posse "in potential" In the state of being possible; as opposed to in esse.
in propria persona "in one's own person" "Personally", "in person".
In re "in the matter [of]" A legal term used to indicate that a judicial proceeding may not have formally designated adverse parties or is otherwise uncontested. The term is commonly used in case citations of probate proceedings, for example, In re Smith's Estate; it is also used in juvenile courts, as, for instance, In re Gault.
in rerum natura "in the nature of things" See also Lucretius' De Rerum Natura ("On the Nature of Things").
in retentis "among things held back" Used to describe documents kept separately from the regular records of a court for special reasons.
in saeculo "in the times" "In the secular world", that is, outside a monastery, or before death.
in salvo "in safety"
in silico
(Dog Latin)		 "in silicon" Coined in the early 1990s for scientific papers. Refers to an experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation. The term is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon is silicium, so the correct Latinization of "in silicon" would be in silicio, but this form has little usage.
in situ "in the place" In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement. In medical contexts, it implies that the condition is still in the same place and has not worsened, improved, spread, etc. In situ examinations of materials are performed under real conditions, e.g. a neutron diffraction study of a metal under thermo-mechanical conditions rather than post-mortem. In chemical contexts, in situ indicates that a reagent had been made in flask immediately prior to its use in the reaction.
In somnis veritas "In dreams there is truth"
In spe "in hope" "future" ("My mother-in-law in spe", i.e. "My future mother-in-law"), or "in embryonic form", as in "Locke's theory of government resembles, in spe, Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers."
In specialibus generalia quaerimus "To seek the general in the specifics" That is, to understand the most general rules through the most detailed analysis.
in statu nascendi "in the state of being born" Just as something is about to begin.
in toto "in all" "Totally", "entirely", "completely".
in triplo "in triple" "In triplicate".
in utero "in the womb"
in utrumque paratus "Prepared for either (event)" Motto of the McKenzie clan.
in vacuo "in a void" "In a vacuum". In isolation from other things.
in vino veritas "in wine [there is] truth" That is, wine loosens the tongue.

(Referring to alcohol's disinhibitory effects.)
In varietate concordia "United in diversity" The motto of the European Union and the Council of Europe
in vitro "in glass" An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-natural" setting (e.g., in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. The reference to glass is merely an historic one, as the current usage of this term is not specific to the materials involved, but rather to the "non-natural" setting employed. Alternative experimental or process methodologies would include in vitro, in silico, ex vivo and in vivo.

In vitro fertilization is not literally done "in glass", but rather is a technique to fertilize egg cells outside of a woman's body. By definition, it is thus an ex vivo process.
in vivo "in life" or "in a living thing" An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.
in vivo veritas "in a living thing [there is] truth" An expression used by biologists to express the fact that laboratory findings that do not include testing on an organism (in vitro) are not always reflected when applied to an organism (in vivo). A pun on in vino veritas.
incertae sedis "of uncertain position (seat)" A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.
incredibile dictu "incredible to say" A variant on mirabile dictu.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum "Index of Forbidden Books" A list of books considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter "indivisible and inseparable" Motto of Austria-Hungary prior to its separation into independent states in 1918.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum. "Infinite is the number of fools."
Infirma mundi elegit Deus "God chooses the weak of the world" The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which in now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
infra dignitatem (infra dig) "beneath one's dignity"
instante mense (inst.) "in the present month" Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month. Sometimes abbreviated as instant. Used with ult. ("last month") and prox. ("next month").

"Thank you for your letter of the 17th inst."
intaminatis fulget honoribus "Untarnished, she shines with honor" From Horace’s Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford College.
integer vitae scelerisque purus "unimpaired by life and clean of wickedness" From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.
inter alia (i.a.) "among other things" A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate that the minute quoted has been taken from a fuller record of other matters, or when alluding to the parent group after quoting a particular example.
inter alios "among others" Often used to compress lists of parties to legal documents.
inter arma enim silent leges "In the face of arms, the law falls mute," more popularly rendered as "In a time of war, the law falls silent." Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against unchecked political mobs that had virtually seized control of Rome in the '60s and '50s BC. Famously quoted in the essay "Resistance to Civil Government" by Henry David Thoreau as "The clatter of arms drowns out the voice of the law."
inter caetera "among others" Title of a papal bull.
inter spem et metum "between hope and fear"
inter vivos "between the living" Said of property transfers between living persons, as opposed to inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.
intra muros "within the walls" Thus, "not public". Source of the word intramural. See also Intramuros.
intra vires "within the powers" That is, "within the authority".
ipsa scientia potestas est "knowledge itself is power" Famous phrase written by Sir Francis Bacon in 1597.
ipse dixit "he himself said it" Commonly said in Medieval debates referring to Aristotle, who was considered the supreme authority on matters of philosophy. Used in general to emphasize that some assertion comes from some authority, i.e., as an appeal to authority, and the term ipsedixitism has come to mean any unsupported rhetorical assertion that lacks a logical argument. Originally coined by Cicero in his De Natura Deorum (I, 10) to describe the behavior of the students of Pythagoras.
ipsissima verba "the very words themselves" "Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim).
ipso facto "by the fact itself" Or "by that very fact".
Ira Deorum "Wrath of the Gods" Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the ancient Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum ("Peace of the Gods") instead of Ira Deorum ("Wrath of the Gods"): earthquakes, floods, famine, etc.
ita vero "thus indeed" A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes", preferring to respond to questions with the affirmative or negative of the question (i.e., "Are you hungry?" was answered by "I am hungry" or "I am not hungry", not "Yes" or "No").
ite missa est "Go, it is the dismissal" The final words of the Roman Missal, meaning "leave, the mass is finished".
Iter Legis "The path of the law" The path a law takes from its conception to its implementation.
Iugulare mortuos "to cut the throat of corpses" From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466-1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). It can mean attacking the work or personality of deceased person. Alternatively, it can be used to describe criticism of an individual already heavily criticised by others.
iura novit curia "the court knows the laws" A legal principle in civil law countries of the Roman-German tradition (e.g., in Spain,Germany, Italy and Brazil) that says that lawyers need not to argue the law, as that is the office of the court. Sometimes miswritten as iura novat curia ("the court renews the laws").
iuventuti nil arduum "to the young nothing is difficult" Motto of Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
Latin Translation Notes
Iohannes est nomen eius "John is its name / Juan es su Nombre" Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
iuris ignorantia est cum ius nostrum ignoramus "it is ignorance of the law when we do not know our own rights"
ius accrescendi "right of accrual" Commonly referred to as "right of survivorship": a rule in property law that surviving joint tenants have rights in equal shares to a decedent's property.
ius ad bellum "law towards war" Refers to the "laws" that regulate the reasons for going to war. Typically, this would address issues of self-defense or preemptive strikes.
ius cogens "compelling law" Refers to a fundamental principle of international law considered to have acceptance among the international community of states as a whole. Typically, this would address issues not listed or defined by any authoritative body, but arise out of case law and changing social and political attitudes. Generally included are prohibitions on waging aggressive war, crimes against humanity, war crimes, piracy, genocide, slavery, and torture.
ius in bello "law in war" Refers to the "laws" that regulate the conduct of combatants during a conflict. Typically, this would address issues of who or what is a valid target, how to treat prisoners, and what sorts of weapons can be used. The word jus is also commonly spelled ius.
ius primae noctis "law of the first night" The droit de seigneur.
iustitia omnibus "justice for all" Motto of the District of Columbia.
iuventitus veho fortunas "I bear the fortunes of youth" Motto of Dollar Academy.

[edit] L

Latin Translation Notes
Labor omnia vincit "Hardwork conquers all" State motto of Oklahoma. Motto of The Potomac School, McLean, Virginia. Town motto of West Bromwich, England. Motto of the City of Bradford, England and although not commonly used today it can still be seen on many Victorian buildings in Bradford such as parts of the Esholt Sewage treatment facility. Motto of Cheltenham College, England, and of Strathallan School, Scotland. Motto of Instituto Nacional, leading Chilean high school. Motto of Luton Borough Football Club, England. Derived from a phrase in Virgil's 10th Eclogue.
Laborare pugnare parati sumus "To work, (or) to fight; we are ready" Motto of the California Maritime Academy
Laboremus pro patria "Let us work for the fatherland" Motto of the Carlsberg breweries
Laboris gloria Ludi "Work hard, Play hard" Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK
lapsus linguae "slip of the tongue" A "proglossis", "tip of the tongue" or "apex of the tongue". Often used to mean "linguistic error" or "language mistake". It and its written-word variant, lapsus calami ("slip of the pen") can sometimes refers to a typographical error as well.

Ex.: "I'm sorry for mispronouncing your name. It wasn't intentional; it was a lapsus linguae".
lapsus memoriae "slip of memory" Source of the term memory lapse.
Laudator Temporis Acti "praiser of time past" One who is discontent with the present but instead prefers things of the past. See "the Good old days".
Laudetur Jesus Christus "Praise (Be) Jesus Christ" Often used as a salutation, but also used after prayers or the reading of the gospel.
laus Deo "praise be to God" This is written on the East side at the peak of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
lectori salutem "greetings reader" Often abbreviated to L.S., used as opening words for a letter.
lege artis "according to the law of the art" Describes something genuine, true, real, tested, proven, not assumed, not placebo. Used especially in a medical context. The 'art' referred to in the phrase is medicine.
legem terrae "the law of the land"
leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, et moriuntur "laws of man are born, live and die"
leges sine moribus vanae "laws without morals [are] vain" From Horace's Odes: the official motto of the University of Pennsylvania.
legitime "lawfully" A legal term describing a "forced share", the portion of a deceased person's estate from which the immediate family cannot be disinherited. From the French héritier legitime ("rightful heir").
lex artis "law of the skill" The rules that regulate a professional duty.
lex dei vitae lampas "the law of God is the lamp of life" Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
lex ferenda "the law that should be borne" The law as it ought to be.
lex hac edictali "the law here proclaims" The rule whereby a spouse cannot by deed inter vivos or bequeath by testament to his or her second spouse more than the amount of the smallest portion given or bequeathed to any child.
lex lata "the law that has been borne" The law as it is.
lex loci "law of the place"
lex non scripta "law that has not been written" Unwritten law, or common law.
lex parsimoniae "law of succinctness" also known as Ockhams Razor.
lex rex "the law [is] king" A principle of government advocating a rule by law rather than by men. The phrase originated as a double entendre in the title of Samuel Rutherford's controversial book Lex, Rex (1644), which espoused a theory of limited government and constitutionalism.
lex scripta "written law" Statute law. Contrasted with lex non scripta.
lex talionis "the law of retaliation" Retributive justice (cf. an eye for an eye).
libera te me ex inferis "free me from hell" Used in a Hellsystem album cover from 2005. A similar sentence (Liberate tutemet ex inferis, Save yourself from hell) used in the movie "Event Horizon".
libera te tutemet (ex inferis) "Free yourself (from hell)" Used in the movie Event Horizon (1997), where it is translated as "save yourself (from hell)". It is initially misheard as liberate me ("free me"), but is later corrected. Libera te is often mistakenly merged into liberate, which would necessitate a plural pronoun instead of the singular tutemet (which is an emphatic form of tu, "you").
Libertas Justitia Veritas "Liberty Justice Truth" Motto of the Korea University.
Libertas Quae Sera Tamen "freedom which [is] however late" Thus, "liberty even when it comes late". Motto of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
libra (lb) "scales" Literally "balance". Its abbreviation, lb, is used as a unit of weight, the pound.
loco citato (lc) "in the place cited" More fully written in loco citato. See also opere citato.
locus classicus "a classic place" A quotation from a classical text used as an example of something.
locus deperditus "place of (irremediable) loss" Used in philology to indicate that subsequent mistakes in the tradition of the text have made a passage as corrupted as to discourage any attempt of correction. The passage is marked by a crux desperationis. Somehow close in meaning to the modern English expression lost in translation.
locus minoris resistentiae "place of less resistance" A medical term to describe a location on or in a body that offers little resistance to infection, damage, or injury. For example, a weakened place that tends to be reinjured.
lorem ipsum — A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum ("On the Limits of Good and Evil", 45 BC), used as typographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a. greeking). An approximate literal translation of lorem ipsum might be "sorrow itself", as the term is from dolorum ipsum quia, meaning "sorrow because of itself", or less literally, "pain for its own sake".
luceat lux vestra "Let your light shine" May be found in Matthew Ch. 5 V. 16. Popular as a school motto.
lucem sequimur "We follow the light" Motto of the University of Exeter, United Kingdom
luctor et emergo "I struggle and emerge" Motto of both the Dutch province of Zeeland to denote its battle against the sea, and the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan.

lucus a non lucendo "[it is] a grove by not being light" From late 4th-century grammarian Honoratus Maurus, who sought to mock implausible word origins such as those proposed by Priscian. A pun based on the word lucus ("dark grove") having a similar appearance to the verb lucere ("to shine"), arguing that the former word is derived from the latter word because of a lack of light in wooded groves. Often used as an example of absurd etymology.
lupus in fabula "the wolf in the story" With the meaning "speak of the wolf, and he will come". Occurs in Terence's play Adelphoe.
lupus non mordet lupum "a wolf does not bite a wolf"
lux et lex "light and law" Motto of the liberal arts school, Franklin & Marshall College. Light in reference to Benjamin Franklin's many innovations and discoveries. Law in reference to John Marshall as one of the most notable Supreme Court Justices.
lux et veritas "light and truth" A translation of the Hebrew Urim and Thummim. Motto of Yale University and Indiana University. An expanded form, lux et veritas floreant ("let light and truth flourish"), is the motto of the University of Winnipeg
lux hominum vita "life the light of men"
lux in Domino "light in the Lord" Motto of the Ateneo de Manila University
lux libertas "light, liberty" Motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
lux mentis lux orbis "Light of the mind, light of the world" Motto of Sonoma State University
lux sit "let there be light" A more literal Latinization of the phrase "let there be light", the most common translation of fiat lux ("let light arise", literally "let light be made"), which in turn is the Latin Vulgate Bible phrase chosen for the Genesis line "ג וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר" ("And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light"). Motto of the University of Washington.
lux tua nos ducat "Your Light Guides us" Motto of St. Julian's School [3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  Exempli gratia (e.g.) and id est (i.e.) are commonly confused and misused in colloquial English. The former, exempli gratia, means "for example", and is used before giving examples of something ("I have lots of favorite colors, e.g., blue, green, and hot pink"). The latter, id est, means "that is", and is used before clarifying the meaning of something, when elaborating, specifying, or explaining rather than when giving examples ("I have lots of favorite colors, i.e., I can't decide on just one").
  2. ^  American style guides tend to recommend that "e.g." and "i.e." should generally be followed by a comma, just as "for example" and "that is" would be; UK style tends to omit the comma. See Dictionary.com and their discussion of commas for more information. Search "comma after i.e." for other opinions.

Technical style guides generally recommend the use of the phrase "for example" instead of e.g., and "that is," instead of i.e. The substitution of the English equivalent for the Latin is made in the interest of Clarity, one of the guiding principles of good technical writing.

[edit] References

  1. ^ William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene II
v • d • e
Latin phrases
Latin phrases
A-B · C-E · F-L · M-O · P-R · S-Z · Full list
Others