English has recived many words and phrases from Latin – especially in the medical and legal fields. From time to time we all hear these terms but often don’t know what they mean. This is a list of 30 latin terms that are still in use in English and their meanings.
Terms starting A – D
A Fortiori: Denotes a proof of a claim by means of an already proven stronger claim. Example: If it is forbidden to ride a bike with an extra passenger, then it is also forbidden to ride a bike with two extra passengers.
Ad Hoc: Generally signifies a solution that has been custom designed for a specific problem, is non-generalizable, and cannot be adapted to other purposes. Examples include a tailor-made suit, a handcrafted network protocol or a purpose-specific equation.
Ad Hominem: An ad hominem argument consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. It is most commonly used to refer specifically to the ad hominem abusive, or argumentum ad personam, which consists of criticizing or personally attacking an argument’s proponent in an attempt to discredit that argument.
Ad Infinitum: To continue forever, ie, towards infinity.
Bona Fide: Good faith. This is the mental and moral state of honesty, conviction as to the truth or falsehood of a proposition or body of opinion.
Casus Belli: Case or incident of war. Often misspelt as causus belli and believed to mean “cause of war.” This is not correct.
Caveat Emptor: Let the buy beware. Generally caveat emptor is the property law doctrine that controls the sale of real property after the date of closing.
Corpus Delecti: Body of crime. This refers to the principle that it must be proven that a crime has occurred before a person can be convicted of committing the crime. For example, a person cannot be tried for larceny unless it can be proven that property has been stolen. (Remember the top 10 tips for committing the perfect crime? Keep this in mind).
De Facto: De facto is a Latin expression that means “in fact” or “in practice” but not spelled out by law. For example, de facto marriage, or a de facto standard (a standard generally accepted but not formalized).
De Jure: The opposite of de facto.
Dictum: In common law legal terminology a dictum (plural dicta) is any statement that forms a part of the judgment of a court, in particular a court whose decisions have value as precedent.
Terms starting E – O
Ergo: Therefore. For example, “Cogito, ergo sum.” – I think, therefore I am. (Descartes, though originally in French: “Je pense, donc je suis.”)
Ex Officio: By virtue of office or position; “by right of office”. Often used when someone holds one position by virtue of holding another. A common misconception is that ex officio members of a committee/congress may not vote, but this is not guaranteed by that title.
Flagrante Delicto: A legal term used to indicate that a criminal has been caught in the act of committing an offense (compare corpus delicti). The colloquial “caught red-handed” or “caught in the act” are English equivalents.
Habeas Corpus: This is the name of a legal action through which a person can seek relief from unlawful detention of themselves or another person. The writ of habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action.
Ibid.: This is the term (short for Ibidem) used to provide an endnote or footnote citation or reference for a source that was cited in the preceding endnote or footnote. To find the ibid. source, one has to look at the reference right before it, and so ibid. serves a similar purpose to ditto marks (〃).
Ipso Facto: This is directly translated as “by the fact itself”, which means that a certain effect is a direct consequence of the action in question, instead of being brought about by a subsequent action such as the verdict of a tribunal.
Lingua Franca: A lingua franca is any language widely used beyond the population of its native speakers. The de facto status of lingua franca is usually “awarded” by the masses to the language of the most influential nation(s) of the time. English is the current lingua franca of international business, science, and aviation, and has displaced French as the lingua franca of diplomacy since World War I. One could also say it is the lingua franca of the Internet.
Magnum Opus: This refers to the best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer, and most commonly one who has contributed a very large amount of material. For example, you might say that Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is his magnum opus.
Non Sequitur: It does not follow. This logic term refers to a conclusion which does not follow from its premise. For example:
2. B is stated to be true.
3. Therefore, A must be true.
Obiter Dictum: “Said by the way”, is a remark or observation made by a judge that, although included in the body of the court’s opinion, does not form a necessary part of the court’s decision.
Terms starting P – V
Per Diem: “Per day,” meaning specific amount of money an organization allows an individual to spend per day. Typically, though not exclusively, this is to cover travel and subsistence expenses.
Post Mortem: “After death” – an autopsy.
Prima Facie: “On its first appearance”, or “by first instance”. It is used in modern legal English to signify that on first examination, a matter appears to be self-evident from the facts.
Primogeniture: Primogeniture is the common law right of the first born son to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings. It is the tradition of inheritance by the first-born of the entirety of a parent’s wealth, estate or office; or in the absence of children, by collateral relatives, in order of seniority of the collateral line.
Pro Bono: Pro bono is a phrase derived from Latin meaning “for the public good.” The term is sometimes used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment, as a public service.
Quasi: In some manner or to some degree. Similar to the prefix ‘semi’.
Sine Qua Non: “Without which it could not be” (“but for”). It refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient. In recent times it has passed from a merely legal usage to a more general usage in many languages.
Subpoena: A subpoena is “a command to appear at a certain time and place to give testimony upon a certain matter.”
Vice Versa: “The other way around.” Vice is most commonly pronounced with one syllable, but in Classical Latin it is pronounced “Wee-kay wehr-suh” and in Ecclesiastical Latin “Vee-chay vehr-suh”.
Sources: Wikipedia
cool list!
Habeas Corpus has certainly been a major topic here recently…unfortunately.
Cyn: I came very close to mentioning the recent issues over Habeas Corpus but thought it might date the article if I did
er..i don’t date ‘articles’. *grin*
but yeah..problem is its set legal precedent so no matter what the current situation might be…its on the books forever. unfortunately it will stay relevant. *sigh*
Cyn: I am thinking of the far future when America gets it back
(was that controversial?)
what is not controversial about American politics? *sigh*
oooh..list suggestion: top 10 countries w/ actually equitable forms of government that preserve personal liberties and take care of their poor, sick , disabled and less fortunate. that do not squander their riches on war and mess w/ other countries. uh..that too slanted? /sarcasm
Another good one :
Nemo me impune lacessit
translation ; “This is Glasgow, we’ll set aboot ye”
In the paris metro, they have these signs beside the emergency button on the trains,( it cuts the power of the whole line…)
Tout Abus Sera Puni.
I always thought it was latin, as a kid. I was well impressed with French educational standards.
Then I learnt French. :+)
Cyn – haha – it doesn’t exist!
che: love the Paris metro one – it really shows the origins of the language.
Cyn: If you can conjur a list of the top ten out of a whole lot of nothing to choose from, then I think you should be elected a world leader for sheer ingenuity and the ability to see the good in everything, be they toxic waste dumps or homicidal maniacs. Then again, we already have world leaders that can fabricate a good-looking but wholly untruthful official document or two, don’t we? *smiles*
jfrater: I’m really surprised “et cetera” isn’t on here. That’s perhaps the most often used latin phrase, right? Sweet list though. I’m going to have to start using some of these.
Cyn: How about Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and ummm New Zealand?
Anno Domini (A.D.) is one that alot people I run into don’t know. Most of them believe it means “after death”, instead “In the year of our Lord”. I always use Braveheart as an example of what it actually means.
wowzer..*sigh*
JT..actually have a coupla cyber pals who live in the Scandinavian region. that area seems to rank high in those ‘best countries’ lists all the time…lifestyle, environment..etc. *snicker* i used etc.
if i had the means to do so…i’d like to try life ‘across the pond’. haven’t done much traveling in years but i did live in Rome, Italy for a summer as an art history student…i was a mere babe then..*grin* learned then ..sometimes the only way you get to know your own country is to live in another. as much as i bash my own country …i am truly grateful that i can do just that..bash it! lotsa folks all over the world would be in prison or dead for some of the things i’ve said w/out repercussion…granted *sigh* that too might be changing here.
These are very interesting, as the lists always are. I think a pronunciation guide might be a helpful addition. I’m sure many readers have not actually heard all of these terms before, even if they’ve seen them in writing.
excellent suggestion Mathilda…one step further…audio?
Proverbs.BestLatin.audio
quick Google found this site. quick listen to first audio…she sounds like a phone ***** operator, very *****y voice. who knew ancient Latin was so hot! LOL (yes, i’m straight but….)
I left of et cetera and Anno Domini because I presumed everyone would know those two – perhaps not
Anyone that has worked with mathematic proofs have likely seen QED or “quod erat demonstrandum” which means “which was to be demonstrated.” This is used pretty much to say, I proved what I set out to prove.
You left off “quid pro quo” and should definitely add “et cetera”, “anno domini”, “exempli gratia”, and “id est”
It all makes sense now. Ha ha. Although, I always did wonder what Bona Fide actually meant, so thank you!
I know my dad is very into Latin sayings, such as ‘de gustibus nil disputandum’ which is a favourite of his. I think he went to a school where it was compulsory to learn, and doesn’t he remind us….
I was hoping you would explain the “Latin terms” mentioned by the Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont in the movie Dangerous Liaisons.
I was also hoping to find quid pro quo and et cetera here.But u’ve helped clear up lots of other terms,thanx
Carpe Diem??? sieze the day!!
The works of philosophy by Kant and Hegel contain many Latin terms ; [a priori] , [caput mortuum] , to name just two that I have had difficulty tracking down .
Enjoyed this list
. One Latin term that puzzled me for a while when I was reading an old book (in a previous life as an assistant curator I spent a lot of time reading ancient books in the museum’s basebent hehe) was ‘Vide supra.’ I worked it out eventually… it was a bit disappointing, ‘see above.’
This is a good list. I use “Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini” as my email signature. Anyone know what it says?
“Blessed who comes in the name of the Lord”?
i need latin word to represent a Computer Department Association…the word should be unique.
Ad Libitum (Ad lib)
Towards pleasure or “according to what pleases” or “as you wish”. Said in music or theater where the artist is at liberty to change or omit something. The artist can improvise or igonore limitations.
Alias – otherwise
Alibi – elsewhere
Disce aut discede – Learn or Depart (Go home) ! ! !
I’m no English major, but I thought the list a bit short too (q.v. Midian, et al.). I understand that it’s meant to be a primer–i.e., it must be kept short and basic. But it could’ve been noted that contemporary English does use a wider range of Latin phrases, or their abbreviations, than was listed (e.g., “q.v.”, “a.m.”/”p.m.”, and “p.s.”).
This list might’ve even helped to rectify one of the worst abuses in usage, viz. “i.e” vs. “e.g.”.
I’m just saying.
This list should show how to pronounce the words.
Corpus delecti?
It’s “corpus delicti”.
ok i already new quite a few although i do love the latin language. My favourite latin phrase is veni vedi vici meaning i came, i saw, i conquered
You gave the definition of the word but didn’t explain ‘Subpoena’ literally means ‘under penalty’.
Although I never learned Latin it’s funny to see how simmilar it is to my own language (also Latin-based) and how close it still is to modern Italian.
Typo — change to "buyer" in:
"Caveat Emptor: Let the buy beware."
I just want to add some Latin words such Carpe diem which means urging one to enjoy life while it lasts.Sine qua the opposite of sine qua non which means dispensable.Finally,Gratis which means free of charge.I was really enlightened when I read through the list.Kudos to the originator(s).Cheerio.
Well there are latin terms that they did not mention like the meaning of gangstalker is there a latin word for society ender that is what a gangstalker is!Gangstalkers should have a another latin term like drinkers of blood or paid liars ,murderers ,did i leave any descriptions out?; oh yes gangstalkers should have a latin term applied to them that pays attention to their dark criminal minds like A latin term that would instantly focous a person to their -the gangstalkers dangerous mental and physical psychotic nature !!
i m adding this to my bookmarks!! this is priceless!
I appreciate, lead to I found exactly what I used to be looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye