List of Latin terms, phrases, and expressions
Latin terms in the English language - technical, legal, popular, fascinating
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| Latin term | literal translation | meaning in use |
| ad hoc | to/for this | improvised/devised/applied spontaneously or purely for the purpose ('just for this') |
| alibi | elsewhere | a submission or claim, typically supported by proof/evidence, that an accused person was at a different place from the scene and time of a crime |
| alma mater | nourishing mother | one's college or university |
| alumnus | nursling/foster child | graduate or student of educational institution (alumna, alumni, alumnae are respectively female, plural and female plural) |
| apex | summit, crown | peak, top, pinnacle |
| appendix | supplement | supplement (extra document/body of text/information) - separately in anatomy an obsolete sac in humans connecting to large intestine - from appendere, 'hang upon' |
| aqua vitae | water of life | (metaphorical reference to) a local/national/special drink - (used variously to refer to different drinks, typically local or national or particularly enjoyed from the speaker's view, commonly for example: wine, whisky/whiskey, brandy, ale, etc |
| carpe diem | seize the day | enjoy the opportunity/make the most of the chance - (the full quote is 'carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero' = 'enjoy today, trusting little in tomorrow' - from Horace's Odes) |
| causa sine qua non | a cause without which not | a necessary condition |
| caveat | let one beware | a stipulation, condition, warning, exclusion, limit, etc - typically in formal contracts, also in verbal agreements |
| caveat emptor | let the buyer beware | buyer beware/responsibility is with buyer |
| caveat venditor | let the seller beware | seller beware/responsibility is with seller |
| corrigenda | items to be corrected | (draws attention to) corrections required in a manuscript before publishing |
| curriculum vitae | the course of (one's) life | a resume or job/personal history/(commonly abbreviated to CV) |
| de facto | of fact | in reality/in practice (especially contrasted with something which exists in in a lesser way theory or in law, see de jure/iure) |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | for the sake of example | for example, or for instance |
| etc (et cetera) | and the rest | and so on - typically replacing potentially additional items in a listing of similar factors |
| exempli gratia (e.g.) | for the sake of example | for example, or for instance |
| ex facie | from the face | a legal term used typically when referring to an obviously unreliable document - the term in this context equates to 'obviously' or 'needing no further examination' |
| ex gratia | out of goodness | payment or reward given freely without obligation |
| exit | he/she goes out | a single actor leaves the stage |
| in futuro | in future | in the future |
| in illo ordine (i.o.) | in that order | respectively |
| in limine | on the threshold | about to happen |
| in loco parentis | in place of a parent | guardianship or responsibility for a minor |
| in media res | into the middle of things | introductory statement before telling a story, or a the start of a play |
| in memoriam | in memory | in the memory of - (typically an inscription on a memorial stone or other material) |
| in ovo | in the egg | immature, undeveloped |
| in pectore | in the breast | in secret |
| in perpetuum | for ever | forever |
| in pleno | in full | in full, complete (typically referring to a payment) |
| in posse | potentially | potentially - contrasting with 'in esse' |
| in propria persona | in person | in person, personally |
| in re (re) | in the matter of | regarding - alternatively and more technically in legal matters (the full form 'in re') means that a case is uncontested |
| in saecula saeculorum | for ages of ages | for ever and ever |
| in se | in itself | in itself (an alternative to 'per se' - by itself) |
| in situ | in place | in its natural location (contrasting with 'in vitro' - in glass [a glass test-tube]) |
| instante mense (inst.) | in the present month | (substitute term for whatever the current month is - (for example "...your letter of 5th inst. refers...) - ult = last (month); prox = next (month) |
| in statu quo | in the state in which | (slightly different to 'status quo' - in statu quo refers to a situation at a specified time, relative to a subsequent or prior different situation, rather like saying 'in statu quo [the situation/condition/state] in the 1970s...' or 'in statu quo [the situation/condition/state] before the business was floated...' ) |
| inter alia | among other things | among other things, included in other considerations |
| inter alios | among other people | among other people, included within a wider groups of people |
| inter nos | between us | between us, among ourselves, between ourselves |
| inter pares | between equals | between our peer group (of a discussion or circulated notes) |
| inter se | between themselves | between them, among themselves |
| inter vivos | between the living | (for example referring to transfer of property) between two living people, (as distinct from a transfer following someone's death) |
| in toto | in total | completely, wholly, fully, altogether |
| in vino veritas | in wine the truth | people speak freely when under the influence of alcohol, alcohol/wine loosens the tongue |
| in vitro | in glass | in a test-tube, (developed) in a laboratory or artificial environment - contrasting with 'in situ' |
| in vivo | in life | (developed/experimented) in a living thing/organism - contrasting with 'in vitro' |
| ipsissima verba | the exact words | verbatim - word for word - (referring to quoted remarks) |
| ipso facto | by that fact | as a direct immediate consequence of that fact/act |
| justitia omnibus | justice for all | justice to all, be fair to everyone |
| lapsus linguae | error of tongue | slip of the tongue, verbal mistake |
| lapsus memoriae | error of memory | mistaken memory, faulty recollection, remembered wrong |
| lex loci | law of the place | law of the land, local jurisdiction |
| lex non scripta | law not written | unwritten law, common law |
| lex scripta | law written | formal written statute |
| libra (lb and £) | balance, set of scales, pound | the origin of the £ pound sterling symbol and pound weight (lb) symbol - libra, meaning a set of weighing scales, (which separately became a sign of the Zodiac) meant a pound in weight, and (via late Middle Ages English) a pound in money (weight and money were directly related), being the origin of the traditional pre-decimalisation 'L' denoting the £ pound-sign in LSD (pounds shillings pence) - the S and D symbols were also derived from ancient Latin money terms - 'solidus nummus' and 'denarius' - separately libra means book (hence 'library') |
| licet | it is allowed | it is allowed/permitted/licensed |
| lis sub judice/iudice (sub judice) | lawsuit before the judge | case not yet decided |
| loco citato (loc. cit.) | place cited (work) | in the work/place/source previously referenced - (a referencing note used by scholars/writers/academics, to avoid repeating entire sources) |
| locum tenens (locum) | place holding (person) | deputy, substitute, temporary replacement (for example of a doctor) |
| locus classicus | place classic (work) | authoritative work/source/extract/text, the generally most highly regarded source (a referencing note referring to a work considered highly authoritative) |
| locus delecti | place (of) crime | scene of the crime, crime scene |
| locus in quo | place in which | place in question (where the incident in question happened) |
| loquitur (loq.) | he/she speaks | (script note that) a person speaks - (a dramatic/stage direction) |
| lucri causa | gain cause | for the sake of (monetary) reward/gain/enrichment - in hope of financial reward - 'profit driven' - motivated by money |
| magister artium (M.A.) | master of arts | Master of Arts - university degree - also abbreviated reversed, AM |
| magna cum laude | with great praise | second honors/honours university degree (see cum laude) |
| magnum opus | great work | the/a major work of a creative (writer, composer, etc) |
| major | great | great, significant - major/maior is the Latin comparative of magnus, great |
| mala fide | bad faith | in bad faith - fraudulent - (contrasting with 'bona fide') |
| male captus, bene detentus | wrongly captured, properly detained | (controversial legal principle asserting that) improper arrest should not prevent proper detention and trial - (the principle is not universally enforceable) |
| malesuada fames | persuaded to evil by hunger | crime (that is) produced by hunger - (see Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) |
| malo animo | with evil intent | equating and evolving to the legal phrase 'with malice aforethought' |
| malum in se / malum prohibitum | wrong in itself / wrong according to law | (legal terms differentiating that something is) inherently wrong / wrong in law - (for example an ambulance which jumps a red light en route to an accident is committing an offence which is 'malum prohibitum', but not 'malum in se') |
| mandamus | we command | (a legal writ) instruction from a higher court to a lower court |
| manu propria (m.p.) | (signed) by own hand | (old rare term indicating that a signature was made) by the signatory's own hand - (where a signature is missing, or a printed document contains a copy of a signature) |
| mea culpa | by my fault | I am responsible for the problem - acknowledgment of guilt or blame |
| media | middle (plural) | media now means various things in English, notably the news and information industries ('mass media'), and ways or materials for communicating in the broadest sense - the origin is Latin, from the singular word medium, meaning middle, which caused the word to evolve in English to refer to an agency or means of doing something (the sense of a body or mechanism between two parties, acting as a tool, enabler, conduit, translator, communicator) |
| medicinae doctor (M.D.) | doctor of medicine | designation of a university degree and doctor of medicine, a general practitioner (GP) |
| membrum virile | member male (reproductive organ) | polite term for penis |
| memo (memorandum est) | it must be remembered (that..) | a written/audio or other note - (to self or more commonly others in a work group) - a 'memo' was the pre-internet age standard quick recorded paper communication between work people, typically from a manager to subordinates, or fellow-managers or superior staff - before desktop computers, memos were typically hand-written or dictated by managers and typed and copied using carbon paper (pre-1970s), later photocopiers (pre-1990s), by typists/secretaries - these intensive production methods ensured that old-style paper memos were generated and circulated in relatively tiny volumes compared to the billions of modern emails |
| mens sana in corpore sano | sound mind, sound body | sound in mind and body |
| mirabile dictu/visu | wonderful to relate/see | amazingly (to tell/see) |
| mobile vulgus | movable public | fickle group/people/crowd (referring to the whimsical changing nature and opinions/reactions of the general public or an audience - this is the derivation of the word 'mob') |
| modus operandi | way of working | method or process for a task or activity/service |
| modus vivendi | way of living | arrangement between people of differing needs, notably when living or working together, a compromise enabling cooperation |
| mox nox in rem | soon night (so), to business/work | do it, get it done, act now, 'JFDI' |
| multum in parvo | much in little | many good things in something small - (a general term for something compact or small which has extensive great qualities) |
| M M (mutatis mutandis) | changed as had to be changed | altered accordingly - (for example referring to changes having been made that were required to meet new circumstances or law) |
| nemine contradicente ('nem con') | no one contradicting | unanimously - 'nem con' is a commonly used term in meetings containing votes, where the motion or decision is agreed/passed with no objection (a less common term is 'nemine dissentiente', no one dissenting) |
| ne plus ultra | no more beyond | perfection, (at/to) the limit |
| ne quid mimis | nothing in excess | nothing to excess |
| nihil obstat | nothing is an obstacle | no obstacle, no objection, nothing wrong (so proceed, permit, licence, etc) |
| nil carborundum | This is false Latin, originating in the British army as a comment on authority/commanders, taken to mean 'Don't let the bastards grind you down', however it is not real Latin. The expression is structured on the basis of the famous quote from Horace's 'Odes', I:vii:27 'Nil desperandum Teucro duce' - 'Do not despair with Teucer as your leader' - there are variations of the expression; all are false Latin) | |
| nil per os / non per os (n.p.o.) | nothing by mouth | (medical term) - 'nil by mouth' - no food/drink/anything for this patient to be consumed by mouth |
| nolens volens | unwilling willing | whether willing or not |
| non compos mentis | not of sound mind | not in possession of full mental powers, mentally unstable/unreliable, (less formally) not thinking straight, contrasting logically with 'compos mentis' |
| non liquet | (it is) not proven | legal term meaning that a judgment is not possible due to legal ambiguity or inadequacy - also interpreted to mean 'not clear' and 'not evident' |
| non obstante | notwithstanding | notwithstanding, nevertheless, in spite of |
| non prosequitur | he does not proceed | judgment in favour/favor of a defendant when the plaintiff fails to act within a legal time limit |
| non sequitur | it does not follow | a statement/conclusion which is not actually proven or demonstrated by the preceding evidence/argument/justification - an inadequately supported claim |
| nota bene (N.B.) | note well | note well, take note, attention - (introducing and emphasizing what follows) |
| nudum pactum | a nude pact | invalid agreement - (legal term for a contract made with insufficient financial or other consideration, so making it non-binding and unenforceable) |
| nunc pro tunc | now for then | retrospective, back-dated, retroactive (referring to the effective date or application of an agreement or contract or award, etc) |
| obiter dictum/dicta | incidental remark/remarks | an incidental/aside remark by a judge having no effect on the matter in hand, but which may influence future related issues |
| oculus dexter (O.D.) / oculus sinister (O.S.) | right eye / left eye | abbreviations used by Ophthalmology (medical attention for eyes) |
| olet lucernam | (it) smells of the lamp | a negative assessment of a creative work for having taken too long to produce, or being over-worked (the metaphor referring to working late through the night and 'burning the midnight lamp') |
| omnia vincit amor | love conquers all | love conquers everything |
| onus probandi | the burden of proving | the burden of proof |
| opere citato (op. cit.) | in the work cited | referencing term used where a work has previously been referenced, so avoiding the need for repeating the entire reference source |
| opus magnum | a great work | reverse version of 'magnum opus' |
| pace tua (pace) | by your leave | with respect to (... other[s] with an opinion that the speaker is about to criticize/contradict) - with your permission |
| pari passu | (at) equal pace | referring to two or more tasks conducted in the same timescales |
| pari ratione | for like reason | (and so for) the previous/same reason given... (some sort of action or decision is taken) |
| particeps criminis | partner (in) crime | accomplice (in a criminal act) |
| pass. (passim) | throughout | throughout |
| paucis verbis | (in) few words | briefly |
| pax vobiscum | peace be with you | peace be with you |
| pendente lite | (while the) legal case is pending | the case is undecided (so comment is not possible) |
| per annum | by the year | annually, (rate) for a year |
| per capita | by the head | for each person, individually |
| per centum (percent) | by the hundred | rate for a hundred |
| per contra | for the opposite | on the other hand, conversely, |
| per diem | by each day | daily, day-rate |
| per mensem | by each month | monthly |
| per procurationem (P.P. or per pro) | to take care of | P.P. denotes that a signature in a document, usually at the end of a letter, is that of an assistant or secretary, on behalf of the writer/sender of the letter - (precise position of usage varies, either before the assistant's signature, or before the name of the official signatory/writer) |
| per se | by itself | intrinsically, exclusively, specifically |
| persona grata | person pleasing | welcome guest, approved individual |
| persona non grata | person not pleasing | unwelcome guest, barred/banned individual |
| placet | (it) pleases | yes, approved, agreed |
| plebeius (plebs) | the common people | (insulting term for) the lower classes (implying a lack of taste, intelligence, breeding, refinement, etc) |
| posse comitatus (posse) | power of a county | a posse, group of volunteers - (this is the derivation of the word 'posse' - originally a group of men, over age fifteen, assembled from a county, for a lawful purpose - 'posse' was literally 'be able'; comitatus was county) |
| post cibum (p.c.) | after food | (medical term/instruction) - after eating |
| post hoc, ergo propter hoc | after this, therefore (it is assumed) because of this | (acknowledgment of) the potentially flawed logic in assuming a causal link between a situation/event and one which follows it (usually in the absence of any better information) |
| post meridiem (pm) | after noon | afternoon, evening (see 'ante meridiem', [am]) |
| post mortem | after death | autopsy, examination of corpse to determine case of death |
| post mortem auctoris (p.m.a.) | after the death of the author | legal term typically used in connection with intellectual property rights - (for example copyright generally expires a given period after the creator's death) |
| post script (PS) | after writing | a footnote written after the preceding message but before sending, PS |
| prima facie | at first sight | at first appearing, on initial evidence - (a legal term referring to initial yet potentially or arguably sufficient evidence) |
| pro bono publico (pro bono) | for the public good | for the public good |
| pro forma | for form (formality) | as a matter of formality, a standard document - (originally in law a formal process which did not necessarily serve practical purpose, and this sense evolved top extend to documents, and then to standard documentation) |
| pro parte | in part | (typically referring to) part of (a group) |
| pro rata/rate | by rate | proportionately, in proportion - (in the same ratio, whether less or more) |
| pro se | for oneself | to defend oneself in court without formal legal representation - alternatively 'pro per' |
| pro tempore (pro tem) | (for) temporarily | temporarily, for the while, a temporary situation, replacement, etc |
| punctatim | in points | point by point |
| QED (quod erat demonstrandum) | which was to be demonstrated | proof/evidence has been provided as intended - this is the proof - (traditionally appended to a mathematical solution) |
| quantum | amount | a required or allowed quantity - (for example a debt payable) - also used in various latin phrases to mean 'as much as' - more scientifically quantum in physics means: 'a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents' |
| quid nunc? | what now? | what now? - also the derivation of the traditional English word 'quidnunc', meaning a gossip or overly inquisitive person |
| qui docet discit | who teaches learns | a good way to learn something is to teach it to someone else |
| quid pro quo | something for something (else) | something which is given in return for another thing - (loosely refers to an exchange, a reciprocal arrangement, an agreed deal or swap, in the same spirit as 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' |
| quieta non movere | don't move the settled | leave settled things to be - let sleeping dogs lie |
| qui scribit bis legit | who writes, twice reads | writing something is more memorable than merely reading it - i.e. if you write something you will will remember it better than simply reading it - (a learning/teaching method and maxim) |
| qui tacet consentit | who is silent consents | remaining silent or failing to respond may be taken as agreement - the concept has real practical effect, and also to a degree influence in legal situations too |
| quod erat demonstrandum (QED) | which was to be demonstrated | proof/evidence has been provided as intended - this is the proof - (traditionally appended to a mathematical solution) |
| qoud est (q.e.) | which is | which is |
| quod vide (q.v.) | which see | see (for explanation, clarification, comparison, or interest a relevant cross-referenced point - (most commonly abbreviated, 'q.v.', in scholarly/academic works - the term essentially directs a reader to more detail elsewhere in the same work about the word/phrase given with 'q.v.') |
| quorum | of whom | a specified minimum number of members, directors or delegates, etc., required for an official assembly (such as a parliament or council or board of directors or committee member, etc) to be able to conduct its affairs, for example take votes and make decisions - the term entered English in the 15th/16th century, from the full Latin phrase used at the start of commissions for committee members, "quorum vos ... unum esse volumus," loosely meaning, "of whom we specify that ... be one" |
| rara avis | rare bird | an unusual thing of person - the derivation of the metaphor 'rare bird' - (first recorded and popularized in Latin by Juvenal, in Satires, vi:165 - "rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno" - "a rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan") |
| ratum et consummatum | confirmed and completed | (in church law) a consummated marriage - a marriage that has not yet been consummated is merely 'ratum tantum' (confirmed only, and can be dissolved, 'super rato' |
| re | thing | regarding, concerning, relating to... (the term precedes the name of a subject which is to be discussed or described, etc - from the full Latin form 'res', 'thing') |
| rebus sic stantibus | things thus standing | as things/matters stand, in the current situation - (normally a legal statement prefacing the fact or assertion that a point of law remains effective or in force |
| recto / verso | right / left | right/left pages of a book - from the full forms 'recto folio' and 'verso folio' 'on the right leaf' and 'on the left leaf' |
| regnat populus | ruling people | the people rule |
| regina/rex | queen/rex | denoting the queen/king or crown, notably in legal cases equating to the state versus another party, e.g., Regina v. Smith |
| requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) | (may he/she) rest in peace | rest in peace (singular) - the plural (may they rest in peace) is 'requiescant in pace' |
| res ipsa loquitur | the thing itself speaks | self-evidently, obviously, the facts/circumstances speak for themselves - (a legal term referring to self-evident proof of something) |
| salus populi suprema lex esto | the good of the people is the supreme law | people's welfare must come first (in governance and business, etc) - the expression is translated in various similar ways, and used as a maxim/motto by many civil/state/services authorities to mean that the priority of governance is the health/needs of ordinary people ('the greater good') - the expression origin is usually attributed to Roman philosopher and politician Cicero's work De Legibus (bk III: III; viii), as 'Ollis salus populi suprema lex esto'. |
| salvo errore et omissione (s.e.e.o.) | save for error and omission | traditional caveat (as would be inserted by a bookkeeper or auditor) featuring in formal statements of financial accounts |
| scientia est potentia | knowledge is power | knowledge is power |
| scilicet (scire licet) | one is permitted to know | namely, that is to say, i.e. - prefaces an explanation or clarification - scilicet is the Latin abbreviated form of scire licet |
| scripsit/sculpsit | he/she wrote it/carved it | denoting author/sculptor - the term appears after the writer's name on the work |
| semper fidelis/idem | always faithful/the same (thing) | always faithful/always the same or unchanging |
| sensu lato / sensu stricto | meaning wide / tight | in the wide sense / in the strict sense |
| seq. (sequens, sequentes, or sequitur) | the following | the following - to introduce a remark or list, like the words: 'as follows' - the word sequitur has the additional alternative meaning: 'it follows logically', or 'therefore' |
| seriatim | in (a) series | one of a series, part of/in a series - a scholarly or technical academic term referring to a published work which is part of a series |
| sic | thus, so | as used/written originally - denotes that the word or phrase which precedes 'sic' is quoted exactly as originally used/written/spelled by the quoted source - typically used within a quoted passage or extract to indicate that a misspelling or poor grammar or wrong word was in the source material |
| sine die | without a day | until an unspecified time/date/day, no date has been set (for another meeting or resumption) - typically referring to the status of discussions/meetings, that there is no date agreed for further action |
| sine loco (s.l.) / sine anno (s.a.) / sine nomine (s.n.) | without place / date / without a name | without place / date /author or publisher - normally referring to a referenced book or paper for which place / date of publication / author or publisher are unknown - (these terms may becombined with the word 'et', and, for example 'sine loco et anno', without place and date |
| sine mora | without delay | without delay |
| sine prole | without children | childless, no children, or the legal term 'without issue' - often referring to a deceased person who had no offspring |
| sine qua non | without which not | an absolutely necessary requirement or condition, an indispensable factor |
| solidus nummus | (Roman) solid coin | in English money history the S in LSD (pounds shillings pence) derived from the Roman coin 'Solidus' (prior to 1387 in English translations shown as 'Solidy', and also shown more recently in English as 'Solidi' and 'Solidii', being Latin plural versions) - the Solidus was originally an Imperial Roman coin introduced by Constantine (c.274-337AD), so called from the full Latin 'solidus nummus', meaning solid coin - the L and D in LSD also derived from Latin terms 'libra' and 'denarius' |
| socius criminis | partner criminal | partner in crime, accomplice |
| sponte sua/sua sponte | of own accord | self-determining, voluntarily |
| stare decisis | stand by decided things | uphold previous ruling/decision - apply precedent |
| status quo | situation in which | current situation, normality, conditions unchanged |
| status quo ante | situation in which was | situation as was/before (an event) |
| stereo | solid | hi-fi system or reproduced sound of at least two speakers/channels - initially adopted into English referring to a surround-sound effect, evolving to mean two different channels combining to produce a double-sided sound effect |
| stet | let it stand | a proof reading/editing term which instructs the printer or designer to ignore the edit in question - (equating to an instruction to reinstate the original part, i.e., before the edit - for example to reverse the crossing out or alteration of a word) - stet is from the Latin word stare, stand |
| sub judice/sub iudice | under a judge | under consideration by a judge/court (and therefore not to be discussed or published - this refers to a legal case or facts within a case, and seeks to avoid any influence or prejudice on the process |
| sub nomine | under the name (of) | refers to the name of the person/party taking action - 'in the name of' |
| sub poena | under penalty | a writ requiring a person to appear in court - originally fully under penalty of a fine/imprisonment/etc., so that the potential punishment would appear after the words sub poena, which is nowadays usually rendered as a single word, subpoena |
| sub rosa | under the rose | in secret, behind closed doors, privately - (referring to proceedings of some sort - the legal term is an old metaphor based on the rose being once a symbol of secrecy) |
| sub verbo (s.v.) | under the word | under the word/heading, a referencing term directing the reader to information contained beneath the word entry or heading in question elsewhere in the publication, for example as in a dictionary - used as 's.v. [word/heading]' = see the information under [word/heading]' |
| sui generis | of its own kind | unique, in a class/classification of its own, utterly distinctive and original |
| sui juris/iuris | of his/her own volition | able to take responsibility - equating to asserting that a person was legally responsible for his/her action |
| summa | summary | traditional term for the summary of a subject in a printed/text work |
| summa cum laude | with highest distinction/praise | highest distinction (referring to a university degree qualification award) - see 'cum laude' and 'magna cum laude', respectively the 3rd and 2nd highest grades |
| suo jure/iure | in (one's/its) own right | independently, in one's/its own right |
| suo moto/tempore | by own motion/in own time | spontaneously/in one's or its own time |
| supra/vide supra | above/see above | see above - scholarly technical term simply directing the reader to the text above |
| terra firma | firm land | solid earth, dry land (as different to the sea or waters or air) - typically referring to being safely or surely on land, for example 'back on terra firma' (after a plane or sea journey, or parachute leap) |
| usus est magister optimus | practice is the best teacher | practice makes perfect |
| ultra vires | beyond the powers | beyond (one's/its) legal powers - typically legally referring to a court or official body which acts outside of its limits/authority |
| ut infra/supra | as below/above | as below/above - citing/referencing terms |
| varia lectio/lectiones | variant reading/readings | an alternative way(s) of reading/interpreting a document or work |
| variorum | of various people | denoting comments/interpretations by various people, or denoting a publication which contains different interpretations/readings of the original work - consequently a variorum or variorum edition refers to a publication which provides variant readings/interpretations of, and comments by different scholars on, a work of some sort |
| veni, vidi, vici | I came, I saw, I conquered | victory was easy - a confident claim of a supposedly simple speedy triumph, attributed to Julius Caesar telling of his defeating Pharnaces, King of Pontus, 47BC (not his invasion of Britain as some believe) - according to Seutonius this motto was carried ahead of Caesar's advancing forces in subsequent campaigns, mainly to emphasize the speed of victory - in modern renderings the claim may also imply nonchalance, casualness, ease, arrogance, etc |
| verbi gratia (v.gr. or VG) | for the sake of a word | for example |
| versus (vs., V) | against | against, between - usually when matching or comparing two competing things, enemies, arguments, etc |
| veto | I forbid | to disallow or prevent something - (or noun form) the act of forbidding something or refusing permission |
| via | a way | by way of, a way, a path/road, passing through, connecting |
| via media | middle way | the middle path - (compromise, moderation) |
| vice versa | in-turned position | conversely, the other way around, reversed, exchanged |
| victor ludorum/victrix ludorum | winner of the games | male/female sport champion - the term is also used as a name of a trophy awarded to a winner or an event |
| vide | see | see.. (something/somewhere) - used in referencing and elsewhere |
| videlicet (viz.) | permitted to see | namely, to wit |
| vis inertiae | power of inaction | power of inertia - a much under-rated strategic concept by which the impulse to react to provocation/threat is resisted - and instead a positive decision is made to take no action - which can produce surprisingly better results than reacting aggressively and quickly without much thought for the consequences - the notion of 'vis inertiae' recognizes the fact that often provocative/threatening situations tend to subside or implode, as history commonly tells |
| viva voce | with living voice | orally - typically refers to an oral/spoken examination |
| vixit | he/she lived... | he/she lived (for a number of years) - common gravestone term |
| vox pop (vox populi) | voice of the people | comments from the general public, public opinion - 'vox pops' is now a common media term referring to impromptu interviews with members of the public |
| ultra | beyond | to extreme degree - broadly contrasting with 'infra', below/lower than |
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