Phrases
ad hoc: for this purpose
ad infinitum: without end
ad nauseam: to the point of disgust
alma mater: college or other school from which someone graduates (lit. nourishing mother)
ante bellum: before the war
ars artis gratia: art for the sake of art [Also the motto of movie production company MGM]
ars longa, vita brevis: art is long, life is short
bona fide: in good faith
carpe diem: seize the day
cave canem: beware of the dog
caveat emptor: let the buyer beware
corpus delicti: the facts (body) of a crime
cum grano salis: with a grain of salt
de facto: in fact, actually
de gustibus non est disputandum: there is no accounting for tastes; everyone to his own taste
de iure: by right, legally [sometimes written as de jure]
de mortuis nil nisi bonum: speak only good of the dead
divide et impera: divide and rule
errare humanum est: to err is human
et tu, Brute!: even you, Brutus!
exit; exeunt: he goes out; they go out
ex libris: from the books of
ex officio: by virtue of the office
ex post facto: enacted after the fact; retroactive
ex tempore: on the spur of the moment
festina lente: make haste slowly
habeas corpus: a writ to bring a detained person before a judge (lit. you must have the body)
in absentia: in absence
in hoc signo vinces: in this sign you will conquer
in loco parentis: in place of a parent
in medias res: into the midst of things
in memoriam: in memory
in re: in the matter of; concerning
in toto: entirely
ipso facto: by the very fact itself
lapsus linguae: a slip of the tongue
mens sana in corpore sana: a sound mind in a sound body
modus operandi: a method of working
modus vivendi: a method of living
multum in parvo: much in little
ne plus ultra: nothing more beyond; perfection
non compos mentis: not of sound mind
non sequitur: it does not follow; an illogical inference
pater patriae: father of his country
pax vobiscum: peace with you
per annum: by the year
per capita: by the heads
per diem: by the day
per se: by itself; essentially
persona non grata: an unwelcome person
post mortem: after death
post proelium, praemium: after the battle, the reward
prima facie: on first sight
pro and con(tra): for and against
pro bono publico: for the public good
pro tempore: for the time being
quid pro quo: this for that; something for something
semper fidelis: always faithful [Also the motto of the United States Marine Corps]
semper paratus: always prepared [Also the motto of the United States Coast Guard]
sic transit gloria mundi: thus passes the glory of the world
sine die: indefinitely; without setting a day
sine qua non: something indispensable; a necessity (lit. without which nothing)
status quo: the existing state of affairs
stet: let it stand (printing term)
te Deum laudamus: we praise you, O Lord
tempus fugit: time flies
terra firma: solid ground
vade mecum: a constant companion (go with me)
veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered
verbatim: word for word
via: by way of
vice versa: the other way around
vigilantia pretium libertatis: vigilance is the price of liberty
viva voce: by spoken word; orally
vox populi, vox Dei: the voice of the people is the voice of God
Abbreviations
A.D. anno Domini, in the year of our Lord
ad lib. ad libitum, at pleasure
A.M. ante meridiem, before noon
A.U.C. ab urbe condita; anno urbis conditae, from the founding of the city (of Rome)
cf. confer, compare
e.g. exempli gratia, for example
et al. et alii, and others
etc. et cetera, and the rest, and so forth
ibid. ibidem, in the same place
id. idem, the same (author)
i.e. id est, that is
m. meridie, at midday, noon
M.D. Medicinae Doctor, Doctor of Medicine
N.B. nota bene, note well
op. cit. opere citato, in the work cited/mentioned
per cent per centum, by the 100
P.M. post meridiem, after noon
pro tem. pro tempore, for the time being
P.S. post scriptum, postscript, written afterwards
Q.E.D. quod erat demonstrandum, that which was to be proved
q.v. quod vide, which see
Rx recipe, take (as directed)
viz. videlicet, namely (from videre licet: one may see)
vs. versus, against
College Mottoes
Artes, scientia, veritas: Arts, knowledge, truth
University of Michigan
Civium in moribus rei publicae salus: The welfare of the states lies in the character of its citizens.
University of Florida
Crescat scientia, vita excolatur: Let knowledge grow, let life be enriched
University of Chicago
Disciplina praesidium civitatis: Training, the defense of the state
University of Texas
Ecce quam bonum: Behold how good
University of the South (Sewanee)
In Deo speramus: In God we trust
Brown University
In lumine tuo videbimus lumen: In your light, we shall see the light
Columbia University
Litteris dedicata et omnibus artibus: Dedicated to letters and all the arts
University of Nebraska
Lux et lex: Light and law
University of North Dakota
Lux et veritas: Light and truth
Yale University
Lux hominum vita: Light, the life of men
University of New Mexico
Lux sit: Let there be light
University of Washington
Mens agitat molem: Mind moves the mass
University of Oregon
Mihi cura futuri: My care is for the future
Hunter College
Nil sine magno labore: Nothing without great labor
Brooklyn College
Non sibi, sed suis: Not for herself, but for her own
Tulane University
Perstare et praestare: To persevere and surpass
New York University
Pro ecclesia et patria: For church and country
Trinity College
Respice, adspice, prospice: Look to the past, look to the present, look to the future
City College of New York
Salus populi: The welfare of the people
University of Missouri
Sapientia et doctrina: Wisdom and knowledge
Fordham University
Scientia sol mentis: Knowledge, the sun of the mind
Delaware College
Studiis et rebus honestis: To honorable pursuits and deeds
University of Vermont
Terras irradient: Let them illuminate the earth
Amherst College
Veritas: Truth
Harvard University
Veritas vos liberabit: The truth will set you free
Johns Hopkins University
Virtute et armis: By valor and arms
University of Mississippi
Vox clamantis in deserto: The voice of one crying in the wilderness
Dartmouth College
State Mottoes
Ad astra per aspera: To the stars through difficulties
Kansas
Cedant arma togae: Let the arms yield to the toga (peace)
Wyoming
Crescit eundo: It grows as it goes
New Mexico
Dirigo: I point the way
Maine
Ditat Deus: God enriches
Arizona
Dum spiro, spero: While I breathe, I hope [While there’s life, there’s hope]
South Carolina
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem: With the sword she seeks calm peace under liberty
Massachusetts
Esse quam videri: To be rather than to seem
North Carolina
Esto perpetua: May she [it] last forever
Idaho
Excelsior: Ever upward
New York
Iustitia omnibus: Justice for all
District of Columbia
Labor omnia vincit: Work conquers all
Oklahoma
Montani semper liberi: Mountaineers are always free
West Virginia
Nil sine numine: Nothing without divine guidance
Colorado
Qui transtulit sustinet: He who transplated, sustains
Connecticut
Regnat populus: The people rule
Arkansas
Salus populi suprema lex esto: The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law
Missouri
Scuto bonae voluntatis tuae coronasti nos: With the shield of Thy good will Thou hast covered us
Maryland
Sic semper tyrannis: Thus always to tyrants
Virginia
Virtute et armis: By valor and arms
Mississippi
The Great Seal of the United States
Annuit coeptis: He has smiled on our undertakings
Novus ordo seclorum: A new order of the ages [A new world order]
E pluribus unum: From many, one