The Romans Had a Phrase for It (Latin phrases common in English)

This post is not about Latin word parts; it's about Latin words and phrases that have been adopted into English in their entirety and are commonly used today. Each definition will begin with the literal Latin translation.


AD ABSURDUM (AHD ahb SERD UM) - means "to the absurd" - to a ridiculous conclusion
He continued his argument AD ABSURDUM.

AD HOC (AHD HOK) - means "for this" - for a specific purpose; formed, usually temporarily, for a particular purpose or for immediate needs
The faculty formed an AD HOC committee to deal with raising funds.
Discretionary funds are spent AD HOC by the principal.
He is employed by the company on an AD HOC basis.

AD HOMINEM (ahd HOM ih nem) - means "toward the man" or "against the man" - describes attacking an opponent's character rather than focusing on the issues, appealing to emotion and prejudice rather than facts, personal
Political debates sometimes consist of AD HOMINEM attacks rather than serious 
  discussion.

AD INFINITUM (AHD in fin EYE tum) - means "to the infinite" - endlessly, forever, to an indefinite degree or extent, without end or limit
He complains about things AD INFINITUM.

AD NAUSEAM (AHD NOW zee ahm) - means "to seasickness" - to the point of nausea or disgust
Sometimes news stories are repeated AD NAUSEAM on television.
The boring lecture continued AD NAUSEAM.

A FORTIORI (AH for tee OR ee) - means "from the stronger" - even more certainly, all the more, for a stronger reason
If taking care of a toddler keeps a mother busy, then, A FORTIORI, taking care of
  triplets is even more challenging.

ALMA MATER (AHL muh MAH ter) - means "nurturing mother" or "fostering mother" - the college or university where a person was educated, symbolizing that the university is the bounteous, nurturing mother of all its graduates
At football games, alumni wear the colors and sing the anthem of their ALMA
  MATER.

ALTER EGO (OL ter E go) - means "another I" - other self, second self, a trusted friend or representative, the opposite side of a personality, the person most like you in temperament and taste
His chief advisor is a trusted aide and a political ALTER EGO.
Mr. Hyde was the ALTER EGO to Dr. Jekyll.
He trusted his ALTER EGO as much as he trusted himself.

AMICUS CURIAE (uh MEE kus KYOOR ee ay) - means "friend of the court" - a disinterested advisor, someone who gives advice or presents a brief in a legal case in which he is not involved
He appeared in court as AMICUS CURIAE.

ANNUS MIRABILIS (AHN nus mee RAH bih lis) - means "wonderful year" - a remarkable or auspicious year, a year in which great events occur
His ANNUS MIRABILIS was 2000, the year he was married.
The year 1809 is considered an ANNUS MIRABILIS because it produced many
   important people, including Lincoln, Darwin, Poe, Braille, Tennyson, and Oliver
  Wendell Holmes.

A PRIORI (ah pree OR ee) - means "from the former" or "from what is before" - from what is already known, reasoned from self-evident propositions, relating to knowledge derived through the power of reasoning and not through observed facts, arguing from cause to effect, deductively
A PRIORI reasoning is based on assumptions derived from prior knowledge.

BONA FIDE (BO nuh fide) - means "in good faith" - made in good faith, authentic, genuine, sincere
He made a BONA FIDE offer to buy the land.
Her fiance gave her a watch that was a BONA FIDE antique.

CARPE DIEM (KAR pay DEE em) - means "pluck the day," as in plucking a fruit, usually translated as "seize the day" -  seize the moment, enjoy the moment without worrying about the future, make the most of today
When the invitation was extended, I told myself, "CARPE DIEM," and then I gladly accepted.

CAVEAT EMPTOR (KAH vee aht EMP tor) - means "Let the buyer beware" - a warning that the buyer must assume the risk of something purchased without a guarantee or warranty
If you're buying something on the street, the rule is "CAVEAT EMPTOR."

CAVE CANEM (KAH vay KAHN em) - means "beware of the dog"
The doors of many Roman homes were inscribed with the friendly warning "CAVE CANEM."

CORNU COPIAE (KOR noo KO pee ay) - means "horn of plenty" - also written as one word meaning "full horn" - a symbol of abundance and a bountiful harvest
The CORNUCOPIA is a common symbol of the Thanksgiving holiday.

CORPUS DELICTI (KOR pus duh LIK ti) - means "body of the crime" - a legal phrase meaning evidence that a crime has been committed; the facts necessary to prove that a crime has been committed; the actual material upon which a crime has been committed, such as a murdered body for the crime of murder or a burned building for the crime of arson; concrete evidence of a crime, especially the body of a murdered person
The police can't prove their case without the CORPUS DELICTI.
Without a CORPUS DELICTI, the district attorney cannot seek an indictment.

CUI BONO? (KOO ee BO no) - means  "to whom the good?" - for whose advantage?, for whose gain?
"CUI BONO?" is one of the first questions detectives ask as they try to solve a crime.

CUM GRANO SALIS (KUM GRAH no SAHL is) - means "with a grain of salt" - with some caution or reserve, with reservation, implying that one does not fully believe someone
I listened to his explanation CUM GRANO SALIS.

CUM LAUDE (KUM  LOW dee) - means "with praise" - with distinction, written on a degree to designate work of superior merit
She's a CUM LAUDE graduate of UCLA.

DE FACTO (day FAK to) - means "from the fact" - in fact, actual, in reality, being such in reality but not officially, having the substance but not the formal name
The countries were in a DE FACTO state of war, even though there had been no 
  official declaration.

DE JURE (day YOOR ee) - means "by right" - sanctioned by law, by right of law, as opposed to "de facto"
He is recognized as the country's DE JURE president.

DEO GRATIAS (DAY o GRAHT see ahs) - means "thanks to God" - thanks be to God
When the boring movie ended, we said "Deo gratias."

DEUS EX MACHINA (DAY us eks MAH kee nuh) - means "a god from a machine" - an unlikely but providential intervention; an unexpected occurrence that rescues someone from an apparently hopeless predicament; a favorite stage trick in classical drama in which a god is lowered from above to solve the entanglement of the plot; the device by which gods were suspended above the stage in a Greek theater; a reference to a power, event, person, or thing that comes in the nick of time to save the day, especially in a novel or play; providential intervention
A writer resorts to a DEUS EX MACHINA when he can't think of any other way to
  resolve the complexities of the plot.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE (druh MAT is PER suh nay) - means "the persons of the drama" - the characters in a drama or play, the cast, the characters in a novel, film, or even everyday life
At the beginning of the novel was a list of the DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

EX LIBRIS (EKS LEE bris) - means "from the books" - from the library of, an inscription of the owner's name in a book, a bookplate
They couldn't determine the owner of the book because it contained no EX LIBRIS
  label.
Each book in his library is labeled with an EX LIBRIS notation.

EX OFFICIO (EKS uh FEE shee o) - means "from the office" - in discharge of one's duty, by virtue of one's office
The CEO is a member EX OFFICIO of all important committees of the company. 

EX POST FACTO (EKS POAST FAK to) - means "from something done afterward" - done or made after the fact, retroactively, after the deed is done
The explanation he offered was really an EX POST FACTO excuse for his actions.

EX TEMPORE (EKS TEMP or ay) - means "from the time" - often written as one word - on the spur of the moment, impromptu, without premeditation or preparation, offhand, extemporaneously
The candidate addressed the reporters EX TEMPORE.
Because he was speaking EX TEMPORE, he made frequent gaffes.

HABEAS CORPUS (HAY bee us KOR pus) - means "you should have the body" - an order to appear in court, a feature of British and U.S. law that protects a person against arbitrary imprisonment by requiring that an arrested person be brought before a court for a formal charge
One of our most protective legal devices is the writ of HABEUS CORPUS.

HOMO SAPIENS (HO mo SAY pee enz)  - means "reasoning man" - man as a rational being, the human species of the genus of man, man's scientific classification
A misanthrope is contemptuous of HOMO SAPIENS.

IN ABSENTIA (IN ahb SEN shuh) - means "in his,her, or their absence" - often used in reference to those who are not present when they receive a university degree or are convicted or cleared of a crime
Because he was out of the country, he received the award IN ABSENTIA.

IN CAMERA (in KAH mer uh) - means " in an arched or vaulted chamber" - in a judge's private chambers, in secret or private session, in private, not in open court
The judge met with the attorneys IN CAMERA.

IN EXTREMIS (in eks TREE mis) - means "in the extremities" -  near death, in the last stages of life
Hearing that their grandfather was IN EXTREMIS, the family gathered at his bedside.
We thought the fish we caught was IN EXTREMIS, but it quickly swam away.

IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO (in fluh GRAHN tay duh LIK to) - means "while the crime is blazing" - in the commission of a crime, in the very act, red-handed
Because he was caught IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO, his attorney presented no defense
  and entered a plea.

IN LOCO PARENTIS (in LO ko par EN tis) - means "in the place of a parent" - acting as a guardian, taking the place or position of a parent
While his brother was sick, he acted IN LOCO PARENTIS for his nieces.
Anyone who has the responsibility of guardianship serves IN LOCO PARENTIS.

IN MEDIAS RES (IN MAY dee ahs RAYS) - means "into the midst of things" - into the middle of a story, into the midst of affairs
Some authors eschew introductions and plunge their readers IN MEDIAS RES.
  
IN MEMORIAM (IN mem OR ee ahm) - means "into memory" or "to the memory of"- in memory of, a common beginning of an epitaph or a memorial inscription
Most headstones are engraved with the words "IN MEMORIAM."

IN RE (IN RAY) - means "in the thing" - in reference to, concerning, in the matter of, referring to, regarding
IN RE the wedding plans, we've decided to hire a planner.

INTER ALIA (IN ter AH lee uh) - means "among other things" - among other matters
The mediocre food and slow service, INTER ALIA, turned me against that restaurant.

INTER NOS (IN ter NOAS) means "between us" - between ourselves  among ourselves, confidentially
INTER NOS, I think she's making a mistake.

IN TOTO (IN TO to) - means "in all" - as a whole, completely, entirely
They accepted his ideas IN TOTO.

IN UTERO (IN OO ter o) - means "in the uterus" or "in the womb" - unborn
Surgeries can now be performed IN UTERO.

IPSO FACTO (IP so FAHK to) - means "by the fact itself" - by that very fact
An immigrant, IPSO FACTO, is ineligible to be president.

LAPSUS LINGUAE (LAHP sus LING gway) - means "a lapse of the tongue" - a slip of the tongue
The announcer made an embarrassing LAPSUS LINGUAE at the game.

LAPSUS MEMORIAE (LAHP sus mem OR ee ay) - means "a lapse of memory" - a slip of the memory
She suffered a LAPSUS MEMORIAE during the test.
A LAPSUS MEMORIAE is often described as a "senior moment."

MAGNA CUM LAUDE (MAHG nuh KOOM LOW dee) - means "with great praise" - with great distinction, words written on a diploma to designate a quality of work higher than "cum laude" but lower than "summa cum laude"
She was awarded her degree MAGNA CUM LAUDE.

MAGNUM OPUS (MAG num O pus) - means "great work" -  the greatest, most significant achievement of an artist, writer, or composer, a person's crowning achievement
What do you think is Van Gogh's MAGNUM OPUS?
I wonder which work Mark Twain considered to be his MAGNUM OPUS.

MEA CULPA (MAY uh KOOL puh) - means "through my fault" - an admission of fault or guilt, part of the prayer said in confession in the Catholic Church, an exclamation of repentance
The convicted criminal said his MEA CULPA before the judge at sentencing.
He made a public MEA CULPA for his misdeeds.

MEMENTO MORI (muh MEN to MOR ee) - means "remember that you must die" - a grim reminder of mortality, a human skull symbolizing death and warning people to lead a good life and avoid damnation, an object serving as a reminder of death and saying "It's later than you think."
Experiencing a "senior moment" can be a MEMENTO MORI.
The ashes placed on people's foreheads on Ash Wednesday are meant to be a           
  MEMENTO MORI.
The symbols on the graves of early Puritans were a MEMENTO MORI to the living.  

MIRABILE DICTU (mir AH bu lay DIK too) - means "wondrous to tell" - wonderful to say, marvelous to relate
She answered the phone, and, MIRABILE DICTU, she heard the voice of her deployed husband!

MIRABILE VISU (mir AH bih lay VEE soo) - means "wonderful to behold" - marvelous to see
There before me, MIRABILE VISU, stood El Capitan!

NOLO CONTENDERE (NO lo cun TEN duh ray) - means "I do not wish to contend" - a plea by the defendant which does not admit guilt but offers no defense, the equivalent of a guilty plea but not an admission of guilt
He pled  NOLO CONTENDERE to the charges.

NON COMPOS MENTIS (NON KOM pos MEN tis) - meaning "not having control of one's mind" - not of sound mind, not in one's right mind, the legal term for any form of mental incapacity, mentally incompetent
After determining that the woman was NON COMPOS MENTIS, the judge appointed a
   conservator for her affairs.
He was declared NON COMPOS MENTIS and was not held legally responsible for his
   actions. 

NON SEQUITUR (NON SEK wih toor) - means "it does not follow" - a statement that does not follow logically from what was said previously, a conclusion that does not follow from the statements that led up to it, any statement that is not related to the topic under discussion and may seem ludicrous or inappropriate, a conclusion which does not follow from the premise,
We were having a great conversation until he threw in that NON SEQUITUR.

PER ANNUM (PER AHN um) - means "by the year" - every year, yearly, annually, often used in reference to a sum of money paid or received
We pay for our health insurance PER ANNUM.

PER CAPITA (PER KAP it uh) - means "by heads" - individually, for each person
They calculated their PER CAPITA expenses.
Connecticut has a high PER CAPITA income.

PER DIEM (PER DEE um) - means "by the day" - daily, a daily allowance for traveling expenses
Traveling sales representatives are often paid a PER DIEM.
Legislators are paid a PER DIEM when they are in session.

PER SE (PER SAY) - means "by itself" - intrinsically, essentially, without reference to anything or anyone else
Although he is not a lawyer PER SE, he has read extensively in the field.
What he did is not illegal PER SE, but it can be considered immoral.

PERSONA (NON) GRATA (per SO nuh NON GRAH tuh) - means " a person (not) welcome" - an acceptable person, a welcome guest, a term often used in reference to how an official representative of a foreign country is received by the host country - with "non," unacceptable or unwelcome
His untidy cooking habits made him PERSONA NON GRATA in the kitchen.
When diplomatic relations with that country were strained, our ambassador became
  PERSONA NON GRATA.

POST MORTEM (POAST MOR tem) - means "after death" - one word in English - an autopsy
The police waited for the results of the POSTMORTEM.

POST PARTUM (POAST PAR tum) - means "after childbirth" - one word in English
That hospital offers excellent POSTPARTUM care.
She suffered from POSTPARTUM depression.

PRIMA FACIE (PREE muh FAY shee ay) - means "on the first face" - on the surface, at first view, at first sight, based on the first impression
Possession of drugs is PRIMA FACIE evidence of guilt.
A PRIMA FACIE case is based on facts legally sufficient to establish its validity.

PRO FORMA (PRO FORM uh) - means "for the form" - as a matter of form, in the way of a formality, for the sake of form
Knowing that there was little chance of saving his client's life, the attorney made a
  PRO FORMA appeal for a stay of execution.


PRO TEMPORE (PRO TEM por ay) - means "for the time" - often shortened to "pro tem" - temporarily, for the time being
He is chairman PRO TEM of the committee.

QUID PRO QUO (KWID PRO KWO) - means "what for what" - one thing given in exchange for something else, something in return, compensation
The lawyer would not make a concession without a QUID PRO QUO.

RARA AVIS (RAH ruh AHV is) - means "a rare bird" - an unusual specimen, an extraordinary person, a prodigy
Many people think that an honest politician is a RARA AVIS.

RIGOR MORTIS (RIG or MOR tis) - means "stiffness of death" - the temporary
muscle rigidity that sets in after death, the stiffening of the body after death
The time of death can often be determined by the degree of RIGOR MORTIS.

SANCTUM SANCTORUM (SAHNK tum sahnk TOR um) - means "holy of holies" - a holy place, the office of an important person, a private room or retreat
The new member of the firm was honored to be invited into the chief partner's
  SANCTUM SANCTORUM.

SINE QUA NON (SIN ay KWAH NOAN) - means - "without which, not" - interpreted as "without which there is nothing" - something that's essential, vital, or indispensable; a necessity, an indispensable condition
To many chefs, olive oil is the SINE QUA NON of good cooking.
Warm winter clothing is a SINE QUA NON for living in New England.

STATUS QUO (STAT us KWO) - means "the state in which" - existing conditions, unchanged position
The town set up strict zoning laws to preserve the STATUS QUO.

SUB POENA (SUH PEE nuh) - means "under penalty" - written as one word - a formal writ ordering a person to appear in court or face penalty - can be a verb
After the accident, she was SUBPOENAED to appear in court as a witness.
I received a SUBPOENA to testify in court.

SUB ROSA (SUB RO zuh) - means "under the rose" - privately, confidentially, secretly
I was told the news SUB ROSA.
Some of the business deals were conducted SUB ROSA.

SUI GENERIS (SOO ee JEN er is) - means "of his, her, or their own kind" - in a class by itself, unique
As an American travel destination, the Grand Canyon is SUI GENERIS.

SUMMA CUM LAUDE (SOO muh koom LOW dee) - means "with highest praise" - words written on a diploma to designate work of the highest merit
She received her degree SUMMA CUM LAUDE.

TABULA RASA (TAHB yoo luh RAH suh) - means "erased tablet" or "a blank tablet" - a clean slate, the mind at birth, a mind before it acquires any knowledge, something in its original state, the mind before it receives any impressions
A newborn child is considered to be a TABULA RASA.

TERRA FIRMA (TEH ruh FERM uh) - means "firm land" - the land as distinguished from the sea, solid ground, dry land, a firm footing
After enduring such a turbulent flight, we were glad to set foot on TERRA FIRMA.

TERRA INCOGNITA (TEH ruh in kog NEE tuh) - means "unknown land" - a term used by Roman mapmakers for unexplored or uncharted land; an unknown or unexplored land, region, or subject; an unmapped area; any unexplored field of research,
I've been to New York City, but the rest of the state is TERRA INCOGNITA.
Realizing that Latin was TERRA INCOGNITA to him, I translated the proverb.
The land west of the Mississippi was TERRA INCOGNITA to the early settlers.
To a person who is "computer illiterate," the Internet is TERRA INCOGNITA.

VIA MEDIA (VEE uh MAY dee uh) - means "the middle way" - a moderate position, a way of compromise, a middle course
We hope the legislators can find a VIA MEDIA as they try to solve our country's
  problems.

VICE VERSA (VISE VER  suh) or (VI suh VER suh) - means "turned to be in place of" or "the position having been turned" - the other way around, conversely, the order having been changed
It's true that dogs chase cats, but not VICE VERSA.
During the divorce proceedings, it was obvious that she dislikes him, and VICE
  VERSA.

VOX POPULI (VOKS POP yoo lee) - means "the voice of the people" - popular sentiment or opinion, a term often used to describe interviews conducted on the street
The VOX POPULI interviews conducted by Jay Leno often reveal appalling
  ignorance. 
Successful politicians always listen to the VOX POPULI.
In a democracy, the government must listen to the VOX POPULI.
Opinion polls are one way for the VOX POPULI to he heard.