Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English   Phrases of Latin Origin    Home Page   Browse by First Letter   Browse by Language   Arabic   French   German   Greek   Italian   Japanese   Latin   Persian   Portuguese   Russian   Sanskrit   Spanish   Swahili   Yiddish  Search for Foreign Phrase Meaning All Search tips Language Phrase Meaning Latin ad absurdam to the point of absurdity Latin ad hoc for this purpose only Latin ad infinitum endlessly, forever Latin ad lib improvised, without preparation Latin ad nauseam endlessly, to the point of nausea Latin a fortiori even more so, all the more Latin alma mater one’s old university or school Latin alter ego another self Latin anno domini (A.D.) after the birth of Christ Latin annus mirabilis wonderful year Latin ante bellum before the war Latin a posteriori inductive, empirical Latin a priori deductive Latin aqua vitae water of life Latin ars longa vita brevis art is long, life is short Latin aurora borealis northern lights Latin bona fide in good faith Latin camera obscura dark chamber Latin carpe diem seize the day Latin casus belli justification for an act of war Latin caveat emptor let the buyer beware Latin ceteris paribus other things being equal Latin coitus interruptus withdrawal prior to ejaculation Latin compos mentis of sound mind, sane Latin corpus delicti evidence of a crime Latin cui bono? to whose benefit? Latin curriculum vitae (CV) résumé Latin de facto in fact Latin de jure based on law Latin delirium tremens alcohol withdrawal symptoms Latin de profundis out of the depths Latin deus ex machina unexpected or improbable explanation Latin dramatis personae characters in a play Latin ecce homo behold the man Latin e pluribus unum out of many, one Latin ergo therefore, consequently Latin et al. and others Latin etc. and so forth Latin Et tu, Brute? You too, Brutus? Latin ex cathedra authoritative statement Latin exempli gratia (e.g.) for example Latin ex officio by right of office Latin ex post facto retroactive Latin flagrante delicto in the act Latin genius loci spirit of the place Latin habeas corpus writ requiring a prisoner to be brought to trial Latin ibid. in the same place Latin id est (i.e.) that is Latin in absentia in the absence Latin in camera in secret, in private Latin in extremis in extremity, near death Latin in flagrante delicto in the act Latin infra dig vulgar, beneath one’s dignity Latin in loco parentis in place of a parent Latin in medias res in the middle of things Latin in situ in its place Latin inst. in the present month Latin inter alia among other things Latin in toto in all, altogether Latin in vino veritas there is truth in wine Latin in vitro in a test tube Latin ipso facto by definition Latin magnum opus great work Latin mea culpa my fault Latin memento mori reminder of death Latin mens sana in corpore sano a healthy mind in a healthy body Latin modus operandi way of doing things Latin modus vivendi way of living Latin mutatis mutandis with the necessary adjustments made Latin N.B. note well Latin ne plus ultra the best Latin nil desperandum never despair Latin non compos mentis not of sound mind, sane Latin non sequitur something that doesn’t follow Latin obiter dictum a passing remark Latin op.cit. in the work cited Latin pari passu at an equal rate Latin pater familias father of the family Latin pax peace Latin per capita per person Latin per diem by the day Latin perpetuum mobile in perpetual motion Latin per se in itself, intrinsically Latin persona non grata unwelcome person Latin post mortem autopsy Latin post scriptum (P.S.) postscript, afterthought Latin prima facie self-evident Latin primum mobile prime mover Latin pro bono for the public good Latin pro forma for form’s sake Latin pro rata proportionately Latin Q.E.D. that which was to be demonstrated Latin qua as Latin quid pro quo fair exchange Latin quo vadis? where are you going? Latin q.v. refer to Latin rara avis rare or unique person or thing Latin re regarding, with reference to Latin reductio ad absurdam reduction to absurdity Latin rigor mortis stiffening of the body after death Latin sanctum sanctorum holy of holies Latin sic it is thus in the original Latin sic transit gloria mundi thus passes the glory of the world Latin sine qua non essential element or condition Latin status quo current state of affairs Latin sub rosa in secret, in confidence Latin sui generis one of a kind, unique Latin summa cum laude with the highest praise Latin tabula rasa empty slate Latin tempus fugit time flies Latin terra firma firm or solid land Latin terra incognita unknown, uncharted Latin ultima ratio final resort Latin vade mecum constant companion Latin via dolorosa sorrowful way Latin vice versa the other way round Latin vox populi popular opinion or sentiment