Term | Definition |
*ad hoc | a temporary committee formed for a special purpose |
ad infinitum | to infinity; forever; the sky's the limit |
ad nauseam | repeating or continuing to the point of boredom |
alias | a pseudonym or false name that hides one’s true identity |
alibi | a legal defense where the accused shows that he was elsewhere at the time the crime was committed |
alma mater | refers to the university or high school one attended |
Anno Domini (A.D.) | abbreviation commonly used in calendars to mark years since the birth of Jesus of Nazareth |
alumni | the graduates of a school or college |
bona fide | genuine; legit; real |
carpe diem | literally "seize the day" - a piece of advice to live each moment to the fullest |
caveat emptor | literally "let the buyer beware" - a legal principal that the buyer is responsible for checking the quality of goods before sale (it may be a clunker). |
circa | (for dates) around; approximately |
compos mentis | sane; thinking clearly |
cum laude | literally "with praise"; it's a cumulative award for academic success for graduates |
curriculum vitae | a resumé |
de facto | in fact; real |
e.g. | for example |
ergo | therefore |
*errata | errors |
et cetera (etc.) | and so on |
ex post facto | literally, "after the fact" - laws that punish crimes that were legal when committed |
i.e. | "that is", in other words |
in re | about; concerning; regarding |
in vitro | taking place outside a living organism (especially in petri dishes or test tubes); artificial |
inter alia | among other things |
magnam opus | masterpiece |
mea culpa | "my fault”; “my bad"; used in apologies or in prayers for forgiveness |
per annum | for each year |
per capita | for each person |
per se | in itself; intrinsically, not for other reasons or causes |
persona non grata | an unacceptable or unwelcome person |
post-mortem | an examination of a dead body; autopsy |
pro rata | proportional(ly); at the given rate |
quid pro quo | something (usually favors) given for something else; similar to "this for that," “tit for tat,” or “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours" |
requiescat in pace; (R.I.P.) | literally, “may he rest in peace” - a benediction for the dead often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers |
semper fidelis | literally, “always faithful” - the motto of several institutions, including the U.S. Marine Corps |
(sic) | Used to point out deliberate errors in quoted text, when those errors also appeared in the original source |
status quo | the existing “state of affairs” |
tabula rasa | literally a "blank slate" - a term used for a new beginning |
terra firma | literally “solid land” - the Earth; the ground (not sea or sky) |
verbatim | word for word; in exactly the same words |
versus; vs.; v. | against |
vice versa | opposite; the other way round |
a.m./p.m. (ante/post meridiem) | before noon / after noon |
interim | the time between two events |
memorandum; memo | A brief note serving as a reminder |
p.s.; post scriptum | a brief note added to an already finished letter |
pro/contra | for/against |