Question | Answer |
ab ovo usque ad mala | from eggs to apples (from beginning to end) |
ab initio | from the beginning |
ad hoc | for this purpose |
ad infinitum | to infinity (endlessly) |
ad nauseum | to the point of disgust |
alibi | an excuse, elsewhere (being elsewhere when a crime was committed) |
alma mater | nourishing mother (school or college attended) |
alter ego | another self |
Anno Domini (A.D.) | in the year of the Lord |
ante bellum | before the (Civil) war |
ante meridiem (a.m.) | before noon |
ars gratia artis | art for the sake of art |
ars longa, vita brevis | art (is) long, life (is) short |
bona fide | in good faith (genuine) |
carpe diem | seize the day (enjoy today) |
cave canem | beware of the dog |
caveat emptor | let the buyer beware |
citius, altius, fortius | faster, higher, braver (Olympic theme) |
cogito ergo sum | I think, therefore I am |
cum grano salis | with a grain of salt (not seriously) |
cum laude | with praise |
de facto | from the fact (in reality) |
dramatis personae | characters in a play |
e pluribus unum | one out of many (Motto of the US) |
errare humanum est | to err is human (everybody makes mistakes) |
et cetera (etc.) | and the rest |
ex libris | from the books (from the library of) |
ex tempore | on the spur of the moment |
excelsior | higher (Motto of NY) |
exempli gratia (e.g.) | for example |
fiat lux | let there be light |
finis | the end |
id est (i.e.) | that is (in other words) |
in absentia | in one's absence |
in flagrante delecto | in a burning crime (caught red-handed) |
in loco parentis | in place of a parent |
in media res | in the middle of things |
in memoriam | in memory |
magna cum laude | with great praise |
magnum opus | great word (masterpiece) |
mea culpa | my fault |
mens sana in corpore sano | a sound mind in a sound body |
mirable dictu | amazing to say |
modus operandi | way of operating |
non sequitur | it doesn't follow (an illogical statement) |
nota bene (N.B.) | note well (pay attention) |
novus ordo seclorum | new order of the ages (new world order) |
panem et circenses | bread and circus games |
pax vobiscum | peace be with you |
per annum | by year (annually) |
per capita | by heads (individually) |
per diem | by the day (daily) |
persona non grata | unwelcome person |
post meridiem (p.m.) | after noon |
post scriptum (P.S.) | written after |
pro tempore (pro tem.) | for the time being (temporarily) |
quid pro quo | something for something |
rara avis | a rare bird (unusual person) |
recipe (Rx) | take (symbol for prescription) |
res ipsa loquitur | the thing speaks for itself (it's obvious) |
requiscat in pace (R.I.P.) | may (s)he rest in peace |
semper fidelis | always faithful (US Marine Corps) |
semper paratus | always prepared (US Coast Guard) |
sine die | without a day (without a date set to assemble) |
sine qua non | without which not (a necessity) |
statim (stat.) | immediately |
sub rosa | under the rose (secretly) |
summa cum laude | with the highest praise |
tempus fugit | time flies |
terra firma | solid ground |
verbatim | word for word |
versus (vs.) | against |
vice versa | the order having been changed |