Latin Words and Sayings

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 2 people | Log in to rate

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Latin Words and Phrases to Spice Up Your Writing

Want to add pizzazz to your writing? Here's a handy list of indispensable Latin words and phrases, with their meanings.

Handy List of Latin Words and Sayings 

a cappella - in church (vocal music only)
ad hoc - for a particular purpose (only)
ad infinitum - to infinity (without end)
ad nauseum - to a sickening degree
alma mater - fostering mother (a school or university you attended or from which you graduated)
a mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea (motto of Canada)
annus horribilis - a horrible year
ante - before
antebellum - before the war
a posteriori - from the latter
a priori - from the former
arcana - secrets (mysterious knowledge known only to initiates)
ars gratia artis - art for art's sake
ave atque vale - hail and farewell
beatae memoriae - of blessed memory
bene - good
bis in die - twice a day
bona fide - (adjective) in good faith, well-intentioned, fairly
bona fides - (noun) honest intention
bona fortuna - good luck!
bovina sancta - holy cow!
carpe diem - seize the day
caveat emptor - let the buyer beware (i.e. - take the risk)
cave canem - beware of the dog
cogito, ergo sum - I think, therefore I am
commune bonum - the common good
corpus christi - the body of Christ
crux - puzzle
cum laude - with praise
de facto - something that is automatically accepted
de novo - anew
Dei Gratia - by the grace of God
Deus vobiscum - God be with you
dramatis personae - characters of the play
ecce homo - behold the man
emeritus - honorary, by merit
eo ipso - by that very act
e pluribus unum - out of many, one
ergo - therefore
errata - a list of errors
et cetera - and the rest (etcetera, etc.)
ex cathedra - from the chair (of authority)
ex libris - from the library (of)
ex tempore - off the cuff, without preparation
fiat lux - let there be light
finis - the end
haveas corpus - you must have the body (you must justify an imprisonment)
hic et nunc - here and now
in absentia - in one's absence 
in extremis - in extreme circumstances (e.g. - at point of death)
in loco parentis - in the place of a parent
in perpetuum - forever
in toto - totally, entirely  
modus operandi - a way of operating
omnia vincit amor - love conquers all
post mortem - after death   
post partum - after childbirth
pro bono publico - for the public good
quater in die (Q.I.D.) - take 4 times a day
qui bono? - who benefits?
quid pro quo - something for something
quo vadis? - where are you going?
regina - queen
rex - king
rigor mortis - the rigidity of death
tabula rasa - a clean slate
tempus fugit - time flees (more common: time flies)
terra firma - solid ground

Here are Latin sayings on mugs 'n stuff 

Click on the mugs to see the photos on the other side. They go with the words.
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Roman Numeral Refresher 

As we get older, our long-term memory is supposed to get sharper. So why doesn't it work for remembing the rules for Roman numerals?

1 - I
2 - II
3 - III
4 - IV
5 - V
6 - VI
7 - VII
8 - VIII
9 - IX
10 - X
11 - XI
12 - XII
13 - XIII
14 - XIV
15 - XV
16 - XVI
17 - XVII
18 - XVIII
19 - XIX
20 - XX
30 - XXX
40 - XL
50 - L
60 - LX
70 - LXX
80 - LXXX
90 - LC
100 - C
200 - CC
300 - CCC
400 - CD
500 - D
900 - CM
1000 - M
2000 - MM
2007 - MMVII
2008 - MMVIII
2009 - MMIX
2010 - MMX
2011 - MMXI
2012 - MMXII
3000 - MMM

Latin Desk References 

A Dictionary of Latin Words and Phrases

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Cave Canem: A Miscellany of Latin Words and Phrases

Amazon Price: $6.80 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Wear Your Latin Sayings... or Hang Them on a Wall 

Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Latin phrase: "If you can read this, you know too much"

Buy Now

Dum Vita Est Spes Est Dark T-Shirt

While there's life, there's hope - an optimistic message for times of woe.

Buy Now

Let There Be Light (Latin) Zip Hoodie (dark)

The Latin phrase, "Fiat Lux" translates into the more well-known English version of, "Let there be light." An inspirational message no matter what way you look at it!

Buy Now

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SPELLING BLOOPERS... Spell checkers can't tell if you mean its or it's; your or you're; their, there or they're. Here's a "spelling amnesia" lens, for those times when you forget which spelling to use.

Veni, Vidi, Vici 

Julius Caesar Came, Saw and Conquered

My Latin teacher pronounced this "wenee, weedee, wiki" and NOT "vainee, veedee, veechee." (The "v" sounds like a "w.")

Julius Caesar

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now
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Julius Caesar

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I, Caesar - The Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire

Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $39.99

Hope you'll say hello! 

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  • Reply
    science_fiction_novels_cyberpunk science_fiction_novels_cyberpunk Oct 25, 2009 @ 9:33 am
    This lens has made me remember my past studies of Latin. It was a language I loved.
    Excellent lens. 5*
  • Reply
    latsyrk latsyrk Sep 12, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
    how do you translate
    "my love is forever" in Latin

    I have so far
    amor meus in perpetuum..... how do I translate the word: is?
  • Reply
    Anand Monickam Anand Monickam Aug 25, 2009 @ 3:11 am
    Give me the honour of having the last word on Latin sayings ;-)

    Quidquid latine dictum, altum videtur

    Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.
  • Reply
    Dr. Nili Marcia Dr. Nili Marcia Aug 20, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
    You've done it again Barb! Reminded me of things forgotten and taught me some things never learned. Bovina sancta made me laugh!

    Here are two books to add to your list, about life in Rome written by someone who remembered her lives there:
    Return to Elysium and Life as Carola both by Joan Grant.

by BarbaraCasey

I'm an inspirational writer, budding photographer, and "The Tutorial Lady" for spiritual entrepreneurs.

You can reach me at Barbara@newradiance.com....

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