1Novus Ordo Seclorum
"A new order of the ages" - found on the \$1 bill
2Mens sana in corpore sano
"A sound mind in a sound body" - Juvenal
3semper fidelis
"always faithful" - U.S. Marine Corps
4semper paratus
"always prepared" - U.S. Coast Guard
5ars artis gratia
"art for the sake of art" - Metro Goldwyn Mayer logo
6ars longa, vita brevis
"Art is long, life is short" - Horace
7Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
"As a true translator you will take care not to translate word for word" - Horace
8cave canem
"beware of the dog" - found on a mosaic in Pompeii
9In hoc signo vinces
"By this sign you will conquer" - Constantine saw this in the sky before the battle of the Milvian bridge
10et tu, Brute?
"Even you, Brutus?" - Julius Caesar
11Rident stolidi verba Latina
"Fools laugh at the Latin language" - Ovid
12Audentis Fortuna iuvat
"fortune favors the bold" - Virgil
13A mari usque ad mare
"from sea to sea" - national motto of Canada
14Annuit Coeptis
"God looks with favor on our undertakings" - found on \$1 bill
15veni, vidi, vici
"I came, I saw, I conquered" - Julius Caesar
16Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas
"It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it" - Pliny the Younger
17festina lente
"Make haste slowly" - Augustus
18carpe diem
"Seize the day" - Horace
19citius, altius, fortius
"swifter, higher, stronger" - motto of modern Olympics
20alea iacta est
"the die is cast" - the Caesar, as he was about to cross the Rubicon
21errare humanum est
"To err is human" - Seneca
22urbs in horto
a city in a garden (Chicago)
23vade mecum
a constant companion (go with me)
24dicto simpliciter
a fallacy in which a rule is considered universally true despite circumstance
25primus inter pares
a first among equals
26puri sermonis amator
A lover of pure speech - Julius Caesar
27res judicata
a matter already judged
28modus vivendi
a method of living
29sine qua non
a necessity
31rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cycno
A rare bird on this earth, like nothing so much as a black swan - Juvenal
32credo
a set of beliefs, literally "I believe"
33locum tenens
a substitute
34locum tenes
a substitute
35varium et mutabile semper femina
A woman is always fickle and changeable - Vergil
36ante cibos
a.c. - before meals
37anno domini
A.D. - in the year of our Lord
38alternis horis
A.H. - every other hour
39ante meridiem
A.M. - before noon
40anno urbis conditae
A.U.C. - from the founding of the city
41ab urbe condita
A.U.C. - from the founding of the city
42ab init.
ab initio - from the beginning
43Kansas motto
Ad astra per aspera - to the stars through darkness
44ad inf.
ad infinitum - forever
45ad libitum
ad lib. - at pleasure
47post proelium, praemium
after the battle, the reward
48post hoc, ergo propter hoc
after this, therefore on account of this
49contra felicem vix deus vires habet
against a lucky man a god scarcely has power - Publilius Syrus
50Oregon motto
Alis volat propriis - she flies by her own wings
51semper progrediens
Always progressing
52mirabile dictu
amazing to say
53in extremis
among the last things, at the point of death
54consensus audacium
An agreement of rash men - Cicero
55reductio ad infinitum
an argument which leads to infinite causes that don't have a beginning
56brutum fulmen
an empty threat
57ignoramus
an extremely ignorant person
58honesta mors turpi vita potior
an honorable death is better than a shameful life - Tacitus
59persona non grata
an unwelcome person
60sunt superis sua iura
And if they soar too high the sun may scorch them - Ovid
66US Forestry Service
arbor potestas - tree power
67reductio ad absurdum
arguments that try to disprove statements by showing it leads to a ridiculous conclusion
68ars gratia artis
art for the sake of art - MGM studios
69ars est celare artem
Art is to conceal art - Ovid
70U of Michigan
Artes, scientia, veritas - arts, knowledge, truth
71quot homines tot sententiae
As many men, so many opinions - 8Terrence
72sicut patribus sit Deus nobis
As with our fathers, may God be with us (Boston)
73Alabama motto
Audemus iura nostra defendere - we dare defend our rights
74Frederick III
austriae est imperare orbi universo - it is austria's destiny to rule the whole world
75Winchester College
aut disce aut discede - either learn or leave
76bis in die
b.i.d - twice a day
77apes non sunt solitaria natura
bees are not of a solitary nature - Varro
78ante bellum
before the war
80panem et circenses
bread and circuses
81pons asinorum
bridge of donkeys, Euclid's fifth proposition in geometry
82onus probandi
burden of proving
84per se
by itself; essentially
85per pares
by one's peers
86de jure
by right ; by law
87vica voce
by spoken word; orally
89dei gratia rex
by the grace of god - coins of UK, Canada, and Australia
90ipso facto
by the very fact itself
92rebus
by things; a puzzle which uses pictures
93ex officio
by virtue of office
96dramatis personae
cast of characters
97in flagrante delicto
caught in the act
98casus belli
cause of war
99Wyoming motto
Cedant arma togae - let arms yield to the toga (peace)
100Iona College
certa bonum certamen - fight the good fight
104U of Florida
Civium in morius rei publicae salus - the welfare of the states lies in the character of its citizens
106vincite virtute vera
Conquer by means of true virtue - Plautus
107U of Chicago
Crescat scientia, vita excolatur - let knowledge grow, let life be enriched
108New Mexico motto
Crescit eundo - it grows as it goes
10911th Medical Regiment
curare - to care for
111Atomic Energy Commission
de minimis maximum - from the smallest (particles comes) the greatest (power)
112alibi
defense of being elsewhere
113Princeton University
dei sub numine viget - under the providence of God it flourishes
114Kentucky motto
Deo gratias habeamus - let us have thanks to God
115507th Parachute Regiment
descende ad terram - descend to earth
116Maine motto
Dirigo - I point the way
117U of Texas
Disciplina praesidium civitatis - training, the defense of the state
119Arizona motto
Ditat deus - God enriches
120divide et impera
divide and rule
121nil desperandum
do not despair, never give up
123London motto
domine, dirige nos - Lord guide us
124dram. pers.
dramatis personae
125calamitosus est animus futuri anxius
dreadful is the state of mind that is anxious about the future - Seneca
127South Carolina motto
Dum spiro, spero - while there's life, there's hope
128exempli gratia
e.g. - for example
129U of the South
Ecce quam bonum - behold how good
130ex post facto
enacted after the fact; retroactive
131Massachusetts motto
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem - with a sword she seeks calm peace under liberty
133Duke University
eruditio et religio - learning and religion
134City University of New York
Eruditio populi liberi spes gentium - the education of free people is the hope of humanity
135North Carolina motto
Esse quam videri - to be rather than to seem
136Idaho motto
Esto perpetua - may it last forever
137et alia
et al. - and others
138et uxor
et ux. - and wife
139et cetera
etc. - and so forth, and the rest
140militat omnis amans
Every lover is a soldier - Ovid
141US Naval Academy
ex scientia tridens - power over the sea from knowledge
142New York motto
Excelsior - ever higher
14312th Field Artillery Regiment
facta non verba - deeds not verbs
144Fairfax Country, Virginia
fare fac - say it, do it!
145pater patriae
father of his country
146Madeira School
festina lente - make haste slowly
147U of California
fiat lux - let there be light
148sententia iudicum
finding of the jury
149ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes viros
fire tests gold, hardship tests strong men - Seneca
151Paris motto
fluctuat nec mergitur - she is tossed by the waves but does not sink
152ignis fatuus
foolish fire, something misleading
153pro and con(tra)
for and against
154pro mundi beneficio
For the benefit of the world (Panama)
155ad maiorem dei gloriam
for the greater glory of god - jesuits motto
156pro bono publico
for the people's good
157pro bono public
for the public welfare
158pro forma
for the sake of appearance
159ad hoc
for this purpose
160cui bono
for what good, to whose advantage
162Douglas family motto
fortes fortuna juvat - fortune helps the brave
163Episcopal High School
fortiter, feliciter, fideliter - bravely, happily, faithfully
164amicus curiae
friend of the court
165hinc lucem et pocula sacra
from here, light and sacred draughts (Cambridge)
166multis e gentibus vires
from many peoples, strength (Saskatchewan)
168ab absurdo
from the absurd
169ex novo
from the beginning
170ex libris
from the books of
171ab ovo usque ad mala
from the egg to the apple or from start to finish
172deus ex machina
god from the machine
175grammatici certant
Grammarians dispute - Horace
177hora somni
h.s. - at bedtime
178altera manu fert lapidem, panem ostentat altera
he carries a stone in one hand, and shows bread in the other - Plautus
179exit; exeunt
he goes out; they go out
180ille dolet vere qui sine teste dolet
He grieves truly who grieves without a witness - Martial
181abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit
He has gone away, withdrawn, escaped, burst forth! - Cicero
182non scribit, cuius carmina nemo legit
He is no writer whose verses no one reads - Martial
183qui nescit dissimulare nescit vivere
He who doesn't know how to lie doesn't know how to live
184qui tacet consentit
he who is silent consents
185qui fugiebat rursus proeliabitur
he who was fleeing will do battle again
186qui scribit bis legit
he who writes reads twice
187exit
he/she leaves, way out
188ave atque vale
hello and goodbye
189sanctum sanctorum
holy of holies; a very personal place
190cornucopia
horn of plenty
191homo sapiens
human being, wise human
192haec tibi dona fero
I bring these gifts to you (Newfoundland)
193veritatem dilexi
I delight in the truth (Bryn Mawr College)
194nolo contendere
I do not want to contest; essentially admitting guilt
195odi et amo
I hate and I love - Catullus
197haec scripsi non otii abundantia, sed amoris erga te
I have written this, not as having abundance of leisure, but out of love for you. - Cicero
198arma virumque cano
I tell of wars and a hero (vergil)
199cogito ergo sum
I think, therefore I am (Descartes)
200pergo et perago
I undertake and I achieve
202id est
i.e. - that is, in other words
203ibidem
ibid. - in the same place
204idem
id. - the same (author)
205ignorantia legis reminem excusat
ignorance of the law excuses no one
206stante pede
immediately
207Ohio motto
imperium in imperio - an empire in an empire
208in vitro
in a test tube
209in vacuo
in a vacuum, without considering other factors
210Brown University
In Deo speramus - in God we trust
211de facto
in fact; actually
212bona fide
in good faith, genuine
213in situ
in its natural place
214Columbia University
In lumine tuo videbimus lumen - in your light, we shall see the light
215in memoriam
in memory of
216in absentia
in one's absence
217sui juris
in one's own right
219pro rata
in proportion; according to a fixed share
221in re
in the matter of; concerning
222in media res
in the middle of things
223in loco parentis
in the place of a parent
224in hoc signo vinces
in this sign you will conquer
225in vino veritas
in wine their is truth
226crescite et multiplicamini
increase and multiply; motto of Maryland??
227sine die
indefinitely; without setting a day
228Sir Francis Bacon
ipsa scientia potestas est - knowledge itself is power
229non sequitur
it does not follow; an illogical statement
230difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
It is difficult suddenly to lay aside a long cherished love - Catullus
231dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country - Horace
232pectus est quod disertos facit
it is the heart that makes one eloquent - Quintillian
233District of Columbia motto
Iustitia omnibus - Justice for all
234juris doctor
J.D. - lawyer
235fructu non foliis arborem aestima
Judge a tree by its fruit, not by its leaves - Phaedrus
236Oklahoma motto
Labor omnia vincit - work conquers all
237curriculum vitae
lap of life, resume
238nec pluribus impar
latin motto of Louis XIV (of France)
240disce et doce
learn and teach (University of Sheffield)
241exeat
let him/hear leave; a permission to leave
242stet
let it stand (printing term)
243caveat emptor
let the buyer beware
244terras irradient
Let them illuminate the earth
(Amherst College)
245fiat lux
let there be light (Genesis)
246alumnus
literally foster child, graduate of a school or college
247alumna
literally foster child, graduate of a school or college
248U of Nebraska
Litteris dedicata et omnibus artibus - dedicated to letters and all the arts
250U of North Dakota
Lux et lex - light and law
251Indiana University
Lux et Veritas - light and truth
252Yale University
Lux et veritas - Light and truth
253Albion College
lux fiat - let there be light
254Alfred College
lux fiat - let there be light
255U of New Mexico
Lux hominum vita - light, the life of men
256U of Washington
Lux sit - let there be light
257meridie
m. - at midday, noon
258Medicinae Doctor
M.D. - medical doctor, doctor of medicine
259modus operandi
M.O. - a method of working
260magnum opus
masterpiece
262U of Oregon
Mens agitat molem - mind moves the mass
263M.I.T.
mens et manus - mind and hand
264Hunter College
Mihi cura futuri - my care is for the future
265West Virginia motto
Montani semper liberi - mountaineers are always free
266multum in parvo
much in little
268animus meminisse horret
my mind shudders to remember - Vergil
269lasciva est nobis pagina, vita proba
My poems are naughty but my life is pure - Martial
270nota bene
N.B. - note well (pay attention to this)
271nihil per os
n.p.o. - nothing by mouth
272Brooklyn College
Nil sine magno labore - nothing without great labor
273Colorado motto
Nil sine numine - nothing without divine guidance
274ne plus ultra
no more beyond, perfection
275nemo est supra leges
no one is above the law
276nemo me impune lacessit
no one provokes me with impunity (Scotland)
277terra nullius
nobody's land
278res nullius
nobody's thing
279Cooper family motto
noli irritare leonem - do not irritate a lion
280Walsh family motto
noli irritare leonem - do not irritate a lion
281Willett family motto
noli me tangere - don't touch me
282Graham family motto
noli me tangere - don't touch me
283Graeme family motto
noli me tangere - don't touch me
284Notley family motto
noli mentiri - don't lie
285Booth family motto
non mihi, sed Deo et regi - not for me, but for God and for king
286Warren family motto
non mihi, sed Deo et regi - not for me, but for God and for king
287Wellesley College
non ministrari sed ministrare - not to be served but to serve
288Ash family motto
non nobis, sed omnibus - not for us, but for all
289Ashe family motto
non nobis, sed omnibus - not for us, but for all
290non repetatur
non rep. - do not repeat
291Tulane University
Non sibi, sed suis - not for herself, but for her own
292Lincolne family motto
non vi, sed mente - not by force, but by mind
293non nobis solum nati sumus
not for ourselves alone are we born - Cicero
294non compos mentis
not of sound mind
295ex nihilo nihil fit
nothing comes from nothing - Lucretius
296calvo turpius est nihil comato
nothing is uglier than a bald man with hair
297alma mater
nourishing mother
298U of Wisconsin
numen lumen - god is light
299497th Field Artillery Regiment
nunc aut numquam - now or never
300oculus dexter
o.d. - right eye