List of Latin phrases (A)

This page lists English translations of notable Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations of Greek phrases, as Greek rhetoric and literature reached its peak centuries before the rise of ancient Rome.

This list covers the letter A. See List of Latin phrases for the main list.

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References

A

Latin	Translation	Notes
a bene placito	from one well pleased	Or "at will", "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and its Italian (beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplácito) derivatives, are synonymous with the more common ad libitum (at pleasure).
a caelo usque ad centrum	from the sky to the center	Or "from heaven all the way to the center of the earth". In law, can refer to the obsolete Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos maxim of property ownership ("for whoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths").
a capite ad calcem	from head to heel	From top to bottom; all the way through (colloquially "from head to toe"). Equally a pedibus usque ad caput.
a contrario	from the opposite	Equivalent to "on the contrary" or "au contraire". An argumentum a contrario is an "argument from the contrary", an argument or proof by contrast or direct opposite.
a Deucalione	from or since Deucalion	A long time ago. From Gaius Lucilius (Satires, 6, 284)
a falsis principiis proficisci	to set forth from false principles	Legal term from Cicero's De Finibus 4.53.
a fortiori	from the stronger	Loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger reason". Often used to lead from a less certain proposition to a more evident corollary.
a mari usque ad mare	from sea to sea	This translation ignores the word usque, which is an emphasis word, so a better translation is probably from sea even unto sea. From Psalm 72:8, "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae" (KJV: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth"). National motto of Canada.
a pedibus usque ad caput	from feet to head	Completely. Similar to the English expressions "from tip to toe" or "from head to toe". Equally a capite ad calcem. See also ab ovo usque ad mala.
a posse ad esse	from being able to being	"From possibility to actuality" or "from being possible to being actual"
a posteriori	from the latter	Based on observation (i.e., empirical evidence), the reverse of a priori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known after a proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to denote something known from experience.
a priori	from the former	Presupposed independent of experience, the reverse of a posteriori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known or postulated before a proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to denote something is supposed without empirical evidence. In everyday speech, it denotes something occurring or being known before the event.
ab absurdo	from the absurd	Said of an argument that seeks to prove a statement's validity by pointing out the absurdity of an opponent's position (cf. appeal to ridicule) or that an assertion is false because of its absurdity. Not to be confused with a reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid logical argument.
ab abusu ad usum non valet consequentia	an inference from an abuse to a use is not valid	Rights abused are still rights (cf. abusus non tollit usum).
ab aeterno	from the eternal	Literally, "from the everlasting" or "from eternity". Thus, "from time immemorial", "since the beginning of time" or "from an infinitely remote time in the past". In theology, often indicates something, such as the universe, that was created outside of time.
ab antiquo	from the ancient	From ancient times.
ab epistulis	from the letters	Or, having to do with correspondence.
ab extra	from beyond	A legal term meaning "from without". From external sources, rather than from the self or the mind (ab intra).
ab hinc or abhinc	from here on
ab imo pectore	from the deepest chest	Or "from the bottom of my heart", "with deepest affection", "sincerely".. Attributed to Julius Caesar.
ab inconvenienti	from an inconvenient thing	New Latin for "based on unsuitability", "from inconvenience" or "from hardship". An argumentum ab inconvenienti is one based on the difficulties involved in pursuing a line of reasoning, and is thus a form of appeal to consequences; it refers to a rule in law that an argument from inconvenience has great weight.
ab incunabulis	from the cradle	Thus, "from the beginning" or "from infancy". Incunabula is commonly used in English to refer to the earliest stage or origin of something, and especially to copies of books that predate the spread of the printing press around AD 1500.
ab initio	from the beginning	"At the outset", referring to an inquiry or investigation. In literature, refers to a story told from the beginning rather than in medias res (from the middle). In law, refers to something being the case from the start or from the instant of the act, rather than from when the court declared it so. A judicial declaration of the invalidity of a marriage ab initio is a nullity. In science, refers to the first principles. In other contexts, often refers to beginner or training courses. Ab initio mundi means "from the beginning of the world".
ab intestato	from an intestate	From someone who dies with no legal will (cf. ex testamento).
ab intra	from within	From the inside. The opposite of ab extra.
ab invito	unwillingly
ab irato	from an angry man	By a person who is angry. Used in law to describe a decision or action that is detrimental to those it affects and was made based on hatred or anger, rather than on reason. The form irato is masculine; however, this does not mean it applies only to men, rather 'person' is meant, as the phrase probably elides "homo," not "vir."
ab origine	from the source	From the origin, beginning, source, or commencement—i.e., "originally". The source of the word aboriginal.
ab ovo usque ad mala	from the egg to the apples	From Horace, Satire 1.3. Means "from beginning to end", based on the Roman main meal typically beginning with an egg dish and ending with fruit (cf. the English phrase soup to nuts). Thus, ab ovo means "from the beginning", and can also connote thoroughness.
ab uno disce omnes	from one, learn all	From Virgil's Aeneid (2.65-6). Refers to situations where a single example or observation indicates a general or universal truth. Visible in the court of King Silas in the TV series Kings.
ab urbe condita (a.u.c.)	from the city having been founded	Or "from the founding of Rome", which occurred in 753 BC according to Livy's count. Used as a reference point in ancient Rome for establishing dates, before being supplanted by other systems. Also anno urbis conditae (a.u.c.) (literally "in the year of the founded city").
ab utili	from utility	Used of an argument.
absens haeres non erit	an absent person will not be an heir	In law, refers to the principle that someone who is not present is unlikely to inherit.
absente reo (abs. re.)	[with] the defendant being absent	In the absence of the accused.
absit inuria	"let injury be absent"	Expresses the wish that no insult or wrong be conveyed by the speaker's words, i.e., "no offense". Also rendered absit iniuria verbis "let injury be absent from these words". Contrast with absit invidia.
absit invidia	"let ill will/jealousy be absent"	Said in the context of a statement of excellence. Unlike the English expression "no offense", absit invidia is intended to ward off jealous deities who might interpret a statement of excellence as hubris. Also extended to absit invidia verbo, meaning "may ill will/jealousy be absent from these words." Contrast with absit iniuria verbis. An explanation of Livy's usage.
absit omen	let an omen be absent	Or "let this not be a bad omen". Expresses the wish that something seemingly ill-boding does not turn out to be an omen for future events, and calls on divine protection against evil.
absolutum dominium	absolute dominion	Total power or sovereignty.
absolvo	I acquit	A legal term said by a judge acquitting a defendant following a trial. Te absolvo or absolvo te, translated, "I forgive you," said by Roman Catholic priests during the Sacrament of Confession, in Latin prior to the Second Vatican Council and in vernacular thereafter.
abundans cautela non nocet	abundant caution does no harm	Frequently phrased as "one can never be too careful".
abusus non tollit usum	misuse does not remove use	Just because something is misused doesn't mean it can't be used correctly.
abyssus abyssum invocat	deep calleth unto deep	From Psalms 42:7; some translations have 'Sea calls to sea'.
accipe hoc	Take this	Motto of 848 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy.
accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo	no one ought to accuse himself except in the Presence of God	A legal maxim denoting that any accused person is entitled to make a plea of not guilty, and also that a witness is not obliged to give a response or submit a document that will incriminate himself. A very similar phrase is nemo tenetur se ipsum accusare "no one is bound to accuse himself". See right to silence.
acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt	mortal actions never deceive the gods	Ovid's Tristia 1.2.97: si tamen acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt, / a culpa facinus scitis abesse mea. "Yet if mortal actions never deceive the gods, / you know that crime was absent from my fault."
acta est fabula plaudite	The play has been performed; applaud!	A common ending to ancient Roman comedies, also claimed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to have been Augustus' last words. Applied by Sibelius to the third movement of his String Quartet no. 2 so that his audience would realize it was the last one, as a fourth would normally be expected.
acta non verba	Deeds, not Words	Motto of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
acta sanctorum	Deeds of the Saints	Also used in the singular, Acta Sancti (Deeds of the Saint), preceding a specific Saint's name. A common title of works in hagiography.
actus me invito factus non est meus actus	the act done by me against my will is not my act
actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea	The act does not make [a person] guilty unless the mind should be guilty.	A legal term outlining the presumption of mens rea in a crime.
actus reus	guilty act	The actual crime that is committed, rather than the intent or thought process leading up to the crime. Thus, the external elements of a crime, as contrasted with mens rea, the internal elements.
ad absurdum	to the absurd	In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See also reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused with ab absurdo (from the absurd).
ad abundantiam	to abundance	In legal language, used when providing additional evidence to an already sufficient collection. Also used commonly, as an equivalent of "as if this wasn't enough".
ad altiora tendo	I strive towards higher things
ad arbitrium	at will, at pleasure
ad acta	to the archives, no longer relevant
ad astra	to the stars	Name or motto (in full or part) of many organizations, publications, etc.
ad astra per aspera	to the stars through difficulties	Motto of Kansas, and other organisations. The phrase is also translated as "A rough road leads to the stars", as on the Launch Complex 34 memorial plaque for the astronauts of Apollo 1.
ad augusta per angusta	to rise to a high position overcoming hardships.
ad captandum vulgus	in order to capture the crowd	To appeal to the masses. Often used of politicians. An argumentum ad captandum is an argument designed to please the crowd.
ad clerum	to the clergy	A formal letter or communication (in the Christian tradition) from a Bishop to the clergy under his direction. An "ad clerum" may be a letter of encouragement at a time of celebration, or a technical explanation of new regulations or canons.
ad eundem	to the same	An ad eundem degree, from the Latin ad eundem gradum (to the same step" or "to the same degree), is a courtesy degree awarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another. It is not an honorary degree, but a recognition of the formal learning that earned the degree at another college.
ad fontes	to the sources	A motto of Renaissance humanism. Also used in the Protestant Reformation.
ad fundum	to the bottom	Said during a generic toast, equivalent to "bottoms up!" In other contexts, generally means "back to the basics".
ad hoc	to this	Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised on the spot or designed for only a specific, immediate purpose.
ad hominem	to the man	Or "at the man". Typically used in argumentum ad hominem, a logical fallacy consisting of criticizing a person when the subject of debate is the person's ideas or argument, on the mistaken assumption that the soundness of an argument is dependent on the qualities of the proponent.
ad honorem	to the honour	Generally means "for the honour", not seeking any material reward.
ad infinitum	to infinity	Going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases in mathematical proof. Also used in philosophical contexts to mean "repeating in all cases." For example, the claim of the existence of a creator of the universe would require an explanation of the creator's creation, and so on ad infinitum.
ad interim (ad int)	for the meantime	As in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim" for a diplomatic officer who acts in place of an ambassador.
ad kalendas graecas	at the Greek Calends	Attributed by Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars to Augustus. The Calends were specific days of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, and so the "Greek Kalends" would never occur. Similar to "when pigs fly".
ad libitum (ad lib)	toward pleasure	Loosely, "according to what pleases" or "as you wish"; libitum comes from the past participle of libere, "to please". It typically indicates in music and theatrical scripts that the performer has the liberty to change or omit something. Ad lib is specifically often used when someone improvises or ignores limitations. Also used by some restaurants in favor of the colloquial "all you can eat or drink".
ad litem	to the lawsuit	A legal term referring to a party appointed by a court to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party who is deemed incapable of representing himself. An individual who acts in this capacity is called a guardian ad litem.
ad lucem	to the light	Motto of Oxford High School (Oxford), the University of Lisbon, Withington Girls' School and St. Bartholomew's School, Newbury, UK
ad maiorem Dei gloriam or ad majorem Dei gloriam (AMDG)	to the greater glory of God	Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Edward Elgar dedicated his oratorio The Dream of Gerontius "A.M.D.G."
ad meliora	Towards better things	motto of St. Patrick's College, Cavan, Ireland
ad mortem	To death	used in medical contexts as a synonym for death
ad multos annos	to many years!	A wish for a long life. Similar to "Many happy returns!"
ad nauseam	to seasickness	Or "to the point of disgust". Sometimes used as a humorous alternative to ad infinitum. An argumentum ad nauseam is a logical fallacy involving basing one's argument on prolonged repetition, i.e., repeating something so much that people are "sick of it".
ad oculos	to the eyes	Meaning "obvious on sight" or "obvious to anyone that sees it".
ad pedem litterae	to the foot of the letter	Thus, "exactly as it is written". Similar to the phrase "to the letter", meaning "to the last detail".
ad perpetuam memoriam	to the perpetual memory	Generally precedes "of" and a person's name, and is used to wish for someone to be remembered long after death.
ad pondus omnium (ad pond om)	to the weight of all things	More loosely, "considering everything's weight". The abbreviation was historically used by physicians and others to signify that the last prescribed ingredient is to weigh as much as all of the previously mentioned ones.
ad quod damnum	to whatever damage	Meaning "according to the harm" or "in proportion to the harm". The phrase is used in tort law as a measure of damages inflicted, implying that a remedy, if one exists, ought to correspond specifically and only to the damage suffered (cf. damnum absque iniuria).
ad referendum (ad ref)	to be proposed [before the Senate]	Loosely "subject to reference": provisionally approved, but still needing official approval. Not the same as a referendum.
ad rem	to the matter	Thus, "to the point", without digression.
ad sumus	here we are	motto of the Brazilian Marine Corps.
ad susceptum perficiendum	in order to achieve what has been undertaken	motto of the Association of Trust Schools.
ad terminum qui praeteriit	for the term which has passed	A legal term for a writ of entry ad terminum qui praeteriit [for the term which has passed].[1]
ad undas	to the waves	Equivalent to "to hell".
ad unum	to one
ad usum Delphini	for the use of the Dauphin	Said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive or improper parts. The phrase originates from editions of Greek and Roman classics which Louis XIV had censored for his heir apparent, the Dauphin. Also rarely in usum Delphini (into the use of the Dauphin).
ad usum proprium (ad us. propr.)	for one's own use
ad utrumque paratus	prepared for either [alternative]	The motto of Lund University, with the implied alternatives being the book (study) and the sword (defending the country in war).
ad valorem	according to value	Used in commerce to refer to ad valorem taxes, taxes based on the assessed value of real estate or personal property.
ad victoriam	to victory	More commonly translated into "for victory" this is a battlecry of the Romans.
ad vitam aeternam	to eternal life	Also "to life everlasting". A common Biblical phrase.
ad vitam aut culpam	for life or until fault	Usually used of a term of office.
addendum	thing to be added	An item to be added, especially a supplement to a book. The plural is addenda.
adaequatio intellectus et rei	correspondence of the mind and reality	One of the definitions of the truth. When the mind has the same form as reality, we think truth. Also found as adaequatio rei et intellectus.
adaequatio intellectus nostri cum re	conformity of our minds to the fact	A phrase used in Epistemology regarding the nature of understanding.
adsum	I am here	Equivalent to "Present!" or "Here!" The opposite of absum "I am absent".
adversus solem ne loquitor	don't speak against the sun	Or don't argue what's obviously wrong.
advocatus diaboli	devil's advocate	Someone who, given a certain argument, takes a position he or she does not necessarily agree with, for the sake of argument.
aegri somnia	a sick man's dreams	From Horace, Ars Poetica, 7. Loosely, "troubled dreams".
aetat.	"of age" / "aged" (in the sense of: "age: ...)	Abbreviation of "aetatis"; further abbreviated (and more common): "aet." – e.g.: "aetat" or "aet. 36" = "36 years old".
aetatis suae	"of his/her age", followed by an ordinal number.	Thus, "at the age of ...". Appears on portraits, gravestones, monuments, etc. Usually preceded by anno (AAS), "in the year" ("of his age ..."). Sometimes shortened to just aetatis or aetat/aet. Frequently combined with Anno Domini, giving a date as both the theoretical age of Our Lord and the age of the deceased, for example Obiit anno Domini MDCXXXVI^o (i.e. ... tricensimo sexto) (anno) aetatis suae XXV^o (vicensimo quinto) ("he died in the year of Our Lord the 1636th, (in the year) of his age the 25th").
affidavit	he asserted	A legal term from Medieval Latin referring to a sworn statement. From fides, "faith".
age quod agis	Do what you are doing.	More often translated as "Do well whatever you do", this phrase is used as the motto of several Catholic schools. Literally translated, it means "Do what you do"; figuratively it means "keep going, because you are inspired or dedicated to do so". Used as a maxim by Pope John XXIII in the sense "don't be concerned with any other matter than the task in hand." He is fighting worry about what will become of him in the future. His sense of age quod agis is "joy" regarding what is going on now and "detachment" regarding concerns about the future. (Journal of a Soul, p. 154-155)
agere sequitur credere	action follows belief	"We act according to what we believe (ourselves to be)".[2]
agere sequitur (esse)	action follows being	Metaphysical and moral principle that indicates the connection among ontology, obligation and ethics.[2]
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God	Latin translation from John 1:36, where John the Baptist exclaims Ecce Agnus Dei! "Behold the Lamb of God!" upon seeing Jesus, referring both to a lamb's connotations of innocence and to a sacrificial lamb.
alea iacta est	the die has been cast	Or in Greek, ἀνερρίφθω κύβος anerrhíphthō kýbos; said by Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC, according to Suetonius. The original meaning was similar to "the game is afoot", but its modern meaning, like that of the phrase "crossing the Rubicon", denotes passing the point of no return on a momentous decision and entering into a risky endeavor where the outcome is left to chance.
alenda lux ubi orta libertas	Light [is] to be nourished where liberty [has] arisen.	Or "let learning be cherished..." The motto of Davidson College.
alias	at another time, otherwise	An assumed name or pseudonym. Similar to alter ego, but more specifically referring to a name, not to a "second self".
alibi	elsewhere	A legal defense where a defendant attempts to show that he was elsewhere at the time a crime was committed. His alibi is sound; he gave evidence that he was in another city on the night of the murder.
aliquid stat pro aliquo	something stands for something else	A foundational definition for semiotics.
alis aquilae	on an eagle's wings	taken from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. "But those who wait for the Lord shall find their strength renewed, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not grow faint."
alis grave nil	nothing [is] heavy with wings	Or "nothing is heavy to those who have wings". Motto of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
alis volat propriis	she flies with her own wings	State motto of Oregon; adopted in 1987, it replaced "The Union", which was the previous state motto adopted in 1957.
alma mater	nourishing mother	Term used for the university one attends or has attended. Another university term, matriculation, is also derived from mater. The term suggests that the students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by the university. The term is also used for a university's traditional school anthem.
alter ego	another I	Another self, a second persona or alias. Can be used to describe different facets or identities of a single character, or different characters who seem representations of the same personality. Often used of a fictional character's secret identity.
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest	Let no man be another's who can be his own	Final sentence from Aesop ascribed fable (see also Aesop's Fables) "The Frogs Who Desired a King" as appears in the collection commonly known as the "Anonymus Neveleti" (fable XXIb. De ranis a Iove querentibus regem). Motto of Paracelsus. Usually attributed to Cicero.
alterum non laedere	to not wound another	One of Justinian I's three basic legal precepts.
alumnus or alumna	pupil	Graduate or former student of a school, college or university. Plural of alumnus is alumni (male). Plural of alumna is alumnae (female).
amicus certus in re incerta	A sure friend in an unsure matter	by Ennius as cited by Cicero in Laelius de Amicitia s. 64
amicus curiae	friend of the court	An adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to the favour of powerful group, like a Roman Curia. In current U.S. legal usage, an amicus curiae is a third party allowed to submit a legal opinion (in the form of an amicus brief) to the court.
Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas.	Plato is my friend, but truth is a better friend.	to value truth higher than friendship; attributed to Aristotle (Ethics, 1096a15) and Roger Bacon (Opus Majus, P. I, ch. v)
amittere legem terrae	to lose the law of the land	An obsolete legal term signifying the forfeiture of the right of swearing in any court or cause, or to become infamous.
amat victoria curam	Victory favors care	Motto of Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Wellesley College Primary School, Eastbourne, New Zealand; Victoria College- St. Helier Parish, Jersey, the Channel Islands.
amor Dei intellectualis	intellectual love of god	Philosophy of Baruch Spinoza
amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus	love is rich with both honey and venom
amor fati	love of fate	Nietzscheian alternative world view to memento mori ("remember you must die"). Nietzsche believed amor fati to be more life affirming.
amor omnibus idem	love is the same for all	from Virgil's Georgics III
amor patriae	love of one's country	Patriotism
amor vincit omnia	love conquers all	written on bracelet worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales; originally from Virgil's Eclogues X, 69: omnia vincit amor: et nos cedamus amori (love conquers all: let us too surrender to love)
anglice	in English	Used before the anglicized version of a word or name. For example, "Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland".
animus in consulendo liber	a mind unfettered in deliberation	Official motto of NATO.
anno (an.)	in the year	Also used in such phrases as anno urbis conditae (see ab urbe condita), Anno Domini, and anno regni.
Anno Domini (A.D.)	in the Year of the Lord	Short for Anno Domini Nostri Iesu Christi (in the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ), the predominantly used system for dating years across the world, used with the Gregorian calendar, and based on the perceived year of the birth of Jesus Christ. The years before Jesus' birth were once marked with a.C.n (Ante Christum Natum, Before Christ was Born), but now use the English abbreviation BC (Before Christ). Example: Augustus Caesar was born in the year 63 BC, and died AD 14.
anno regni	In the year of the reign	Precedes "of" and the current ruler.
annuit cœptis	He nods at things now begun	Or "he approves our undertakings". Motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill.
annus horribilis	horrible year	A recent pun on annus mirabilis, first used by Queen Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her, and subsequently occasionally used to refer to many other years perceived as "horrible". In Classical Latin, this phrase could actually mean "terrifying year". See also annus terribilis.
annus mirabilis	wonderful year	Used particularly to refer to the years 1665–1666, during which Isaac Newton made revolutionary inventions and discoveries in calculus, motion, optics and gravitation. Annus Mirabilis is also the title of a poem by John Dryden written in the same year. It has since been used to refer to other years, especially to 1905, when Albert Einstein made equally revolutionary discoveries concerning the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion and the special theory of relativity. (See Annus Mirabilis papers)
annus terribilis	dreadful year	Used to describe 1348, the year the Black Death began to afflict Europe.
ante bellum	before the war	As in status quo ante bellum, "as it was before the war". Commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the American Civil War.
ante cibum (a.c.)	before food	Medical shorthand for "before meals".
Ante faciem domini	before the face of the lord	Motto of the Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
ante litteram	before the letter	Said of an expression or term that describes something which existed before the phrase itself was introduced or became common. Example: Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram, since the field of "computer science" was not yet recognized in Turing's day.
ante meridiem (a.m.)	before midday	From midnight to noon (cf. post meridiem).
ante mortem	before death	See post mortem (after death).
ante omnia armari	before all else, be armed
ante prandium (a.p.)	before lunch	Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions to denote "before a meal". Less common is post prandium, "after lunch".
apparatus criticus	tools of a critic	Textual notes. A list of other readings relating to a document, especially in a scholarly edition of a text.
apud	in the writings of	Used in scholarly works to cite a reference at second hand
aqua (aq.)	water
aqua fortis	strong water	Refers to nitric acid.
aqua pura	pure water	Or "clear water", "clean water".
aqua regia	royal water	refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, thus called because of its ability to dissolve gold.
aqua vitae	water of life	"Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in the Netherlands, brandy (eau de vie) in France, and akvavit in Scandinavia.
aquila non capit muscas	an eagle doesn't catch flies	A noble or important person doesn't deal with insignificant issues.
arare litus	to plough the seashore	From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). Wasted labour.
arbiter elegantiarum	judge of tastes	One who prescribes, rules on, or is a recognized authority on matters of social behavior and taste. Said of Petronius. Sometimes found in the singular, arbiter elegantiae (judge of taste).
Arcana imperii	the secrets of power	Originally used by Tacitus to refer to the state secrets and unaccountable ways used by the Roman imperial government,
Arcanum boni tenoris animae	The secret behind a good mood	Motto of the Starobrno Brewery in Brno.
arcus senilis	bow of an old person	An opaque circle around the cornea of the eye, often seen in elderly people.
arduus ad solem	Striving towards the sun	Motto of the Victoria University of Manchester.
argentum album	white silver	Also "silver coin". Mentioned in the Domesday Book, signifies bullion, or silver uncoined.
arguendo	for arguing	For the sake of argument. Said when something is done purely in order to discuss a matter or illustrate a point. Example: Let us assume, arguendo, that your claim is correct.
argumentum	argument	Or "reasoning", "inference", "appeal", "proof". The plural is argumenta. Commonly used in the names of logical arguments and fallacies, preceding phrases such as a silentio (by silence), ad antiquitatem (to antiquity), ad baculum (to the stick), ad captandum (to capturing), ad consequentiam (to the consequence), ad crumenam (to the purse), ad feminam (to the woman), ad hominem (to the person), ad ignorantiam (to ignorance), ad judicium (to judgment), ad lazarum (to poverty), ad logicam (to logic), ad metum (to fear), ad misericordiam (to pity), ad nauseam (to nausea), ad novitatem (to novelty), ad personam (to the character), ad numerum (to the number), ad odium (to spite), ad populum (to the people), ad temperantiam (to moderation), ad verecundiam (to reverence), ex silentio (from silence), in terrorem (into terror), and e contrario (from/to the opposite).
ars [est] celare artem	art [is] to conceal art	An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear natural rather than contrived. Of medieval origin, but often incorrectly attributed to Ovid.[3]
ars gratia artis	art for art's sake	Translated into Latin from Baudelaire's "L'art pour l'art". Motto of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This phrasing is a direct translation of 'art for the sake of art.' While very symmetrical for the MGM logo, the better Latin word order is 'Ars artis gratia.'
ars longa, vita brevis	art is long, life is short	The Latin translation by Seneca (De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1) of a phrase from Hippocrates, often used out of context. The "art" referred to in the original aphorism was the craft of medicine, which took a lifetime to acquire.
arte et labore	by art and by labour	motto of Blackburn Rovers F.C.
arte et marte	by skill and valour	motto of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Branch of the Canadian Forces.
Artis Bohemiae Amicis	Friends of Czech Arts	Award of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic for the promotion of the positive reputation of Czech culture abroad.
asinus ad lyram	an ass to the lyre	From Erasmus's collection of Adages. An awkward or incompetent individual.
asinus asinum fricat	the jackass rubs the jackass	Used to describe two people lavishing excessive praise on one another.
assecuratus non quaerit lucrum sed agit ne in damno sit	the assured does not seek profit but makes [it his profit] that he not be in loss	Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity cannot be larger than the loss.
Astra inclinant, sed non obligant	The stars incline us, they do not bind us	Refers to the Free will over the astrological determinism.
Auctores Varii	Various Authors	Used in bibliography for books, texts, publications or articles that contain more than three collaborators.
auctoritas	authority	The level of prestige a person had in Roman society.
Auctoritas non veritas facit legem	authority, not truth, makes law	This formula appears in the 1670 Latin translation of the Hobbes' Leviathan, II, 26[4]
audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret	slander boldly, something always sticks	from Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623)
audax at fidelis	bold but faithful	Motto of Queensland.
audeamus	let us dare	Motto of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment [CSOR] included on their regimental crest. Motto of Otago University Students' Association, a direct response to the university's motto of sapere aude "dare to be wise". Motto of Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
audemus jura nostra defendere	we dare to defend our rights	State motto of Alabama, adopted in 1923. Translated into Latin from a paraphrase of the stanza "Men who their duties know / But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain" from the poem "What Constitutes a State?" by 18th-century author William Jones.
audentes fortuna iuvat	fortune favors the bold	From Virgil, Aeneid X, 284 (where the first word is in the archaic form audentis). Allegedly the last words of Pliny the Elder before he left the docks at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Often quoted as audaces fortuna iuvat. Also the motto of the Portuguese Army Commandos, and the USS Montpelier (SSN-765) in the latter form.
audere est facere	to dare is to do	motto of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
audi alteram partem	hear the other side	A legal principle of fairness. Also worded as audiatur et altera pars (let the other side be heard too).
audio hostem	I hear the enemy	Motto of 845 NAS Royal Navy
audi, vide, tace	hear, see, be silent
aurea mediocritas	golden mean	From Horace's Odes II, 10. Refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes. The golden mean concept is common to many philosophers, chiefly Aristotle.
auri sacra fames	accursed hunger for gold	From Virgil, Aeneid 3,57. Later quoted by Seneca as quod non mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames "What don't you force mortal hearts [to do], accursed hunger for gold!"
auribus teneo lupum	I hold a wolf by the ears	A common ancient proverb, this version from Terence. Indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly. A modern version is "To have a tiger by the tail."
aurora australis	southern dawn	The Southern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Southern Hemisphere. It is less well-known than the Northern Lights, or aurorea borealis. The Aurora Australis is also the name of an Antarctic icebreaker ship.
aurora borealis	northern dawn	The Northern Lights, an aurora that appears in the Northern Hemisphere.
aurora musis amica	Dawn is a friend to the Muses	Title of a distich by Iohannes Christenius (1599–1672): "Conveniens studiis non est nox, commoda lux est; / Luce labor bonus est et bona nocte quies." (Night is not suitable for studying, daylight is; / working by light is good, as is rest at night.) in Nihus, Barthold (1642). Epigrammata disticha. Johannes Kinckius.
aurum potestas est	gold is power	Motto of the fictional Fowl family in the Artemis Fowl series, written by Eoin Colfer
auspicium melioris aevi	hope/token of a better age	Motto of the Order of St Michael and St George and motto of Raffles Institution, a secondary school in Singapore.
aut Caesar aut nihil	either Caesar or nothing	Indicates that the only valid possibility is to be emperor, or a similarly prominent position. More generally, "all or nothing". Adopted by Cesare Borgia as a personal motto. Also used by Charles Chaplin in The Great Dictator, ridiculizing Hynkel's (Chaplin's parody of Hitler) ambition of power, but changing nihil for nulles.
aut consiliis aut ense	either by meeting or the sword	Thus, either through reasoned discussion or through war. The first motto of Chile.
aut cum scuto aut in scuto	either with shield or on shield	"Do or die", "no retreat". A Greek expression («Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς») said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle. A hoplite would drop his cumbersome shield in order to flee the battlefield; a slain warrior would be borne home atop his shield.
aut imiteris aut oderis	imitate or loathe it	Seneca the Younger, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 7:7. Full form: necesse est aut imiteris aut oderis ("you must either imitate or loathe the world")
aut neca aut necare	either kill or be killed	or neca ne neceris (kill lest you be killed)
aut pax aut bellum	either peace or war	The motto of the Gunn Clan.
aut viam inveniam aut faciam	I will either find a way or make one	Hannibal.
aut vincere aut mori	either to conquer or to die	A general pledge of victoria aut mors "victory or death". Motto of the Higgenbotham, and Higginbottom families of Cheshire England; participants in the War of the Roses. Also the motto for the 1st Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
ave atque vale	Hail and farewell!	From Catullus, carmen 101, addressed to his deceased brother.
ave Europa nostra vera patria	Hail, Europe, our true Fatherland!	Anthem of Imperium Europa
Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant	Hail, Emperor! Those who are about to die salute you!	From Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, Claudius 21. A salute and plea for mercy recorded on one occasion by naumachiarii–captives and criminals fated to die fighting during mock naval encounters. Later versions included a variant of "We who are about to die", and this translation is sometimes aided by changing the Latin to nos morituri te salutamus.
Ave Maria	Hail, Mary	Catholic prayer of intercession asking Mary, the mother of Jesus to pray for the petitioner.
ave mater Angliae	Hail, Mother of England	Motto of Canterbury.

Notes

1. William Blakestone. Book 3 Chapter 10: Of Injuries to Real Property, And First of Dispossession, or Ouster, of The Freehold footnote 47
2. James T. Bretzke, Consecrated phrases: a Latin theological dictionary : Latin expressions commonly found in theological writings (Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 10. ISBN 0-8146-5880-6, ISBN 978-0-8146-5880-2
3. Peter Jones (2006). Reading Ovid: Stories from the Metamorphoses. Cambridge University Press. p. 223. ISBN 0-521-84901-2.
4. See Google books.

References

• Adeleye, Gabriel G. (1999). Thomas J. Sienkewicz; James T. McDonough, Jr., eds. World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0865164223.
• Hardon, John, Fr., Modern Catholic Dictionary
• Stone, Jon R. (1996). Latin for the Illiterati. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415917751.