"by the fact itself."
ipso facto
"towards." Literally "in the direction." Mistakenly used in English as "against."
versus
"to this." Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised on the spot or designed for only a specific, immediate purpose.
ad hoc
"voice of the people."
vox populi
"in the Year of the Lord."
anno domini (A.D.)
"The Work of God." It is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá.
Opus Dei
"toward pleasure" Loosely, "according to what pleases" or "as you wish."
ad libitum (ad lib)
"a god from a machine." A contrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot.
deus ex machina
"you may have the body." A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of legal writs to bring a person before a court or judge.
habeas corpus
"guilty act." The actual crime that is committed, rather than the intent or thought process leading up to the crime.
actus reus
"under penalty." Said of a request, usually by a court, that must be complied with on pain of punishment.
sub poena
"he asserted." A legal term from Medieval Latin referring to a sworn statement.
affidavit
"we have a pope." Used after a Roman Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope.
habeas papam
"let the buyer beware." The purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need.
caveat emptor
"prime mover." Or "first moving one." A common theological term, such as in the cosmological argument, based on the assumption that God was the first entity to "move" or "cause" anything.
primum movens
"under the rose." "In secret", "privately", "confidentially" or "covertly." In the Middle Ages, a rose was suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber to indicate that what was said in the "under the rose" was not to be repeated outside.
sub rosa
"veteran." Also "worn-out." Retired from office. Often used to denote a position held at the point of retirement, as an honor.
emeritus
"I think, therefore I am.." A rationalistic argument used by French philosopher René Descartes to attempt to prove his own existence.
cogito ergo sum
"where are they?." Nostalgic theme of poems yearning for days gone by.
ubi sunt
"great work." Said of someone's masterpiece.
magnum opus
"higher." "Ever upward!" The state motto of New York. Also a catch phrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.
excelsior
"stiffness of death." The rigidity of corpses when chemical reactions cause the limbs to stiffen about 3-4 hours after death.
rigor mortis
"I forbid." The right to unilaterally stop a certain piece of legislation.
veto
"always faithful." Motto of Exeter and several other cities; more recently has become the motto of United States Marine Corps and the Swiss Grenadiers.
semper fidelis
"to infinity." Going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases in mathematical proof.
ad infinitum
"it does not follow." In general, it is a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context.
non sequitur
"burden of proof"
opus probandi
"word for word." Refers to perfect transcription or quotation.
verbatim
"Where are you going?." According to Vulgate translation of John 13:36, Saint Peter asked Jesus Domine, ___ ___ ("Lord, where are you going?") on the Appian Way in Rome. The King James Version has the translation "Lord, whither goest thou?"
quo vadis
"through a day." A specific amount of money an organization allows an individual to spend per day, typically for travel expenses.
per diem
"at first sight." Used to designate evidence in a trial which is suggestive, but not conclusive, of something (e.g., a person's guilt).
prima facie
"seize the day." An exhortation to live for today.
carpe diem
"solid land." Often used to refer to the ground.
terra firma
"around." In the sense of "approximately" or "about." Usually used of a date.
circa
"course of life." A résumé.
curriculum vitae
"royal water." refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.
aqua regia
"things to be done." Originally comparable to a to-do list, an ordered list of things to be done.
agenda
"to the man." Typically used on the mistaken assumption that the validity of an argument is to some degree dependent on the qualities of the proponent.
ad hominem
"Body of Christ." The name of a feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating the Eucharist.
Corpus Christi
"first among equals." A title of the Roman Emperors (cf. princeps).
primus inter pares
"in the place of a parent." A legal term meaning "assuming parental (i.e., custodial) responsibility and authority."
in loco parentis
"From many, (comes) One."
e pluribus unum
"lawfully." A legal term describing a "forced share", the portion of a deceased person's estate from which the immediate family cannot be disinherited.
legitime
"nourishing mother." Term used for the university one attends or has attended.
alma mater
"before the war"
ante bellum
"what for what." Also translated "this for that" or "a thing for a thing." Signifies a favor exchanged for a favor.
quid pro quo
"for the good." Said of work undertaken voluntarily at no expense, such as public services. Often used of a lawyer's work that is not charged for.
pro bono
"My Fault." Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote the inherently flawed nature of mankind.
Mea Culpa
"spirit of place." The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals.
genius loci
"from the former." Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known or postulated before a proof has been carried out.
a priori
"the law of retaliation." Retributive justice (cf. an eye for an eye).
lex talionis
"Greatest High Priest." Or "Supreme Pontiff." Originally an office in the Roman Republic, later a title held by Roman Emperors, and later a traditional epithet of the pope.
Pontifex Maximus
"other I." Another self, a second persona or alias.
alter ego
"the state to which." The current condition or situation.
status quo
"scraped tablet." Thus, "blank slate." Romans used to write on wax-covered wooden tablets, which were erased by scraping with the flat end of the stylus. John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge.
tabula rasa
"in good faith." In other words, "well-intentioned", "fairly."
bona fide
"I came, I saw, I conquered." The message sent by Julius Caesar to the Roman Senate to describe his battle against King Pharnaces II near Zela in 47 BC.
veni, vidi, vici
"person not pleasing." An unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person. In diplomatic contexts, a person rejected by the host government.
persona non grata
"with a turned thumb." Used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator.
pollice verso
"from the beginning." In literature, refers to a story told from the beginning rather than in medias res (from the middle).
ab initio
"Roman Peace." A period of relative prosperity and lack of conflict in the early Roman Empire.
Pax Romana
"water of life." "Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer to various native distilled beverages.
aqua vitae
"method of operating." Usually used to describe a criminal's methods.
modus operandi
"Great Paper." A set of documents between Pope Innocent III, King John, and English barons.
Magna Carta