Few Latin expressions have travelled as far from their ancient roots as the two-word imperative carpe diem. Coined by Horace in his Odes around 23 BCE, the…
Caveat emptor is one of the oldest commercial adages in the English-speaking legal tradition. The Latin phrase translates as "let the buyer beware," and for…
Few phrases from the medieval Latin tradition have shaped the way people record time as thoroughly as "Anno Domini." From church manuscripts to university…
The Latin word stet means “let it stand” or “let it remain as it is”. It is a compact editorial instruction used when a proposed change should be ignored and…
The Latin phrase inter alia carries a quiet authority that belies its modest length. Often translated as "among other things," it appears in court filings,…
Latin often gives a precise shape to feelings that are difficult to describe in English. Infra dignitatem is one such expression. Literally, it means “beneath…
The Latin phrase in toto means “as a whole”, “entirely”, or “in its entirety”. It describes a judgement made by considering the complete subject rather than…
Latin phrases tend to arrive in modern language carrying a weight that their few letters hardly suggest. In situ is a perfect example: two small words that…
The Latin phrase in pace means “in peace”. On a memorial, gravestone or cemetery plaque, it expresses the hope that a deceased person rests peacefully. Its…
Few Latin phrases are as recognisable in Christian worship as In nomine Patris. Usually heard as part of the longer formula In nomine Patris, et Filii, et…