Tabula rasa is one of Latinâs most enduring expressions. Literally meaning âscraped tabletâ or âblank slateâ, it describes the idea that the mind beginsâŠ
Sui generis is a Latin phrase meaning âof its own kindâ or âof its own classâ. In legal writing, it describes something that has distinctive characteristicsâŠ
The phrase status quo means the existing state of affairs. It describes the arrangements, habits, institutions, and expectations that currently shape publicâŠ
Some conditions are useful, some are preferred, and some are absolutely necessary. The Latin expression sine qua non identifies the last category: aâŠ
Some Latin sayings survive because they express a feeling that remains recognisable across centuries. Sic itur ad astra is one of them. Usually translated asâŠ
Semper fidelis is a compact Latin phrase with a lasting emotional force. Usually translated as âalways faithfulâ or âalways loyalâ, it describes a commitmentâŠ
âSalus populi suprema lex estoâ is a Latin maxim commonly translated as âthe welfare of the people shall be the highest lawâ. It expresses a powerful ideaâŠ
Res ipsa loquitur is a Latin expression meaning âthe thing speaks for itselfâ. In tort law, it describes a way of reasoning from an unusual accident toâŠ
Latin has a durable place in the language of remembrance. A short phrase carved into stone, printed in a funeral notice, or written beneath a photograph canâŠ
Reductio ad absurdum is a Latin phrase meaning âreduction to the absurdâ. It describes a method of reasoning in which someone temporarily accepts a claim,âŠ