Few Latin expressions carry such a direct sense of drama as fiat lux. Usually translated as “let there be light,” the phrase describes a command that changes…
Few Latin sayings express hope as compactly as dum spiro spero. Usually translated as “while I breathe, I hope,” the phrase links the most basic sign of life…
Few Latin expressions have crossed from an ancient wall into modern conversation as effectively as cave canem. Usually translated as “beware of the dog,” the…
The night sky has always invited human beings to name, compare, and interpret what they see. Long before modern astronomy supplied precise measurements, Latin…
Few Latin phrases are as closely associated with the United States as E pluribus unum. Translated as “Out of many, one,” the motto expresses the idea that a…
The Latin phrase ad infinitum means “to infinity” or “without end.” It describes something that continues indefinitely, with no stated stopping point. In…
Few Latin expressions carry as much legal and political weight as habeas corpus. The phrase is associated with a person’s right to challenge imprisonment…
“Cogito ergo sum” is among the most recognizable Latin phrases in Western philosophy. Usually translated as “I think, therefore I am,” it expresses René…
A walk through an herbal shop, pharmacopoeia, or botanical garden reveals a language that often seems older than the remedies themselves. Names such as…