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…
Few Latin phrases carry as much historical weight as alea iacta est. Usually translated as “the die is cast,” the expression evokes a decision from which there…
Few Latin phrases have traveled as easily from ancient literature into everyday conversation as in vino veritas. Usually translated as “in wine, there is…
Memento mori is a Latin phrase usually translated as “remember that you must die.” Its message is brief, but its cultural reach is immense. Across centuries,…
Legal language often preserves ideas that have traveled across centuries. The phrase prima facie is one of the clearest examples. Meaning “at first sight” or…