| Latin Phrase |
English Translation |
| actus reus |
guilty act |
| ad hoc |
to this |
| ad infinitum |
without end or limit |
| ad nauseam |
to a sickening or excessive degree |
| agenda |
things to be done |
| alter ego |
other I |
| carpe diem |
the enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern
for the future. |
| caveat |
a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices;
an explanation to prevent misinterpretation;
a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding
until the opposition has a hearing |
| de facto |
in reality;
actually |
| dictum |
a noteworthy statement as:
a) a formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or
opinion
b) an observation intended or regarded as authoritative;
c) a judicial opinion on a point other than the precise issue
involved in determining a case. |
| emeritus |
veteran |
| et cetera |
and others esp. of the same kind: and so forth; abbreviated as
etc. |
| inter alia |
among other things |
| in vitro |
in glass |
| ipso facto |
by that very fact or act;
as an inevitable result. |
| magnum opus |
a great work, the greatest achievement of an artist or
writer |
| mea culpa |
my fault |
| memento |
something that serves to warn or remind |
| non sequitur |
statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from
anything previously said |
| nota bene |
used to call attention to something important |
| per capita |
equally to each individual;
per unit of population: by or for each person per capita of any
state in the union. |
| persona non grata |
personally unacceptable or unwelcome |
| post mortem |
occourring or done after death |
| prima facie |
at first view: on the first appearance;
adj. true, valid, or sufficient at first impression: apparent;
self-evident;
legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless
disproved |
| pro forma |
made or carried out in a perfunctory manner or as a
formality;
provided in advance to prescribe form or describe items. |
| quod erat demonstrandum |
which was to be proved |
| RIP |
abbreviation, may he rest in peace |
| status quo |
the current condition or situation |
| terra firma |
solid land |
| terra nova |
new land |
| verbatim |
word for word |
| vice versa |
the other way round |