Latin Phrases

  Latin phrases in common use include:

• ab initio From the beginning.

• ad hoc For this purpose, "this one only".

• ad hominem To an person's interests or passions; used of an argument that takes advantage of the character of the person on the other side.

• ad infinitum To infinity, endlessly.

• ad lib.

• ad libitum At pleasure, or to invent.

• ad valorem According to value, not to volume.

• a fortiori With stronger reason.

• a priori From cause to effect, to deduce or understood from a known principle.

• caveat emptor Let the buyer beware.

• ceteris paribus All other things being equal.

• cf To confer or compare.

• circa Approximately, used for dates and amounts. It is often abbreviated simply to c or c. For example circa 1650 or circa $100,000.

• de facto In point of fact.

• de jure By right as granted under the law.

• de profundis From the depths

• deus ex machina God from a machine; used for someone who comes from outside and corrects a situation.

• e.g..

• exempli gratia For example.

• et al.

• et alii And others, used as an abbreviation in references and bibliographies when citing multiple authors.

• ex cathedra From the chair of office, authoritatively, "with authority".

• ex officio By virtue of one's office, i.e. your official position and not unofficially advised.

• ex parte From or for one side only, in a partisan manner.

• ibid. ibidem In the same place; used in footnotes in articles to say that the reference comes from a previously mentioned source.

• idem The same, that is mentioned before; like ibidem

• i.e.

• id est That is, explains the material immediately in front of it

• in absentia In the absence of, in absence.

• in camera In a (private) room, that is, not in public, "the meeting was held in camera".

• in re In the matter of

• in situ In its original place

• inter alia

• inter alios Among other things, people

• ipso facto By that very fact.

• loc.cit

• locoa citato In the place cited, used in footnotes to indicate that the source of the reference or quote has already been given.

• mea culpa My fault (and therefor responsibility).

• mirabile dictu Wonderful to relate.

• mutatis mutandis After making the necessary changes.

• nem.con.

• nemine contradicente No one against; unanimously voted for.

• op.cit.

• opere ciatato In the work quoted; similar to loc.cit.

• pace Despite.

• pari passu On the same terms, at an equal rate, together.

• passim Used in indexes to show that the item is dispersed throughout the article or book and it appears in too many places to list all of them.

• persona non grata A person not in favour.

• petitio elenchis The sin of assuming a conclusion.

• post eventum After the event.

• post hoc,ergo,

• propter hoc After this, therefore because of this.

• post mortem After death, an examination of an event.

• prima facie At first sight.

• primus inter pares First among equals.

• pro tem.

• pro tempore For the moment.

• ps

• post scriptum Written afterwards.

• quid pro quo Something for something, of equal value.

• q.v.

• quod vide Look in a glossary for the word just mentioned.

• re With regard to, in the matter of.

• sic Thus, used in brackets in quotes to show that the writer has made a mistake.

• sine die Without setting a date.

• status quo ante Usually shortened to status quo. means the same state as before, don't change anything.

• stet Let it stand or do not delete.. Cancels an alteration in a contract or report.

• sub judice Under consideration, not yet decided.

• sub rosa Privately, furtively.

• ultra vires Beyond one's legal power.

• versus Often shortened to v or vs, against; used in reports when explaining different options available.