Latin and Foreign Phrases
Etymology
• Etymology (n) is the study of the history
and origins of words.
Ad hoc
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– adj- for or concerned with one specific purpose
– Adv– for one specific case
• Etymology
– Ad= to
– Hoc = this
• Another way to say it
– Used for one reason and one reason only
– An ad hoc committee is created for a specific purpose; after
completing the job it is dissolved
Bona fide
•
What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun– authentic true
– Adj– made or carried out in good faith
• Etymology
– Bona– good
– Fide- faith
• Another way to say it
– Like Coca Cola, bona fides (n) means “the real thing.”
In other words, sincere,
– involving no deceit or fraud; in good faith.
– One’s bona fides are documents establishing one’s
honesty.
Carpe diem
• What does it mean and its function (part of speech)?
– Verb-seize the day, enjoy the present
• Etymology
– Carpe- seize
– Diem- day
• Another way to say it
– Do what you can now, don’t place all hope in the
future
– Carpe diem is a motto which says to live in now, and
to not waste time!
Caveat emptor
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- let the buyer beware: the principle that the seller of a
product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is
guaranteed in a warranty
• Etymology
– Caveat- to beware
– Emptor- buyer
• Another way to say it
– It is your own fault if you buy something
broken or faulty, etc
– If a buyer purchases something without
a warranty, the buyer takes the risk.
De Facto
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun-actually existing
– Adv- in reality or fact; actually
Etymology
– De-from, according to
– Facto- fact
• Another way to say it
– of or belonging to fact, means that something
is real; that it actually exists.
– She is the deFacto leader of the union even
though she is not the elected president
In extremis
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Adv- at the point of death, in grave or extreme circumstance
• Etymology
– In –in
– Extremis –Extreme
• Another way to say it
– In dire or desperate situations
– refers to being in extreme circumstances, especially
at the point of death.
– Because of all its descriptions of famous people in
extremis, I found the book depressing.
In medias res
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Adv- in or into the middle of a sequence of events
• Etymology
– In- into
– Medias- in the middle of
– Res- thing
• Another way to say it
– In the middle of midst of the action
– If I am in medias res then I am in the midst of
things.
In toto
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Adv- totally; altogether
• Etymology
– In – in
– Toto- all
• Another way to say it
– In all, entirely, completely
– ‘ in total’, which is what it means; altogether,
entirely.
– THE CAR IS PAINTED IN TOTO WITH PINK
POLKA DOTS
Modus operandi
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- mode of operating or working
• Etymology
– Modus – mode
– Operandi- to work
• Another way to say it
– One’s method of work or operation
– refers to someone’s method of doing things.
– THE MODUS OPERANDI FOR WRITING A NEWS
PAPER ARTICLE INCLUDES: 1) WRITE A
HEADLINE 2) WRITE A LEAD AND 3) WRITE A
FEW SHORT, FACTUAL PARAGRAPHS ABOUT
THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT
Modus vivendi
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Plural noun- a manner of living
• Etymology
– Modus- mode
– Vivendi- to live
• Another way to say it
– A way of life
– means a way of living, a way of getting along.
– NATIVE AMERICANS’ MODUS VIVENDI INVOLVED
HUNTING AND GATHERING DECADES AGO.
Persona non grata
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- a person who is not welcome
• Etymology
– Persona – person
– Non – not
– Grata – acceptable
• Another way to say
– A person who is unacceptable or unwelcome
– WHEN THE PERSONA NON GRATA
CRASHED THE PARTY, OUR HOSTESS
KINDLY ASKED HIM TO LEAVE.
Prima facie
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- at first appearance, at first view
• Etymology
– Prima- first
– Facie- shape ,face
• Another way to say it
– At first sight, before closer inspection
– It just means, “How could you miss it? It is
right there!”
– PRIMA FACIE, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH
JAPAN HAS BOMBED US TERRITORY.
Pro bono publico
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Adj- for the public good
• Etymology
– Pro- for
– Bono-good
– Publico- public
• Another way to say it
– For the good of the people or the populace
– WE PROVIDE PRO BONO PUBLICO LEGAL
SERVICES TO THOSE WHO CANNOT
OTHERWISE OBTAIN LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
Pro Forma
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- according to form, as a matter of form
• Etymology
– Pro- for the sake of
– Forma- form
• Another way to say it
– Having to do with formality or something formal
– that matters are conducted according to the right way,
or the way things are done.
– IT WAS A PRO FORMA INTERVIEW- THE
DECISION TO HIRE HER HAD ALREADY BEEN
MADE
quid pro quo
•
•
•
•
•
•
What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
Noun- one thing in return for another
Etymology
Quid- something
Pro- for
Quo- something
• Another way to say it
• When something is given or received in
exchange for something else, it is quid pro quo.
• THE SENATOR GAVE THE LAWYER A
WATCH QUID PRO QUO, THEN MADE HIS
REQUEST FROM THE LAWYER.
requiescat in pace
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
• Verb- may he or she rest in peace
• Etymology
– Requiescat – to rest
– In – in
– Pace- peace
• Another way to say it
– The Latin requiescat in pace (foreign term) has
become known as “rest in peace.” Its acronym, RIP, is
often seen on head stones in cemeteries.
– WE ETCHED RIP ON MY CAT’S TOMBSTONE IN
HOPES SHE WOULD REST IN PEACE
Sic transit gloria mundi
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Adv- thus passes away the glory of this world
• Etymology
– Sic- thus
– Transit- moves passes
– Gloria-glory
– Mundi-world
• Another way to say it
• UPON SEEING THE PLANES CRASH INTO
THE TOWERS, THE MINISTER MUMBLES TO
HIMSELF, “SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI.”
Sine qua non
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– (n) literally means “without which not” or something without
which you can’t live.
• Etymology
– Sine- without
– Qua- which, what, who,
– Non- not
• Another way to say it
– Most important, imperative, could not do without
– THE ABILITY OF EACH PLAYER TO LISTEN TO
THE OTHERS IN THE QUARTET IS SIN QUA NON.
Sub rosa
• What does it mean and its function ( part of speech)?
– Noun- privately
– Adj- in secret
• Etymology
– Sub- under
– Rosa- rose
• Another way to say it
– Held in secret, a private undisturbed meeting, party, gathering,
etc
– not a submarine in the navy but, like a sub’s
movements, is secret.
– THE ARTIST SUB ROSA PAINTED A TREASURE
MAP ON THE BACK OF HIS RENOWNED CANVAS.