Latin Phrases in
Ayers Lesson XXV
pp.
139-142
Note: Definitions are from
the American Heritage Dictionary
ad
hoc adv. 1. For
the specific purpose, case, or situation at hand and for no other: a
committee formed ad hoc to address the issue of salaries. adj. 1. Formed for or concerned with one specific purpose: an ad
hoc compensation committee. 2. Improvised
and often impromptu: “ On an ad hoc basis, Congress has . . . placed .
. . ceilings on military aid to specific countries ” New
York Times [Latin ad to hoc this]
ad hominem adj.
1. Appealing to personal
considerations rather than to logic or reason: Debaters should avoid ad
hominem arguments that question their opponents' motives. [Latin ad to
hominem, accusative of homo
man] ad hominem
adv. ad
nauseam adv. 1.
To a disgusting or ridiculous degree; to the point of nausea.
[Latin ad to nauseam, accusative of nausea sickness] ad
valorem adv. In
proportion to the value: ad valorem duties on imported goods. Latin ad,
to + valorem value.] alma
mater or Alma
Mater n. 1.
The school, college, or university that one has attended. 2.
The anthem of an institution of higher learning. [Latin alma
nourishing mater mother]
alter ego n. 1. Another
side of oneself; a second self. 2. An
intimate friend or a constant companion. [Latin alter other ego I,
self]
de facto adv.
In fact. Actually. As a matter of fact, though
not of law. In reality.-adj. Exercising powers or
privileges in practice buy not by legally sanctioned right. Bukar
is the de jure head of department buy, since he has other engagements, his
work in the department is done by Smith, the de facto head of department.
Cf. de jure. [L. de of,
from about, for (1); facto deed, act fact (2): from the
deed/act.] de
iure adv. adj. Law 1. According
to law; by right. [Latin de
from iure,
ablative of ius law]
et cetera
Abbr. etc. 1.
And other unspecified things of the same class; and so forth. n. et·cet·er·a
1. A number of unspecified persons or things. 2. etceteras Additional odds
and ends; extras.
ex cathedra adv.
adj.
1. With the authority derived from one's
office or position: the pope speaking ex cathedra; ex cathedra
determinations. [Latin ex cathedra
ex from cathedra,
ablative
of cathedra chair]
ex officio adv. adj. 1. By virtue of
office or position. [Latin ex officio ex from officio,ablative
of officium office]
ex post facto adi.
Formulated, enacted or operating retroactively. Used esp. of a law.
[Lat. expostfacto: ex from + postfacto that which is
done afterward.]
habeas corpus n. Law. One of a variety of writs that may
be issued to bring a party before a court or judge, serving to release the
party from unlawful restraint. [Lat. habeas you may have + corpus
body.]
in toto
adv. 1. Totally;
altogether: recommendations that were adopted in toto. [Latin in in
, ablative of totus all]
ipso facto adv.
1. By the fact itself; by
that very fact: An alien, ipso facto, has no right to a
U.S.
passport. [New Latin ipso,ablative
of ipse itself Latin facto,ablative
of factum fact]
modus
operandi n. pl. modi
operandi 1. A method of
operating or functioning. 2.
A person's manner of working. [Lat. modus mode, way + operandi
of working.]
modus vivendi n. pl. modi
vivendi 1. A manner of
living; a way of life. 2. A
temporary agreement between contending parties pending a final settlement.
[Lat. modus mode, way + vivendi of living.] ne
plus ultra n. 1. The
highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the ultimate. 2.
the most profound degree, as of a condition or quality.
[Lat. ne no
+ plus more + ultra beyond.]
non
sequitur n. 1. An
inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence.. 2.
A statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it. [Lat. non
sequitur it does not follow.]
per capita adv.
adj. 1. Per unit of
population; per person: In that year,
American
s earned $15,304 per capita. Among the states,
Connecticut
has a high per capita income. 2. Equally
to each individual. [Medieval Latin by heads Latin per per Latin capita,
accusative pl. of caput head]
per diem
adv. Abbr. p.d. P.D. 1. By
the day; per day. adj. 1. Reckoned on a daily basis; daily.
2. Paid by the day. n. pl.
per diems 1. An allowance for
daily expenses. [Latin per per diem, accusative of di¶s
day]
per se adv. 1. Of,
in, or by itself or oneself; intrinsically. [Latin per by, se,
itself]
persona
non grata adi.
Fully unacceptable or unwelcome, esp. to a foreign government. [Lat. persona
person + non grata not welcome.] prima
facie adv.
At first sight; before closer inspection. --adj.
1. True, authentic, or adequate at first sight;
ostensible. 2. Evident
without proof or reasoning; obvious. [Lat. prima first + facie
shape, face.] adv. quasi
adj. 1.
Having a likeness to
something; resembling: a quasi success. [Middle English as if from Old
French from Latin quasi quam as.]
quid pro quo
n., pl. Giving
something to receive something else in return. Tit for tat. [L. quid what
(1); pro for, on behalf of, in accordance with, as (2); quo
what (3): what for what.]
quorum n. 1.
The minimal number of officers and members of a committee or an
organization, usually a majority, who must be present for valid transaction
of business. 2. A select
group. [Middle English quorum of justices of the peace from Latin quorum
of whom, from the wording of a commission naming certain persons as
members of a body, genitive pl. of qui] quota
n.,
pl. 1.
The share of something
which each member. 2.
A restricted percentage or number. 3.A
fixed, assigned or determined goal. [L. from quota pars: quota what in number, how many
(1); part, portion (2): what in part in number] reductio
ad absurdum
n.,
pl. reductiones
ad absurdum
Disproof
of a propositon by showing the absurdity of its inevitable conclusion. [Lat.
reductio a bringing back, reduction + ad to + absurdum
absurd.]
sic adv.
Thus, so. Used in written texts to indicate that a surprising or
paradoxical word, phrase, or fact is not a mistake and is to be read as it
stands. [Lat. sic thus.] sine
qua non
n. An
essential element or condition. [Lat. sina (qua) causa) non without
which (cause) not.] status
quo
n. The existing
condition or state of affairs. [Lat. status quo state in which.] |