(If you're looking for a favorite phrase that you suggested in Spring or Summer of 2007, please don't despair yet. I do have several good suggestions that I still plan to add to this list.)
Latin phrases used in English
Latin Phrase Abbrev. Literal English Translation Examples
ad nauseam
to the point of disgust and so on and on and on and on
amicus curiae
a friend of the court an interested third party The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus curiae brief supporting Jerry Falwell's suit against the city of Lynchburg.
causa sine qua non
a reason swithout which not an indispensible condition
cave canem!

Beware of the dog!
caveat emptor!

Let the buyer beware!
Let the customer beware!		 "Caveat emptor" applies to many phishing schemes on the internet.
de facto
from deed existing, in actuality "De facto segregration" arises from daily living rather than legal sanction.
de jure
according to law legally "De jure segregration" is sanctioned or demanded by law.
de minimis
about smallest (things)
 about trivia
about trivialities
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_minimis
et alii et al. and others and others The Interminable Tome by Joshua Longworth, Mary Longworth, et al.
et cetera etc. and the rest and so on
ex post facto
after the deed retroactive The U.S. Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws. (An ex post facto law makes a crime out of an act committed before the enactment of the law.)
exempli gratia e.g. for the sake of an example for example The mayors of some cities, e.g. Columbus, are directly elected by the miserabile vulgus (q.v.), while others are appointed by the city council.
habeas corpus (ad subjiciendum)
You may have the body (to be submitted [for examination]). a legal petition challenging detention or imprisonment [Wikipedia article]
id est i.e. it is, that is that is
in actu

in practice While I see no reason in theory why bread should fall jelly-side down, in actu it seems to happen more often than not.
In hoc signo vinces.
In this sign thou wilt conquer. In this sign you will conquer. (This motto was supposedly adopted by the emperor [Imperator] Constantine. It also appears on Pall Mall cigarette packs.)
Wikipedia reference.
inter alia
among others among other things The boat is not seaworthy because, inter alia, it has a leaky bottom.
mea culpa
my fault Woops!
miserabile vulgus
the pathetic masses the wretched rabble
Nota bene n.b. Note well! Note carefully!
Novus ordo saeculorum
Novus ordo seclorum

A new order for the ages (See the back of a $1.00 bill.)
post hoc ergo propter hoc post hoc
 after this therefore because of this It happened before and it is thus the cause. (a logical fallacy) Post hoc fallacy:
I did five pushups and my cold went away three days later. Therefore pushups cured my cold.

Extreme post hoc fallacy:
I did five pushups and my cold went away three days later.  Therefore five pushups is a cure for the common cold.
prima facie
by first look
 self-evident from the facts
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_facie
qui nucleum vult nucem frangat

[link to translation]
quid pro quo
something for something tit for tat He hung the pictures as a gesture of friendship; there was no quid pro quo.
(See also: a transcript of the Senate trial of the Clinton impeachment.)
quod vide q.v. which see (a reference to another part of a published work)
quod erat
demonstrandum		 Q.E.D. which was to be proved this is what I set out to prove;
end of proof		 ...and thus the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the two legs.  Q.E.D.
requiem
rest (acc.) a mass for a deceased person;
a song of mourning
requiescat
in pace		 RIP may he (or she) rest in peace

res ipsa loquitur
 res ips.
 the matter itself speaks
 the situation speaks for itself;
the matter is self-evident
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_ipsa_loquitur
sine die
without a day indefinitely
until mañana		 The proceedings in Brookville vs. Thompson are suspended sine die.
sine qua non
without which not an indispensible person or object It's a sine qua non that Jupiter be invoked thrice before bedtime.
summum bonum
the highest good (Philosophy:)
the ultimate ends
Ursa major
The bigger bear The Big Dipper (a constellation)
Ursa minor
The smaller bear The Little Dipper (another constellation)
versus vs. inverted
(pp. of verto)		 against Brown vs. Board of Education

N.B.: Purists who point out that the Big Dipper is merely a subconstellation of Ursa major will be cheerfully ignored.

Proverbs, Adages, Mottos and Oracles
Annuit coeptis. He has smiled on our undertakings.
De gustibus non disputandum est. There is no accounting for taste.
Literally: Concerning taste, it is not to be argued.
De minimis non curat lex.
 The law does not care about trivialities.
De minimis non curat praetor.
 The judge does not care about trivialities.
E pluribus unum. Out of many [comes] one.
Nemo est haeres viventis. Nobody is an heir to [one still] living.
see: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2004/04/14/41223.htm
(A New Jersey court cited the doctrine of "nemo est haeres viventis"
in rejecting the legality of a waiver signed by scuba diver killed in
an accident.  Bonnie Gershon, et al. v. Regency Diving Center, Inc.)
In hoc signo vinces. In this sign, thou shalt conquer.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur. Anything said in Latin sounds profound.
Literally: Whatever may have been said in Latin is heard (as) profound.
Res ipsa loquitur.
 The matter is self-evident.  [see above]
Literally: The matter itself speaks.
Veni. Vidi. Vici. I came.  I saw.  I conquered.
Latin phrases that ought to be used
Latin Phrase Abbrev. Literal English Translation Examples
cave fatuum! (masc.)
cave fatuam! (fem.)
cave fatuos! (pl.)

Beware of the fool(s)! Sign posted on the managers' restroom door : Cave fatuis!
cave felem!

Beware of the cat! Sign posted on lawn to ward off salespeople and proselytisers: Cave felem!
caveat attemptor!

Let the tryer beware! Sign posted by the very high diving board: Caveat attemptor!
sacra bos Sac.b. holy cow Holy cow! Sac.b., Batman!  This could only be the work of the Riddler!
sacra forda Sac.For. holy pregnant cow HOLY COW!
(more emphatic than "Sacra bos)		 Sac.For., Batman!  We've been snared by the Riddler!
Mail comments to Eric Conrad econrad@math.ohiostate.edu
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Last updated: May 22, 2008