Tuesday, March 31, 2009

pridie Kal. Apr.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

Iacta ālea est.
“The die is cast.” (Suetonius, The Life of Julius Caesar, 33).

These words were reportedly said by Julius Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon River into Italy with his victorious armies after his conquest of Gaul, disregarding the Senate’s order to disband his forces. The saying has become symbolic of the state of mind of a person who has made a fateful decision and is prepared to accept the outcome.

From Latin for the New Millennium

Friday, March 27, 2009

a.d. VI Kal. Apr.

Concordia res est in rebus maxime adversis utilis.
–Anonymous

Thursday, March 26, 2009

a.d. VII Kal. Apr.

aut disce aut discede (Winchester College)
Literal translation: either learn or leave

This motto from an English school sounds a bit harsh! Notice that “college” here does not mean post secondary school. Rather it refers to what we call a high school. In Latin aut…aut means “either…or.” You may remember the phrase Docendo discitur, “one learns by teaching.”

From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

a.d. VIII Kal Apr.

In propria pelle quiesce.
-Aesop's Fables

From Laura Gibbs' book, Aesop's Fables in Latin.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

a.d. IX Kal. Apr.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

STVBEEV
“If you are well, it is well; I am well.”

The Romans could send a letter as short as these seven letters, which stand for “Sī tū valēs, bene est; ego valeō.”

From Latin for the New Millennium

Friday, March 20, 2009

a.d. XIII Kal. Apr.

quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.)
Literal translation: that which was to be proved

In an English sentence: The student who put his work on the board wrote quod erat demonstrandum beside the answer.

You might put this phrase or its abbreviation at the end of a math problem to show that your final answer is correct, and that you have proved what the problem required you to prove.

From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday

Thursday, March 19, 2009

a.d. XIV Kal. Apr.

Similia similibus curantur.
–Samuel Hahnemann

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

a.d. XV Kal. Apr.

Auxilium peto, non consilium.
-Aesop's Fables

From Laura Gibbs' book, Aesop's Fables in Latin.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

a.d. XVI Kal. Apr.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

Aurī sacra famēs.
“Accursed hunger for gold.” (Vergil, Aeneid, 3.57)

Vergil’s words have become proverbial as a concise phrase condemning the insatiable human appetite for money.

From Latin for the New Millennium

Friday, March 13, 2009

a.d. III Id. Mar.

confer (cf.)
Literal translation: compare

In an English sentence: In my dictionary, the definition of the word “benevolent” is followed by the abbreviation cf. and the word “malevolent.” Cf. tells me that I should look up “malevolent” and compare the definitions of the two words.

The abbreviation cf. directs you to other entries in a dictionary. It is similar to the expression quod vide or vide meaning “which see” or “see.”

From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday

Thursday, March 12, 2009

a.d. IV Id. Mar.


Asinus oneri totus succubuit et halitum clausit supremum.
-Aesop's Fables

From Laura Gibbs' book, Aesop's Fables in Latin.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

a.d. V Id. Mar.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

Homō sum: hūmānī nihil ā mē aliēnum putō.
“I am a human being: I think that nothing human is foreign to me.” (Terence, The Self-Tormentor, 77)

Th is saying became proverbial, furnishing evidence for Terence’s intense interest in human character.

From Latin for the New Millennium

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

a.d. VI Id. Mar.

In sinu colubrum habet.
-Aesop's Fables

From Laura Gibbs' book, Aesop's Fables in Latin.

Friday, March 06, 2009

pridie Non. Mar.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

Inter sacrum saxumque.
“Between a rock and a hard place,” literally “between the sacrificial animal and
the rock.” (Plautus, Captives, 617)

Th is expression was used by the Roman comic playwright Plautus in his comedies Th e Captives and Casina to indicate a difficult situation for which there seems to be no solution. Characters in many of Plautus’ comedies find themselves in such difficult circumstances.

From Latin for the New Millennium

Thursday, March 05, 2009

a.d. III Non. Mar.

Lupus non curat numerum ovium.
-Aesop's Fables

From Laura Gibbs' book, Aesop's Fables in Latin.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

a.d. IV Non. Mar.

MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ

SPQR: Senātus Populusque Rōmānus.
“The Senate and the People of Rome.”

These four letters form what is known as an acronym, one that symbolized supreme power in ancient Rome.

From Latin for the New Millennium

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

a.d. V Non. Mar.

Sicut Patribus Sit Deus Nobis
—Motto of Boston