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
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
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
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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