calvo turpius est nihil comato
Literal translation: nothing (is) uglier than a bald (man) with hair.
In an English sentence: “Calvo turpius est nihil comato,” muttered the salesman as he tried to interest a balding customer in a new hat.
This is not a phrase that you will see very often, but it is an easy one to understand: even today people make fun of a man with a comb-over!
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Showing posts with label Latin Everywhere Everyday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latin Everywhere Everyday. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
a.d. III Kal. Oct.
Numen lumen (University of Wisconsin)
Literal translation: God (is) light
Remember that numen meant “God” or “Providence” in the motto of Colorado, nil sine Numine, “nothing without God”? If you do, it will be easy for you to remember that numen means “God” in this motto. Lumen is also an interesting word choice. It means “light,” but it refers to lamplight while lux is daylight. “Lumen” is actually an English word for a unit of measurement used for light emission. “Luminous” in English means “bright” or “shining.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: God (is) light
Remember that numen meant “God” or “Providence” in the motto of Colorado, nil sine Numine, “nothing without God”? If you do, it will be easy for you to remember that numen means “God” in this motto. Lumen is also an interesting word choice. It means “light,” but it refers to lamplight while lux is daylight. “Lumen” is actually an English word for a unit of measurement used for light emission. “Luminous” in English means “bright” or “shining.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
a.d. XVII Kal. Oct.
cum grano salis
Literal translation: with a grain of salt
More common meaning: with a little disbelief, not too seriously
In an English sentence: I took my friend’s boasting cum grano salis.
You treat something cum grano salis when it sounds a little too good to be true. Similarly, when you take something lightly instead of seriously, you are taking it cum grano salis.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: with a grain of salt
More common meaning: with a little disbelief, not too seriously
In an English sentence: I took my friend’s boasting cum grano salis.
You treat something cum grano salis when it sounds a little too good to be true. Similarly, when you take something lightly instead of seriously, you are taking it cum grano salis.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Thursday, July 16, 2009
a.d. XVII Kal. Aug.
persona non grata
Literal translation: unwelcome person
In an English sentence: The State Department declared the accused spy to be a persona non grata.
A country can designate a visitor as a persona non grata for any number of reasons including suspected terrorist activities or criminal charges lodged in the person’s own country. A person who has been declared a persona non grata must leave the country immediately.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: unwelcome person
In an English sentence: The State Department declared the accused spy to be a persona non grata.
A country can designate a visitor as a persona non grata for any number of reasons including suspected terrorist activities or criminal charges lodged in the person’s own country. A person who has been declared a persona non grata must leave the country immediately.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
a.d. VIII Kal. Iul.
ars gratia artis
Literal translation: art for the sake of art
In an English sentence: The starving artist often murmured, “ars gratia artis.”
Ars gratia artis is the motto of MGM studios. You can see the phrase on a banner under the MGM lion on the company logo. It means creating something beautiful for its own sake, not for the sake of profit.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: art for the sake of art
In an English sentence: The starving artist often murmured, “ars gratia artis.”
Ars gratia artis is the motto of MGM studios. You can see the phrase on a banner under the MGM lion on the company logo. It means creating something beautiful for its own sake, not for the sake of profit.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
a.d. IV Id. Iun.
MEMORĀBILE DICTŪ
Omnia vincit amor.
“Love conquers all things.” (Vergil, Eclogue 10.69)
This sentence became proverbial for the power of love.
From Latin for the New Millennium
Omnia vincit amor.
“Love conquers all things.” (Vergil, Eclogue 10.69)
This sentence became proverbial for the power of love.
From Latin for the New Millennium
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
a.d. VII Kal. Iun.
quid pro quo
Literal translation: something for something
More common meaning: tit for tat
In an English sentence: I hid my friend’s book so, as quid pro quo, she hid my pencil.
Quid pro quo can describe a situation in which one person seeks revenge from another who has harmed him. Here, quid pro quo means “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The phrase can also refer to a situation in which a kind deed is repaid with kindness.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: something for something
More common meaning: tit for tat
In an English sentence: I hid my friend’s book so, as quid pro quo, she hid my pencil.
Quid pro quo can describe a situation in which one person seeks revenge from another who has harmed him. Here, quid pro quo means “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The phrase can also refer to a situation in which a kind deed is repaid with kindness.
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Non. Mai.
sui generis
Literal translation: of its own kind
More common meaning: unique
In an English sentence: My dog is of no known breed; he is sui generis.
In Linnaeus’ system of binomial nomenclature, each plant and animal has both a genus and a species name. The Latin word genus means “kind” or “sort,” and sui means “of its own.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: of its own kind
More common meaning: unique
In an English sentence: My dog is of no known breed; he is sui generis.
In Linnaeus’ system of binomial nomenclature, each plant and animal has both a genus and a species name. The Latin word genus means “kind” or “sort,” and sui means “of its own.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
a.d. XI Kal. Mai.
in flagrante delicto
Literal translation: in a burning crime
More common meaning: caught in the act, caught red-handed
In an English sentence: The thief was caught in flagrante delicto.
Flagrante means “burning.” It is the root of the English word “flagrant,” which means
“shockingly noticeable.” Delicto means “crime.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: in a burning crime
More common meaning: caught in the act, caught red-handed
In an English sentence: The thief was caught in flagrante delicto.
Flagrante means “burning.” It is the root of the English word “flagrant,” which means
“shockingly noticeable.” Delicto means “crime.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Thursday, April 09, 2009
a.d. V Id. Apr.
ipso facto
Literal translation: by the fact itself
More common meaning: by that very fact
In an English sentence: The student’s outstanding grade point average qualified her,
ipso facto, to serve as the valedictorian of the graduating class.
Facto is a form of factum, the Latin word for “fact” or “deed.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
Literal translation: by the fact itself
More common meaning: by that very fact
In an English sentence: The student’s outstanding grade point average qualified her,
ipso facto, to serve as the valedictorian of the graduating class.
Facto is a form of factum, the Latin word for “fact” or “deed.”
From Elizabeth Heimbach's book Latin Everywhere, Everyday
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
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
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
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