used by lawyers since the 17th century or earlier. An established principle or proposition. A principle
of law universally admitted, as being a correct statement of the law, or as agreeable to natural reason.
Coke defines a maxim to be conclusion of reason, and says that it is so called quia maxima ejus
dignitas et certissima auctorir tas, et quod maxime omnibus probetur. Co. Litt. llo. He says in another
place: A maxime is a proposition to be of all men confessed and granted without proof, argument, or
discourse.
Some of them can be traced to earlyRoman law. Much more general in scope than ordinary rules of
law, legal maxims commonly formulate a legal policy or ideal that judges are supposed to consider in
deciding cases. Maxims do not normally have the dogmatic authority of statutes and are usually not
considered to be law except to the extent of their application in adjudicated cases. In California some
maxims have been incorporated into the civil code; one example is, Anyone may waive the
advantage of a law intended solely for his benefit. But a law established for a public reason cannot be
contravened by a private agreement. (Thus, an agreement not to invoke the statute of limitations is
binding, but an agreement not to plead that a certain contract constitutes an illegal restraint of trade is
not.) Another example is, The law never requires impossibilities: Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.
(Thus, an actor who becomes ill is excused from performing even though his contract does not so
state.)
With the expansion of commerce and industry in the 16th and 17th centuries, English courts were
called upon to decide many novel cases for which the rules of medieval common lawprovided little or
no guidance, and judges felt the need for broad, authoritative principles to support their decisions. The
English lawyer and philosopher Francis Bacon (15611626) composed a collection of maxims of the
common law in Latin with an elaborate English commentary on each; and the writings of the English
jurist Sir Edward Coke (15521634) were replete with similar Latin aphorisms, some borrowed
from Roman law, others invented. Collections of maxims, usually followed by explanatory comments
and references to illustrative cases, continued to appear during the next three centuries
in England and the United States. With the accumulation of statutes, precedents, and voluminous
textbooks, however, the maxims steadily declined in importance. Eventually, they were criticized by
judges for what had once been considered their most valuable characteristic: their generality and
vagueness. Although some of the ideas embodied in them retain considerable influence, the maxims
themselves are now less often referred to.
Legal maxims are invoked with more frequency in international law, where their breadth and implied
universal acceptance has greater appeal.
Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur - A patent ambiguity is never helped by averment.
Amicus curiae - A friend of the Court.
Angliae jura in omni casu libertati dant favorem - The laws of England are favorable in every case to liberty.
Animo furandi - With an intention of stealing.
Animo testandi - With an intention of making a will.
Annus luctus - The year of mourning.
Ante - Before.
Aqua currit et debet currere, ut currere solebat - Water runs and ought to run.
Arbitrium est judicium - An award is a judgment.
Arbor dum crescit; lignum cum crescere nescit - A tree while it grows, wood when it cannot grow.
Argumentum ab auctoritate fortissimum est in lege - An argument drawn from authority is the strongest in law.
Argumentum ab impossibilii plurimum valet in lege - An argument from impossibility is very strong in law.
Argumentum ad hominem - An argument directed a the person.
Argumentum ad ignoratiam - An argument based upon ignorance (i.e. of one's adversary).
Arma in armatos sumere jura sinunt - The laws permit the taking up of arms against the armed.
Assentio mentium - The meeting of minds, i.e. mutual assent.
Assignatus utitur jure auctoris - An assignee is clothed with rights of his assignor.
Audi alteram partem - Hear the other side.
Aula regis - The King's Court.
B
Benignior sententia in verbis generalibus seu dubiis est preferenda - The more favorable construction is to be placed on general
or doubtful words.
Bis dat qui cito dat - He gives (pays) twice who pays promptly.
Bona fide - Sincere, in good faith
Bona vacantia - Goods without an owner
Boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem - It is the part of a good judge to enlarge his jurisdiction, i.e. remedial authority.
Boni judicis est judicium sine dilatione mandare executioni - It is the duty of a good judge to cause execution to issue on a
judgment without delay.
Boni judicis lites dirimere est - It is the duty of a good judge to prevent litigation.
Bonus judex secundum aequum et bonum judicat et aequitatem stricto juri praefert - A good judge decides according to justice
and right and prefers equity to strict law.
Breve judiciale non cadit pro defectu formae - A judicial writing does not fail through defect of form.
C
Cadit quaestio - The matter admits of no further argument.
Cassetur billa (breve) - Let the writ be quashed.
Casus fortuitus non est spectandus; et nemo tenetur divinare - A fortuitous event is not to be foreseen and no person is bound to
divine it.
Catalla reputantur inter minima in lege - Chattels are considered in law among the minor things.
Causa proxima, non remota spectatur - The immediate, and not the remote cause is to be considered.
Caveat emptor - Let the purchaser beware.
Caveat venditor - Let the seller beware.
Cepi corpus et est languidum - I have taken the body and the prisoner is sick.
Cepi corpus et paratum habeo - I have taken the body and have it ready.
Ceteris paribus - Other things being equal.
Consensu - Unanimously or, by general consent.
Consensus ad idem - Agreement as to the same things.
Consuetudo loci observanda est - The custom of the place is to be observed.
Contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege - A contemporaneous exposition is best and most powerful in law.
Contra - To the contrary.
Contra bonos mores - Against good morals.
Contra non valentem agere nulla currit praescriptio - No prescription runs against a person not able to act.
Contractus est quasi actus contra actum - A contract is an act as it were against an act.
Conventio et modus vincunt legem - A contract and agreement overcome the law.
Conventio privatorum non potest publico juri derogare - An agreement of private persons cannot derogate from public right.
Coram Domino Rege - In the presence of our Lord the King.
Coram non judice - Before one who is not a judge.
Corpus - Body.
Corpus delicti - The body, i.e. the gist of crime.
Corpus humanum non recipit aestimationem - A human body is not susceptible of appraisement.
Crescente malitia crescere debet et poena - Vice increasing, punishment ought also to increase.
Crimen omnia ex se nata vitiat - Crime vitiates every thing, which springs from it.
Crimen trahit personam - The crime carries the person.
Cujus est dare, ejus est disponere - He who has a right to give has the right to dispose of the gift.
Cujus est solum, ejus est usque ad coelam; et ad inferos - He who owns the soil owns it up to the sky; and to its depth.
Cum duo inter se pugnantia reperiuntur in testamentis ultimum ratum est - When two things repugnant to each other are found in
a will, the last is to be confirmed.
Cursus curiae est lex curiae - The practice of the court is the law of the court.
Custos morum - A guardian of morals.
D
Damnum sine injuria - damage without legal injury.
De bonis asportatis - Of goods carried away.
De bonis non administratis - Of goods not administered.
De die in diem - From day to day.
De facto - In fact.
De futuro - In the future.
De integro - As regards the whole.
De jure - Rightful, by right.
De minimis lex non curat - The law does not notice trifling matters.
De novo - Starting afresh.
Debile fundamentum fallit opus - Where there is a weak foundation, the work fails.
Debita sequuntur personam debitoria - Debts follow the person of the debtor.
Debitor non praesumitur donare - A debtor is not presumed to make a gift.
Debitum et contractus sunt nullius loci - Debt and contract are of no particular place.
Debitum in praesenti, solvendum in futuro - A present debt is to be discharged in the future.
Delegata potestas non potest delegari - A delegated authority cannot be again delegated.
Derivativa potestas non potest esse major primitiva - The power which is derived cannot be greater than that from which it is
derived.
Deus solus haeredem facere potest, non homo - God alone, not man, can make an heir.
Dies Dominicus non est juridicus - Sunday is not a day in law.
Discretio est discernere per legem quid sit justum - Discretion is to discern through law what is just.
Doli incapax - Incapable of crime.
Dominium - Ownership.
Domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium - Every man s house is his safest refuge.
Dona clandestina sunt semper suspiciosa - Clandestine gifts are always suspicious.
Dormiunt leges aliquando, nunquam moriuntur - The laws sometimes sleep, but never die.
Doti lex favet; praemium pudoris est; ideo parcatur - The law favors dower; it is the reward of chastity, therefore let it be preserved.
Dubitante - Doubting the correctness of the decision.
Duo non possunt in solido unam rem possidere - Two cannot possess one thing each in entirety.
E
Ei incumbit probatio qui - The onus of proving a fact rests upon the man.
Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat - The burden of the proof lies upon him who affirms, not he who denies.
Error, qui non resistitur approbatur - An error not resisted is approved.
Et cetera - Other things of that type.
Ex cathedra - With official authority.
Ex concessis - In view of what has already been accepted/
Ex dolo malo actio non oritur - A right of action cannot arise out of fraud.
Ex facie - On the fact of it.
Ex gratia - Out of kindness, voluntary.
Ex nihilo nil fit - From nothing nothing comes.
Ex nudo pacto actio non oritur - No action arises on a contract without a consideration.
Ex parte - Proceeding brought by one person in the absence of another.
Ex post facto - By reason of a subsequent act.
Ex praecedentibus et consequentibus optima fit interpretatio - The best interpretation is made from things preceding and following.
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio - No action arises on an immoral contract.
Exceptio probat regulam - An exception proves the rule.
Executio est executio juris secundum judicium - Execution is the fulfillment of the law in accordance with the judgment.
Executio est finis et fructus legis - An execution is the end and the fruit of the law.
Executio legis non habet injuriam - Execution of the law does no injury.
Extra legem positus est civiliter mortuus - One out of the pale of the law (i.e. an outlaw) is civilly dead.
F
Faciendum - Something which is to be done.
Factum - An act or deed.
Facultas probationum non est angustanda - The right of offering proof is not to be narrowed.
Falsa demonstratio non nocet - A false description does not vitiate.
Fatetur facinus qui judicium fugit - He who flees judgment confesses his guilt.
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas - Happy is he who has been able to understand the causes of things.
Felonia implicatur in qualibet proditione - Felony is implied in every treason.
Festinatio justitiae est noverca infortunii - The hurrying of justice is the stepmother of misfortune.
Fictio cedit veritati; fictio juris non est, ubi veritas - Fiction yields to truth. Where truth is, fiction of law does not exist.
Fides servanda est - Good faith is to be preserved.
Fieri facias (abreviated fi. fa.) - That you cause to be made.
Filiatio non potest probari - Filiation cannot be proved.
Firmior et potentior est operatio legis quam dispositio hominis - The operation of law is firmer and more powerful than the will of
man.
Forma legalis forma essentialis est - Legal form is essential form.
Fortior est custodia legis quam hominis - The custody of the law is stronger than that of man.
Fractionem diei non recipit lex - The law does not regard a fraction of a day.
Fraus est celare fraudem - It is a fraud to conceal a fraud.
Fraus est odiosa et non praesumenda - Fraud is odious and is not to be presumed.
Fraus et jus nunquam cohabitant - Fraud and justice never dwell together.
Fructus naturales - Vegetation which grows naturally without cultivation.
Frustra probatur quod probatum non relevat - That is proved in vain which when proved is not relevant.
Furor contrahi matrimonium non sinit, quia consensus opus est - Insanity prevents marriage from being contracted because
consent is needed.
G
Generale nihil certum implicat - A general expression implies nothing certain.
Generalia praecedunt, specialia sequuntur - Things general precede, things special follow.
Generalia specialibus non derogant - Things general do not derogate from things special.
Generalis regula generaliter est intelligenda - A general rule is to be generally understood.
Gravius est divinam quam temporalem laedere majestatem - It is more serious to hurt divine than temporal majesty.
I
Id est (i.e) - That is.
Id quod commune est, nostrum esse dicitur - That which is common is said to be ours.
Idem - The same person or thing.
Idem nihil dicere et insufficienter dicere est - It is the same to say nothing as not to say enough.
Ignorantia facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat - Ignorance of fact excuses, ignorance of law does not excuse.
Imperium in imperio - A sovereignty within a sovereignty.
Impotentia excusat legem - Impossibility is an excuse in the law.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat - Impunity always leads to greater crimes.
In aequali jure melior est conditio possidentis - When the parties have equal rights, the condition of the possessor is better.
In alta proditione nullus potest esse acessorius; sed principalis solum modo - In high treason no one can be an accessory; but a
principal only.
In Anglia non est interregnum - In England there is no interregnum.
In camera - In private.
In casu extremae necessitatis omnia sunt communia - In a case of extreme necessity everything is common.
In criminalibus probationes debent esse luce clariores - In criminal cases the proofs ought to be cleared than the light.
In curia domini regis, ipse in propria persona jura discernit - In the King s Court, the King himself in his own person dispenses
justice.
In delicto - At fault.
In esse - In existence.
In extenso - At full length.
In fictione legis aequitas existit - A legal fiction is consistent with equity.
In foro conscientiae - In the forum of conscience.
Interpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus - To interpret and harmonize laws is the best method of
interpretation.
Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat - Such a construction is to be made that the thing may have effect rather
than it should fail.
Interruptio multiplex non tollit praescriptionem semel obtentam - Repeated interruption does not defeat a prescription once
obtained.
Invito beneficium non datur - A benefit is not conferred upon one against his consent.
Ipsissima verba - The very words of a speaker.
Ipso facto - By that very fact.
Ira furor brevis est - Anger is brief insanity.
Iter arma leges silent - In war the laws are silent.
J
Judex est lex loquens - A judge is the law speaking.
Judex non potest esse testis in propira causa - A judge cannot be witness in his own cause.
Judex non potest injuriam sibi datam punire - A judge cannon punish a wrong done to himself.
Judex non reddit plus quam quod petens ipse requirit - A judge does not give more than the plaintiff himself demands.
Judiciis posterioribus fides est adhibenda - Faith must be given to later decisions.
Judicis est judicare secundum allegata et probata - It is the duty of a judge to decide according to the allegations and the proofs.
Judicium non debet esse illusorium, suum effectum habere debet - A judgment ought not to be illusory; it ought to have its proper
effect.
Juduces non tenentur exprimere causam sententiae suae - Judges are not bound to explain the reason of their judgment.
Jura naturae sunt immutabilia - The laws of nature are immutable.
Jura publica anteferenda privatis juribus - Public rights are to be preferred to private rights.
Juramentum est indivisibile et non est admittendum in parte verum et in parte falsum - An oath is indivisible and it is not to be held
partly true and partly false.
Jurare est Deum in testem vocare, et est actus divini cultus - To swear is to call God to witness and is an act of divine worship.
Jus - A right that is recognised in law.
Jus accrescendi praefertur oneribus - The right of survivorship is preferred to incumbrances.
Jus ad rem; jus in re - A right to a thing; a right in a thing.
Jus dicere, non jus dare - To declare the law, not to make the law.
Jus est norma recti; et quicquid est contra normam recti est injuria - The law is a rule of right; and whatever is contrary to a rule of
right is an injury.
Jus naturale - Natural justice.
Jus naturale est quod apud omnes homines eandem habet potentiam - Natural right is that which has the same force among all
men.
Jus scriptum aut non scriptum - The written law or the unwritten law.
Jusjurandum inter alios factum nec nocere nec prodesse debet - An oath made between third parties ought neither to hurt nor
profit.
Justitia est duplec; severe puniens et vere praeveniens - Justice is two-fold; severely punishing and in reality prohibiting
(offences).
Justitia firmatur solium - The throne is established by justice.
Justitia nemini neganda est - Justice is to be denied to no one
L
Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant - Subsequent laws repeal prior conflicting ones.
Legibus sumptis desinentibus legibus naturae utendum est - When laws imposed by the State fail, we must use the laws of
nature.
Lex aliquando sequitur aequitatem - The law sometimes follows equity.
Lex citius tolerare vult privatum damnum quam publicum malum - The law would rather tolerate a private injury than a public evil.
Lex dabit remedium - The law will give a remedy.
Lex dilationes abhorret - The law abhors delays.
Lex est judicum tutissimus ductor - The law is the safest guide for judges.
Lex est sanctio sancta jubens honesta et prohibens contraria - The law is a sacred sanction, commanding what is right and
prohibiting the contrary.
Lex indendit vicinum vicini facta scire - The law presumes that one neighbor knows the acts of another.
Lex necessitatis est lex temporis i.e. instantis - The law of necessity is the law of time, that is time present.
Lex neminem cogit ad vana seu impossiblia - The law compels no one to do vain or impossible things.
Lex nil frustra facit - The law does nothing in vain.
Lex non a rege est violanda - The law must not be violated even by the King.
Lex non deficere potest in justitia exhibenda - The law cannot fail in dispensing justice.
Lex non novit patrem, nec matrem; solam veritatem - The law does not know neither father nor mother, only the truth.
Lex non oritur ex injuria - The law does not arise from a mere injury.
Lex non requirit verificari quod apparet curiae - The law does not require that to be proved which is apparent to the Court.
Lex non favet delicatorum votis - The law does not favor the wishes of the dainty.
Lex plus laudatur quando ratione probatur - The law is the more praised when it is supported by reason.
Lex prospicit not respicit - The law looks forwared, not backward.
Lex punit mendaciam - The law punishes falsehood.
Lex rejicit superflua, pugnatia, incongrua - The law rejects superfluous, contradictory and incongruous things.
Lex spectat naturae ordinem - The law regards the order of nature.
Lex succurrit ignoranti - The law succors the ignorant.
Lex tutissima cassis, sub clypeo legis nemo decipitur - Law is the safest helmet; under the shield of the law no one is deceived.
Lex uno ore omnes alloquitur - The law speaks to all through one mouth.
Longa possessio est pacis jus - Long possession is the law of peace.
Longa possessio parit jus possidendi et tollit actionem vero domino - Long possession produces the right of possession and takes
away from the true owner his action.
M
Magister rerum usus; magistra rerum experientia - Use is the master of things; experience is the mistress of things.
Major continet in se minus - The greater contains the less.
Majus est delictum se ipsum occidere quam alium - It is a greater crime to kill one s self than another.
Mala fide - In bad faith.
Mala grammatica non vitiat chartam - Bad grammar does not vitiate a deed.
Mala in se - Bad in themselves.
Mala prohibita - Crimes prohibited.
Malitia supplet aesatem - Malice supplies age.
Malo animo - With evil intent.
Mandamus - We command.
Maximus magister erroris populus est - The people are the greatest master of error.
Melior est conditio possidentis, ubi neuter jus habet - Better is the condition of the possessor where neither of the two has the
right.
Melior testatoris in testamentis spectanda est - In wills the intention of a testator is to be regarded.
Meliorem conditionem suam facere potest minor deteriorem nequaquam - A minor can make his position better, never worse.
N
Nam nemo haeres viventis - For no one is an heir of a living person.
Naturae vis maxima est - The force of nature is the greatest.
Necessitas inducit privilegium quoad jura privata - With respect to private rights necessity induces privilege.
Necessitas non habet legem - Necessity has no law.
Necessitas publica est major quam privata - Public necessity is greater than private necessity.
Negligentia semper habet infortuniam comitem - Negligence always has misfortune for a companion.
Nemo admittendus est inhabilitare se ipsum - No one is allowed to incapacitate himself.
Nemo bis punitur pro eodem delicto - No one can be twice punished for the same offence.
Nemo cogitur suam rem vendere, etiam justo pretio - No one is bound to sell his own property, even for a just price.
Nemo contra factum suum venire potest - No man can contradict his own deed.
Nemo debet esse judex in propria causa - No one can be judge in his own case.
Nemo plus juris transferre ad alium potest quam ipse habet - No one can transfer to another a larger right than he himself has.
Nemo potest contra recordum verificare per patriam - No one can verify by the country, that is, through a jury, against the record.
Nemo potest esse tenens et dominus - No one can at the same time be a tenant and a landlord (of the same tenement).
Nemo potest facere per alium, quod per se non potest - No one can do through another what he cannot do himself.
Nemo potest mutare consilium suum in alterius injuriam - No one can change his purpose to the injury of another.
Nemo praesumitur esse immemor suae aeternae salutis et maxime in articulo mortis - No one is presumed to be forgetful of his
eternal welfare, and particularly in the hour of death.
Nemo prohibetur pluribus defensionibus uti - No one is forbidden to make use of several defences.
Nemo punitur pro alieno delicto - No one is punished for the crime of another.
Nemo se accusare debet, nisi coram Deo - No one should accuse himself except in the presence of God.
Nemo tenetur accusare se ipsum nisi coram Deo - No one is bound to accuse himself except in the presence of God.
Nemo tenetur armare adversarium contra se - No one is bound to arm his adversary against himself.
Nexus - Connection
Nihil quod est inconveniens est licitum - Nothing inconvenient is lawful.
Nil facit error nominis cum de corpore constat - An error of name makes not difference when it appears from the body of the
instrument.
Nisi - Unless
Non compus mentis - Not of sound mind and understanding
Non constat - It is not certain
Non decipitur qui scit se decipi - He is not deceived who knows that he is deceived.
Non definitur in jure quid sit conatus - What an attempt is, is not defined in law.
Non est arctius vinculum inter homines quam jusjurandum - There is no stronger link among men than an oath.
Non est factum - It is not his deed
Non est informatus - He is not informed.
Non facias malum ut inde veniat bonum - You shall not do evil that good may come of it.
Non jus, sed seisina, facit stipitem - Not right, but seisin makes a stock (from which the inheritance must descend).
Non refert quid notum sit judici si notum non sit in forma judicii - It matters not what is known to the judge if it is not known
judicially.
Non sequitur - An inconsistent statement, it does not follow
Nullus commodum capere potest ex sua injuria propria - No one can derive an advantage from his own wrong.
Nullus recedat e curia cancellaria sine remedio - No one should depart from a Court of Chancery without a remedy.
O
Omne sacramentum debet esse de certa scientia - Every oath ought to be of certain knowledge.
Omnia delicta in aperto leviora sunt - All crimes (committed) in the open are (considered) lighter.
Omnia praesumuntur contra spoliatorem - All things are presumed against a wrongdoer.
Omnis innovatio plus novitate perturbat quam utilitate prodeat - Every innovation disturbs more by its novelty than it benefits by its
utility.
Optima legum interpres est consuetudo - The best interpreter of laws is custom.
Optimus interpres rerum est usus - The best interpreter of things is usage.
P
Pacta privata juri publico non derogare possunt - Private contracts cannot derogate from public law.
Par delictum - Equal fault.
Pari passu - On an equal footing.
Partus sequitur ventrem - The offspring follows the mother.
Pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant - The father is he whom the marriage points out.
Peccata contra naturam sunt gravissima - Wrongs against nature are the most serious.
Pendente lite nihil innovetur - During litigation nothing should be changed.
Per curiam - In the opinion of the court.
Per minas - By means of menaces or threats.
Per quod - By reason of which.
Post mortem - After death.
Prima facie - On the face of it.
Prima impressionis - On first impression.
Pro hac vice - For this occasion.
Pro rata - In proportion.
Pro tanto - So far, to that extent.
Pro tempore - For the time being.
Publici juris - Of public right.
Q
Quaeitur - The question is raised.
Quantum - How much, an amount.
Qui facit per alium, facit per se - He who acts through another acts himself.
Qui haeret in litera, haeret in cortice - He who stices to the letter, sticks to the bark.
Qui in utero est, pro jam nato habetur, quoties de ejus commodo quaeritur - He who is in the womb is considered as already born
as far as his benefit is considered.
Qui non habet potestatem alienandi, habet necessitatem retinendi - He who has not the power of alienating is under the necessity
of retaining.
Qui non habet, ille non dat - He who has not, does not give.
Qui non improbat, approbat - He who does not disapprove, approves.
Qui non obstat quod obstare potest facere videtur - He who does not prevent what he is able to prevent, is considered as
committing the thing.
Qui non prohibet quod prohibere potest assentire videtur - He who does not prohibit when he is able to prohibit, is in fault.
Qui peccat ebrius, luat sobrius - He who does wrong when drunk must be punished when sober.
Qui potest et debet vetare et non vetat jubet - He who is able and ought to forbit and does not, commands.
Qui prior est tempore potior est jure - He who is prior in time is stronger in right.
Qui sentit commodum, debet et sentire onus - He who derives a benefit ought also to bear a burden.
Qui tacet consentire videtur - He who is silent appears to consent.
Quid pro quo - Consideration. something for something.
Quidcquid plantatur solo, solo cedit - Whatever is planted in or affixed to the soil, belongs to the soil.
Quod ab initio non valet, in tractu temporis non convalescit - What is not valid in the beginning does not become valid by time.
Quod constat curiae opere testium non indiget - What appears to the Court needs not the help of witnesses.
Quod necessarie intelligitur, id non deest - What is necessarily understood is not wanting.
Quod necessitas cogit, defendit - What necessity forces it justifies.
Quod non apparet, non est - What does not appear, is not.
Quod non habet principium non habet finem - What has no beginning has no end.
Quod per me non possum, nec per alium - What I cannot do through myself, I cannot do through another.
Quod prius est verius est; et quod prius est tempore potius est jure - What is first is more true; and what is prior in time is stronger
in law.
Quod vanum et inutile est, lex non requirit - The law does not require what is vain and useless.
Quoties in verbis nulla est ambiguitas, ibi nulla expositio contra verba expressa fienda est - When there is no ambiguity in words,
then no exposition contrary to the expressed words is to be made.
R
Ratio est legis anima, mutata legis ratione mutatur et lex - Reason is the soul of the law; when the reason of the law changes the
law also is changed.
Re - In the matter of.
S
Salus populi est suprema lex - The safety of the people is the supreme law.
Sciens - Knowingly.
Scienter - Knowingly.
Scire facias - That you cause to know.
Scribere est agere - To write is to act.
Se defendendo - In self defence.
Secus - The legal position is different, it is otherwise.
Semper praesumitur pro legitimatione puerorum - Everything is presumed in favor of the legitimacy of children.
Semper pro matriomonio praesumitur - It is always presumed in favor of marriage.
Sententia interlocutoria revocari potest, definitiva non potest - An interlocutory order can be revoked, a final order cannot be.
Servitia personalia sequuntur personam - Personal services follow the person.
Sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas - So use your own as not to injure another s property.
T
Talis qualis - Such as it is.
Terra firma - Solid ground.
Testamenta latissimam interpretationem habere debent - Testaments ought to have the broadest interpretation.
Traditio loqui chartam facit - Delivery makes a deed speak.
Transit terra cum onere - The land passes with its burden
U
Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus, et de similibus idem est judicium - When there is the same reason, then the law is the same, and the
same judgment should be rendered as to similar things.
Ubi jus ibi remedium est - Where there is a right there is a remedy.
Ubi non est principalis, non potest esse accessorius - Where there is no principal, there can be no accessory.
Ubi nullum matrimonium, ibi nulla dos es - Where there is no marriage, there is no dower.
Ultima voluntas testatoris est perimplenda secundum veram intentionem suam - The last will of a testator is to be fulfilled
according to his true intentio.
Ut poena ad paucos, metus ad omnes, perveniat - That punishment may come to a few, the fear of it should affect all.
Utile per inutile non vitiatur - What is useful is not vitiated by the useless.
V
Verba chartarum fortius accipiuntur contra preferentem - The words of deeds are accepted more strongly against the person
offering them.
Verba debent intelligi cum effectu - Words ought to be understood with effect.
Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire - Words ought to serve the intention, not the reverse.
Verbatim - Word by word, exactly.
Vi et armis - With the force and arms.
Via antiqua via est tuta - The old way is the safe way.
Vice versa - The other way around.
Vide - See.
Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt - The laws serve the vigilant, not those who sleep.
Vir et uxor consentur in lege una persona - A husband and wife are regarded in law as one person.
Visitationem commendamus - We recommend a visitation.
Volens - Willing.
Volenti non fit injuria - An injury is not done to one consenting to it.
Voluntas in delictis non exitus spectatur - In offences the intent and not the result is looked at.
Voluntas reputatur pro facto - The will is taken for the deed.
Latin
Translation
Notes
a bene placito
from one who has Or "at will", "at one's pleasure". This phrase, and
been pleased well its Italian(beneplacito) and Spanish (beneplcito)
derivatives, are synonymous with the more
common ad libitum (at pleasure).
a caelo usque ad
centrum
a capite ad calcem from head to heel From top to bottom; all the way through. Equally a
pedibus usque ad caput.
a contrario
a Deucalione
since Deucalion
a fortiori
from the stronger Loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger
reason". Often used to lead from a less certain
proposition to a more evident corollary.
a mari usque ad
mare
a pedibus usque
ad caput
a posse ad esse
being
a posteriori
a priori
ab absurdo
ab aeterno
ab antiquo
ab epistulis
ab extra
from beyond
ab hinc
from here on
ab imo pectore
ab inconvenienti
from an
inconvenient
thing
ab incunabulis
ab initio
from the
beginning
ab intestato
from an intestate From someone who dies with no legal will (cf. ex
testamento).
ab intra
from within
ab irato
from an angry
man
ab origine
ab ovo usque ad
mala
ab uno disce
omnes
from one, learn all From Virgil's Aeneid. Refers to situations where a
single example or observation indicates a general or
universal truth.
ab urbe
condita(a.u.c.)
ab utili
from utility
Used of an argument.
absens haeres non an absent person In law, refers to the principle that someone who is
erit
will not be an heir not present is unlikely to inherit.
with the
defendant being
absent
absit iniuria
verbis
let injury by
words be absent
invidia.
absit invidia
absit omen
let an omen be
absent
absolutum
dominium
absolute
dominion
absolvo
I acquit
abundans cautela abundant caution Thus, one can never be too careful; even excessive
non nocet
does no harm
precautions don't hurt anyone.
abyssus abyssum deep calleth unto From Psalms 42:7; some translations have 'Sea calls
invocat
deep
to sea'.
Accipe Hoc
Take this
The play has been A common ending to ancient Roman comedies, also
performed;
claimed by Suetonius in Lives of the Twelve
applaud!
Caesars to have beenCaesar Augustus' last words.
Applied by Sibelius to the third movement of his
String Quartet no. 2 so that his audience would
realize it was the last one, as a fourth would
normally be expected.
Acta Sanctorum
Deeds of
the Saints
actus reus
guilty act
ad absurdum
to the absurd
adaequatio
intellects nostri
cum re
ad abundantiam
to abundance
ad astra
to the stars
ad astra per
aspera
to the stars
Motto of Kansas, and other organisations. The
through difficulty phrase is also translated as "A rough road leads to
the stars", as on the Launch Complex 34 memorial
plaque for the astronauts ofApollo 1.
ad
in order to court
captandum vulgu the crowd
s
ad eundem
to the same
ad fontes
to the sources
ad fundum
to the bottom
ad hoc
to this
ad hominem
to the man
ad honorem
to the honor
ad infinitum
to infinity
ad interim (ad
int)
ad Kalendas
Graecas
to the
Greek Kalends
ad litem
to the lawsuit
ad lucem
to the light
UK
ad meliora
Towards better
things
ad mortem
To death
ad multos annos
To many years!
ad nauseam
to the point of
disgust
ad oculos
ad perpetuam
memoriam
to the perpetual
memory
ad pondus
to the weight of
omnium (ad pond all things
om)
ad referendum
(ad ref)
to that which
must be brought
back
ad rem
to the matter
ad undas
to the waves
ad usum
for one's own use
proprium (ad us.
propr.)
ad utrumque
paratus
prepared for
Also the motto of Lund University, with the implied
either alternative alternatives being the book (study) and the sword
(defending the country in war).
ad valorem
to the value
ad victoriam
to victory
ad vitam
aeternam
to eternal life
ad vitam aut
culpam
addendum
adequatio
intellectus et rei
adsum
I am here
aegri somnia
a sick man's
dreams
aequitas
Justice or equality
aetat
of age" / "aged"
(in the sense of:
"age: ...)
aetatis suae
age 46.
affidavit
he asserted
agenda
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God
Let learning be
The motto of Davidson College.
cherished where
liberty has arisen.
alias
otherwise
alibi
elsewhere
alis aquilae
on an eagle's
wings
alis volat propris she flies with her State motto of Oregon. Can also be rendered alis
own wings
volat propriis.
aliquantus
Rather big
aliquantulus
something that
stands for
something else
alma mater
nourishing mother Term used for the university one attends or has
attended. Another university term, matriculation, is
also derived frommater. The term suggests that the
students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by
the university. The term is also used for a
university's traditional school anthem.
alter ego
other I
Let no man
belong to another
that can belong to
himself
alterum non
laedere
to not wound
another
alumna or
alumnus
pupil
amicus curiae
amittere legem
terrae
love is the
essence of life
amor fati
love of fate
amor omnibus
idem
amor patriae
love of one's
country
Patriotism.
anglice
in English
anno (an.)
in the year
Anno
Domini (A.D.)
in the Year of the Short for Anno Domini Nostri Iesus Christi (in the
Lord
Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ), the predominantly
used system for dating years across the world, used
with the Gregorian calendar, and based on the
perceived year of the birth of Jesus Christ. The years
before Jesus' birth were once marked
with a.C.n (Ante Christum Natum, Before Christ
was Born), but now use the English abbreviation BC
(Before Christ).
Augustus Caesar was born in the
year 63 BC, and died AD 14.
anno regni
Annuit Cptis
He Has Approved Motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United
the Undertakings States and on the back of the U.S. one dollar bill.
"He" refers to God, and so the official translation
given by the U.S. State Department is "He [God]
has favored our undertakings".
annus horribilis
horrible year
annus mirabilis
wonderful year
annus terribilis
dreadful year
ante bellum
before food
ante litteram
ante meridiem
(a.m.)
before midday
ante mortem
before death
ante prandium
(a.p.)
before lunch
apparatus criticus critical apparatus Textual notes. A list of other readings relating to a
document, especially in a scholarly edition of a text.
aqua (aq.)
water
aqua fortis
strong water
aqua pura
pure water
aqua regia
royal water
aqua vitae
water of life
an eagle doesn't
catch flies
arare litus
to plough the
seashore
arbiter
elegantiarum
judge of tastes
arcus senilis
senile bow
arguendo
for arguing
argumentum
argument
art [is] to conceal An aesthetic ideal that good art should appear
art
natural rather than contrived. Of medieval origin,
art is long, life is The Latin translation by Seneca (De Brevitate Vitae,
short
1.1) of a phrase from Hippocrates, often used out of
context. The "art" referred to in the original
aphorism was the craft of medicine, which took a
lifetime to acquire.
asinus ad lyram
asinus asinum
fricat
assecuratus non
quaerit lucrum
sed agit ne in
damno sit
the assured does Refers to the insurance principle that the indemnity
not seek profit but cannot be larger than the loss.
just indemnity for
the loss
audacter
calumniare,
semper aliquid
haeret
slander boldly,
from Francis Bacon, De Augmentis
something always Scientiarum (1623)
sticks
auctoritas
authority
audax at fidelis
Motto of Queensland.
audeamus
let us dare
audemus jura
we dare to defend State motto of Alabama, adopted in 1923.
nostra defendere our rights
Translated into Latin from a paraphrase of the
stanza "Men who their duties know / But know their
rights, and knowing, dare maintain" from the poem
"What Constitutes a State?" by 18th-century author
William Jones.
audentes fortuna fortune favors the From Virgil, Aeneid X, 284 (where the first word is
iuvat
bold
in the archaic form audentis). Allegedly the last
words of Pliny the Elder before he left the docks
at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption
of Vesuvius in 79. Often quoted as audaces fortuna
iuvat. Also the motto of the Portuguese Army
Commandos.
audi alteram
partem
audio hostem
accursed hunger
for gold
auribus teneo
lupum
I hold a wolf by
the ears
aurora australis
southern dawn
aurora borealis
northern dawn
aurum potestas
est
gold is power
auspicium
melioris aevi
hope of a better
age
either Caesar or
nothing
either peace or
war
aut viam
inveniam aut
faciam
ave Caesar
morituri te
salutant
ave Europa
Hail, Europe, our Anthem of Pan-Europeanist
nostra vera Patria true Fatherland!
Ave Maria
Hail, Mary
Latin
Translation
Notes
barba tenus wise as far From Gerhard Gerhards' (14661536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of
sapientes
as the beard annotated Adagia (1508). In appearance wise, but not necessarily so.
beatae
memoriae
of blessed
memory
See in memoriam.
beati
pauperes
spiritu
Blessed in
spirit [are]
the poor.
Vulgate, Matthew 5:3. The full quote is "beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum
est regnum caelorum" ("Blessed in spirit [are] the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of
the heavens" - one of the Beatitudes).
beati
possidentes
blessed
[are] those
who
possess
from Proverbs 3:13; set to music in a 1577 motet of the same name by Orlando di
wisdom
Lasso.
Originally from the Habsburg marriages of 1477 and 1496, written as bella gerant
alii tu felix Austria nube (let others wage war; you, fortunate Austria, marry). Said
by King Matthias
bellum
war of all
omnium
against all
contra omnes
bibo ergo
sum
I drink,
therefore I
am
he gives
Thus a gift that is given quickly without hesitation is worth twice as much.
twice, who
gives
promptly
bis in die
(bid)
twice in a
day
bona fide
in good
faith
bona
notabilia
In law, if a person dying has goods, or good debts, in another diocese or jurisdiction
within that province, besides his goods in the diocese where he dies, amounting to a
certain minimum value, he is said to have bona notabilia; in which case, the probat
of his will belongs to the archbishop of that province.
bona officia
good
services
bona patria
bona
vacantia
vacant
goods
United Kingdom legal term for ownerless property that passes to The Crown.
boni pastoris
est tondere
pecus non
deglubere
It is of a
Tiberius reportedly said this to his regional commanders, as a warning against
good
taxing the populace excessively.
shepherd to
shear his
flock, not to
flay them.
bonum
common
Or "general welfare". Refers to what benefits a society, as opposed to bonum
commune
good of the commune hominis, which refers to what is good for an individual.
communitati community
s
bonum
commune
hominis
common
good of a
man
busillis
Latin
Translation
Notes
cacoethes scribendi
Caedite eos. Novit enim Kill them. For the Lord Supposed statement by
Dominus qui sunt eius. knows those who are Abbot Arnaud Amalric before
his.
the massacre of Bziers during
the Albigensian Crusade,
recorded 30 years later,
according to Caesar of
Heisterbach.
caetera desunt
my cup makes me
drunk
camera obscura
dark chamber
canes pugnaces
capax infiniti
So aggrandized as to be beyond
practical (earthly) reach or
understanding
(from Virgil's Aeneid and the
shorter form appears in John
Locke's Two Treatises of
Government)
Caritas Christi
carpe diem
carpe noctem
Carthage must be
destroyed
casus belli
event of war
causa mortis
cause of death
cave
beware!
cave canem
cave laborem
beware of work
caveat emptor
caveat lector
caveat subscriptor
caveat venditor
caveat utilitor
cepi corpus
cetera desunt
ceteris paribus
charta pardonationis
utlagariae
Christianos ad leones
Christo et Doctrinae
Christus Rex
around
circulus in probando
circulus vitiosus
vicious circle
Clamea admittenda in
itinere per atturnatum
clausum fregit
clavis aurea
Golden key
clerico admittendo
about to be made a
clerk
clerico convicto
commisso gaolae in
defectu ordinarii
deliberando
coitus interruptus
interrupted congress
Aborting sexual
intercourse prior to ejaculation
the only permitted form
of birth control in some
religions.
combinatio nova
new combination
It is frequently
abbreviated comb. nov.. It is
used in the life
sciences literature when a new
name is introduced,
e.g.Klebsiella
granulomatis comb. nov..
communibus annis
communibus locis
communis opinio
generally accepted
view
compos mentis
concordia salus
salvation through
harmony
condition without
which not
A required, indispensable
condition. Commonly
mistakenly rendered
with conditio (seasoning" or
"preserving) in place
ofcondicio(arrangement" or
"condition).
confer (cf.)
bring together
coniunctis viribus
An inconsistently applied
maxim. See also consuetudo est
altera lex (custom is another
law) and consuetudo vincit
communem legem (custom
overrules the common law)
consummatum est
It is completed.
contemptus saeculi
Ukrainka
contraria contrariis
curantur
First formulated
by Hippocrates to suggest that
the diseases are cured with
contrary remedies. Antonym
of Similia similibus
curantur (the diseases are
recovered with similar
remedies. )
contra legem
Heart or Death
cor unum
one heart
coram Deo
coram populo
Corpus Christi
Body of Christ
corpus delicti
corpus vile
worthless body
Thus, openly.
corrigenda
things to be corrected
corruptio optimi
pessima
corruptus in extremis
Corruptissima re
publica plurimae leges
crescit eundo
it grows as it goes
cui bono
cui prodest
cuius est solum eius est Whose the land is, all
usque ad coelum et ad the way to the sky and
inferos
to the underworld is
his.
Cuiusvis
hominis est
errare,
nullius nisi
insipientis
in errore
perseverare.
culpa
fault
cum laude
with praise
cura personalis
cura te ipsum
An exhortation to physicians, or
experts in general, to deal with
their own problems before
addressing those of others.
curriculum vitae
course of life
A rsum.
custos morum
keeper of morals
A censor.
cygnis insignis
distinguished by its
swans
Latin
Da mihi factum,
dabo tibi ius
Translation
Notes
Give me the fact(s), also: Da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius; legal
I'll give you the law principle based onRoman law; parties should
present the facts of a case while the judge rules
on the law. Related to iura novit curia (the
court knows the law).
damnum absque
injuria
damage without
injury
data venia
dat deus
incrementum
de bonis asportatis
Decus Et Tutamen
An ornament and a
safeguard
descensus in cuniculi The descent into the Down the Rabbit Hole (see: Alice's Adventures
cavum
cave of the rabbit
in Wonderland#Famous lines and expressions.
de dato
of the date
de facto
in fact
de fideli
with faithfulness
de futuro
there is not to be
Less literally "In matters of taste there is no
discussion regarding dispute" or simply "There's no arguing taste".
tastes
Likely of Scholastic origin (see Wiktionary).
A related expression in English is "There's no
accounting for taste".
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, without
de integro
de jure
by law
de lege ferenda
from law to be
passed
de lege lata
bonum
nothing unless a
good thing
de nobis fabula
narratur
de novo
de omnibus
dubitandum
be suspicious of
everything, doubt
everything
de omni re scibili et
quibusdam aliis
about every
A 15th-century Italian scholar wrote the De
knowable thing, and omni re scibiliportion, and a wag added et
even certain other
quibusdam aliis.
things
De Oppresso Liber
de profundis
de re
By the Grace of
God, Queen
delectatio morosa
peevish delight
deliriant isti Romani They are mad, those A translation into Latin from Ren Goscinny's
Romans!
"ils sont fous, ces romains!", frequently issued
by Obelix in the Asterix comics.
Deo ac veritati
Deo domuique
Deo et Patriae
Deo gratias
Deo vindice
with God as
protector
Deo volente
God is Love
deus ex machina
a god from a
machine
Deus vult
deus otiosus
God at leisure
Dicto simpliciter
[From] a maxim,
simply
dictum meum
pactum
my word [is] my
bond
diem perdidi
Diem Ex Dei
Day of God
Dies Irae
Day of Wrath
Day
without judiciary
dirigo
I direct
dis manibus sacrum Sacred to the ghost- Refers to the Manes, Roman spirits of the dead.
(D.M.S.)
gods
Loosely "To the memory of". A conventional
inscription preceding the name of the deceased
on pagan grave markings, often shortened
to dis manibus (D.M.), "for the ghost-gods".
Preceded in some earlier monuments by hic
situs est (H. S. E.), "he lies here".
Learn or Depart
Learn as if always
Attributed to St Edmund of Abingdon.
going to live; live as
if tomorrow going to
die.
discipuli nostri
bardissimi sunt
disjecta membra
That is, "scattered
scattered
remains".
limbs Paraphrased from Horace, Satires, I, 4, 62, where it
ditat Deus
God enriches
divide et impera
dixi
I have spoken
do ut des
Docendo discitur
It is learned by
teaching
Docendo disco,
scribendo cogito
I learn by teaching,
think by writing.
"Thedolus
... concept
specialis
is particularspecial
to a few
intent
civil law systems and cannot sweepingly be equated with
the notions of special or specific intent in common law systems. Of course, the same might
equally be said of the concept of specific intent, a notion used in the common law almost
exclusively within the context of the defense of voluntary intoxication."Genocide scholar
Lord guide us
Dominus vobiscum
give us peace
donatio mortis causa giving in expectation A legal concept where a person in imminent
of death
mortal danger need not meet the
requisite consideration to create or modify
a will.
draco dormiens
a sleeping dragon is Motto of the fictional Hogwarts school in
nunquam titillandus never to be tickled the Harry Potterseries; translated more loosely
in the books as "never tickle a sleeping
dragon".
dramatis personae
the parts of the play More literally, "the masks of the drama"; more
figuratively, "cast of characters". The
characters represented in a dramatic work.
Ducunt volentem
fata, nolentem
trahunt
Ductus exemplo
Leadership by
Example
dulce bellum
inexpertis
dulce et utile
dulce periculum
danger is sweet
Dulcius ex asperis
sweeter after
difficulties
while I breathe, I
hope
dum vivimus
servimus
While we live, we
serve
dura mater
tough mother
dux bellorum
War leader
Latin
Translation
Notes
e pluribus unum
'From many, (comes) Usually translated 'Out of many, (is) One.' Motto of the United
One.'
States of America. Inscribed on the Capitol and many coins used
in the United States of America. Also used as the motto of S.L.
Benfica.
Ecce Homo
editio princeps
'first edition'
e.g.
Ego non
'not I'
ego te absolvo
ego te provoco
emeritus
'veteran'
'existing because of
oneself'
'reality involves a
A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature of
power to compel sure truth.
assent'
eo ipso
Technical term used in philosophy and the law. It means 'by that
very act'; similar to ipso facto. Example: "The fact that I am does
not eo ipso mean that I think." From Latin eo ipso, ablativeform
of id ipsum, "that (thing) itself".
equo ne credite
eo nomine
ergo
'therefore'
erga omnes
'in relation to
everyone'
erratum
'error'
'to be is to be
perceived'
esto perpetua
'may it be perpetual' Said of Venice by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo Sarpi shortly
before his death. Also the state motto of Idaho, adopted in 1867,
and of S. Thomas' College, Sri Lanka.
'and elsewhere'
'and others'
et in Arcadia ego
'and in Arcadia [am] In other words, 'I, too, am in Arcadia'. See memento mori.
I'
et nunc reges
intelligite erudimini
qui judicati terram
'And now, O ye
kings, understand:
receive instruction,
you that judge the
earth.'
et tu, Brute?
'and wife'
A legal term.
ex abundantia enim
cordis os loquitur
ex aequo
ex animo
Thus, 'sincerely'.
ex ante
'from before'
Ex Astris Scientia
ex cathedra
ex Deo
'from God'
ex dolo malo
'from fraud'
'From harmful deceit'; dolus malus is the Latin legal term for
'fraud'. The full legal phrase is ex dolo malo non oritur actio ('an
action does not arise from fraud'). When an action has its origin
in fraud or deceit, it cannot be supported; thus, a court of law will
not assist a man who bases his course of action on an immoral or
illegal act.
ex facie
ex fide fiducia
ex gratia
'from kindness'
ex hypothesi
ex lege
ex libris
ex luna scientia
ex malo bonum
ex mea sententia
'in my opinion'
ex oblivione
'from oblivion'
ex officio
ex opere operantis
'from the work of the A theological phrase contrasted with ex opere operato, referring
one working'
to the notion that the validity or promised benefit of
ex opere operato
ex oriente lux
ex parte
'from a part'
A legal term meaning 'by one party' or 'for one party'. Thus, on
behalf of one side or party only.
ex pede Herculem
'from Hercules' foot' From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall know his size; from
a part, the whole.
ex post
'from after'
ex post facto
ex professo
'with due
competence'
ex scientia tridens
'from knowledge, sea The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to knowledge
power.'
bringing men power over the sea comparable to that of thetridentbearing Greek god Poseidon.
ex scientia vera
'from knowledge,
truth.'
ex silentio
'from silence'
ex tempore
'from time'
ex vi termini
ex vivo
ex voto
excelsior
'higher'
exceptio firmat
regulam in casibus
non exceptis
'The exception
confirms the rule in
cases which are not
excepted'
exceptio probat
regulam in casibus
non exceptis
'The exception
confirms the rule in
cases which are not
excepted'
exeat
'may he leave'
exeunt
'they leave'
experientia docet
'experience teaches'
experto crede
'the expression of the 'Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing'. A principle of
one is the exclusion legal statutory interpretation: the explicit presence of a thing
of the other'
implies intention to exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor
Relief Act 1601 to 'lands, houses, tithes and coal mines' was held
to exclude mines other than coal mines. Sometimes expressed
as expressum facit cessare tacitum (broadly, 'the expression of
one thing excludes the implication of something else').
extant
'still in existence;
surviving'
adjective:
extant law is still existing, in existence, existent, surviving,
remaining, undestroyed. Usage, when a law is repealed the extant
law governs.
extra domus
'(placed) outside of
the house'
Extra Ecclesiam
nulla salus
Extra omnes
extra territorium jus 'he who administers Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited in law of the
dicenti impune non justice outside of his sea cases on the high seas.
paretur
territory is disobeyed
with impunity'
F
Latin
Translation
Notes
fac simile
felo de se
fere libenter
homines id quod
volunt credunt
men generally believe People's beliefs are shaped largely by their desires. Julius
what they want to
Caesar, The Gallic War 3.18
festina lente
hurry slowly
fiat lux
Less literally, "let light arise" or "let there be light" (cf. lux sit).
From the Latin translation of Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et
facta est lux" (and God said, 'Let light be made', and light was
made). The motto of Parkland Composite High School,
theUniversity of California, University of Washington, Clark
University, Waynesburg University, Angelo State
University,University of Lethbridge, Rollins College, Hiram
College,Alfred University and Kitsilano Secondary School. It is
also the motto of the Conservatorium High School in Sydney,
Australia. It is incorporated into the logo of the University of
Liverpool and Emmanuel College at the University of
Queensland.
Fidei Defensor (Fid Defender of the Faith A title given to Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on October
Def) or (fd)
17, 1521 before Henry became a heresiarch. Still used by the
British monarchs, it appears on all British coins, usually
abbreviated.
fidem scit
"He knows the faith" Sometimes mistranslated to "Keep the faith", when used in
contemporary English-language writings of all kinds to convey a
light-hearted wish for the reader's well-being. The humor comes
from the phrase's similarity in pronunciation to the words "Feed
'em shit".
fides quaerens
intellectum
"faith seeking
understanding
fidus Achates
faithful Achates
flagellum dei
scourge of god
Referred to Attila the Hun, when he led his armies to invade the
Western Roman Empire.
flectere si nequeo
If I cannot move
superos, Achaeronta heaven I will raise
movebo
hell
floreat etona
floruit (fl.)
one flourished
fluctuat nec
mergitur
immersed
fons et origo
the spring and source "The fountainhead and beginning". The source and origin.
fortes in fide
strong in faith
truth is strong
fortis et liber
Motto of Alberta.
fortiter et fideliter
Latin
Translation
gaudeamus hodie
gaudeamus igitur
therefore let us
rejoice
Notes
genius loci
spirit of place
Gloria in Excelsis
Deo
Gloria Patri
gloriosus et liber
Motto of Manitoba
Gradibus
ascendimus
gradatim ferociter
by degrees,
ferociously
Gratiae veritas
naturae
graviora manent
heavier things remain In other words, "more severe things await" or simply "the worst is
yet to come".
gutta cavat lapidem a water drop hollows From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10, 5.
non vi sed saepe
a stone not by force,
cadendo
but by falling often
H
Latin
Translation
Notes
habeas corpus
You should have the A legal term from the 14th century or earlier. Refers to a number of
body
legal writs to bring a person before a court or judge, most
commonly habeas corpus ad subjiciendum (you may have the
body to bring up). Commonly used as the general term for a
prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention.
habemus papam
we have a pope
hac lege
haec olim
meminisse iuvabit
one day, this will be Commonly rendered in English as "One day, we'll look back on
pleasing to remember this and smile". From Virgil's Aeneid 1.203. Also, motto of
theJefferson Society.
Hannibal ante
portas
Thus, "I say no things that are unknown". From Virgil's Aeneid,
2.91.
hic et nunc
here lies
hic manebimus
optime
historia vitae
magistra
history, the teacher of From Cicero, Tusculanas, 2, 16. Also "history is the mistress of
life
life".
hoc age
do this
This is war
This is my Body
homo sum humani a I am a human being; From Terence, Heautontimoroumenos. Originally "strange" or
me nihil alienum
nothing human is
"foreign" (alienum) was used in the sense of "irrelevant", as this
puto
strange to me
line was a response to the speaker being told to mind his own
business, but it is now commonly used to advocate respecting
different cultures and being humane in general. Puto (I consider) is
not translated because it is meaningless outside of the line's context
within the play.
hominem non
morbum cura
honor virtutis
praemium
honoris causa
for the sake of honor Said of an honorary title, such as "Doctor of Science honoris
causa".
hora fugit
hortus in urbe
hortus siccus
A dry garden
horribile dictu
horrible to say
hostis humani
generis
enemy of the human Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity
race
in general.
hypotheses non
fingo
I do not fabricate
hypotheses
From Newton, Principia. Less literally, "I do not assert that any
hypotheses are true".
Latin
Translation
Notes
ibidem (ibid.)
idem (id.)
the same
the same as
id est (i.e.)
that is
"That is (to say)", "in other words", or sometimes "in this case",
depending on the context.
Id est, i.e., "that is", is commonly abbreviated "i.e."; in this usage
it can be followed by a comma, or not, depending on style
(American English and British English respectively).
id quod plerumque
accidit
that which generally A phrase used in legal language to indicate the most probable
happens
outcome from an act, fact, event or cause.
Idus Martiae
In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March refers to the 15th day of
March. In modern times, the term is best known as the date on
which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, the story of which
was famously retold in William Shakespeare's play Julius
Caesar.10 The term has come to be used as a metaphor for
impending doom.
Direct quote from the Vulgate, John 19:19. The inscription was
written in Latin, Greek and Aramaic at the top of the cross on
which Jesus was crucified. (John 19:20)
Therefore whoever Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Epitoma rei militaris (See also
desires peace, let him in this list Si vis pacem, para bellum)
prepare for war
igne natura
renovatur integra
through fire, nature is An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate meaning for the
reborn whole
acronym INRI.
igni ferroque
ignis fatuus
foolish fire
ignorantia juris non ignorance of the law A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does not allow one
excusat
does not excuse
to escape liability.
ignoratio elenchi
ignorance of the
issue
ignotum per ignotius unknown by means An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained.
of the more unknown Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.
ignotus (ign.)
unknown
imago Dei
image of God
imitatio dei
imitation of a god
an empire without an In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome)
end
from which would come an everlasting, neverending empire, the
endless (sine fine) empire.
imprimatur
let it be printed
in absentia
in the absence
in actu
in act
in articulo mortis
in camera
in the chamber
in casu
in the event
in cauda venenum
incertae sedis
of uncertain position A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader
(seat)
relationships are unknown or undefined.
incredibile dictu
incredible to say
in Deo speramus
in God we hope
Index Librorum
Prohibitorum
Index of Prohibited
(or, Forbidden)
Books
indivisibiliter ac
inseparabiliter
indivisible and
inseparable
in doubt, on behalf of Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision
the [alleged] culprit must be in favor of the accused (in that anyone is innocent until
there is proof to the contrary).
in duplo
in double
"In duplicate".
in effigie
in the likeness
"In (the form of) an image", "in effigy" as opposed to "in the
flesh" or "in person".
in esse
in existence
in extenso
in the extended
in extremis
in the furthest
reaches
in fidem
into faith
in fieri
in becoming
Thus, "pending".
in fine (i.f.)
in the end
At the end.
The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the end
of page 157".
in flagrante delicto
in a blazing wrong,
in flore
in blossom
Blooming.
in foro
in forum
infra dignitatem
(infra dig)
in girum imus nocte We enter the circle at A palindrome said to describe the behavior of moths. Also the title
et consumimur igni night and are
of a film by Guy Debord.
consumed by fire
by this sign you will Words Constantine claimed to have seen in a vision before
conquer
theBattle of Milvian Bridge. Motto of Sigma Chi fraternity.
in hunc effectum
in illo tempore
in that time
"at that time", found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used
to mark an undetermined time in the past.
in limine
at the outset
in loco
in the place
in loco parentis
in the place of a
parent
in lumine tuo
videbimus lumen
in your light we will Motto of Columbia University and Ohio Wesleyan University.
see the light
in manus tuas
into your hands I
commendo spiritum entrust my spirit
meum
in medias res
in memoriam
in nuce
in a nut
In omnia paratus
Ready for anything. Motto of the so-called secret society of Yale in the television
show Gilmore Girls.
in omnibus requiem
quaesivi, et nusquam
inveni nisi in angulo
cum libro
in partibus
infidelium
That is, "in the land of the infidels", infidels here referring to nonChristians. After Islam conquered a large part of the Roman
in pectore
in the heart
in personam
into a person
in posse
in potential
in propria persona
In re
In rem
to the thing
in rerum natura
in the nature of
things
in retentis
in saeculo
in the times
in salvo
in safety
in silico
(Dog Latin)
in silicon
in situ
in the place
In somnis veritas
In dreams there is
truth
In spe
in hope
In specialibus
To seek the general
generalia quaerimus in the specifics
"future" (My mother-in-law in spe", i.e. "My future mother-inlaw), or "in embryonic form", as in "Locke's theory of
government resembles, in spe, Montesquieu's theory of the
separation of powers."
That is, to understand the most general rules through the most
detailed analysis.
instante mense (inst.) in the present month Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current
month. Sometimes abbreviated as instant. Used with ult. (last
month) and prox. (next month).
"Thank you for your letter of the 17th
inst."
in statu nascendi
intaminatis fulget
honoribus
Untarnished, she
shines with honor
integer vitae
scelerisque purus
unimpaired by life
and clean of
wickedness
inter alios
among others
inter caetera
among others
inter vivos
in toto
in all
intra muros
intra vires
in triplo
in triple
"In triplicate".
in utero
in the womb
in vacuo
in a void
In varietate
concordia
Literally, In variety, The motto of the European Union and the Council of Europe
concord (Loosely, In
diversity, harmony
[or, friendship])
in vino veritas
in vitro
in glass
An experimental or process methodology performed in a "nonnatural" setting (e.g., in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri
dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. The reference
to glass is merely an historic one, as the current usage of this term
is not specific to the materials involved, but rather to the "nonnatural" setting employed. Alternative experimental or process
methodologies would include in vitro, in silico, ex vivoand in vivo.
In vitro fertilization is not literally done
"in glass", but rather is a technique to
fertilize egg cells outside of a woman's
body. By definition, it is thus an ex
vivo process.
in vivo
in vivo veritas
in a living thing
[there is] truth
invictus maneo
ipse dixit
he himself said it
ipsissima verba
ipsissima voce
the very 'voice' itself To approximate the main thrust or message without using the
exact words.
ipso facto
Ira Deorum
ita vero
thus indeed
Iter Legis
iugulare mortuos
it is ignorance of the
law when we do not
know our own rights
ius accrescendi
right of accrual
ius ad bellum
Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons for going to war.
Typically, this would address issues of self-defense or preemptive
strikes.
ius cogens
compelling law
ius in bello
law in war
iustitia omnibus
iuventitus veho
fortunas
iuventuti nil arduum to the young nothing Motto of Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
is difficult
L
Latin
Translation
Notes
Laborare pugnare
parati sumus
Labore et honore
Laboremus pro
patria
Laboris gloria Ludi Work hard, Play hard Motto of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK
lapsus linguae
lapsus memoriae
slip of memory
One who is discontent with the present but instead prefers things
of the past. See "the Good old days".
Laudetur Jesus
Christus
laus Deo
praise be to God
lectori salutem
greetings reader
lege artis
legem terrae
leges humanae
laws of man are born,
nascuntur, vivunt, et live and die
moriuntur
legitime
lawfully
lex artis
lex dei vitae lampas the law of God is the Motto of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
lamp of life
lex ferenda
lex in casu
lex lata
lex loci
lex parsimoniae
law of succinctness
lex rex
lex scripta
written law
lex talionis
lex tempus
Libertas Justitia
Veritas
libra (lb)
scales
locus classicus
a classic place
locus deperditus
place of
(irremediable) loss
locus minoris
resistentiae
place of less
resistance
lorem ipsum
sorrow itself, pain for A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et
its own sake
Malorum (On the Limits of Good and Evil, 45 BC), used
astypographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a. greeking). An
approximate literal translation of lorem ipsum might be "sorrow
itself", as the term is from dolorum ipsum quia, meaning "sorrow
because of itself", or less literally, "pain for its own sake".