Latin Phrases in English
Latin Phrases in English
ad hoc
done without any particular purpose, unplanned
The company failed due to making decisions on an ad hoc basis without considering long-term issues.
Usually unprecedented events might turn into ad hoc ones.
Do you think relying upon ad hoc methods reveals shortsightedness or creativity?
alibi
Do not invent an alibi. Any evidence is against you.
Being afraid of gaol, he commenced concocting alibis.
bona fide (adj)
genuine, authentic, true, real, valid, (antonym: bogus)
Any bona fide offers of help would be appreciated.
The true bona fide prayer for rain always carries an umbrella with him/herself.
Today, bona fide love is scarce and many prefer marrying into money.
carpe diem
The best advice you can give to those who are used to saving money is carpe diem.
Unfortunately, in underdeveloped countries, carpe diem is less practical.
de facto
actual, genuine
Sometimes we notice the subtle de facto consequences of our improper behavior towards people.
A de facto state of economic problems requires consideration in different terms.
Lack of democracy results in a condition in which people do not behave as per their own de facto thoughts.
e.g.
The abbreviation e.g. is short for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, meaning “for example.”, for or as an example, let’s say
We need to eat healthier foods daily, e.g. meat, milk, fruits, eggs, vegetables, etc.
You can make a contribution to developing LELB society by participating in activities e.g. leaving comments, raising questions, etc.
I have an unquenchable thirst for new digital gadgets, e.g. cameras, cellphones, tablets, etc.
ergo
so, therefore
He already had a lot of experience and ergo seemed the best candidate for the job.
Today, life is so competitive, ergo more determination is needed.
etc.
Etc. is a Latin abbreviation which stands for et cetera. It is used after a list to show that there are many other examples of the same kind. In formal writing, people avoid using “etc.” and instead use “such as”, “and many others”, etc.
LELB Society is a platform for exchanging ideas, learning English, brainstorming, etc.
i.e.
I.e. is an abbreviation for id est and means “that is to say” or “in other words”. We use it when we want to give a more precise description of the things mentioned before.
Have you ever talked with a nonagenarian who utters many tired clichés, i.e. the phrases which are not original and have been used so much?
An effective method of mastering vocabulary is to learn them in context, i.e. implementing and using them in a sentence.
inter alia /ˌɪn.təˈreɪ.li.ə/ US /-ţɚˈeɪ-/
among other things, et cetera, etc., among others, and so on:
I opted for hamburgers rather than other foods, inter alia, prawns, roast beef, sausages, and tuna steak.
Per capita
Per capita /pəˈkæp.ɪ.tə/ US /pɚˈkæp.ɪ.ţə/ (adv)
If you state an amount per capita, you mean that amount for each person, by or for each person, respectively, in proportion, per head, proportionately, pro rata:
The per capita number of our mistakes during a specific period of time reveals the level of our accuracy.
France and Germany invest far more per capita in public transport than Britain.
The per capita income in the country is very low.
per se
by itself
The main reason to change careers is not money per se.
Having a profound effect on the society per se is a good reason to hold a commemorative ceremony for him.
Believe it or not, money, as a panacea, per se solves many problems.
postmortem (noun)
an examination of a corpse or dead body to investigate what has been the cause of death, autopsy, postmortem examination, medical examination, an investigation into the cause of failure in an unsuccessful task or project, analysis, inquest:
Forensic experts and medical doctors are performing a postmortem examination on the corpse to uncover the mysteries of the murder.
People can make progress if and only if they conduct postmortems on any condition in which they have barked up the wrong tree.
pro bono
One of the signs of equality in a society is the opportunity to have a pro bono service for those defendants who cannot afford to pay a lawyer in order to defend and acquit themselves in a court.
Nonprofit organizations which work on a pro bono basis should be supported by the governments.
quid pro quo /ˌkwɪd.prəʊˈkwəʊ/ US /-proʊˈkwoʊ/ (noun)
Our company is going to provide them with pro bono services as a quid pro quo for their generous donation.
sine qua non
Having a valid high school diploma is a sine qua non for participants of emergency first aid class.
Audacity, effrontery, persistence, and perseverance are some sine qua non for wrestling with problems.
status quo /ˌsteɪtəsˈkwəʊ/ (noun)
the current condition or state of affairs that exists at the moment, current situation, existing state of affairs, present circumstances:
The status quo will be maintained unless he concurs to adopt a boy from an orphanage.
terra firma /ˌter.əˈfɜː.mə/ US /-ˈfɝː-/ (noun)
Terra firma is used humorously in conditions where it is surprising to land or walk on earth again after a long time, dry land, when compared with the sea or air,
The passengers of the capsized boat reposed on terra firma after swimming a long distance towards the deserted island.
The astronaut was so grateful for walking on terra firma again when he came back to earth.
It was good to get back on terra firma again after that awful sea crossing.
verbatim /vɜːˈbeɪ.tɪm/ US /vɝːˈbeɪ.ţəm/ (adj & adv)
using identical words, corresponding word for word with something else, copied word for word, word for word, literal, using exactly the same words:
Verbatim reports of any scientific course can be beneficial in the future.
In dubbing process, conveying the whole concept and meaning is more essential than translating them in a verbatim way.
versus /ˈvɜː.səs/ US /ˈvɝː-/ (prep)
against, contra, alternative to, as opposed to, in competition with, contrasted with, as against,
An extravagant lifestyle versus a parsimonious one
Many years ago, there was a relentless battle between the indigenous inhabitants versus the alien invaders taking place on this island.
vice versa /ˌvaɪsˈvɜː.sə/ US /ˌvaɪ.səˈvɝː-/ (adv)
the other way around, conversely, on the other hand, in opposition, in contrast, contrariwise:
Not always does affluence effect jubilation, and vice versa, however.
The dilemma of “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” denotes that having a chicken is a prerequisite for having an egg, and vice versa.
Reply to “terra firma”
It is so promising that humans can sow seeds on the terra firma and harvest crops.
Terra firma is used humorously in conditions where it is surprising to land or walk on earth again after a long time. For instance:
The astronaut was so grateful for walking on terra firma again when he came back to earth.
The passengers of the capsized boat reposed on the terra firma after swimming a long distance towards the deserted island.
* on terra firma
Reply to “post-mortem”
People can make progress if and only if they conduct post-mortem on any condition in which they have barked up the wrong tree.
* post-mortems
The mugger pleads for a post-mortem examination on the victim body due to an alleged hypothesis which the victim had have a heart stroke before he was stabbed in the chest.
* victim’s body
* hypothesis which the victim had have :arrow: hypothesis according to which the victim had had
Reply to “inter alia”
I opted for hamburgers rather than other foods, inter alia, prawns, roast beef, sausages, and tuna steak.
“Inter alia” is a Latin phrase meaning “among other things.” It’s used to indicate that the list provided is not exhaustive and that there are other items not mentioned. In your sentence, it shows that hamburgers were chosen over other foods, including but not limited to prawns, roast beef, sausages, and tuna steak.
The tumor in my breast seems benign in comparison with other types of cancer, inter alia, Lung, Stomach and Thyroid.
… inter alia, lung, stomach and thyroid.
Thanks for correcting yourself.
Reply to “per capita”
The per capita number of our mistakes during a specific period of time reveals our accuracy.
It’s better to say: … the level of our accuracy or even inaccuracy.
An increase in per capita breach of law is a harbinger of a pervasive malady in a society.
“Per capita” is a Latin term meaning “per person” or “for each individual.” It is commonly used in statistical contexts to provide an average per person, allowing for more accurate comparisons between different populations or regions. In your sentence, “per capita breach of law” refers to the average number of law violations committed by each individual in a society. An increase in this figure indicates a widespread issue affecting the entire population, signaling a deeper societal problem.
Reply to “versus”
An extravagant lifestyle versus a parsimonious one
Many years ago, there was a relentless battle between the indigenous inhabitants versus the alien invaders taking place in this island.
* on this island
Reply to “verbatim”
Verbatim reports of any scientific course can be beneficial in the future.
In dubbing process, conveying the whole concept and meaning is more essential than translating in a verbatim way.
Reply to “status quo”
The effect of surroundings on your status quo should never be overlooked.
The status quo will be maintained unless he concurs to adopt a boy from an orphanage.
Reply to “quid pro quo”
“something for something”
Today, in every nook and cranny of the globe, moral codes frown upon any quid pro quo harassment.
* Quid pro quo is a noun. You’ve used it as an adjective.
… any revenge, retaliation, etc. as a quid pro quo for harassment.
I can barter your remaining tokens for 90% of its value as an intriguing quid pro quo.
Reply to “pro bono”
One of the symptoms of equality in a society is the opportunity to have a pro bono service for those defendants who cannot afford to pay one in order to defend and acquit themselves in a court.
One of the signs of equality…
And also it’s better to be more precise and write: pay / hire a lawyer, although it is implied.
Nonprofit organizations which work on a pro bono basis should be supported by the governments.
Reply to “ergo”
Ergo (adv, conjunction): so, therefore
He already had a lot of experience and ergo seemed the best candidate for the job.
Today, life is so competitive, ergo more determination is needed.
Reply to “sine quo non”
Having a valid high school diploma is a sine quo non for participants of emergency first aid class.
Audacity, effrontery, persistence, and perseverance are some sine quo non for wrestling with problems.
I think it is “sine qua non”. Am I right?
You’re absolutely right. That was my mistake. Thank you very much.
Reply to “de facto”
Sometimes we notice the subtle de facto consequences of our improper behavior towards people.
de facto (adj): actual, genuine
A de facto state of economic problems requires consideration in different terms.
Lack of democracy results in a condition which people do not behave as per their own de facto thoughts.
* in a condition in which / where
Reply to “alibi”
Do not invent an alibi. Any evidence is against you.
Being afraid of gaol, he commenced concocting alibis.
Reply to “per se”
Per se (adv): by itself
The main reason to change careers is not money per se.
Having a profound effect on the society per se is a good reason to hold a commemorative ceremony for him.
Believe it or not, money, as a panacea, per se solves many problems.
Reply to “carpe diem”
The best advice you can give to those who are used to saving money is the carpe diem.
* … is carpe diem.
Unfortunately, in underdeveloped countries, carpe diem is less practical.
Reply to “ad hoc”
Ad hoc (adj): done for particular purpose, unplanned
The company failed due to make decisions on ad hoc basis without considering longer-term issues.
* done without any particular purpose
* due to making decisions on an ad hoc basis
* long-term issues
Usually unprecedented events might turn into ad hoc ones.
Do you think relying upon ad hoc methods reveals shortsightedness or creativity?
Reply to “e.g.”
e.g. : for or as an example, let’s say
We need to eat healthier foods daily, e.g. meat, milk, fruits, eggs, vegetables.
* … and vegetables.
You can make a contribution to developing LELB society by leaving comments and participating in activities.
You can make a contribution to developing LELB society by participating in activities e.g. leaving comments, raising questions and etc.
I’m grateful to you for such an example and bringing this point to the attention of LELB Society’s dear readers.
* and etc. :arrow: etc.
The abbreviation e.g. is short for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, meaning “for example.”
I have an unquenchable thirst for new digital gadgets, e.g. cameras, cellphones, tablets, etc.
Reply to “bona fide”
Bona fide (adj): genuine, authentic, true, real, valid, (antonym: bogus)
Any bona fide offers of help would be appreciated.
The true bona fide prayer for rain always carry umbrella with his/herself.
* carries an umbrella with him/herself.
Today, bona fide love is scarce and many prefer marry into money.
….prefer marrying into money.
Great! I hadn’t noticed your self-correction.
* prefer to marry / prefer marring …
Reply to “etc.”
LELB Society is a platform for exchanging ideas, learning English, brainstorming, etc.
If it is the case as you’ve mentioned, I should admit that the participants like you have made it so.
Etc. is a latin abbreviation which stands for et cetera. It is used after a list to show that there are many other examples of the same kind. In formal writing, people avoid using “etc.” and instead use “such as”, “and many others” and etc.
Just remember that before “etc.”, you must NOT use “and” because “etc.” per se means “and others”. So, and before etc. would be redundant.
Reply to “i.e.”
Have you ever talked with a nonagenarian who utters many tired clichés, i.e. the phrases which are not original and have been used so much.
A question mark should be added to the sentence.
That’s right. Thanks for performing self-assessment.
I.e. is an abbreviation for id est and means “that is to say” or “in other words”.
An effective method of mastering vocabulary is to learn them through context, i.e. implementing and using them in a sentence.
It’s more collocationally acceptable to say: “in context”.
i.e. : that is to say, we use it when we want to give a more precise description of the thing mentioned
We are dealing with climate change resulting from industrial pollution i.e warm and dry season.
* i.e.
* a season / seasons
Reply to “vice versa”
Not always does affluence effect jubilation, and vice versa, however.
The dilemma of “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” denotes that having a chicken is a prerequisite for having an egg and vice versa.
It’s better to put a comma before “vice versa”.