Common Phrases

Question 1

a priori

Answer 1

from what comes before - knowledge or justification is independent of experience

Question 2

faber est suae quisque fortunae

Answer 2

Every man is the artisan of his own fortune - Appius Claudius Caecus

Question 3

acta non verba

Answer 3

actions, not words

Question 4

ad hoc

Answer 4

to this - improvised or made up

Question 5

ad hominem

Answer 5

to the man - below the belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument

Question 6

ad honorem

Answer 6

for honor

Question 7

ad infinitum

Answer 7

to infinity

Question 8

ad nauseum

Answer 8

used to describe an argument that has been taken to the point of nausea

Question 9

ad victoriam

Answer 9

to victory - more commonly “for victory”, this was the battle cry of the Romans

Question 10

alea iacta est

Answer 10

the die has been cast

Question 11

alias

Answer 11

at another time - an assumed name or pseudonym

Question 12

alibi

Answer 12

elsewhere

Question 13

alma mater

Answer 13

nourishing mother - used to denote one’s college/university

Question 14

amor patriae

Answer 14

the love of one’s country

Question 15

amor vincit omnia

Answer 15

love conquers all

Question 16

a poste riori

Answer 16

from the latter - knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence

Question 17

annuit coeptis

Answer 17

He (God) nods at things being begun - or “he approves our undertakings”, the motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the one-dollar bill

Question 18

ante bellum

Answer 18

before the war - used to denote the period before the Civil War in the Southern states

Question 19

ante meridiem

Answer 19

before noon (i.e. AM)

Question 20

aqua vitae

Answer 20

the water of life - used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky, gin or brandy

Question 21

arte et marte

Answer 21

by skill and valor

Question 22

astra inclinant, sed non obligant

Answer 22

the stars incline us, they do not bind us - refers to the strength of free will over astronomical determinism

Question 23

audemus jura nostra defendere

Answer 23

we dare to defend our rights - state motto of Alabama

Question 24

audere est facere

Answer 24

to dare is to do

Question 25

audio

Answer 25

I hear

Question 26

aurea mediocritas

Answer 26

golden mean - refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes

Question 27

auribus teneo lupum

Answer 27

I hold a wolf by the ears - a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly (i.e. "To have a tiger by the tail")

Question 28

aut cum scruto, aut in scruto

Answer 28

either with shield or on shield - do or die, "no retreat"; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle

Question 29

aut neca aut necare

Answer 29

either kill or be killed

Question 30

aut viam inveniam aut faciam

Answer 30

I will either find a way or make one - said by Hannibal, the great military commander

Question 31

barba non facit philosophum

Answer 31

a beard doesn't make one a philosopher

Question 32

bellum omnium contra omnes

Answer 32

war of all against all

Question 33

bis dat qui cito dat

Answer 33

he gives twice, who gives promptly - a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts

Question 34

bona fide

Answer 34

good faith

Question 35

bono malum superate

Answer 35

overcome evil with good

Question 36

carpe diem

Answer 36

seize the day

Question 37

caveat emptor

Answer 37

let the buyer beware - the purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his needs

Question 38

circa

Answer 38

around, or approximately

Question 39

citius altius fortius

Answer 39

faster, higher, stronger - modern Olympics motto

Question 40

cogito ergo sum

Answer 40

I think, therefore I am - Rene Descartes

Question 41

contemptus mundi/saeculi

Answer 41

scorn for the world/times - despising the secular world, a monk or philosopher's rejection of a mundane life and worldly values

Question 42

corpus christi

Answer 42

body of Christ

Question 43

corruptissim a re publica plurimae leges

Answer 43

when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous - Tacitus

Question 44

creatio ex nihlo

Answer 44

creation out of nothing - a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context

Question 45

cura te ipsum

Answer 45

take care of your own self - an exoneration to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others

Question 46

curriculum vitae

Answer 46

the course of one's life - in business, an extended résume

Question 47

de facto

Answer 47

from the fact - distinguishing what is supposed to be from what is reality

Question 48

deo volente

Answer 48

God willing