They begin with 'everyday' Latin phrases, ones that you come across from time-to-time in english text, or even conversation -- so that we can hold our own against the amadáns; and then I've included a few slightly ... less common ... phrases at the end, for those special occasions, when you really want to take the piss.
from the beginning
ab initio
from the beginning
absit omen
may the presentiment not become real or take place
ab urbe condita
from the founding of the city
ad hominem
(arguments) directed against a person rather than against his arguments
ad litem
appointed for a lawsuit
ad rem
to the point; without digression:
Ad valorem
According to its value
advocatus diaboli
devil's advocate
Ad infinitum
To infinity
Ad nauseam
To the point of sickness
Ad litteram
To the letter
Ars artis gratia
Art for the sake of art
Ars longa, vita brevis
Art is long, life is short
Agenda
Things to be done
Alea iacta est
The die has been cast
Ad astera per aspera
To the stars through difficulties
amor patriae
love of one's country; patriotism
anno regni
in the year of the reign
annus mirabilis
a year of wonders, catastrophes, or other notable events
Anguis in herba
Snake in the grass
argumentum ad hominem
argument to the man, rather than to the facts
Ave et vale
Goodbye and farewell
Actus reus
the act, which in combination with a mens rea constitutes a crime
Bona fide
In good faith
carpe diem
lit. sieze the day
enjoy the pleasures of the moment, without concern for the future
casus belli
1. an event or act used to justify a war.
2. the immediate cause of a quarrel.
[literally: occasion of war]
Caveat Emptor
Let the buyer beware
cogito ergo sum
I think therefore I am
compos mentis
of sound mind
Condemnant qui non intelligent
They condemn who do not understand
Consilio et armis
By plans and by weapons
coram populo
in the presence of the people, publically
corpus vile
a person or thing fit only to be the object of an experiment
cui bono
for whose benefit? for what purpose?
Cum grano salis
With a grain of salt
Cum propris suis alis volat
He flies with his own wings
decus et tutamen
an ornament and a safeguard
de dicto
Lit. about the saying
Logic, philosophy. relating to the expression of a belief, possibility, etc., rather than to the individuals mentioned, as in the number of the planets is the number of satellites of the sun,the truth of which is independent of what number that is. C ompare de re.
de fide
from faith
R.C. Church. (of a doctrine) belonging to the essentials of the faith, esp. by virtue of a papal ruling.
Dei gratia
by the grace of God
de novo
from the beginning, new
Deo gratias
thanks be to God, DG.
Deo volente
god willing. dv
de profundis
out of the depths of misery or dejection
de re
Lit. About the thing
adj. Logic, philosophy. (of a belief, possibility, etc.) relating to the individual rather than to an expression, as the necessity of the number of wonders of the world is prime since that number, seven, is necessarily prime
Deus
God
deus ex machina
Lit. God out of a machine
(in ancient Greek and Roman drama) a god introduced into a play to resolve the plot
Dies Irae
Day of Wrath
disjecta membra
scattered fragments, esp. parts taken from a writing or writings
Dominus
God, or Christ
Dum volvo, video disco
While I turn, I see and learn
Dum spiro, spero
While I breathe, I hope
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country
Ecce Homo
Behold the man
Esse quam videri
To be rather than to seem
Ex animo
From the heart
editio princeps
the first printed edition of a work
e pluribus unum
one out of many: the motto of the U.S.A.
exempli gratia
eg
for the sake of example
exeunt
they go out: used as a stage direction
exeunt omnes
they all go out: used as a stage direction
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Nothing comes from nothing
ex silentio
lit. from silence
(of a theory, assumption, etc.) based on a lack of evidence to the contrary
ex voto
in accordance with a vow
Et alia
And others
Ex officio
Out of office
Ergo
Therefore
facile princeps
an obvious leader
fecit
(he or she) made it: used formerly on works of art next to the artist's name
Abbrev.:fec
Festine lente
Make haste, slowly
Fidei Defensor
FD
Defender of the Faith
floruit
(he or she) flourished:
used to indicate the period when a historical figure, whose birth and death dates are unknown, was most active.
Abbrevs.:fl., flor.
fons et origo
source & origin
genius loci
1. the guardian spirit of a place.
2. the special atmosphere of a particular place. [genius of the place]
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
glory to God in the highest
Gloria Patri
glory to the Father
hic jacet
(on gravestones) here lines
honoris causa
for the sake of honour
Habeas corpus
You have a body.
I.E. Id Est
That is
idem
the same
used to refer to an article, chapter, etc., previously cited.
id est
ie
ignotum per ignotius
the unknown by means of the more unknown]
in absentia
in the absence of
in aeternum
forever; eternally.
In camera
In chambers (ie in private)
In Deo speramus.
In God we trust.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum
"the index"
RC church's list of forbidden books
in extenso
at full length
in extremis
1. in extremity; in dire straits.
2. at the point of death.
[literally: in the furthest reaches]
infra
(in annotation) below, further on.
In hoc signo vinces.
In this sign, you will conquer.
in loco parentis
in place of a parent:
in medias res
into the midst of things
in perpetuum
for ever
in propria persona
in person
in rerum natura
in the nature of things
in situ
in the natural, original, or appropriate position
inter alia
among other things.
inter alios
among other people
inter se
among or between themselves.
inter vivos
Law: between living people
in toto
totally
in utero
within the womb
in vacuo
in isolation; without reference to facts or evidence.
in vino veritas
ěn wine truth
In flagrante delicto
Caught in the act
ipso facto
By the fact itself
ipse dixit
an arbitrary and unsupported assertion.
ipsissima verba
verbatim
Lapsus linguae.
Slip of the tongue.
laud aute dominum
praise the lord
literae humaniores
Lit. the more humane letters
the faculty concerned with Greek and Latin literature, ancient history, and philosophy; classics.
loco citato
in the place or passage quoted.
Abbrevs.:loc. cit., lc.
loquitur
he (or she) speaks: used, esp. formerly, as a stage direction.
Usually abbreviated to loq.
Lux sit
Let there be light
maxima positio
greatest proposition
Media via
In the middle way
Magnum opus.
Greatest work.
mare nostrum
Mediterranean
mea culpa
my fault
Mens Rea
Lit. Guilty mind.
In legal circles, it's used to mean 'criminal intent'
mensa
the table
mens sana in corpore sano
a sound mind in a sound body
meum et tuum
mine and thine: used to express rights to property
mirabile dictu
wonderful to relate; amazing to say.
Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy on me, O God
modus ponens
mood that affirms
In logic, the principle that whenever a conditional statement and its antecedent are given to be true its consequent may be validly inferred, as in if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium
modus tollens
mood that denies
Logic. the principle that whenever a conditional statement and the negation of its consequent are given to be true, the negation of its antecedent may be validly inferred, as in if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium and this isn't Belgium so it's not Tuesday.
mutatis mutandis
the necessary changes having been made.
Multum in parvo
Much in little
Morituri te salutamus.
We who are about to die salute you.
N.B. Nota Bene
Note well.
ne plus ultra
the extreme or perfect point or state.[literally: not more beyond (that is, go no further), allegedly a warning to sailors inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar]
nihil
nothing, nil
Nil Desperandum
Never despair
non licet.
it is not permitted
non liquet.
it is not clear
Nolle prosequi
We shall no longer prosecute
nolens volens
whether willing or unwilling
non compos mentis
not in control of one's own mind.
Nosce te ipsum.
Know thyself.
Nolite Timere
Be not afraid
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
No one touches me with impunity.
nulli secundus
second to none
Nolo contendere
I am unwilling to contest.
Non sequitur
It does not follow
omnia vincit amor
love conquers all
Omnia amor vincet.
Love conquers all.
onus probandi
burden of proof
opus anglicanum
English work
ora et labora
pray and work.
ora pro nobis
pray for us
O tempora! O mores!
oh the times! oh the customs!: an exclamation at the evil of them.
passim
here and there;
pater familias
is head of family, or head of tribe
paternoster
our father
pax vobiscum
peace be with you
per ardua ad astra
through difficulties to the stars: the motto of the RAF.
Perlculum in mora.
There is danger in delay.
per mensem
every month
persona grata
a welcome person
persona non grata
an unacceptable or unwelcome person
Per se
By itself
pinxit
he (or she) painted it: an inscription sometimes found on paintings following the artist's name.
Prima facie
At first view
primum mobile
a prime mover.
primus inter pares
first among equals.
pro bono publico
for the public good
Pro Tem (Pro Tempera)
For the time being.
pro patria
for one's country
pro tempore
pro tem
for the time being
Possunt qui posse videntur
They are able because they seem to be able.
quantum meruit
as much as he has earned: denoting a payment for goods or services in partial fulfilment of a contract or for those supplied when no price has been agreed
quod erat demonstrandum
which was to be proved.
QED Quod Est Demonstradum
That which has been proven.
Qui docet, discit.
He who teaches, learns.
Quid custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who shall watch the watchers?
res
a thing, matter, object
rus in urbe
the country in the town
RIP Requiescat In Pace
May he rest in peace
Sic semper tyrannis.
Thus always to tyrants.
Semper fidelis
Always faithful.
salva veritate
without affecting truth-value.
semper fidelis
always faithful
semper paratus
always prepared
senatus consultum
with the advice of the senate
sic passim
thus everywhere
a phrase used in printed works to indicate that a word, spelling, etc., occurs in the same form throughout.
sic transit gloria mundi
thus passes the glory of the world
Sic
Thus sine die
without a day fixed.
sine prole
without issue
demisit sine prole
(died without issue)).
sine qua non
without which not
an essential condition or requirement.
sub judice
under judicial consideration
Sub rosa.
Under the rose (secretly)
summum bonum
the principle of goodness in which all moral values are included
sursum corda
up hearts
lift up your hearts
Tabula rasa.
Blank slate.
Tempus fugit.
Time flies.
Terra incognita
Unknown land.
ultra vires
beyond authority
ubi supra
where indicated / cited above.
urbi et orbi
to the city and the world
ut infra
as below
ut supra
as above
via media
the middle way
a compromise
vi et armis
by force and arms
Veritas numquam perit.
Truth never dies.
Viz. (viclicet)
Namely
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Come Holy Spirit
Viva voce
By the living voice
Viam inveniam aut faciam.
I will find a way or I wil make one
Veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
At this point, things get...different
Have a nice day.
Raptus regaliter
Royally screwed.
Si hoc signum legere potes,
operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes!
If you can read this sign,
you can get a good job in the fast paced, high-paying world of Latin.
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum!
Don't you dare erase my hard disk.
Catapultam habeo.
Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis,
ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
I've a catapult.
Give me all the money or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.
I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo.
Don't call me, I'll call you.
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules.
If I were you , I wouldn't walk in front of any catapults.
Nullo metro compositum est.
It doesn't rhyme.
Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.
I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant
May barbarians invade you're personal space
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy.
Mellita, domi adsum.
Honey, I'm home.
Te precor dulcissim supplex
Pretty please with a cherry on top
Magister Mundi sum
I am the Master of the Universe
Estne volumen in toga, an solumtibi libet me videre?
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me.
Prehende yxorem meam, sis.
Take my wife please.
Recedite, plebes. Gero rem impreialem!
Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.
Vescere bracis meis.
Eat my shorts.
Fac ut vivas.
Get a life.
Stultus est sicut stultus facit.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Cogito, ergo sum.
I think, therefore I am.
Cogito, ergo doleo.
I think, therefore I am depressed.
Carpe diem.
Seize the day.
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elebitur.
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just slips out.
Non plaudite. Modo pecuniam jacite.
Don't applaud. Just throw money.
Peruniunt montes, et mus ridiculus nascitur.
The mountains are in labour, and a ridiculous mouse is born.
Parve leves capiunt animos.
Small things effect light minds.
Credo quia absurdum est.
I believe it because it is unreasonable.
Noli habere bovis, vir.
Don't have a cow, man!
Vis eccum erit ... semper.
The Force will be with you... always.
Sit vis nobiscum.
May the Force be with you.
Sic biscuitus disintegratum
That's the way the cookie crumbles.
Quidquid latine dictum sit altum viditur
Anything said in Latin sounds profound.
Veni, vidi, visa.
I came, I saw, I did a little shopping.
Vestrum excrucibo.
Your torturer.