womb particularly that of a sow : volva, vulva womb, belly, lower stomach : uterus wonder, astonishment, surprise, admiration : admiratio wonderful, astonishing, extraordinary : mirus wo
Trang 1twinned /double /paired /half and half : geminus
twist, distort : intorqueo
two : duo, duae, dua [Adjective]
two : duo
type : typus
tyrant, absolute ruler : tyrannus
ulcer, sore, boil /plague, curse : vomica
unaccustomed /unusual, strange, uncommon :
insolitus
unaccustomed, unusual : insolita
unacquainted with : ignarus
unappeasable : implacabilis
unavenged, unpunished : inultus
unbecoming : indignus
unbending : inflexibilis
unbreakable, strong : infragilis
unbridled : infrenis
unbridled : infrenis, infrenus
unbroken : perpetuus
unburied : inhumatus
uncertain, doubtful, unsure, hesitant : incertus
uncertainty / deception : error
uncertainty : ambiguitas
unchangeable : incommutabilis
unclean, impure, dirty, foul : immunda
uncommon, extraordinary, exceptional : eximius
uncommonness, excellence : eximietate
unconquer, unconquerable, undefeated : invictus
unconsumed, undiminished, not depleted :
inconsumptus
uncorrupted, genuine, pure, untainted :
incorruptus
undaunted, wrathful : animosus
undaunted : imperterritus
undecided, void, unfixed, of no effect : irritus
under oath : iuratus
undertaker : vespillo
undertaking, that which is entrusted :
commissum
undertaking : coeptum
undoubted, certain, sure, settled, resolved : certus
uneasiness, anxiety, disquiet, apprehension :
sollicitudo
uneasy, worried, anxious, restless, agitated :
sollicitus
uneasy : anxia
unequal, unjust, unfair : iniquus
unexpected, unlooked for, unanticipated :
insperatus
unexpected : inaestimatus
unexpected : inopinatus
unexpected/ (ex improviso) suddenly : improviso
unexpectedly : insperate unexplainable, inexplicable : inedicabilis unfading : immarcescibilis
unfairly : inique unfaithful, disloyal, untrue : infidelis unfavorable : adversa
unfinished, only begun : inchoatus unfitting, inopportune : inopportunus unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky : infortunatus unfruitful, barren, unproductive, infertile : infelix ungodly : impius
ungrateful, unpleasant, disagreeable : ingratus unhappily : infeliciter
unharmed, safe and sound : sospes unharmed : illaesus
unhealed, uncured, untended : incuratus unhesitatingly : incunctanter
unhurt, safe, sound : salvus unimpeded, free, unrestrained, unchecked : licens unimpeded, unchecked /(mil : expeditus
unimproved, uncorrected, not emended : incorrectus
uninhabitable, unfit for man or beast : inhabitabilis
uninjured, safe, scatheless, unharmed : incolumis uninterrupted, next : continuus
union : conspiratio universal : omnimodus universe, the world : universum unjust, inequitable, unfair : iniustus unkempt, untrimmed / rude, rough : incomptus unknowing, unaware, ignorant : insciens
unknown, obscure, ignorant, ignoble : ignotus unknown, unexamined / unrecognized / unclaimed : incognitus
unknown : incompertus unlawful : illicitus
unlike, different, disparate, dissimilar, distinct : dissimilis
unlimited, infinite, without bounds, boundless, limitless : infinitus
unmanageable, ill-fit, poorly adapted, unsuiited : inhabilis
unmoved : immotus unnatural, wonderful, miraculous, amazing : prodigiosus
unpassable : impervius unperceived /unknown, : imperceptus unproduction, infertile, unfruitful : infructuosus unpunished, unrestrained, safe : impunitus unremitting : assiduus
unrewarded, not honored : inhonoratus
Trang 2unrolling and reading of a scroll, reading of a
book : evolutio
unseemly, dishonorable : turpis
unseemly, shameful, disgraceful, dishonorable :
dedecor
unshaken, undaunted : intrepidus
unshattered, undestroyed : inconvulsus
unskilled : iners
unstretched, not extended, unstrained / untuned
: incontentus
inconsiderate : importunus
unsuitable : importunus
unsuitable : incongruus
unsupportably : intolerabiliter
untamed, wild : indomitus
untasted : ingustatus
untidy, neglected : incultus
until : insquequo
untilled, uncultivated / unpolished, rude, rough :
incultus
untilled, uncultivated : incultus
untranslated : fidelis
untried : inexperta
untru, disloyal : infidus
unutterable : ineffabilis
unwarlike : imbellis
unwept, unmourned, unlamented : infletus
unwilling, against one's will : invitus
unwilling : nolens
unwillingly, ungratefully : ingrate ingratiis ingratis
unworked /not done, unfinished, incomplete :
infectus
unworthy, lacking in merit, unfit : indignus
up and down : sursum deorsum
up to the time when, until, as long as, while :
donec
upright, liberal, generous : probus
upright, standing / resolute : erectus
uprising, disturbance, riot, tumult : tumultus
uproar, disturbance /mob, crowd, multitude :
turba
upwards : sursum
urban, urbane, pertaining to the city : urbanus
urgently : instanter
us /they tried to tell US we're too young : nos
use, employ : inhibeo
use, experience, skill, advantage, profit : usus
useful, advantageous, helpful : utilis
useful : commodus
useless : inanis
using, enjoying, profiting /using money lent /interest : usura
utility, usefulness : utilitas utility : utilitas
Utrecht : Traiectensium utterly : funditus
utterly : prorsus
v, to be before : praesum vagrant, wandering : vagus vain, useless, ineffectual, of not effect : irritus valiant : fortis
valiantly : fortiter
virtuousness,manhood, power : virtus vanishing, disappearing / passing away : evanidus vapor, smell, reek, odor : nidor
varied, of many kinds : multigenus variety, differences, diversity : varietas various, numerous : multiplex
various, varied : varius vast : immensus vault, grotto, covered gallery : crypta vault, vaulted room /small boat : camera vehemence : impetus
vehement : vehemens vein /stream /vein of ore /streak : vena velocity : volatus
Vendeuil : Vendolius venerable, honorable, worshipful : recolitus venial sins /supplies : venalia
verger, provost : vigerius Vermandois : Vernandense versatile : versatilis, -e[Adjective]
versed in : instructus versifier : versificator, -oris (m very clever, exceedingly sharp : perscitus very disgraceful : perturpis
very lofty : praecelsus very many, a great number, a large part, the greater part : plerusque
very much, exceedingly : summopere very much : summopere
very powerful : praevalens very powerful : praevalida very small, very little : paululum very strange, peculiar, individual : specialissimus very strong : pervalidus
very worthy : perdignus very, very much : magnopere magnus opere vessel, glass, cup : vas
vessel : ratis vexed at, irritated with, fume : stomachata
Trang 3vicar : vicarius
viceroy, governor, ruler : satraps
vicious, full of vice, corrupt : vitiosus
viciously, scandalously : facinarose
victor, winner : victor
victory, triumph, success : laureola
victory : victoria
victuals, sustenance : victus
victuals : cibaria
vigor, liveliness : vigor
vigor : valentia
vigorous : validus
vigorous : vigens
vigorously : vegetabiliter
vile : nequam
vileness : nequitia
villa, village, hamlet, court, hof : villa
village, neigborhood, quarter (or a city), street :
vicus
villager, inhabitant of vill or farm, customary
tenant : villanus
villainy / a gang of : latrocinium
villainy : facinus
vine-dresser (a man who prunes grape vines) :
vinitor
violent death, slaughter, death : nex
violent, fierce, rough : asper
violent, furious, impetuous : vehemens
violently, by force : violenter
violently, forcefully, strongly, exceedingly :
vehementer
violently : ingruenter
viper-like : vipereus
virtue, right : rectum
virus, slime, poison : virus
vision, view, sight : visum
visitor, caller : salutor
voice, word, power, right, authority : vox, vocis
void, invalid, in vain, useless, ineffectual : inritus
irritus
voluntary : voluntarius
vote, franchise /approval support, aid, assistance :
suffragium
votive offering : donarium
vows, wishes : vota
voyage, navigation : navigatio
vulture : vultur, voltur, vulturius, volturius
wages : merces[Noun]
wagon : carrus[Noun]
wagon, cart, Charles' Wain, the Big Dipper :
plaustrum
wail : ploro[Verb]
wailing : ploratus wailing : planctus waist : medium corpus[Noun]
waistcoat : subucula[Noun]
wall (of a house) : paries parietis wallet, purse, bag : pera
walls, fortifications of a city /ramparts /castle, fortress : moenia
walls, walled town, city, mansion, dwelling : moenia
wanderer, foreigner, stranger / pilgrim, crusader : peregrinus
wandering, error, mistake, deception : error wandering, straying : erratus
wandering, vagrant, intinerant : vulgivagus wandering : errabundus
wanting, destitute of, not sharing in : expers wanton : petulans
wanton : proterus war, warfare : bellum war : bellum
warlike, martial, pugnacious : bellatorius warlike : bellicosus
warm springs, warm baths : thermae warm, luke-warm, tepid : tepidus warm-frame, seed-bed : seminarium warn : monere
warning, reminder : admonitio warrior : proeliator
war-trumpet : tuba washed, bathed, cleaned / fine, elegant, refined : lautus
washing, bathing : lavatio waste, desert : inculta watch over, observe : custodio water : aqua
wave-driven : fluctivagus wavy, curly : crispans way, manner of life /monastic life : conversatio ways, conduct, character, morals : mores, morium
we /WE live and die by that creed : nos weak, feeble : fragilis
weaken, to be in want : deficio weakening /refusing /invalidating : infirmatio weakly, faintly : infirme
weakness, feebkeness /instability, fickleness : infirmitas
wealth : opulentia wealthy, rich, abundantly provided, well-equipped : copiosus
wealthy, splendid : opulentus weapons / honor, distinction : ornamentum
Trang 4wearied : fatigatus
wearied : fessus
wearing armor, armored : loricatus
weary, tired : defessus
weaver : textor textrix
wedding song : epithalamium
wedding : nuptiae
wedding : nuptialis
wedlock : conjugium
weep : flere[Verb]
weep : lacrimare[Verb]
weep : lamentari[Verb]
weep : plorare[Verb]
weeping, lamenting : ploratus
weeping, tears : fletus
weeping, wailing, lamenting : lamentatio
weeping, wailing : lamenta (neut
weeps : fleret[Verb]
weeps : lacrima[Verb]
weeps : plora[Verb]
weevil : curculio[Noun]
weigh : examinare[Verb]
weigh : pendere[Verb]
weigh : pensare[Verb]
weigh : pensitare[Verb]
weighs : examinat[Verb]
weighs : pendit[Verb]
weight : gravitus[Noun]
weight : momentum[Noun]
weight, seriousness, dignity, importance : gravitas
weight, weight of character, firmness, constancy :
pondus
weighty : gravis
weir : agger[Noun]
weir : moles[Noun]
welcome : commodus
welcome : gratus
welcome : salutatio
welcome, pleasant, agreeable : acceptus
welcome : desideratus
welcome : exspectata
well (melior = better / optime = best ) : bene
well endowed : praeditus
well supplied, plentiful, : copiosus
well versed, informed : edoctus
well, pit : puteus
well-disposed : acclivius
well-nigh : fere
well-wishing, helpfull, thoughtful, kindly :
benevolens
west wind : zephyr
wet, moist, soaked, boiled, soft, drunk, dyed, steeped : madidus
wetting, dousing, drenching : infusio whale : balaena
whale : balena what is one's by right : quod sui juris est what is right : iustum
whatsoever, anything that : quicumque, quaecumque, quodcumque
wheat, wheat flour : siligo, siliginis wheat : triticus
wheatfield, wheat crop, field of wheat : seges wheel-shaped, round : rotundus
wheel : rota when, as soon as / wherein, whereby, whereas : ubi
whence, from where /how, from whom : unde wherefore, why, because of which thing : quare wherefore : quapropter
wherefore? why? for which reason : quamobrem, quam ob rem
whether : utrum whether : utrum whetstone : cos which, what, that : qui, quae, que, quod which? what? : quinam quaenam quenam quodnam
whichever of the two you wish : uterlibet whichever of the two : utercumque while, as long as, until : dum
whim, caprice, violent desire, passionate longing : libido
whip, scourge : flagello whirling motion, whirlwind, whirlpool : turbo whirlpool : charybdis
whirlpool : gurges white, snowy : niveus white : albus
who, what : quisnam, quidnam whoever, whatever, whatsoever, anything at all : quicquid
whoever, whatever, whatsoever, anything at all : quisquis
whole octave : diapason whole, entire, complete, all : totus whole, safe : solidus
/complete, entire : integer whore : meretrix, -icis (f whores : meretrices, -ium (f why even, in fact, moreover : quin etiam why so? : quid ita
Trang 5why, wherefore : cur
why? : quianam
why? : quiane
wicked, accursed, evil : maleficus
wicked, accursed, infamous, criminal : scelestus
wicked : profanus
wickedly, with evil intent : male
wickedness, insincerity, wrong, injustice :
tortitudo
wickedness : malignitas
wide, broad, long / willing, obliging, favorable :
prolixus
wide, spacious /later, postponed / lax, loose,
relaxed : laxus
widely, loosely / unrestrained : laxe
widely : laxe
widen, extend, enlarge / undo, relax : laxo
wideness, expansiveness, roominess : laxitas
widowhood : viduatus
wife, spouse : uxor
wild animal : fera
wild boar : aper
wild grape vine : labrusca
wild, unrestrained, unchecked, unbridled :
effrenus
wildness, savageness : feritas
will, purpose : voluntas
willing : voluntarius
willingly, of one's own accord, unaided : sponte
willingly, with pleasure : libenter
willingly : volutarie
win over, reconcile, unite /cause : concilio
wind, rumor, favor : ventus
window shutter : luminare, luminaris
window : fenestra
wine-drinking, intoxication, drunkenness : crapula
wine : vinum
wing : pennae
wing/armpit/naval squadron /part of line of
battle /sails, oars : ala
winged with sails : velivola
winged, flying /inconstant, unreliable/ flighty :
volaticus
winged, flying /swift, rapid /fleeting, transitory :
volatilis
winged, having wings : alatus
winged, having wings : aliger
winged, with feathers : pennatus
winged, with feathers : penniger
wing-footed, swift, fleet : pennipes
wing-footed : alipes
winnowing fan : ventorium
winnowing : ventagium winter camp, quarters, station : castra hiberna wisdom : sapientia
wise, judicious : sapiens wisely, accurately, sagaciously : sagaciter wisely, discreetly : prudenter
wisely, judiciously : sapienter wish, longing /regret, grief /want, need : desiderium
wish, will, inclination / good will : voluntas wishing, willing, favorable : volens
witch, vampire : lamia with all one's strength, instantly : obnixe with awe, respectfully : reverenter
with credibility : probabiliter with displeasure : aegre with good will : libens with joy : gratanter with spirit, courageously /arrogantly, forciously : ferociter
with traits of character, yield to : utor with trepidation, in confusion, : trepide with whom, with which : quicum
withdrawal, depart, withdraw : egressio withdrawing, outlet : exitus
within : intus without a bridle : infrenatus without a protector, without a lord : incommendatus
without asking advise, precipately / imprudent, rash : inconsultus
without beginning, without a leader : anarchos without bloodshed : incruente
without compare, peerless, incomparable : incomparabilis
without delay : confestim without doubts, confident, without hesitation : indubitanter
without fame, unddistinguished, inglorious : inglorius
without respect, irreverent, unpatriotic /wicked : impius
without self-confidence, distrusting : diffidens
unadvised : inconsideratus without, useless : vacuus wolf : lupus
woman : femina
woman : mulier womanish : effeminatus womanly : muliebris
Trang 6womb (particularly that of a sow) : volva, vulva
womb, belly, lower stomach : uterus
wonder, astonishment, surprise, admiration :
admiratio
wonderful, astonishing, extraordinary : mirus
wonderfully, mervellously, uncommonly : mire
wonderfuly, marvelously, extraordinarily : mirifice
wood-cutter : lignator
wooded, covered with trees, forested :
nemorosus
woodpecker : picus
woods, forest, grove : silva
woolen : laneus
word, dictate : dictum
word, utterance, articulation : famen
word : verbum
work at, busy oneself in : exercitatio
work, labor, work done, completed work, building
: opus operis
work, pains, labor : opera
work : operatio
workmanlike : fabrilis
workshop, factor : officina
world, circle : orbis
world, universe : mundus
worm : vermis
worry, fatigue, vex, harass, tease : fatigo
worse (see malus) : peior
worship, reverence/ splendor : cultus
worst (see malus) : pessimus
worthless, good for nothing, bad : nequam
worthlessness, badness, wickedness : nequitia
nequities
worthy : dignus
worthy : dignus
wound : vulnus
wounded : plagatus
woven cloth, web : textus
woven fabric, piece of cloth : textilis
wrestle : colluctor
wrestling : colluctatio
wretched, unfortunate, miserable : miser
wretched : aerumnosus
wretchedly, miserably : misere
wretchedly, vilely : nequiter
writer, author, scribe : scriptor
writing tablet / list : album
writing tablet : tabella
writing : apices
wrong, sin : nefas
wrongful, acting unlawfully : injurius
wrongful : injustus
wrongly, badly, not as one would wish : secus wrongly, falsely : perperam
yea, indeed : quin etiam year : annus
yearly produce, grain crop / price of grain / cost
of
living : annona yellow, golden, saffron-colored, of saffron : croceus
yellow, saffron-colored / saffron oil : crocinus yet, still, until now : etiamnun, etiamnunc yoke /a team of oxen, a pair /bond, union /slavery : iugum
you : ele you (pl) /YOU can't catch me, i'm the gingerbread man : vos
you are the finest : Heidelberg you say : inquis
you : tu young animal /chicken, chick : pullus young man, coming to maturity, : adolescens young man, youth, lad : adulescens
young man, youth : juvenis young men, signs of manhood : pubes young, progeny : foetus
young : pullus your yours/ you may sing about YOUR pretty gals : vestrum vestri
your, yours /I read YOUR letter that said, dear john : tui
youth (between 20 and 45) : iuventus youth : adulescentia
youth : ephebus youthful : iuvenalis iuvenilis youthful : primaeva
zealous : sedulus zealous : studiosus zealously : sedulo Copyright ©2005 Hidden World Originals Ltd
Useful Latin Phrases Still commonly used today
ab ovo - from the egg (from the very beginning)
ad hoc - for this occasion, with regards to this
ad infinitum - to the infinity
ad maiorem gloriam dei - for the greater glory
of God
ad nauseam - to the point of disgust
Trang 7ad valorem - according to value
alma mater - college (nourishing mother)
alter ego - another I
ante bellum - before the war
argumentum a contrario - argument from the
contrary
argumentum ad hominem - argument aimed at
the person
argumentum ex silentio - proof by lack of
mention
ars gratia artis - art for art's sake
bona fide - in good faith
camera obscura - dark chamber
carpe diem - Seize the day
casus belli - legitimate reason for war
cave canem - beware of the dog
caveat - one should beware
caveat emptor - may the buyer beware
ceteris paribus - other things being equal
condicio sine qua non - necessary condition
corpus delicti - the fact (body) of the crime
cum grano salis - with a grain of salt
de facto - in fact, actually
de iure - by right, legally
et cetera (etc.) - and other
et tu, Brute! - even you, Brutus!
ex cathedra - from the chair
ex officio - by duty, from the office
ex post facto - from after the fact
exit; exeunt - (s)he goes out; they go out
ex libris - from the books (of)
ex officio - by virtue of office
ex post facto - enacted after the fact; retroactive
ex tempore - on the spur of the moment
ex prompto - ready on the spot
expressis verbis - in plain words
habeas corpus - you must have the fact (body)
of the crime
in absentia - in absence
in loco parentis - in the place of a parent
in medias res - into the midst of things
in memoriam - in memory (of)
in re - in reality
in toto - entirely
in situ - in the original setting
ipso facto - by the very fact
lapsus linguae - a slip of the tongue
modus operandi - manner of operating
modus vivendi - way of life
multum in parvo - much in something small
mutatis mutandis - with necessary changes
ne plus ultra - no more beyond
non sequitur - doesn't follow opus magnum - great work orbis terrarum - the circle of lands, earth pater patriae - father of his country pax vobiscum - peace be with you per annum - by the year
per capita - by heads per diem - by the day per se - by itself persona non grata - an unwelcome person post mortem - after death
prima facie - on the first sight pro and contra - for an against pro bono publico - for the public welfare pro rata - for a portion pro tempore - for the time being
quasi - as if quid pro quo - something for something quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.) - which was
to be demonstrated quorum - "of whom', required number of present
quota - what number requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) - may rest in peace reductio ad absurdum - reduction to an absurdity semper fidelis - always faithful
semper idem - always the same semper p?ratus - always prepared sic - so; thus
sine die - indefinitely, with no set date sine ira et studio - without anger and bias sine qua non - without which not (condition) status quo - the present state of affairs tabula rasa - blank record
tempus fugit - time flies terminus ante (post) quem - the date before (or after) which
terra firma - solid ground urbi et orbi - to the city and to the world vade mecum - go with me (a constant companion)
veni, vidi, vici - I came; saw; conquered verbatim - word for word
veto - I forbid via - by way of vice versa - the other way around
got that off my chest
absit invidia No offence intended Abundant dulcibus vitiis Nobody's perfect
count your chickens before they're hatched
Trang 8Apudne te vel me? Your place or mine?
Braccae tuae aperiuntur Your fly is open
Cogito sumere potum alterum I think I’ll have
another drink
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse I think we're on
the same wavelength
Derideo te! I laugh at you!
look at the time! My wife will kill me!
Fac ut vivas Get a life
Habesne plus vini? Do you have more wine?
Heu, modo itera omnia quae mihi nunc nuper
you repeat everything you just told me, only this
time say it in English?
Id est mihi, id non est tibi! It is mine, not yours!
isn't over until it's over
that in Latin
Illud iterum dicere potes! You can say that
again!
in puris naturalibus completely naked
Laborare non amo I do not like to work
Labra lege Read my lips
Lege atque lacrima Read 'em and weep
lusus naturae A freak of nature
Mihi ignosce Cum homine de cane debeo
about a dog
you won't sleep with me, the terrorists will have
won
Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo Don't call me,
I'll call you
applaud Just throw money
Nullo modo No way
are very annoying
Me, Love My Dog Qui Me Amat, Amat et Cattum Meum Love
Me, Love My Cat
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Sic faciunt omnes Everyone is doing it
stupid does
with a cherry on top!
you for not smoking Uno viso, omnia visa sunt Seen one, seem them all
Ut si! As if!
Vae! Damn!
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum Interdum modo elabitur Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me Sometimes it just sort of slips out
flow
Viri sunt Viri Men are slime
Ad infinitum To infinity
Ad nauseum To the point of making one sick Alma mater Nourishing mother
Anno domini In the year of the lord
Aqua vitae Water of life
Caesar! We who are about to die salute you Bene Good
Carpe diem Seize the day
Cedant arma togae May arms yield to the toga Cogito ergo sum I think therefore I am
Trang 9Cf (Confer) Compare
Cornucopia Horn of plenty
Cum Laude With praise
no arguing about matters of taste
De mortuis nil nisi bonum About the dead say
nothing but good
Deus ex machina God from a machine
Dramatis personae Characters of the play
Esse quam videri To be rather than to seem
Et alii/aliae Other persons/things
Ex cathedra From the seat of authority
Exit/exeunt He/they leave
best cook
brave
Fortuna caeca est Fortune is blind
Gens togata The toga-clad race; the romans
tomorrow for you
customs
Id est In other words
In absentia In the absence of
In aeternum In eternity/ Forever
In flagrante delicto While the crime is blazing
In nubibus In the clouds
wolf
fear
Iustitia Omnibus Justice for all Labor omnia vincit Work conquers all
Magna cum laude With great praise Mea culpa My fault
Modus operandi Way of operating
Multum in parvo Much in little (small but significant)
Non quis, sed quid Not who, but what
the fatherland
Nota bene Note well
generations
(miscellaneous remarks) Omnia vincit amor Love conquers all
Per capita Per head
Per se By itself Persona non grata An unwelcome person Post hoc ergo propter hoc After this, therefore because of this
Pro bono publico For the public good Pro et contra For and against
Pro forma For form's sake Pro patria For one's country
be demonstrated Requiescat in pace May he/she rest in peace
Senatus Populusque Romanus The senate and Roman people
Status quo The existing state of affairs
Trang 10Sub poena (legis) Under penalty of law
Summa cum laude With the greatest praise
Tabula rasa Clean slate
Terra firma Solid ground
greeks even bearing gifts
days)?
you everywhere
letter for letter
Veritas vos liberabit The truth will set you free
Vice versa In reverse order
Videre est credere Seeing is believing
Hello! Salve!
Miraculous to tell! Mirabile dictu!
Miserable to tell! Miserabile dictu!
Not at all! Minime!
Thank you Tibi gratias ago
What did you say? Quid dixisti?
What's up? Quid Novi?
Without a doubt! Sine dubito!
The History of the Latin Language
A chronology by Timothy J Pulju
753 BC — Traditional date of the founding of the
city of Rome by Romulus, a fictional character
who killed his twin brother Remus, populated his
city with escaped convicts, and found wives for
his subjects by kidnapping Sabine women who
had come for a visit At this stage, Latin is the
language spoken by several thousand people in
and near Rome
6th century BC — Earliest known Latin
inscription, on a pin, which says "Manios me
fhefhaked Numasioi", meaning "Manius made
me for Numerius" Only a few other inscriptions predate the 3rd century BC
250-100 BC — Early Latin The first Latin literature, usually loose translations of Greek works or imitations of Greek genres, stems from this period Meanwhile, the Romans are conquering the Mediterranean world and bringing their language with them
100 BC-150 AD — Classical Latin Guys like Cicero, Caesar, Vergil, and Tacitus write masterpieces of Latin literature Also, Ovid writes
a book on how to pick up women at the gladiator shows The literary language becomes fixed and gradually loses touch with the ever- changing popular language known today as Vulgar Latin
200-550 — Late Latin Some varieties of literature adhere closely to the classical standard, others are less polished or deliberately closer to the popular speech (e.g., St Jerome's translation of the Bible into Latin—the Vulgate) The western half of the empire is falling to pieces, but the Greek-speaking east, which is still in good shape, keeps using Latin in official contexts until the end
of this period
600-750 — Latin has become a dead language Few people in the west outside of monasteries can read The spoken languages of Italy, France and Spain change rapidly Monks, particularly in Ireland, read and write classical Latin and preserve ancient texts as well as church documents The Roman Catholic church continues to use Late Latin in the liturgy, though they eventually decide to deliver homilies in the local popular language The Byzantines still call themselves Romans but have given up on the Latin language
800-900 — The Carolingian Renaissance Charlemagne decides that education is a good thing and promotes it in his kingdoms After his death scholarship goes downhill a while, but never as far as it had before his reign
1100-1300 — Contact with the educated Arabs who have conquered North Africa and Spain leads to a revival of learning, especially the study
of Aristotle and other Greeks Leading smart guys