A fortiori - adj. and adv. [literally, from the
stronger] for a stronger reason; all the more.
A posteriori - adj. and adv. [literally, from the
latter] inductive; relating to or derived by reasoning from observed facts.
A priori - adj. and adv. [literally, from the former]
deductive; relating to or derived by reasoning from self-evident
propositions; presupposed by experience; being without examination or
analysis; presumptive; formed or conceived beforehand.
Ad hominem - adj. [literally, to the man] appealing to
feelings or prejudices rather than intellect; marked by an attack on an
opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made.
Ad infinitum - adv. or adj. [literally, to the
infinite] without end or limit.
Ad nauseam - adv. [literally, to sea-sickness] to a
sickening or excessive degree.
Camera obscura - n. [literally, dark chamber] a
darkened enclosure having an aperture usu. provided with a lens through
which light from external objects enters to form an image of the objects on
the opposite surface.
Carpe diem - n. [literally, pluck the day] the
enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future.
Casus belli - n., sing. and pl. [literally, occasion
of war] an event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or
conflict.
Caveat - n. [literally, let him beware] a warning
enjoining one from certain acts or practices; an explanation to prevent
misinterpretation; a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a
proceeding until the opposition has a hearing.
De facto - adv. [literally, from the fact] in reality;
actually.
De jure - adv. [literally, concerning the law] by
right; of right.
Dictum - n., pl. dicta, also dictums [literally, a
thing said] a noteworthy statement: as a: a formal pronouncement of a
principle, proposition, or opinion b: an observation intended or regarded as
authoritative; a judicial opinion on a point other than the precise issue
involved in determining a case.
Et alii - [literally, and others] and others;
abbreviated as et al.
Et cetera [literally, and the rest] and others esp. of
the same kind: and so forth; abbreviated as etc.
Ex parte - adv. or adj. [literally, from part] on or
from one side or party only--used of legal proceedings; from a one-sided or
partisan point of view.
Floruit - n. [literally, he flourished] a period of
flourishing (as of a person or movement).
Habitat - n. [literally, it inhabits] the place or
environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows;
the typical place of residence of a person or a group; a housing for a
controlled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding
inhospitable conditions (as under the sea; the place where something is
commonly found.
In camera - adv. [literally, in a chamber] in private:
secretly.
In loco parentis - adv. [literally, in place of a
parent] in the place of a parent. n. regulation or supervision by an
administrative body (as at a university) acting in loco parentis.
In medias res - adv. [literally, into the midst of
things] in or into the middle of a narrative or plot.
Ipse dixit - n. [literally, he himself said it] an
assertion made but not proved.
Ipso facto - adv. [literally, by the fact itself] by
that very fact or act; as an inevitable result.
Lingua franca - n., pl lingua francas or linguae
francae [literally, Frankish language] a common language consisting of
Italian mixed with French, Spanish, Greek, and Arabic that was formerly
spoken in Mediterranean ports; any of various languages used as common or
commercial tongues among peoples of diverse speech; something resembling a
common language.
Magna cum laude – adv. or adj. [literally, with great
praise] with great distinction.
Magnum opus - n. [literally, a great work] a great
work, esp: the greatest achievement of an artist or writer.
Memento - n., pl -tos or -toes [literally, remember!,
imperative of meminisse, to remember] something that serves to warn or
remind.
Memento mori - n. [literally, remember that you must
die] a reminder of mortality; esp: death's-head.
Mirabile visu - [literally, wonderful to see]
wonderful to behold.
Mirabile dictu [literally, wonderful to say] wonderful
to relate.
Ne plus ultra - n. [literally, (go) no more beyond]
the highest point capable of being attained: acme; the most profound degree
of a quality or state.
Noli me tangere - n. [literally, do not touch me; fr.
Jesus' words to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:17)] a warning against touching or
interference.
Nolo contendere - n. [literally, I do not wish to
contend] a plea in a criminal prosecution that without admitting guilt
subjects the defendant to conviction but does not preclude denying the truth
of the charges in a collateral proceeding.
Non sequitur - n. [literally, it does not follow] an
inference that does not follow from the premises; specif: a fallacy
resulting from a simple conversion of a universal affirmative proposition or
from the transposition of a condition and its consequent; a statement (as a
response) that does not follow logically from anything previously said.
Nota bene - [literally, mark well] used to call
attention to something important.
Pax - n. esp, cap: a period of general stability in
international affairs under the influence of a dominant military power--usu.
used in combination with a Latinized name (Pax Americana, Pax Britannica,
Pax Romana).
Per capita - adv. or adj. [literally, by heads]
equally to each individual; per unit of population: by or for each person
per capita of any state in the union.
Per diem - adv. [literally, by the day] by the day;
for each day; adj. based on use or service by the day: daily; paid by the
day; n. pl per diems a daily allowance; a daily fee.
Persona grata - adj. [literally, a pleasing person]
personally acceptable or welcome.
Persona non grata - adj. [literally, a not-pleasing
person] personally unacceptable or unwelcome.
Post mortem - [literally, after death] adj. occurring
or done after death; pertaining to a post-mortem examination; n. a
post-mortem examination, esp. an autopsy.
Post partum - [literally, after birth] adj. of or
occurring in the period shortly after childbirth.
Prima facie - adv. [literally, at first appearance] at
first view: on the first appearance; adj. true, valid, or sufficient at
first impression: apparent ; self-evident; legally sufficient to establish a
fact or a case unless disproved .
Pro forma - adj [literally, for form] made or carried
out in a perfunctory manner or as a formality; provided in advance to
prescribe form or describe items .
Quod erat demonstrandum - [literally, which had to be
shown] which was to be proved.
Quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus - what (has been held) always,
everywhere, by everybody
Rara avis - n. pl. rara avises or rarae aves
[literally, rare bird] rarity.
Res ipsa loquitur - [literally, the affair itself
speaks] the affair speaks for itself.
RIP - [acronym of requiescat in pace] abbreviation,
may he rest in peace, may she rest in peace; requiescant in pace = may they
rest in peace.
Sine die - adv. [literally, without a day] without any
future date being designated (as for resumption): indefinitely .
Sine qua non - n., pl. sine qua nons; also sine quibus
non [literally, without which not] something absolutely indispensable or
essential.
Sui generis - adj. [literally, of its own kind]
constituting a class alone: unique, peculiar.
Summa cum laude - adv. or adj. [literally, with
highest praise] with highest distinction --compare cum laude, magna cum
laude.
Tabula rasa - n., pl. tabulae rasae [literally,
smoothed or erased tablet] the mind in its hypothetical primary blank or
empty state before receiving outside impressions; something existing in its
original pristine state.
