So common yet so little known
Hello friends… feels good to come out in the sun from under the rock. I’ve been thinking of a topic to write, when I stumbled upon this one… we’ve been using these phrases since we learnt speaking… but do we know that these were Latin phrases, borrowed in English? I hear some ‘YES’es and see many blank faces. It’s OK, we’re not computers/savants to know everything. Here are some examples, for your reference…
ad hoc
Transliteration: For this
Translation: improvised, made up on the spot
alma mater
Transliteration: Nourishing mother
Translation: the university one attends/has attended
Note: The word “matriculation” is derived from “mater”. The term suggests that the students are “fed” knowledge and taken care of by the university.
a.m. (ante meridiem)
Transliteration: Before noon
Translation: the period from midnight to noon
A.D. (Anno Domini)
Transliteration: In the year of the lord
Translation: a year counted from the traditional date birth of Jesus Christ
Bona fide
Transliteration: In good faith
Translation: genuine; real
CV (Curriculum vitae)
Transliteration: Course of life
Translation: A résumé
etc. (Et cetera)
Transliteration: And the rest
Translation: and others/and so on/and more
E.g. (Exempli gratia)
Transliteration: For the sake of example, for example
Exit
Transliteration: He/she leaves
Note: used e.g. in theatrical stage directions
i.e. (Id est)
Transliteration: That is (to say), abbreviated as ‘i.e.’ – sometimes “in this case,” depending on the context.
Note: It is not equivalent to “e.g.”, in any context
Magnum opus
Transliteration: Great work
Translation: someone’s masterpiece
Modus operandi (M. O.)
Transliteration: Way of working
Translation: a criminal’s methods
N.B. (nota bene)
Transliteration: Note it well
Translation: please note, important note
Per annum
Transliteration: Per year
Per caput/per capita
Transliteration: Per head
Translation: per person
Per se
Transliteration: By itself/in itself
Translation: without referring to anything else, intrinsically, taken without qualifications, etc.; for instance, negligence per se
Post meridiem (p.m.)
Transliteration: After noon
Translation: in the period from noon to midnight
Post mortem
Transliteration: After death
P.S. (Post scriptum)
Transliteration: Post script
Translation: used to mark additions to a letter, after the signature
Pro rata
Transliteration: For the rate
Translation: per hour/per day/per month
Requiescat in pace (R.I.P.)
Transliteration: May he rest in peace
Translation: a benediction for the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers.
Versus (vs.)
Transliteration: Against
These were some of the most commonly used phrases. There are others too – however owing to the fact that we seldom use those in our routine lives – I chose to omit them from this blog. Let me know if interested, I could share some more of them. Have a good day!!!