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List of Common Latin Terms
Common Latin Terms Used in Everyday Language, Law, Science, and Academia
Latin, the classical language of the ancient Romans, has had a profound influence on various aspects of our modern world, including language, law, science, and academia. Although Latin itself is no longer spoken as a native language, its impact is still strongly felt through the vast number of Latin expressions and phrases that continue to be used today.In this list, we have curated a collection of frequently encountered Latin terms that you may come across in literature, legal documents, scientific papers, and everyday conversations. Whether you're a student, a language enthusiast, or simply curious about the origins of certain expressions, this compilation aims to shed light on the meanings and significance of these Latin phrases.
Table of Contents
- A Video Summary
- List of 150 Common Latin Terms
- Interactive Test (Printable)

A Video Summary
Here is a short video that shows how Latin terms are still used in everyday language, law, science, and academia.Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos.
List of 150 Common Latin Terms
Latin Term
Translation
with stronger reason
from the latter
(inductive reasoning)from the earlier
(deductive reasoning)from the beginning
from the egg
(or from the beginning)for this purpose
against the person
to infinity
in the meantime
to the point of sickness
in the year of the Lord
(abbreviation for anno domini)elsewhere
(proof of presence elsewhere)nourishing mother
(referring to one's educational institution)other self
before noon
(abbreviation for ante meridiem)friend of the court
he [God] has favored our undertakings
before the war
art is long
hear the other side
in good faith
with
(abbreviation for cum)seize the day
let the buyer beware
all other things being equal
compare
(abbreviation for confer)body of the crime
body of the law
with praise
(academic distinction)in fact
by law
from the beginning
god from the machine
(an unexpected solution)by the grace of God
(abbreviation for dei gratia)goddess, female opera singer
characters of a play
symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
(abbreviation for delirium tremens)while I breathe, I hope
out of many, one
for example
(abbreviation for exempli gratia)therefore
to err is human
and others
(abbreviation for et alia)And you, Brutus
and so on
(abbreviation for et cetera)with authority
from the books
out of nothing
by virtue of one's office
on behalf of one party
(in legal matters)after the fact
on the spur of the moment
let there be light
faith and reason
fortune favours the bold
you shall have the body
we have a Pope
in the same place
(abbreviation for ibidem)that is
(abbreviation for id est)in absence
in private
at full length
at the point of death
in the blazing crime crime
at the threshold
in the place of a parent
in the midst of things
into memory
in the name of
in the matter of
in its original position or place
in the state in which
in total
in wine, there is truth
in glass
in a living organism
among other things
between us
between the living
by the fact itself
slip of the tongue
law of retaliation
in the place cited
the place of standing
great work
my fault
a sound mind in a sound body
manner of
(abbreviation for modus operandi)mode of living or way of life
the dead teach the living
with the necessary changes having been made
willing or unwilling
I do not wish to contend
not of sound mind
it does not follow
new order of the ages
Oh the times! Oh the customs!
per annum
(annually)bread and circuses
with equal pace
Roman peace
per person
per day
by itself or intrinsically
an unwelcome person
afternoon
(abbreviation for post meridiem)after this occurrence
after death death
at first sight
first, do no harm
first among equals of a group
for the public good or without charge
as a matter of form
in proportion
post script
(abbreviation for postscriptum)which was to be demonstrated
(abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum)a disputed question
a question of fact
a question of law
as if or as though
something for something
what now?
where are you going?
reduction to absurdity
things done
rest in peace
(abbreviation for requiescat in pace)without a day
without which not
the existing state of affairs
under judgment
under penalty
under the rose
(confidentially)of its own kind
blank slate
time flies
solid ground
unknown territory
to the city and to the world
I came, I saw, I conquered
word for word
middle way
the other way around
life is short
voice of God
voice of the people
against
(abbreviation for versus)
Interactive Test (Printable)
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