The English language is complicated, because it’s a mix of many languages. But two languages make up a large part of our English vocabulary—Latin and Greek. While Greek requires learning some specialized letters, Latin has no such barrier. What you see (generally), is what you get. Here are a few Latin terms that we all should be familiar with. There are others, but these are a good start.
Ad infinitum: "To Infinity; having no end" (Government spending goes on ad infinitum; also Buzz Lightyear).
Ad hominem: "Against the man" (A prominent logical fallacy attacking the person rather than the argument; a favorite tactic of liberals).
Ars gratia artis: "Art for arts sake" (The motto of MGM Studios. I would see it on the screen, but never knew what it meant until I got a real education).
Carpe diem: "Seize the day" (Overused but still worth knowing. A movie that ruined Carpe Diem for all of us was the Dead Poets Society).
Caveat emptor: "Let the buyer beware" (If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is).
Cogito ergo sum: "I think, therefore I exist (am)" (A phrase made popular by philosopher Rene Descartes).
Compos mentis: "Of sound mind or being mentally competent" (An attribute we would like to see in politicians).
E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one" (An American motto describing how 13 independent colonies became one nation; we’ve lost the concept of the "many").
Ex libris: "From the library of" (Often stuck on the first page of a book to identify the owner; few people pay attention to them; don’t ask to borrow any of my books).
Imprimatur: "Let it be printed" (Lets the reader know that a book is approved by the Roman Catholic Church; generally used as "stamp of approval").
Magnum opus: "A great work" (Mr. Holland’s Opus comes to mind).
Nihil obstat: "Nothing stands in the way" (As in, "Nothing stands in the way of increased spending and tax cuts").
Non sequitur: "It does not follow" (Another good phrase when dealing with arguments, since most of them don’t).
Nota bene: "Take notice," or more literally, "note well." Often abbreviated N.B. or n.b.
Pax Romana: "Roman Peace" (It really wasn’t).
Pax voviscum: "Peace unto you" (A benediction).
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc: "After this, therefore because of this" (If you’ve ever seen Nomar Garciapara at the plate, you’ll know what this means).
Pro bono (publico): "For the public good" (Lawyers often do pro bono work).
Quid pro quo: "An equal exchange" (loose translation) (I’ll scratch your back, if you’ll scratch my back).
sic et non: "Yes and no" (A doubled-minded man).
sic semper tyrannis: "Thus always to tyrants" (The motto found on the state seal of Virginia and what John Wilkes Booth shouted after killing Abraham Lincoln; I’m surprised the PC crowd hasn’t forced Virginia to change it).
sine qua non: "The essential element or condition."
status quo: "The existing condition" (Keeping things as they are, because they’ve always been that way).
stet: "Let it stand" (If you want to correct a mistake that’s not really a mistake, you write stet; most often used by proofreaders).
Tabula rasa: "Blank (erased) slate" (John Locke’s understanding of the mind at birth; it’s blank until experiences are written on it shaping a person’s worldview).
Gary is a graduate of Western Michigan University (1973) and earned his M.Div. at Reformed Theological Seminary in 1979. Author of countless essays, news articles, and more than 27 book titles, he also hosts The Gary DeMar Show, and History Unwrapped—both broadcasted and podcasted. Gary has lived in the Atlanta area since 1979 with his wife, Carol. They have two married sons and are enjoying being grandparents to their grandsons, Calvin and Paul. Gary and Carol are members of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA).
