Latin Phrases Translated to English
Latin Phrases Translated to English
Classical Latin phrases or quotations and their English meaning.
A bove majore discit arare minor. A young ox learns to plow from an older one; the young learn from their elders.
A capite usque ad calcem. From head to feet. Completely.
A cruce salus. Salvation comes from the cross.
A deo et rege. From god and the king.
A die. From that day.
A fortiori adj. and adv. [literally, from the stronger]. For a stronger reason; all the more.
A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi. A precipice in front, wolves behind (between a rock and a hard place).
A latere. Eccles.(A cardinal legate) having plenipotentiary powers
A mensa et toro Law (A dispensation to man & wife) from the obligation to cohabit
A posteriori adj. and adv. [literally, from the latter] Inductive; relating to or derived by reasoning from observed facts. From effect to cause.
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. From cause to effect.
A.A.C. (anno ante Christum). Year before Christ. Equivalent to B.C., before Christ.
A.B. (Artium Baccalaureus). Bachelor of Arts.
a.c. (ante cibum). Before food. A direction on prescriptions indicating that medicine should be taken before meals.
A.D. (anno Domini). In the year of our Lord. Indicates the number of years from the birth of Christ. In the sixth century, Dionysius Exiguus initiated the system of expressing dates by referring events to the birth of Christ. According to his calculations, Christ was born in 754 A.U.C.
A.H. (anno Hebraico). In the Hebrew year. This is calculated by adding 3,760 to the current year of the Christian era.
A.H. (anno hegirae). In the year of the hegira (year of the Moslem calendar, dating from the flight of Mohammed from Mecca in 622 A.D.).
A.H.S. (anno humanae salutis). In the year of man's redemption. Equivalent to A.D.
a.l. (alia lectio). Another reading; variant of a text.
A.L. (anno lucis). In the year of light. This is computed by adding 4,000 years to A.D. Used by Freemasonry.
A.M. (anno mundi). In the year of the world. According to Bishop Ussher's calculations, the world was created in 4004 B.C.
A.M. (Artium Magister). Master of Arts.
a.m. see Ante meridiem.
A.M.D.G. see Ad majorem Dei gloriam.
A.N.C. (ante navitatem Christi). Before the birth of Christ. Equivalent to English B.C.
a.p. (anni praesentis). In the present year.
A.P.C.N. (anno post Christum natum). In the year of our Lord. A variant of A.D.
A.P.R.C. (anno post Romam conditam). In the year after the founding of Rome. The traditional date for the founding of Rome is 753 B.C. Equivalent to A.U.C.
A.U.C. (ab urbe condita; anno urbis conditae). From the founding of the city (of Rome).
a.u.n. (absque ulla nota). Without any marking.