Advice for Latin lovers.

The use of Latin has a long tradition in the so-called “learned” professions (law, medicine, and religion), but it is not confined to these professions. The Roman legions carried the Latin language with them as they conquered the ancient world, and Latin became the language of international communication, commerce, and dipbomacy. Indeed, the use of Latin had become so widespread by the 4th century AD. that a Latin version of the Bible prepared at that time by St. Jerome was called the Vulgate Bible (Latin: vulgatus = common or generally known). It is not surprising, therefore, that many Latin terms survive in modern English. Unfortunately, few schools still teach Latin, and many writers who use Latin terms are unaware of their precise meaning and correct usage. In this vignette, I review some of the more common Latin phrases that are encountered in English writing. a priori: literally “from what comes before.” A priori reasoning predicts effects from previous (existing) theories of causation (i.e. , it is deductive reasoning). a posteriori: literally “from what comes after.” A posteriori reasoning generates theories of causation from observed effects (i.e. , it is inductive reasoning). ad hoc: literally “toward this” (i.e., for this purpose). An ad hoc committee is established for a specific purpose and disbands when that purpose is accomplished. bona fide(s): fides (feminine noun) = trust; faith. Bona fides means “good faith.” Bona fide means “with (or in) good faith; genume; authentic.” The opposite-in bad faith-is ma/a tide. ca. : the abbreviation of circa = around; in the neighborhood of, particularly in reference to dates (e.g., ca. 1900). Circa is sometimes abbreviated, sometimes not. cf.: abbreviation of the Latin word confer (con = together; ferre = to carry) meaning “compare.” curriculum vitae: curriculum (neuter noun) = a race, or course on which a race is run; vita (feminine noun) = life. Curriculum vitae is literally “the course of (one’s) life,” an account of one’s qualifications, and is often abbreviated CV. The plural is curricula vitae. (It is interesting that the “learned” professions use the Latin curriculum vitae, whereas other occupations use the French r#{233}sum#{233}.) de facto: factum (neuter noun) = that which has been done. De facto means “from that which has been done; from what exists in practice” as distinct from de lure meaning “from the law; what is legal.” de nova: novus (adjective) = new; fresh. De nova means “from a new (thing); anew.” e.g.: abbreviation of exempli gratia, literally “for the sake of exampie.” It is always abbreviated and means only “for example.” (It should not be used to mean “that is” or “in other words.”) etc.: best avoided in scientific writing, but frequently used in spoken and written English. It is usually abbreviated in written English. The unabbreviated form is et cetera, which means literally “and the rest.” It is used in reference to things, ideas, etc. , rather than to peopIe. (The neuter ending -a is appropriate in English, but in Latin, where inanimate objects may have gender other than neuter, et ceteri or et ceterae is used in reference to nouns of masculine or feminine gender, respectively.) et a!.: abbreviation of the Latin for “and others.” It is applied to people rather than things, so that even in English, gender must be considered if the unabbreviated form is used: et a/li (male) and et aliae (female). For a group composed of both sexes, et a/Il is generally preferred. i.e.: abbreviation of Id est, meaning “that is; in other words.” in situ: situs (masculine noun) = place. In situ is used in the sense of “in its original place.” locum tenens: Locus is another masculine noun for “place.” Tenens is the present participle of tenere (verb) = to hold. Locum tenens therefore means “(one who is) holding the place” (i.e., someone who is filling in temporarily for another). The plural? Loci tenentes (locum tenentes if two or more people hold one place). non compos mentis: compos (adjective) = in possession of; mens (feminine noun) = mind; reason. Non compos mentis means “not of sound mind.” pan passu par (adjective) = equal; passus (masculine noun) = step; pace. Paripassu means literally “with equal pace,” and is used when one matter is handled concurrently (pan passu) with another. pro rata: abbreviation of pro rata parte meaning “according to the calculated portion” (i.e., in proportion). q.v.: abbreviation of quad vide, literally “which see.” This notation indicates a cross-refenence, directing the reader to look elsewhere in the text for the item to which q. v. is appended (e.g., thynotoxicosis, q.v.). sic: literally “thus.” It is used in parentheses after a direct quotation that contains an error, to show that the error was in the original and was not introduced by the quoter. sine qua non: literally “without which not.” It refers to something essential or indispensable. status quo: literally, “the state in which.” It refers to the existing state of affairs. If you use it with “in” (viz., “in the existing state of affairs”), it becomes in statu quo. vice versa: literally “the change being turned” (i.e., the order being reversed). This is an example of the absolute ablative, a construction English has inherited from Latin (e.g., The weather being fine, we walked). vide supra: supra (adverb) = above. Vide supra means “see above.” vide infra: videre (verb) = to see; infra (adverb) = below. Vide infra simply means “see below.” viz: the abbreviation of videlicet, meaning literally “it is permitted to see.” In English, it is translated as “namely; to wit.” One final piece of advice: if you are uncertain of the correct spelling, meaning, or usage of a Latin term, look it up or use the English equivalent.