Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge "We realize that it would be in the best interest of the community and our children to address the issue expeditiously. In order to make this happen, I respectfully request an eight-month payment delay calling for payment of the $10 million obligation on August 31, 2015." (Savannah City Manager Stephanie Cutter in a letter to the city's superintendent of schools; reported in the Savannah Morning News, April 3, 2014) "Warming was caused by sunspots, or fluctuations in the Earth's orbit, or volcanic eruptions. Therefore it cannot be caused by mankind.

The 'therefore' is the giveaway, the delicious non sequitur: just because Earth has warmed for one or another reason in the past is no reason why it cannot warm for a completely different reason in the future." (John Llewellyn, "In a Confusing Climate." The Observer, September 2, 2007) A Philosopher's Non Sequitur "Immanuel Kant, considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of the modern period, would manage to let slip what is surely the greatest non-sequitur in the history of philosophy: describing a report of something seemingly intelligent that had once been said by an African, Kant dismisses it on the grounds that 'this fellow was quite black from head to toe, a clear proof that what he said was stupid.'" (Justin E.H. Smith, "The Enlightenment's Race Problem, and Ours." The New York Times, February 10, 2013) Obvious Non Sequiturs "Non sequiturs are most obvious when absurd. For instance, from the facts that most cats like milk and some cats have tails I could not derive the conclusion that David Hume was the greatest British philosopher.

That would be a complete non sequitur that borders on the surreal, whether or not its conclusion is true. Non sequiturs are often advertised by the spurious use of 'so' and 'therefore' . . ., but the context of a statement can also suggest that it is a conclusion derived from what has gone before even when there is no such word used to indicate it. "Any formal fallacy will have a non sequitur as its conclusion, though most of these non sequiturs will be less obvious than the one above." (Nigel Warburton, Thinking from A to Z. Routledge, 1996) Non Sequiturs in Newspapers "Non sequiturs are most often encountered in newspapers, where constructions such as the following are common: 'Slim, of medium height, and with sharp features, Mr. Smith's technical skills are combined with strong leadership qualities' (New York Times). What, we might ask, do Mr. Smith's height and features have to do with his leadership qualities?” (Bill Bryson, Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right.

Anchor, 2002) The Post Hoc and the Non Sequitur "The difference between the post hoc and the non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection." (Mabel Lewis Sahakian, Ideas of the Great Philosophers. Barnes & Noble, 1993) Non Sequitur - Examples and Definition of Non Sequitur Non Sequitur Non Sequitur Definition Non sequiturs are those literary devices which include the statements, sayings and conclusions that do not follow the fundamental principles of logic and reason. They are frequently used in theater and comedies to create comedic effects. In fact, non sequitur is a Latin phrase that means “it doesn’t follow”. Here “non” means not and “sequitur” means to follow. It takes place when a difference is created between the principle idea and the conclusion, which finally leads to a fallacy . In conversation, non sequitur is something that is said but seems quite absurd to the point of confusion due to lack of proper meanings. It is sometimes taken as postulation that means the statement might not be true.

For instance: Maria drives a car. She must be a wealthy person. David eats broccoli. David should love to eat meat. The sentences do not follow a proper sequence in non sequitur and words do not give the same meaning as readers suppose them to do. Types of Non Sequitur One can find non sequitur examples in everyday speech and in different fields of life, such as in the practice of law where non sequitur in arguments is regularly used. It can be classified into following six categories: Non sequitur in everyday speech such as “business is a business and a cup of tea is a cup of tea.” Fallacy of the undistributed middle such as “All humans have bones. Crocodiles have bones. Therefore, crocodiles are humans” Affirming the consequent such as “If Charles is right, then Diana is right. As Diana is right, therefore, Charles is right.” Denying the antecedent such as “If I am Indian, then I am Asian. I am not Indian. Therefore, I am not Asian.” Affirming a disjunct such as “Adam is true or Eve is true. Adam is true.

Therefore, Eve is not true.” Denying a conjunct such as “It is not that both Horse and Cow is true. Cow is not true. Therefore, Horse is true.” Non Sequitur Examples from Literature The best examples of non sequitur can be observed in the Theatre of the Absurd. Example #1 An excerpt from “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett VLADIMIR: Consult his family……. Non sequitur legal definition of non sequitur Non sequitur legal definition of non sequitur Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Medical , Acronyms , Idioms , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . non sequitur (nahn sek [as in heck]-kwit-her) n. Latin for "it does not follow." The term usually means that a conclusion does not logically follow from the facts or law, stated: "That's a non sequitur." non sequitur Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Non Sequitur | Definition of Non Sequitur by Merriam-Webster Examples of non sequitur in a sentence We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog. Did You Know? In Latin, non sequitur means "it does not follow." The phrase was borrowed into English in the 1500s by people who made a formal study of logic. For them it meant a conclusion that does not follow from the statements that lead to it. But we now use non sequitur for any kind of statement that seems to come out of the blue. The Latin verb sequi ("to follow") has actually led the way for a number of English words. A sequel follows the original novel, film, or television show.

Someone obsequious follows another about, flattering and fawning. And an action is often followed by its consequence. Origin and Etymology of non sequitur Latin, it does not follow First Known Use: 1540 Latin - definition of Latin in English | Oxford Dictionaries Definition of Latin in English: Latin noun 1[mass noun] The language of ancient Rome and its empire, widely used historically as a language of scholarship and administration.

Example sentences ‘These were written in Anglo-Saxon, the spoken tongue, rather than Latin which was the language of the church.’ ‘The majority could not understand Latin, the language of the Church.’ ‘He worked to restore classical Latin as the language of scholarship and literature.’ ‘Books were also very costly and were mostly written in Latin, an unfamiliar language to the common people.’ ‘This represents only one of the aspects of the ecclesiastical monopoly over written culture and Latin, the only language that could be used for writing.’ ‘In the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, Latin was still the international language of scholarship.’ ‘She could speak French, Latin, Spanish and some Ancient Greek.’ ‘The Celtic sources are a few burials, some numismatic evidence, infrequent inscriptions and figurines, and Celtic loan words in Latin.’ ‘The grammar of ‘Grammar Schools’ was Latin grammar, and the use of Latin continued at the ancient universities.’ ‘The Canon was one of 80 Arabic texts translated into Latin in Toledo in the 12th century by Gerard of Cremona.’ ‘The vast majority of these slaves spoke little or no Latin, the institutional language of Roman government.’ ‘In the areas once part of the Roman empire, Latin

 was effectively the vernacular and it gradually evolved into the various Romance languages of western Europe.’ ‘Their first task was to be able to use language as a precise instrument of learning and that language was Latin.’ ‘A common Christendom under the Pope, and the universal language of Latin, provided a form of European community long before that of the 20th century.’ ‘From this time on, English replaced French as the official language of the country and many works were translated from Latin and French into the vernacular.’ ‘This is reflected in the Roman language of Latin where 23 is spoken as ‘tres et viginti’ which translates as ‘three and twenty’.’ ‘Later on the bible was translated into different languages including Syriac, Latin, and Coptic (a late form of Egyptian).’ ‘By contrast, Latin, the language of learned literacy, was shared throughout the islands, in greater or lesser degrees of competence, and did not define distinctive ethnic identities.’ ‘He did, however, broaden the curriculum of seminaries and prescribe Russian instead of Latin as the language of instruction.’ ‘Under the Hapsburgs, urban Croats spoke German, and Latin was the official language of government.’ 2A native or inhabitant of

 a country whose language developed from Latin, especially a Latin American.

Example sentences ‘When I started break dancing, I never thought I was an interloper because the guys I was dancing with were Latin, black, and white.’ 2.1historical An inhabitant of ancient Latium.

3[mass noun] Music of a kind originating in Latin America, characterized by dance rhythms and extensive use of indigenous percussion instruments: ‘eclectic jazz through Latin into soulful grooves’ More example sentences ‘I would have chosen some dance music, something Latin with a beat.’ ‘It is described as an album of dreamy, spiritual dance music, that contains elements of everything from house, dub, hip-hop, Brazilian and Latin, right through to soul and more.’ ‘Bangalore Live will offer jazz, world music, Latin, fusion, and rock, to begin with.’ ‘Following the first warm-up session held to gauge interest in the scheme, sessions will be held in the new year in rock and pop to jazz, swing, Latin, big band and reggae.’ ‘Unlike his predecessor, he doesn't appear to posses an ear for Latin, samba, jazz or the big band sound.’ ‘‘She could dance Latin like I had never seen before,’ he said.’ ‘Not only has she written some of her own material, she has also drawn on upbeat dance genres such as Latin and jazz.’ ‘With its innovative and intelligent blend of minor-key moods and jazz, Latin and indie fusion, this record is far from mundane and eschews

 both generalizations and comparisons.’ ‘Soaring, screeching, intense chamber music with hints of jazz, Latin and who knows what.’ ‘I love jazz and R & B, Latin, salsa music, all that kind of stuff.’ ‘We're mixing Latin with, oh, name it: Latin and jazz, Latin and funk, Latin and reggae.’ ‘Recorded in Cuba, their sound is a cheerful mix of Latin, jazz and smooth alternative rock.’ ‘The organizers have assembled a line-up of local, regional and national performers that range from pop to folk to dance to Latin to rock and will not disappoint.’ ‘The suite is divided into four parts with Latin, gospel, blues, funk and free jazz forming the basis of alternate numbers.’ ‘In such an international city, dancing will include every type of dancing, like techno, trance, hip-hop, Latin, ethnic, and raves.’ ‘What I can say is that it ranges from an early helping of Latin to some reggae (very good) with a finale of house, which bores me to tears.’ adjective ‘Latin poetry’ More example sentences ‘Other times they're forced out, as the ancient Etruscan language was when Latin speakers overran the Italian peninsula.’ ‘Any school

 crest that looks remotely ‘heraldic’ (with a Latin motto, for instance) and is not registered risks the wrath of the Lyon Court.’ ‘Although so little of his work has survived, it is clear that Philitas' influence on Hellenistic and Latin poetry was very great.’ ‘Denigrate comes from the Latin root ‘niger’ meaning black.’ ‘The Latin word pontifex means bridge-builder, and by virtue of having survived some 2500 years, the title bridges the gap between pagan and Christian Rome.’ ‘Well educated, he had access to Italian, French and Latin literature but chose to translate into verse the common spoken language that surrounded him on London streets.’ ‘The machine is, however, capable of absorbing programs in any other language written in Latin characters.’ ‘I spent, for reasons that need not concern us here, much of last night reading some of my favourite Latin poetry.’ ‘Horace, on the other hand, can be said to represent the more innovative vein of Latin poetry, a vein that looked towards the Alexandrian poets as models and predecessors.’ ‘Both words enclose the word ‘pinion’ which derives quite separately from the Latin word ‘penna’ - wings.’ ‘His poems written in Latin hex

ameter followed the classical models of poetry.’ ‘As they say in Latin quarters, ‘Sic transit gloria mundi.’’ ‘A leading Yorkshire independent school is dropping its Latin motto and centuries-old crest in favour of a multi-coloured star in a move that has angered traditionalists.’ ‘A close friend of Erasmus and gifted student of law and Greek, More translated Lucian and wrote English and Latin poetry.’ ‘Roman contributions to Portugal included roads, buildings, and the Latin language, from which Portuguese developed.’ ‘Faith is the opposite of science or its Latin root, ‘knowledge.’’ ‘Most of the pieces on this program are conductus (this Latin word is a noun of the fourth declension, so the plural form in the nominative case is the same as the singular).’ ‘He and the other boys were obliged to learn Latin declensions parrot fashion, to sing God Save the King, and to follow the intricacies of British, rather than Barbadian, history.’ 1.1 Relating to the countries using languages, such as French and Spanish, that developed from Latin: ‘Mexico and other Latin countries’ More example sentences ‘At the last tutorial, Sue informed me that it was time I stop speaking Spanish like a Latin

 Tarzan and get cracking on my conjugations.’ ‘There is a bilingual book of the Gospels, c.1300, which may have been produced to help the Latin bride of a Byzantine emperor learn Greek.’ ‘Despite the fact that the two actresses often seem to compete for the role of Hollywood's leading Latin lady, the one positively sought out the other from early on.’ ‘The Latin beauty has developed a love of cleaning and now can't stand messy rooms’ ‘Despite the 12 months of sun and heavenly food, I knew I couldn't settle forever: Latin man was on every street corner, in every train carriage, waiting on every table.’ ‘At the back, my Latin American neighbours are in conversation in Latin Spanish.’ ‘We loved the food, the Latin atmosphere and the authentic Spanish waiters.’ ‘The franchise will adopt a Latin flavour, aligning itself with Spanish clubs.’ ‘‘Well it's the Latin temperament,’ he answers quickly.’ ‘My father is Portuguese, his team is Benfica, and he loves Latin football; my mother is Spanish.’ ‘She teaches and publishes on Spanish, Latin American.

and Chicano/a art.’ ‘The choleric Latin temper of that era and Shakespeare's 16th Century Italian world are seemingly similar with blood feuds, tight pants and hot blood galore!’ ‘The station was soon beaming out music to 22 Latin countries.’ ‘She took home the Grammy, of course, then played up her Latin roots in a Spanish-version of her hit record, then followed that up with a Christmas album that still sold well.’ ‘Spanish subtitles are included, so viewers of Latin extraction can feel demeaned in two languages.’ 1.2 Relating to the Western or Roman Catholic Church (as historically using Latin for its rites): ‘the Latin patriarch of Antioch’ More example sentences ‘A Latin patriarch would be elected for Constantinople.’ ‘But Greek monasticism was not eclipsed until the thirteenth century, when Latin culture finally prevailed in southern Italy.’ ‘I had the notion they weren't as lax as the Latin rite.’ ‘A world away from the Latin controversies of the ninth century, Joseph's understanding of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is no less robustly expressed in this prayer for use before the Eucharist.’ ‘The Oratory retains the permitted vestiges of the Latin

 mass and as a result has amplified its congregation of true believers with a reserve army of believers in belief, of which I was one.’ ‘He closed all the Latin churches, but he left all the native Christians in peace.’ ‘He is calling neither for the restoration of the Tridentine Latin liturgy nor for a return to the devotional practices of past generations.’ ‘Its first was the Catholic faith and doctrine which it shared with other Latin churches.’ ‘MacDonald argued that the Latin mass had ‘centuries behind it’ and said it was more ‘mysterious and solemn’ than the English version.’ ‘The Vatican is working on the translation of its new Latin rite for deliverance - the first time it has updated its teaching on the subject since mediaeval times.’ ‘Even though there was a Slavic influence, the Romanian Orthodox Church retained its Latin heritage and remains the predominant religion of Romanians.’ ‘He is very interested in the Latin rite and has celebrated the Mass himself.’ ‘Although the Eastern Church had been responsible for the conversion of Moravia and Bohemia, by the 10th century both duchies had turned to the Western, Latin liturgy.’ ‘Litanies of this type are frequently encountered in the services of the Orthodox Church and

 in the non-Roman rites of the Latin West.’ ‘Drawing on both the new code for the Latin rite and that for the Oriental church, he provides a long list of rights that every Christian, whether clerical or lay, possesses.’ ‘And in 1984, Scotland's catholic bishops banned the Latin rite from being used in regular church services, although it could still be performed in monasteries.’ ‘That the doctrine of the filioque and its uncanonical insertion in the Latin creed present serious obstacles to the reconciliation of churches has long been clear.’ ‘The organist often crackled or whined the Gregorian-chant hymns and the celebrant often hummed, mumbled, or whispered the Latin prayers.’ ‘Three priests in gold and silver vestments were bowing and turning round as they chanted the Latin service in a lavishly lit and adorned church.’ 1.3historical Relating to ancient Latium.

Synonyms Non sequitur - definition of non sequitur by The Free Dictionary Non sequitur - definition of non sequitur by The Free Dictionary 1. An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence. 2. A statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it. [Latin nōn sequitur, it does not follow : nōn, not + sequitur, third person sing. present tense of sequī, to follow.] non sequitur 1. a statement having little or no relevance to what preceded it 2. (Logic) logic a conclusion that does not follow from the premises Abbreviation: non seq [Latin, literally: it does not follow] non se•qui•tur (nɒn ˈsɛk wɪ tər, -ˌtʊər) n. 1. an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises. 2. a comment that is unrelated to a preceding one. [1540–50; < Latin: it does not follow] non sequitur A Latin phrase meaning it does not follow, used to mean something that does not follow logically from what has already been stated .

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: non sequitur - a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it reply , response - the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he growled his reply" 2. non sequitur - (logic) a conclusion that does not follow from the premises conclusion - an intuitive assumption; "jump to a conclusion" logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference Translations [ˌnɒnˈsekwitəʳ] N → incongruencia f, falta f de lógica it's a non sequitur → es una incongruencia non sequitur non sequitur [ˌnɒnˈsɛkwɪtəʳ] n it is a non sequitur → è illogico Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: response References in classic literature ? Alfred scolds me, every time we meet; and he has the better of me, I grant,--for he really does something; his life is a logical result of his opinions and mine is a contemptible non sequitur.

View in context Someone else in the room asked what a non sequitur was. Meet the bloggers It's interesting that the words following this incendiary phrase are a religious incantation and a complete non sequitur, as if he had to stop right then and there to avoid saying what was now on everyone's mind, namely: selective abortion, genetic engineering, any means that's appropriate. "Iran Behind the Veil" Another non sequitur connects the paraphrased Mahanian quotation "that the knowledge sufficient to run and care for [space systems] can be acquired by men of very little [technical] education is a matter of daily experience" (67) with current space operations, apparently suggesting that very little expertise is required to sustain on-orbit space systems. Mahan on Space Education Though it ran on limited budget--something of a non sequitur as yearly F1 budgets often run in the hundreds of millions of dollars--the Sauber team finished eighth overall last season, and-ironically-was the team that brought Mercedes into Formula One in the early 1990s after a successful partnership in sports car racing.

Non Sequitur Examples and Definition - Literary Devices Literary Devices Non Sequitur Definition of Non Sequitur A non sequitur is something said that has nothing to do with what was said previously. Non sequiturs often sound a bit absurd because there is no logical leap from one statement to the next. For this purpose, non sequiturs can be either comical or confusing, or both. The term non sequitur comes from Latin. In Latin, the phrase means “it does not follow.” The definition of non sequitur developed from this Latin meaning to encompass the conversational and literary device described above, as well as a type of fallacy in logic. When used in logic, non sequitur is problematic because someone says something that does not proceed rationally from the evidence already given. Thus, as a literary device non sequiturs can be merely amusing, in logic they are quite problematic. Common Examples of Non Sequitur It is easy to find examples of non sequitur in ordinary conversations. Non sequiturs may occur when someone is not totally following a conversation and is thinking of something else. Non sequiturs can also happen when someone makes a jump in topics in their own mind without explaining the connection out loud.

Thus, it may seem like there is no logical link from one topic to the next as the speaker has not explicitly stated it. We can also find non sequitur examples in extemporaneous speech, like in debates. It is rare, however, to find an example of a non sequitur in speeches that have been written out, as generally when trying to appeal to logic a speaker will try to show all the rationale behind their thoughts and sentences. Here is a recent example of non sequitur: “Probably in terms of the applying for the job of president, a weakness would be not really seeing myself in that position until hundreds of thousands of people began to tell me that I needed to do it. I do, however, believe in Reagan’s 11th commandment, and will not be engaging in awful things about my compatriots here. And recognizing that it’s so important, this election, because we’re talking about America for the people versus America for the government.”—Dr.

Ben Carson, GOP debate 2015 ♦ ♦ Significance of Non Sequitur in Literature Non sequitur is most often found in literature that is leans heavily on the absurd (such as Theatre of the Absurd, a movement in literature that began in Europe after World War II). In Theatre of the Absurd, playwrights were protesting the seeming lack of purpose of existence of humanity, and the breakdown of communication that occurs in this lack of purpose. These playwrights were concerned about the state of humanity after the war, and were trying to encourage the audience to pursue connections that were difficult to recuperate. Characters will sometimes produce non sequiturs in speech if they are not thinking logically, or if they don’t fully understand an argument and reason falsely. Due to the fact that non sequitur examples are often a bit comical as well as strange they are quite rare in dramatic scenes. However, they could be used to show a state of mind that is temporarily altered, such as by grief or other extreme emotions. Examples of Non Sequitur in Literature Example #1 POLONIUS: If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. HAMLET: Nay, that follows not.

(Hamlet by William Shakespeare) This is an example of non sequitur from William Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet. Polonius is not following the trajectory of Hamlet’s argument. Hamlet has called Polonius “Jephthah,” and Polonius believes this is because Polonius loves his daughter, Ophelia. However, Hamlet is really trying to say that Polonius is as ready to sacrifice Ophelia as the Biblical character of Jephthah was willing to sacrifice his own. Therefore, Hamlet denounces Polonius’s affirmation that he loves his daughter to be a non sequitur, as does not logically follow what Hamlet is trying to say. Example #2 That makes no difference. (Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett) Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot is one of the most famous works written as part of the Theatre of the Absurd movement. In the play, the two characters of Vladimir and Estragon wait for another character, Godot, who never shows up. Most of their conversations and actions are hard to follow as, indeed, Beckett wrote them to seemingly lack any sense.

As Vladimir points out in the above excerpt, “Nothing is certain when you’re about.” This could be the motto for the entire play, as nothing is ever completely certain. In this absurdist play, the lack of logic between one statement and the next is the only certainty. Example #3 “What are you doing?” Yossarian asked guardedly when he entered the tent, although he saw at once. “There’s a leak in here,” Orr said. “I’m trying to fix it.” “Please stop it,” said Yossarian. “You’re making me nervous.” “When I was a kid,” Orr replied, “I used to walk around all day with crab apples in my cheeks. One in each cheek.” (Catch-22 by Joseph Heller) There is much absurdity in Joseph Heller’s anti-war novel Catch-22. This is primarily to show the sheer lunacy of conducting war in the first place, and the way that war drives people mad. The main character of Yossarian is extremely annoyed when his fellow combatant Orr uses a complete non sequitur.

Yossarian sees that Orr is fixing a gas leak, and when he questions Orr about it Orr responds nonsensically with a story about carrying crab apples in his cheeks. This conversation persists for a while as Yossarian tries to make sense of what Orr is saying, and ultimately is unable to derive and logic from it. Example #4 GUILDENSTERN: This made for a kind of harmony and a kind of confidence. It related the fortuitous and the ordained into a reassuring union, which we recognized as nature. The sun came up about as often as it went down, in the long run, and a coin showed heads about as often as it showed tails. Then a messenger arrived. We had been sent for. Nothing else happened. Ninety-two coins spun consecutively have come down heads ninety-two consecutive times…and for the last three minutes on the wind of a windless day I have heard the sound of drums and flute… (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard) Tom Stoppard is another famous contributor to the Theatre of the Absurd movement.

The characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern first appeared in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which they are two of Hamlet’s best friends. However, they are barely featured onstage in Shakespeare’s telling, and their death is skimmed over quickly. Stoppard decided to feature them as the two main characters in his own play in which the two men struggle with absurdity and the lack of logic that governs their lives. Guildenstern’s above quote jumps from one idea to the next without sense between the sentences. He highlights the absurdity of his life when he remarks that tossing a coin ninety-two times in a row has yielded ninety-two heads, which is so improbable as to seem impossible. ♦ Test Your Knowledge of Non Sequitur 1. Which of the following statements is the best non sequitur definition? A. A statement which is the logical conclusion of what came before it. B. Something said that has no logical connection to what preceded it. C. A question which has no logical answer. Answer to Question #1 Answer: B is the correct answer. 2. Consider the following sentence: I went to the doctor yesterday. Which of the following statements would be a non sequitur in response to the first sentence? A.

Rabbits are my favorite animal. B. I might have bronchitis. C. It’s going to cost me, since I don’t have insurance. Answer to Question #2 Show Answer: A is the correct answer. There are plethora of things a person might want to say after mentioning she went to the doctor, but talking about rabbits as a favorite animal does not logically follow that. 3. Consider the following quote, which occurs in both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard as well as Shakespeare’s Hamlet: POLONIUS (aside): Though this be madness, yet there is method in it. Will you walk out of the air, my lord? HAMLET: Into my grave. POLONIUS: Indeed, that’s out of the air. Is this an example of non sequitur? A. Yes; Hamlet is clearly talking nonsensically. B. Yes; Hamlet is making a morbid joke. C. No; Hamlet is punning on Polonius’s offer to step outside to talk with him and says that this will lead to his grave. Answer to Question #3 Answer: C is the correct answer.

Leave a Reply Latin phrases glossary and listing - common and interesting Latin expressions, terminology, translations, meanings, origins glossary, usage in legal, business, science and English language (with) the defendant being absent (legal term) - in the absence of the accused a capite ad calcem thoroughly/completely/from top to bottom - more loosely expressed 'from head to toe' Achilles (Achilles heel) ancient Greek hero weakness - (a Greek word used in Latin - the metaphor refers to the legend of the hero Achilles, as a baby held by the heel and dipped into the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him immortal, leaving his heel vulnerable, such that when shot there by an arrow he died, hence the 'Achilles heel' or simply 'Achilles' is a person's main weakness) acta est fabula the drama has been acted out it's all over/it's finished/the end A.D. (anno domini) in the year of the Lord denotes that the year is since Christ's birth in the Julian and Gregorian calendars - contrasting with B.C.

(Before Christ), which signifies years 'Before Christ', which are counted backwards - there is no zero year ad hoc improvised/devised/applied spontaneously or purely for the purpose ('just for this') a fortiori all the more so, with greater reason ad hominem personally directed - (as when criticizing someone) ad infinitum ad lib (ad libitum) with freedom freely, improvised, spontaneously created - now most commonly an instruction or freedom to 'improvise' in performance, communication ad litteram precisely/according to the 'letter of the law' ad nauseam to the point of causing nausea/unbearably tedious a priori / a posteriori from what comes before/ after (these terms mainly refer to philosophical or mathematical assertions) - an 'a priori' fact is self-evident, known without need of direct specific experience/evidence (for example 'snow is cold') - an 'a posteriori' fact is based on observed evidence or experience, etc (for example snow fell in Ireland on [a particular date]) ad referendum (ad ref) aged...

or 'of the age...' (precedes the age of someone/something) affidavit he/she has declared under oath a sworn statement made voluntarily by a person, recorded by a qualified person, usually for legal purposes, such as admission in a court case agenda (agenda sunt or agendum est) things that must be moved forward list of items for a meeting, order of discussion, set of aims, motivational factors - agenda now has a wide range of meanings, after initially referring to a meeting schedule Aiax/Ajax a metaphor for size and stength Albion the ancient Greek word for Britain alia iacta est / iacta alia est the die is cast the die is cast - beyond the point of possible return, fully committed come what may - see the die is cast and cross the Rubicon in cliches origins - the phrase is attributed to Julius Casear, 49BC, on his invasion of Rome from Gaul - as with many other Latin phrases the 'i' of iacta is alternatively a 'j', so that the word was/is jiacta (although some say Caesar spoke this phrase in Greek anyway..) alias dictus (alias) otherwise known as/also known as/aka alibi elsewhere a submission or claim,

 typically supported by proof/evidence, that an accused person was at a different place from the scene and time of a crime alieni generis of a different kind/of another type alpha A (the letter) denotes the first of something, for example alpha-male (dominant male), or alpha-test (the initial release of technology/software among developers, prior to finalizing specification/features and beta-test, being final testing among users) alma mater Master of Arts/MA/AM/(higher university degree) aureo hamo piscari to fish with a golden hook 'money talks'/money gets results Aurora Borealis goddess of the northern dawn the 'Northern Lights' atmospheric display, at certain times in the night sky far north - Aurora is the Roman goddess of the dawn - Borealis meaning northen in Latin is taken from the Greek Boreas, god of the north wind - Aurora Australis is literally 'goddess of the southern dawn', and refers to the 'Southern Lights' (being the equivalent phenomenon in the southern hemisphere) - australis means southern in Latin australis the origin of the name Australia - from 'terra australis', southern land ave Maria beware, caution, take care, attention/beware of the dog caveat a stipulation

, condition, warning, exclusion, limit, etc - typically in formal contracts, also in verbal agreements caveat emptor buyer beware/responsibility is with buyer caveat venditor seller beware/responsibility is with seller cerebrum brain front part of brain - considered advanced compared with early human brains and additional to animal brains - hence cerebral refers to intellectual rather than emotional or physical thought/behaviour/effect certiorari to be made certain a writ issued by a higher court for documents from a lower court for the purpose of reviewing the lower court process/decision cetara desunt parts of the (written/created) work have not been found (despite research) ceteris (caeteris paribus) all other things being equal assuming that no external factors alter the central question/point, conditional on there being no effect from variable external elements - (a qualifying statement establishing fixed conditions around a proposition, to enable a firm argument to be made) citius altius fortius motto of the modern Olympic games confer (cf.) compare (with)/see also (as appears widely in dictionaries, etc) circa (ca.

or c.) about/approximately/roughly (referring to a quantity, date, time, etc) codex cogito ergo sum I think therefore I exist I think therefore I exist, or I think therefore I am - (originally recorded by French philosopher René Descartes, 1596-1650 - in Discourse on the Method, part IV, 1637-44, written mostly in French but with parts in Latin) coitus interruptus withdrawal before ejaculation (for contraception or other reason) coitus more ferarum sex in the way of wild beasts (medical/humorous reference to) 'doggy style' sexual intercourse - historians assert that the expression in its Latin form was used in ancient Rome compos mentis in full possession of mental powers, sane (cf. non compos mentis) con (contra) cornu copiae horn of plenty cornucopia/abundance (from various Greek legends, most popularly: The baby Zeus, hiding from his baby-eating father Cronus, was suckled as an infant by a goat/nursemaid, Amalthea.

Zeus, having the strength of a god, accidentally broke off one of Amalthea's horns, which he then endowed with the power to produce unending nourishment (and anything else desired) for its owner corrigenda (draws attention to) corrections required in a manuscript before publishing cui bono/malo? who will gain/lose? who stands to benefit/lose (from a particular action/situation)?

- expressions in criminal investigation or other speculation - in attempting to reveal motive/responsibility cum grano salis with a grain of salt take (a comment) with a grain of salt/add a note of caution to a comment (in Roman times and more recent history too, salt was very valuable and symbolic of something not to regard lightly - Roman soldiers were paid in salt - salarium - hence the expression 'worth his salt' (someone is worthy of his/her wage) (summa/magna) cum laude traditionally highest/2nd, and 3rd grades in a US university degree curriculum vitae the course of (one's) life a resume or job/personal history/(commonly abbreviated to CV) cursor positional marker on an electronic display de bonis asportatis old legal term for larceny, which has largely been superseded by the term theft de bono et malo (of a decision) come what may/for good or bad/'whatever' decimus from which 'decimate' originates - strictly de dicto / de re of (the) word / of (the) thing (technical clarification of the nature of a statement so as to differentiate) - the wording of the statement/(as distinct from) the thing that the statement refers

 to - these are two contrasting terms used in philosophical discussion/works differentiating between the form of the statement and what the statement refers to - (while quite subtle and technical, these two terms are useful in highlighting the difference between the qualities of a statement as distinct from the truth or otherwise of what the statement seeks to convey) - for example many children's statements can be criticized 'de dicto', while being brilliant 'de re' - (note that there are more complex applications of these terms) de die in diem (diem ex die) from day to day continuously/day in, day out/without a break de facto of fact in reality/in practice (especially contrasted with something which exists in in a lesser way theory or in law, see de jure/iure) dei gratia by the grace of god by the grace of god (traditionally implying a divine right, such as a monarch's title/status) de jure (de iure) (to be) utterly/helplessly/hopelessly in love (with someone/something) divide et impera divide your opponents to defeat them (a maxim adopted and popularized by Machiavelli) doce ut discas teach in order to learn docendo discimus we learn something by teaching it

 to others doctus cum libro having knowledge without practical experience Domine, dirige nos Lord/God, direct us (God is our guide) - traditional official motto of London Dominus vobsicum/Dominus tecum God be with you (plural)/God be with you (singular) God be with you (all)/God be with you (to an individual) - a traditional way to say farewell or goodbye dramatis personae the persons of the drama cast of characters (in a play or film, or situation, etc) dum spiro spero while I breathe, I hope while there is life in me I can still hope dum tacent clamant though they are silent they cry aloud their silence speaks volumes (usually referring to silence being an effective admission or indication of guilt or fault) dum vita est spes est while there is life there is hope while there's life there's hope dura mater tough mother (medical/biological term for) the outer membrane of the brain and spinal cord - the Latin term is itself derived from an earlier fuller Arabic term, loosely 'thick mother of the brain' ecce homo behold the man considered by advocates, and represented by artists, of biblical history, as the words of Pontias Pilate in presenting Jesus

 Christ to the crowd after flagellation prior to crucifixion ecce signum behold the sign look at the proof - examine the evidence - the proof is in front of you, so look at it e contrario on the contrary - actually, the opposite is true editio cum notis variorum edition with various notes a technical academic/scholar term referring to a version of text which contains different interpretations and notes and comments from experts editio princeps the first printed edition (of a book especially) e.g.

(exempli gratia) for the sake of example for example, or for instance emeritus a soldier who has served his time honourably/honorably and earned his discharge denoting the title holder (for example a professor) has retired and retains the title (plus the word 'emeritus') as a mark of having served with distinction - the original meaning derives from soldiers in the Roman army, from the verb 'mereri', to earn emerita (a relatively modern adaptation of the conventional emeritus male/general form above) e pluribus unum one out of (from) many one (big thing) made from many smaller parts - motto of the USA ergo therefore therefore - and so it follows that..

(linking a cause or situation with a result or conclusion) errare humanum est to err is human people occasionally naturally make mistakes - popularized by Alexander Pope's 'An Essay on Criticism' which stated 'To err is human; to forgive, divine' - this is an acceptance of human weakness et al (et alii/et aliae/et alia) and others (abbreviation - male/female/neuter full versions) and other men/women/factors (et al is the abbreviation - et alii is 'and other men'; et aliae is 'and other women'; et alia is 'and other things' - traditionally speech etiquette suggested that "...educated people do not ever actually say 'et al', instead they say 'and others'...") etc (et cetera) and so on - typically replacing potentially additional items in a listing of similar factors et nunc et semper ex astris scientia from the stars, knowledge 'From the Stars, Knowledge' - a contrived retrospective Latin expression created as the maxim of the Starfleet Academy in the film/TV franchise Star Trek.

ex cathedra from the chair with authority - refers to statements made by experts, or claimed to be (cathedra referred to a teacher's chair before it more famously meant the Pope's chair) excud (excudit) he/she who struck this (made by) made by...

a traditional printer's or engraver's term preceding the name of the creator/maker/writer ex dolo malo (ex dolo malo non oritur actio) an action (in court) does not arise from fraud a Latin legal term equating to 'fraud' - deriving distortedly from the full original sense that a court action cannot be viable if based on a fraud excelsior exeat let him/her go forth permission to be absent - traditionally an exeat granted permission for a priest to leave a monastery - the term also extended to absence from a university exempli gratia (e.g.) for the sake of example for example, or for instance ex facie from the face a legal term used typically when referring to an obviously unreliable document - the term in this context equates to 'obviously' or 'needing no further examination' ex gratia payment or reward given freely without obligation exit a single actor leaves the stage ex libris from the library of...

(owner's name) ex mero motu out of pure simple impulse spontaneously - (implication being no external influence) ex nihilo nihil fit ex parte from a party from one side only - only one side is represented at a legal hearing (the other side is absent) ex pede Herculem from the foot, a Hercules from a small sample the whole thing can be estimated - an early principle of extrapolation or projection, said to derive from Pythagoras' calculations in estimating the size of Hercules from his foot size, in turn inferred from the scale of the Olympia stadium experto credite trust one who has the experience - from experience a person has credibility ex post facto from what happens afterwards knowledge or law after an event applied retrospectively to the event - similar to 'with the benefit of hindsight', or the sense of 'knowing now what we did not know then' exuent / exuent omnes they go out / they all go out they leave the stage - stage direction terminology ex ungue leonem from a claw, the lion from a small sample the whole thing can be estimated - equating to ex pede Herculem ex uno disce omnes from a small sample the whole thing can be estimated - equating to ex ped

e Herculem facta non verba actions speak louder than words actions speak louder than words - judge by deed not what is said fecit (F.) he/she made (it) made by...

(creator's name) - traditional term used by artists/makers - separately F may stand for 'filius', meaning 'son' felo de se traditional additional title of English/British monarchs, given by the Vatican - often abbreviated to FD floruit (fl) he/she flourished when a historical character was most productive/active - used in biographical information, especially if birth/death dates are unknown, the 'fl' symbol appears with the year(s) of his/her prominence fons et origo the source and origin (of something) fronti nulla fides appearances can be deceptive - or 'don't judge a book by its cover' fugit hora time flies - time passes quickly genius loci the atmosphere of somewhere including its influence on visitors grammatici certant grammarians dispute (are disputing) experts are discussing (a case/matter/dispute) - this refers to situations that are subject to official review before a decision or resolution is made gratias tibi ago a warning before telling an awful or upsetting description/report iacta / jacta alea est the die is cast the die is cast - the decision/commitment is made and irreversible (see the die is cast in cliches origins) ianuis /

 januis clausis behind closed doors (referring to a legal hearing or court or meeting) ibid.

(ibidem) in the same place in the same source referenced in the previous entry - (an academic referencing mechanism to save space and unnecessary repeating of the same detail when citing sources) id. (idem) the same author (as previously referenced) - an academic space-saving device used in citing authors (i.e.) id est that is (to say more clearly...) in other words, in more detail, or to say more clearly and fully..

(this very common term is often misused in place of 'e.g.' (for example), whereas 'i.e.' means that clarification of a previous point is to follow in medias res into the middle of things the way a dramatic work such as a play or story begins INRI (Iesus [Jesus] Nazarenus Rex Iudaeoreum [Juaeoreum]) Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews - ignorantia legis neminem excusat ignorance of the law does not excuse ignorance of the law is no defence/defense for breaking the law ignorantia non excusat ignorance does not excuse ignorance is not an excuse (for wrong-doing) - the implication is that a person's moral code should not have to rely on specific instruction to avoid wrong deeds in absentia in (one's) absence denotes action against or award to someone in their absence, for whatever reason - for example criminal convictions and academic awards in aertenum in articulo mortis in the grasp of death (a statement made) at the point of death - traditionally statements made 'in articulo mortis' have at times been considered additionally believable because the person had nothing to gain at that stage from lying - alternative to 'in

 extremis' in camera in private - typically court/legal proceedings which exclude public and press incipit denoting the start of old/ancient texts (bis/ter/quater) in die (b.i.d./t.i.d./q.i.d.) (twice/three times/four times) in a day medical abbreviations - (for example instructions for taking tablets) in dubio (in dubio pro reo ) in doubt, for the accused the defendant has the benefit of the doubt - innocent until proven guilty in esse actually existing - contrasting with 'in posse' in extenso in full word for word, fully and entirely - referring to a text or paper of some sort, emphasize there has been no edit/removal in extremis in end at death - at the point of (a person's) death - alternative to 'in articulo mortis' - mostly significant in assessing reliability of statements made by the deceased in relation to a case in fine (i.f.) at the end of (a stated reference or page, etc) in flagrante (in flagrante delicto) in flaming crime (caught) in the act (of wrong-doing) - often referring to the discovery of sexual liaisons and adulterous

 relationships in foro in itself (an alternative to 'per se' - by itself) in situ in its natural location (contrasting with 'in vitro' - in glass [a glass test-tube]) instante mense (inst.) in the present month (substitute term for whatever the current month is - (for example "...your letter of 5th inst.

refers...) - ult = last (month); prox = next (month) in statu quo in the state in which (slightly different to 'status quo' - in statu quo refers to a situation at a specified time, relative to a subsequent or prior different situation, rather like saying 'in statu quo [the situation/condition/state] in the 1970s...' or 'in statu quo [the situation/condition/state] before the business was floated...' ) inter alia among other things, included in other considerations inter alios among other people, included within a wider groups of people inter nos between us, among ourselves, between ourselves inter pares between our peer group (of a discussion or circulated notes) inter se lis sub judice/iudice (sub judice) lawsuit before the judge loco citato (loc.

cit.) place cited (work) in the work/place/source previously referenced - (a referencing note used by scholars/writers/academics, to avoid repeating entire sources) locum tenens (locum) deputy, substitute, temporary replacement (for example of a doctor) locus classicus place classic (work) authoritative work/source/extract/text, the generally most highly regarded source (a referencing note referring to a work considered highly authoritative) locus delecti scene of the crime, crime scene locus in quo place in question (where the incident in question happened) loquitur (loq.) (script note that) a person speaks - (a dramatic/stage direction) lucri causa gain cause for the sake of (monetary) reward/gain/enrichment - in hope of financial reward - 'profit driven' - motivated by money magister artium (M.A.) Master of Arts - university degree - also abbreviated reversed, AM magna cum laude second honors/honours university degree (see cum laude) magnum opus the/a major work of a creative (writer, composer, etc) major great, significant - major/maior is the Latin comparative of magnus, great mala fide in bad faith - fraudulent - (contrasting

 with 'bona fide') male captus, bene detentus wrongly captured, properly detained (controversial legal principle asserting that) improper arrest should not prevent proper detention and trial - (the principle is not universally enforceable) malesuada fames crime (that is) produced by hunger - (see Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ) malo animo equating and evolving to the legal phrase 'with malice aforethought' malum in se / malum prohibitum wrong in itself / wrong according to law (legal terms differentiating that something is) inherently wrong / wrong in law - (for example an ambulance which jumps a red light en route to an accident is committing an offence which is 'malum prohibitum', but not 'malum in se') mandamus (a legal writ) instruction from a higher court to a lower court manu propria (m.p.) (signed) by own hand (old rare term indicating that a signature was made) by the signatory's own hand - (where a signature is missing, or a printed document contains a copy of a signature) mea culpa I am responsible for the problem - acknowledgment of guilt or blame media middle (plural) media now means various things in English, notably the news

 and information industries ('mass media'), and ways or materials for communicating in the broadest sense - the origin is Latin, from the singular word medium, meaning middle, which caused the word to evolve in English to refer to an agency or means of doing something (the sense of a body or mechanism between two parties, acting as a tool, enabler, conduit, translator, communicator) medicinae doctor (M.D.) designation of a university degree and doctor of medicine, a general practitioner (GP) membrum virile memo (memorandum est) it must be remembered (that..) a written/audio or other note - (to self or more commonly others in a work group) - a 'memo' was the pre-internet age standard quick recorded paper communication between work people, typically from a manager to subordinates, or fellow-managers or superior staff - before desktop computers, memos were typically hand-written or dictated by managers and typed and copied using carbon paper (pre-1970s), later photocopiers (pre-1990s), by typists/secretaries - these intensive production methods ensured that old-style paper memos were generated and circulated in relatively tiny volumes compared to the billions of modern emails mens sana in corp

ore sano sound mind, sound body sound in mind and body mirabile dictu/visu mobile vulgus movable public fickle group/people/crowd (referring to the whimsical changing nature and opinions/reactions of the general public or an audience - this is the derivation of the word 'mob') modus operandi method or process for a task or activity/service modus vivendi way of living arrangement between people of differing needs, notably when living or working together, a compromise enabling cooperation mox nox in rem soon night (so), to business/work do it, get it done, act now, 'JFDI' multum in parvo much in little many good things in something small - (a general term for something compact or small which has extensive great qualities) M M (mutatis mutandis) changed as had to be changed altered accordingly - (for example referring to changes having been made that were required to meet new circumstances or law) nemine contradicente ('nem con') no one contradicting unanimously - 'nem con' is a commonly used term in meetings containing votes, where the motion or decision is agreed/passed with no objection (a less common term is 'nemine dissentiente', no one

 dissenting) ne plus ultra no obstacle, no objection, nothing wrong (so proceed, permit, licence, etc) nil carborundum This is false Latin, originating in the British army as a comment on authority/commanders, taken to mean 'Don't let the bastards grind you down', however it is not real Latin.

The expression is structured on the basis of the famous quote from Horace's 'Odes', I:vii:27 'Nil desperandum Teucro duce' - 'Do not despair with Teucer as your leader' - there are variations of the expression; all are false Latin) nil per os / non per os (n.p.o.) nothing by mouth (medical term) - 'nil by mouth' - no food/drink/anything for this patient to be consumed by mouth nolens volens non compos mentis not of sound mind not in possession of full mental powers, mentally unstable/unreliable, (less formally) not thinking straight, contrasting logically with 'compos mentis' non liquet (it is) not proven legal term meaning that a judgment is not possible due to legal ambiguity or inadequacy - also interpreted to mean 'not clear' and 'not evident' non obstante notwithstanding, nevertheless, in spite of non prosequitur he does not proceed judgment in favour/favor of a defendant when the plaintiff fails to act within a legal time limit non sequitur it does not follow a statement/conclusion which is not actually proven or demonstrated by the preceding evidence/argument/justification - an inadequately supported claim

 nota bene (N.B.) note well, take note, attention - (introducing and emphasizing what follows) nudum pactum a nude pact invalid agreement - (legal term for a contract made with insufficient financial or other consideration, so making it non-binding and unenforceable) nunc pro tunc now for then retrospective, back-dated, retroactive (referring to the effective date or application of an agreement or contract or award, etc) obiter dictum/dicta incidental remark/remarks an incidental/aside remark by a judge having no effect on the matter in hand, but which may influence future related issues oculus dexter (O.D.) / oculus sinister (O.S.) right eye / left eye abbreviations used by Ophthalmology (medical attention for eyes) olet lucernam (it) smells of the lamp a negative assessment of a creative work for having taken too long to produce, or being over-worked (the metaphor referring to working late through the night and 'burning the midnight lamp') omnia vincit amor post hoc, ergo propter hoc after this, therefore (it is assumed) because of this (acknowledgment of) the potentially flawed logic in assuming a causal link between a situation/event and

 one which follows it (usually in the absence of any better information) post meridiem (pm) afternoon, evening (see 'ante meridiem', [am]) post mortem autopsy, examination of corpse to determine case of death post mortem auctoris (p.m.a.) after the death of the author legal term typically used in connection with intellectual property rights - (for example copyright generally expires a given period after the creator's death) post script (PS) a footnote written after the preceding message but before sending, PS prima facie at first sight at first appearing, on initial evidence - (a legal term referring to initial yet potentially or arguably sufficient evidence) pro bono publico (pro bono) for the public good pro forma for form (formality) as a matter of formality, a standard document - (originally in law a formal process which did not necessarily serve practical purpose, and this sense evolved top extend to documents, and then to standard documentation) pro parte (typically referring to) part of (a group) pro rata/rate proportionately, in proportion - (in the same ratio, whether less or more) pro se to defend oneself in court without formal legal representation - alternatively 'pro per' pro tempore (

pro tem) temporarily, for the while, a temporary situation, replacement, etc punctatim QED (quod erat demonstrandum) which was to be demonstrated proof/evidence has been provided as intended - this is the proof - (traditionally appended to a mathematical solution) quantum amount a required or allowed quantity - (for example a debt payable) - also used in various latin phrases to mean 'as much as' - more scientifically quantum in physics means: 'a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents' quid nunc?

what now? what now? - also the derivation of the traditional English word 'quidnunc', meaning a gossip or overly inquisitive person qui docet discit a good way to learn something is to teach it to someone else quid pro quo something for something (else) something which is given in return for another thing - (loosely refers to an exchange, a reciprocal arrangement, an agreed deal or swap, in the same spirit as 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' quieta non movere leave settled things to be - let sleeping dogs lie qui scribit bis legit who writes, twice reads writing something is more memorable than merely reading it - i.e.

if you write something you will will remember it better than simply reading it - (a learning/teaching method and maxim) qui tacet consentit who is silent consents remaining silent or failing to respond may be taken as agreement - the concept has real practical effect, and also to a degree influence in legal situations too quod erat demonstrandum (QED) which was to be demonstrated proof/evidence has been provided as intended - this is the proof - (traditionally appended to a mathematical solution) qoud est (q.e.) quod vide (q.v.) which see see (for explanation, clarification, comparison, or interest a relevant cross-referenced point - (most commonly abbreviated, 'q.v.', in scholarly/academic works - the term essentially directs a reader to more detail elsewhere in the same work about the word/phrase given with 'q.v.') quorum of whom a specified minimum number of members, directors or delegates, etc., required for an official assembly (such as a parliament or council or board of directors or committee member, etc) to be able to conduct its affairs, for example take votes and make decisions - the term entered English in the 15th/16th century, from the full Latin phrase used at the

 start of commissions for committee members, "quorum vos ...

unum esse volumus," loosely meaning, "of whom we specify that ... be one" rara avis rare bird an unusual thing of person - the derivation of the metaphor 'rare bird' - (first recorded and popularized in Latin by Juvenal, in Satires, vi:165 - "rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno" - "a rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan") ratum et consummatum confirmed and completed (in church law) a consummated marriage - a marriage that has not yet been consummated is merely 'ratum tantum' (confirmed only, and can be dissolved, 'super rato' re thing regarding, concerning, relating to...

(the term precedes the name of a subject which is to be discussed or described, etc - from the full Latin form 'res', 'thing') rebus sic stantibus things thus standing as things/matters stand, in the current situation - (normally a legal statement prefacing the fact or assertion that a point of law remains effective or in force recto / verso right / left right/left pages of a book - from the full forms 'recto folio' and 'verso folio' 'on the right leaf' and 'on the left leaf' regnat populus regina/rex queen/rex denoting the queen/king or crown, notably in legal cases equating to the state versus another party, e.g., Regina v.

Smith requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) (may he/she) rest in peace rest in peace (singular) - the plural (may they rest in peace) is 'requiescant in pace' res ipsa loquitur the thing itself speaks self-evidently, obviously, the facts/circumstances speak for themselves - (a legal term referring to self-evident proof of something) salus populi suprema lex esto the good of the people is the supreme law people's welfare must come first (in governance and business, etc) - the expression is translated in various similar ways, and used as a maxim/motto by many civil/state/services authorities to mean that the priority of governance is the health/needs of ordinary people ('the greater good') - the expression origin is usually attributed to Roman philosopher and politician Cicero's work De Legibus (bk III: III; viii), as 'Ollis salus populi suprema lex esto'.

salvo errore et omissione (s.e.e.o.) save for error and omission traditional caveat (as would be inserted by a bookkeeper or auditor) featuring in formal statements of financial accounts scientia est potentia scilicet (scire licet) one is permitted to know namely, that is to say, i.e. - prefaces an explanation or clarification - scilicet is the Latin abbreviated form of scire licet scripsit/sculpsit denoting author/sculptor - the term appears after the writer's name on the work semper fidelis/idem always faithful/always the same or unchanging sensu lato / sensu stricto in the wide sense / in the strict sense seq.

(sequens, sequentes, or sequitur) the following the following - to introduce a remark or list, like the words: 'as follows' - the word sequitur has the additional alternative meaning: 'it follows logically', or 'therefore' seriatim in (a) series one of a series, part of/in a series - a scholarly or technical academic term referring to a published work which is part of a series sic thus, so as used/written originally - denotes that the word or phrase which precedes 'sic' is quoted exactly as originally used/written/spelled by the quoted source - typically used within a quoted passage or extract to indicate that a misspelling or poor grammar or wrong word was in the source material sine die without a day until an unspecified time/date/day, no date has been set (for another meeting or resumption) - typically referring to the status of discussions/meetings, that there is no date agreed for further action sine loco (s.l.) / sine anno (s.a.) / sine nomine (s.n.) without place / date / without a name without place / date /author or publisher - normally referring to a referenced book or paper for which place / date of publication / author or publisher are unknown

 - (these terms may becombined with the word 'et', and, for example 'sine loco et anno', without place and date sine mora sine prole without children childless, no children, or the legal term 'without issue' - often referring to a deceased person who had no offspring sine qua non an absolutely necessary requirement or condition, an indispensable factor solidus nummus (Roman) solid coin in English money history the S in LSD (pounds shillings pence) derived from the Roman coin 'Solidus' (prior to 1387 in English translations shown as 'Solidy', and also shown more recently in English as 'Solidi' and 'Solidii', being Latin plural versions) - the Solidus was originally an Imperial Roman coin introduced by Constantine (c.274-337AD), so called from the full Latin 'solidus nummus', meaning solid coin - the L and D in LSD also derived from Latin terms 'libra' and 'denarius' socius criminis uphold previous ruling/decision - apply precedent status quo current situation, normality, conditions unchanged status quo ante situation as was/before (an event) stereo solid hi-fi system or reproduced sound of at

 least two speakers/channels - initially adopted into English referring to a surround-sound effect, evolving to mean two different channels combining to produce a double-sided sound effect stet let it stand a proof reading/editing term which instructs the printer or designer to ignore the edit in question - (equating to an instruction to reinstate the original part, i.e., before the edit - for example to reverse the crossing out or alteration of a word) - stet is from the Latin word stare, stand sub judice/sub iudice under a judge under consideration by a judge/court (and therefore not to be discussed or published - this refers to a legal case or facts within a case, and seeks to avoid any influence or prejudice on the process sub nomine refers to the name of the person/party taking action - 'in the name of' sub poena under penalty a writ requiring a person to appear in court - originally fully under penalty of a fine/imprisonment/etc., so that the potential punishment would appear after the words sub poena, which is nowadays usually rendered as a single word, subpoena sub rosa under the rose in secret, behind closed doors, privately - (referring to proceedings of some sort - the legal term is an old metaphor based on

 the rose being once a symbol of secrecy) sub verbo (s.v.) under the word under the word/heading, a referencing term directing the reader to information contained beneath the word entry or heading in question elsewhere in the publication, for example as in a dictionary - used as 's.v.

[word/heading]' = see the information under [word/heading]' sui generis unique, in a class/classification of its own, utterly distinctive and original sui juris/iuris of his/her own volition able to take responsibility - equating to asserting that a person was legally responsible for his/her action summa traditional term for the summary of a subject in a printed/text work summa cum laude with highest distinction/praise highest distinction (referring to a university degree qualification award) - see 'cum laude' and 'magna cum laude', respectively the 3rd and 2nd highest grades suo jure/iure independently, in one's/its own right suo moto/tempore by own motion/in own time spontaneously/in one's or its own time supra/vide supra see above - scholarly technical term simply directing the reader to the text above terra firma firm land solid earth, dry land (as different to the sea or waters or air) - typically referring to being safely or surely on land, for example 'back on terra firma' (after a plane or sea journey, or parachute leap) usus est magister optimus practice is the best teacher practice makes perfect ultra vires beyond the powers beyond (one's/its) legal powers

 - typically legally referring to a court or official body which acts outside of its limits/authority ut infra/supra an alternative way(s) of reading/interpreting a document or work variorum of various people denoting comments/interpretations by various people, or denoting a publication which contains different interpretations/readings of the original work - consequently a variorum or variorum edition refers to a publication which provides variant readings/interpretations of, and comments by different scholars on, a work of some sort veni, vidi, vici I came, I saw, I conquered victory was easy - a confident claim of a supposedly simple speedy triumph, attributed to Julius Caesar telling of his defeating Pharnaces, King of Pontus, 47BC (not his invasion of Britain as some believe) - according to Seutonius this motto was carried ahead of Caesar's advancing forces in subsequent campaigns, mainly to emphasize the speed of victory - in modern renderings the claim may also imply nonchalance, casualness, ease, arrogance, etc verbi gratia (v.gr.

or VG) for the sake of a word for example vis inertiae power of inaction power of inertia - a much under-rated strategic concept by which the impulse to react to provocation/threat is resisted - and instead a positive decision is made to take no action - which can produce surprisingly better results than reacting aggressively and quickly without much thought for the consequences - the notion of 'vis inertiae' recognizes the fact that often provocative/threatening situations tend to subside or implode, as history commonly tells viva voce orally - typically refers to an oral/spoken examination vixit he/she lived (for a number of years) - common gravestone term vox pop (vox populi) voice of the people comments from the general public, public opinion - 'vox pops' is now a common media term referring to impromptu interviews with members of the public ultra Non sequitur - Grammarist Grammarist Usage Non sequitur The noun non sequitur refers to a statement or conclusion that does not follow logically from what preceded it. It is two words. It comes from Latin, where it means, literally , it does not follow. Non sequitur is unhyphenated except when it’s a phrasal adjective preceding a noun.

Because it has been in English a long time, it is unitalicized . A non sequitur isn’t just a random statement that comes out of nowhere. It is a statement that conspicuously does not follow what precedes it. For example, if I walk up to you and say, “The elephant gestation period is 22 months,” it would be random, but not a non sequitur (because nothing preceded it). If you ask how I am and I answer by saying something about elephants, that would be a non sequitur. Advertisement Examples What seems a non sequitur makes sense in the context of the jumbled, disorienting music. [ Wall Street Journal ] Like the late Hedberg, the New York-based comedian specializes in quick, everyday observations punctuated by hilarious non sequiturs. [ Minneapolis Star-Tribune ] This song comes complete with its own collection of non sequiturs you’d usually expect from chemically enhanced dance music. [ BBC News ] If the impetus for reform is the futility of prosecution … then decriminalization is a non-sequitur response. [ National Post ]

Question: In writing or speech the Latin term 'non sequitur' means 'It does not (what?)'?
Answer: Follow