List of Latin phrases

This page lists English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations, such as "i.e." and "et cetera". Some of these are themselves translations of Greek phrases.

C

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;Cacoethes scribendi

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:"Bad habit of writing" — i.e., an insatiable urge to write. From Juvenal.

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;Carpe diem

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:"Seize the day", literally "pluck the day".

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;Carthago delenda est

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:"Carthage must be destroyed." Cato the Elder often ended his speeches with "ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" (see below for "ceterum censeo"). "Carthago delenda est" is the same phrase in the nominative case; "Carthaginem delendam esse" is an accusative infinitive.

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;Casus belli

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:"Event (that is the justification for, or the cause) of war."

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:Lit., "For the causes of justice and mercy." Impossible Latin. Can't locate the correct source, if there is one -->

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;Causa mortis

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:"Fact the forced a individous Dead", literally "Death Cause".

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;Cave canem

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:"Beware of the dog" — found written on a floor mosaic depicting a dog, at the entrance of a Roman house excavated at Pompeii http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/pompeii/imagesHTM/Canem.html.

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;Caveat emptor

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:"Let the buyer beware" — i.e., the purchaser of the goods is responsible for checking whether they suit his need.

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;Caveat lector

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:"Let the reader beware" — i.e., the writer does not vouch for the accuracy of a text. Probably a recent calque on caveat emptor.

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;Caveat venditor

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:"Let the seller beware" — the seller of goods is responsible for providing information about the goods to the purchaser.

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;Cetera desunt

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:"The rest is missing."

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;Ceteris paribus

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:"All other things being equal."

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;Ceterum censeo

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:"In conclusion, I think that..." — Cato the Elder used to conclude his speeches, on any topic whatsoever, with Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam ("In conclusion, I think that Carthage must be destroyed").

Related Topics:
Cato the Elder - Carthaginem esse delendam - Carthage

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;Christus Rex

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:"Christ the King."

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;Citius altius fortius

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:"Faster, higher, stronger" — Motto of the modern Olympics.

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;Circa (ca.)

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:"Around" — in the sense of "approximately, about"; usually of a date, eg. "Jesus was actually born circa 6 BC"

Related Topics:
Jesus - 6 BC

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;Circulus vitiosus

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:"Vicious circle" — in logic, a fallacy involving the presupposition of a proposition in one of the premises (see petitio principii); in science, a positive feedback out of control.

Related Topics:
Vicious circle - Logic - Fallacy - Positive feedback

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;Claves Sancti Petri

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:"The keys of St. Peter" — symbol of the Papacy.

Related Topics:
St. Peter - Papacy

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;Cogito ergo sum

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:"I think therefore I am" — (French philosopher René Descartes) Through this ultimate rationalistic view, Descartes attempts to prove the existence of one's self not through one's sense experience but through reasoning.

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;Coitus interruptus

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:"Interrupted sex" — aborting the sexual act prior to ejaculation - the only allowable form of birth control in some religions

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;Compos mentis

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:"Of sound mind" — sometimes used ironically.

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;Concordia cum veritate

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:"In harmony with truth" — Motto of the University of Waterloo

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;Condemnant quod non intellegunt

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:"They condemn because they do not understand? — This phrase can be used for defense in various situations.

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;Conditio sine qua non

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:"Condition without which not" — i.e., "indispensable".

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;Confer (cf.)

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:"Compare" — used as an abbreviation in text to recommend a comparison with another thing. Literally, "bring together". See: citation signal.

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;Confoederatio Helvetica (C.H.)

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:"Helvetian Confederation" — the official name of Switzerland, which explains the use of "ch" for its ISO country code and Internet domain.

Related Topics:
Switzerland - ISO country code - Internet domain

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;Coniunctis viribus

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:"With united powers"

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;Consummatum est

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:"It is completed" — In the Latin translation of John 19:30, the last words of Jesus on the Cross.

Related Topics:
John - Jesus

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;Contemptus saeculi

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:"Contempt for the secular (world)" — the monk's or philosopher's rejection of mundane life and values.

Related Topics:
Monk - Philosopher

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;Cor ad cor loquitur

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:"Heart speaks to heart" — Commonly referring to a quote by Cardinal John Henry Newman; a motto of Newman Clubs. Seen earlier in Augustine's Confessions referring to a prescribed method of prayer: having a "heart to heart" with the Lord.

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;Coram Deo

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:"Before the face of God" — A phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.

Related Topics:
Christian theology - Christian - God

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;Corpus Christi

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:"Body of Christ."

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;Corpus delicti

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:"Body of the crime" — the body of facts that prove a crime.

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;Corpus vile

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:"Vile body" — a person or thing fit only to be the object of an experiment.

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;Cui bono

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:"Good for whom?" — a maxim which suggests that considering who will benefit is likely to reveal who is responsible for an unwelcome happening.

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;Cui prodest

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:"Whom does it benefit?" — short form for cui prodest scelus, is fecit in Seneca's Medea; the murderer is the one who gains by the murder.

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;Cuius est solum eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos

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:"To whomsoever that owns the land, he owns what is above and below it"

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;Cuius regio, eius religio

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:"Whose rule, his religion" — The religion of the regional prince is the religion of people, see Peace of Augsburg.

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;Cum gladiis et fustibus

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:"With sword and staff" — from the Bible.

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;Cum gladio et sale.

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:"With sword and salt". Motto of a well-paid soldier.

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;Cum grano salis

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:"With a grain of salt" — i.e., not to be taken too seriously.

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;Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

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:"After this, therefore because of this" — the logical fallacy that the fact that one thing happens after another means that the first thing caused the second.

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;Cum laude

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:"With honors."

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;Cura te ipsum

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:"Physician, heal thyself!"

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;Curriculum vitae

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:"Course of life" — a résumé.

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;Cur tu me vexas?

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:"Why do you annoy me?"

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