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.

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;i. e.

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:See Id est.

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;Ibidem (ibid.)

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:"In the same place" — usually in bibliographic citations.

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;Id est (i.e.)

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:"That is (to say)", abbreviated as "i.e." — sometimes "in this case," depending on the context. When celebrating this holiday (i.e., Christmas), hang a wreath on your door. It is never equivalent to "e.g.". (see Dictionary.com for an explanation of the difference between i.e. and e.g.)

Related Topics:
Holiday - Christmas - Wreath

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;Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm (INRI)

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:"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", INRI was written on the cross of Jesus Christ.

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;Igni ferroque

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:"By fire and iron" — a phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also seen as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.

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;Imago dei

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:"Image of God" — a religious concept.

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;Imitatio dei

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:"Imitation of God" — a principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).

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;Imperium in imperio

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:"An empire within an empire" — i.e., a group of people who owe utmost fealty to their leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger empire to the authority of the internal group's leader(s).

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;Imperium sine fine

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:"Empire without end". In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, neverending empire, the empire-without-end.

Related Topics:
Virgil - Aeneid - Aeneas

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;Imprimatur

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:"(It) may be printed" — an authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).

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;In absentia

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:"In the absence" — e.g., of a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.

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;In camera

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:"In secret" (literally "in the chamber")

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;In casu

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:"In this case"

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;In duplo

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:"In two (copies)"

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;In effigie

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:"In (the form of) an image" — as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in person".

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;In esse

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:"In existence"

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;In extenso

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:"In long (form)" — i.e., "in full", "completely", "unabridged."

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;In fidem

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:"To faith" — to the verification of

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;In fieri

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:"Pending"

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;In fine (i.f.)

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:"Finally."

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;In flagrante delicto

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:"In flaming crime" — i.e., "caught red-handed."

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;In flore

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:"In bloom."

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;In foro

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:"In forum" — in court.

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;In illo tempore

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:"At that time", found often in the Gospel lecture during the Mass. It is used to mark a time in an indetermined past.

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;In loco

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:"At the place" — as e.g., "the water samples were analyzed in loco."

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;In loco parentis

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:"In place of the parents" — Legal term, "assuming custodial/parental responsibility and authority".

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;In lumine tuo videbimus lumen.

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:"In your light we will see light." Motto of Ohio Wesleyan University & Columbia University.

Related Topics:
Ohio Wesleyan University - Columbia University

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;In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum

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:"In your hands I commend (i.e., entrust) my spirit", according to Luke 23:46 the last words of Jesus on the Cross.

Related Topics:
Luke - Jesus

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;In medias res

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:"Into the middle of things" — by Horace, refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late point in, the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.

Related Topics:
Horace - Iliad - Odyssey - Paradise Lost

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;In memoriam

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:"In memory of" — i.e., to remember or honor a deceased person.

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;In nuce

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:"In a nutshell."

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;In partibus infidelium

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:"In the land of the infidels" — infidels here refers to non-Christians. After Islam conquered a big part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as titular sees.

Related Topics:
Christians - Islam - Titular see

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;In pectore

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:"In (my) heart". — a Cardinal named in secret by the pope.

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;In personam

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:"Directed towards a particular person". In a lawsuit in which the case is against a specific individual, that person must be served with a summons and complaint to give the court jurisdiction to try the case, and the judgment applies to that person and is called an "in personam judgment." In personam is distinguished from in rem, which applies to property or "all the world" instead of a specific person. This technical distinction is important to determine where to file a lawsuit and how to serve a defendant. In personam means that a judgment can be enforceable against the person wherever he/she is. On the other hand, if the lawsuit is to determine title to property (in rem) then the action must be filed where the property exists and is only enforceable there.

Related Topics:
Lawsuit - Summons - Court - Jurisdiction - Judgment - In rem - Defendant - Property

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;In rerum natura

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:"In the nature of things."

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;In saeculo

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:"In the (secular) world" — i.e., outside a monastery, or before death.

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;In salvo

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:"In safety."

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;In silico

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:Not a Latin phrase. In silico refers to an experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation. In silico was coined by superficial analogy with in vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon is silicium, so the correct Latin for "in silicon" (the intended meaning) is in silicio, and this correct version is seen occasionally in scientific literature. In silico, however, has become the dominant term.

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;In statu nascendi

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:"In the state of being born" — just as something is about to begin.

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;In situ

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:"In place" — in the original place, position, or arrangement. In medical contexts it implies that the condition is "still" in its original place and has not spread.

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;Insolitos docuere nisus

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:"showed unusual efforts" (Horace, Odes 4.4)

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;In toto

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:"In all" — "totally", "completely".

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;In triplo

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:"In three (copies)."

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;In vitro

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:"In glass" — an experiment or process performed in a non-natural laboratory setting, for example in a test tube.

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;In vivo

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:"In (a) living (organism)" — an experiment or process performed in a living specimen, as opposed to in vitro.

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;Incredibile dictu

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:"Incredible to say."

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;Index librorum prohibitorum

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:"List of prohibited books" — a list of books considered heretical by the Catholic Church.

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;inst.

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:abbreviation for instant, formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month, as opposed to last or next month. An example of usage would be "Thank-you for your letter of the 17th inst." See also ult. and prox.

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;Inter alia

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:"Among other things."

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;Inter alios

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:"Amongst others."— Often used to compress lists of parties to legal documents.

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;Inter arma enim silent leges

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:"In times of war, the law falls silent." —Cicero

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;Inter caetera

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:"Among others". Title of a papal bull.

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;Inter spem et metum

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:"Between hope and fear."

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;Inter vivos

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:"Between the living" — said of property transfers between living persons, as opposed to inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.

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;Integer vitae scelerisque purus

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:"Untouched by life and free of wickedness" — by Horace, used as a funeral hymn.

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;Intra muros

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:"Within the walls" — i.e., "not public"; intramural.

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;Intra Vires

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:"Within the authority", literally, the "strengths" or powers.

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;In usum Delphini

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:"In the manner of the Dauphin" — rare variant of ad usum Delphini.

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;Ipse dixit

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:"He, himself, said it" — emphasizes that some assertion comes from some authority. See appeal to authority.

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;Ipsissima verba

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:"The very words themselves" — i.e., "strictly word for word." see verbatim.

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;Ipso facto

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:"By the fact itself."

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;Ira Deorum

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:"Wrath of the Gods" - Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum (The Peace of the Gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the Gods). Earthquakes, floods, famine, etc..

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;Ita vero

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:"Thus indeed". A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes".

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;Ite, missa est

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:"Leave, the mass is finished" — the final words of the Roman Missal (literally "go, it is dismissed", i.e., the congregation is dismissed, or "go, this is the mass", i.e., there is no more mass to be said)

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;Iunctis viribus

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:"By united efforts."

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;Ius primae noctis

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:"Right of the first night" — the droit de seigneur.

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