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.

N

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;Natura non contristatur

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:"Nature isn't sentimental"

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;Nemine contradicente (nem. con.)

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:"Without contestation" — literally, "with no one speaking against;" used especially in committees, where a matter may be passed nem. con..

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;Nemo dat quod non habet

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:"No one can pass better title than they have"; literally, "no one gives what he doesn't possess."

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;Nemo me impune lacessit

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: "No-one provokes me with impunity" — Motto of The Order of the Thistle, found stamped on the milled edge of certain UK Pound coins. It is also the motto of the Montressors from the Edgar Allen Poe short story The Cask of Amontillado.

Related Topics:
Order of the Thistle - Edgar Allen Poe - The Cask of Amontillado

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;Ne plus ultra (also nec plus ultra, non plus ultra)

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: "nothing more beyond" literally, but figuratively it is a descriptive phrase meaning the best or most extreme example of something. The Pillars of Hercules, for example, were the ne plus ultra (in the literal sense) of the ancient Mediterranean world. Charles V's heraldic emblem reversed this idea, using a depiction of this phrase inscribed on the Pillars—without the negation. This represented Spain's expansion into the New World.

Related Topics:
Pillars of Hercules - Charles V - Spain's expansion

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;Nihil obstat

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:"Nothing prevents" — a notation, usually on a title page, indicating that a Catholic censor has reviewed the book and found nothing objectionable to faith or morals in its content. See also imprimatur.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Censor - Imprimatur

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;Nihil per os (n.p.o.)

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:"Nothing by mouth" ()

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;Nil admirari

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:"Admire no one"; "Be astonished at nothing"

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;Nil desperandum

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:"Never despair"

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;Nil satis nisi optimum

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:"Nothing but the Best is Good Enough" Motto of Everton Football Club, residents of Goodison Park, Liverpool.

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;Nisi dominus frustra

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:"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" — the first three words of Psalm 127. The motto of Edinburgh, amongst others.

Related Topics:
Psalm - Edinburgh

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;Nolens (aut) volens

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:"Willing or not", comparable with "willy-nilly", though that is derived from Old English will-he nil-he (i.e., he will or he will not).

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;Noli me tangere

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:"Touch me not" — according to the Gospel of John, this was said by Christ to Mary Magdalene after his Resurrection.

Related Topics:
Gospel of John - Mary Magdalene - Resurrection

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;Nolle prosequi

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:"Not willing to prosecute" — a legal motion by a prosecutor or other plaintiff to drop legal charges, usually in exchange for a diversion program or out-of-court settlement.

Related Topics:
Legal motion - Prosecutor - Plaintiff - Legal charge - Diversion program - Out-of-court settlement

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;Nolo contendere

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:"No Contest" a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states the accused doesn't admit guilt but will accept punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas cannot be used as evidence in another trial.

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;Nomen dubium

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:"Doubtful name" ? a scientific name of unknown or doubtful application.

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;Nomen nescio (N. N.)

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:"Name unknown" — literally, "I do not know the name", implying an unknown person.

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;Nomen nudum

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:"Naked name" ? a purported scientific name that does not fulfill the proper formal criteria and therefore cannot be used unless it is subsequently proposed correctly.

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;Non causa pro causa

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:"Non-cause for cause" — a logical fallacy.

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;Non compos mentis or Non compos sui

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:"Of unsound mind."

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;Non facias malum, ut inde fiat bonum

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:"You are not to do evil, that good may result therefrom." — Two wrongs don't make a right

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;Non in legendo sed in intelligendo legis consistunt

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:"The laws consist not in being read, but in being understood."

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;Non liquet

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:"it is not clear" — a sometimes controversial decision handed down by a judge when they feel that the law is not complete

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;Non mihi solum

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:"Not for myself alone"

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;Non obstante veredicto

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:"Notwithstanding the verdict" — a legal motion asking the court to reverse the jury's verdict on the grounds that the jury could not reasonably have reached such a verdict.

Related Topics:
Verdict - Court - Jury

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;Non omnis moriar

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:"I shall not wholly die" — A part of me will survive death.

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;Non sequitur

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:"It does not follow" — a statement that is the result of faulty logic.

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;Non serviam

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:"I will not serve."

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;Non sum qualis eram

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:"I am not what I once was" — I have changed.

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;Nota bene (NB)

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:"Note it well" — i.e., "please note", "important note".

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;Novus Ordo Seclorum

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:"New Order of the Ages" — motto on the Great Seal of the United States; from Virgil.

Related Topics:
Great Seal of the United States - Virgil

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;Nullam rem natam

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:"No thing born" — i.e., "nothing". It has been claimed that this expression is the origin of Italian nulla, French rien, and Spanish/Portuguese nada, all with the same meaning.

Related Topics:
Italian - French - Spanish - Portuguese

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;Numerus clausus

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:"Closed number."

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;Nunc dimittis

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:"Now you are dismissing" ? Spoken by Simeon when holding the baby Jesus when he felt he was ready to be dismissed into the afterlife ('he had seen the light'); often used in the same way the phrase 'Eureka' is used; from the Gospel of Luke (New testament)

Related Topics:
Simeon - Jesus - Eureka - Gospel of Luke - New testament

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;Nunc pro tunc

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:"Now for then" — has retroactive effect, effective from an earlier date

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;Nunc scio quid sit amor

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:"Now I know what love is" — Virgil, Eclogues VII

Related Topics:
Virgil - Eclogues VII

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