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.

R

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;Rara avis

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:"A rare bird" — i.e., an extraodinary or unusual thing (from Juvenal's Satires: rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno, "a rare bird on the earth, and very like a black swan").

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;Ratio legis

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:"Legal foundation."

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;Ratio decidendi

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:"Reason for the decision" ? the legal, moral, political, and social principles used by a court to compose the rationale of a judgment.

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;Re

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:"In the matter of" (ablative of res 'thing') — often used in e-mail replies. It is a common misconception that the "Re:" in e-mail replies stands for "reply" or "response". The use of Latin "re", in the sense of "about, concerning", is English usage. Whether to leave it in Latin or to translate it may depend on the usage of the target language; but the Internet norm is to leave it in Latin. See also .

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;Rebus sic stantibus

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:"Matters standing thus" — The doctrine that treaty obligations hold only as long as the fundamental conditions and expectations that existed at the time of their creation hold.

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;Reductio ad absurdum

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:"Reduction to absurdity" — a technique of argument that proves the thesis by showing that its opposite is absurd or logically untenable. This is an oft-used method of proof in mathematics and philosophy.

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:In general usage outside mathematics & philosophy, a reductio ad absurdum is a tactic in which the logic of an argument is challenged by reducing the concept to its most absurd extreme. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum

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;Regnat populus

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:"The People rule."

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;Repetitio est mater studiorum

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:"Repetition is the mother of study"

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;Requiescat in pace (R.I.P.)

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:"May he rest in peace" — a benediction for the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers.

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;Res ipsa loquitur

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:"The thing speaks for itself" — a phrase from the common law of torts that means negligence can be inferred from the fact that such an accident happened, without proof of exactly how.

Related Topics:
Common law - Tort

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;Res ipsa loquitur, sed quid in infernos dicit?

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:"The thing speaks for itself, but what the hell does it say?" — a sarcastic pseudo-Latin commentary on res ipsa loquitur, reminding the listener that we must still interpret the significance of events that "speak for themselves".

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;Res iudicata

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:Literally, "Judged thing" — i.e., matter which has been decided by a court. Commonly, the legal concept that once a matter has been finally decided by the courts it cannot be litigated again. See also Double jeopardy

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;Respiciendum est judicanti ne quid aut durius aut remissius constituatur quam causa deposcit; nec enim aut severitatis aut clementiæ gloria affectanda est.

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:"The judge must see that no order be made or judgment given or sentence passed either more harshly or more mildly than the case requires; he must not seek renown, either as a sever or as a tender-hearted judge."

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;Res nullius

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:"Nobody's thing" — i.e., goods without owner.

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;Romani ite domum

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:"Romans go home" — as written one hundred times over the palace walls by Brian of Nazareth. See Monty Python's "Life of Brian"

Related Topics:
Nazareth - Monty Python - Life of Brian

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;Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior

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:"Redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee."

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