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.

S

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;Saltus in demonstrando

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:"Leap in demonstration."

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;Salus populi suprema lex esto

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:"The welfare of the people is the highest law." Motto of the state of Missouri. John Locke used the phrase in his Second Treatise (On Civil Government) to describe the proper organization of government.

Related Topics:
Missouri - John Locke

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;Salva veritate

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:"With truth preserved", or "saved by the truth".

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;Salvator Mundi

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:"The Saviour of the World" - usually refers to Christ, and is the title of paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci

Related Topics:
Christ - Albrecht Dürer - Leonardo da Vinci

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;Salvo errore et omissione (s.e.e.o.)

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:"Except for errors and omissions" — appears on statements of "account currents".

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;Salvo honoris titulo (SHT)

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:"Excluding the title" — used in writings to unfamiliar persons, as an excuse for not using the correct title.

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;Sancta sedes

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:"the Holy Chair" — i.e., the Papacy or the Holy See.

Related Topics:
Papacy - Holy See

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;Sancta Simplicitas

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:"Blessed Simplicity" or "Holy Simplicity"

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;Sapere aude

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:"Dare to be wise" — motto of the Manchester Grammar School and other institutions; originally from Horace, Epistle II; quoted by Immanuel Kant to define Enlightenment.

Related Topics:
Manchester Grammar School - Horace - Immanuel Kant - Enlightenment

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;Sapienti sat (est), also dictum sapienti sat est or sat sapienti.

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:"Enough for the wise" ? understandable for a wise one without the need for explanations. Source: Plautus.

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;Sedes apostolica

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:"the Apostolic Chair" — i.e., the Papacy or the Holy See.

Related Topics:
Papacy - Holy See

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;Sede vacante

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:"The seat (i.e., the Holy See) being vacant" — the interregnum between two popes.

Related Topics:
Holy See - Interregnum - Pope

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;Servus servorum Dei

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:"Servant of the servants of God" — a title for the Pope.

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;Semper fidelis

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:"Always faithful" — motto of the United States Marine Corps, often abbreviated Semper Fi.

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;Semper paratus

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:"Always prepared" — the motto of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Cavalry's 12th Regiment.

Related Topics:
United States Coast Guard - United States Cavalry

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;Semper reformanda

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:"Always reforming" - a shortened form of a motto of the Protestant Reformation: Ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est ("The reformed church must always be reforming"), which refers to the Protestant argument that the church must continually re-examine itself, reconsider its doctrines, and be prepared to accept change. (The shortened form, semper reformanda, literally means "always about to be reformed", and the usual translation, "always reforming", is taken from sentence where it is used in a passive periphrastic construction.)

Related Topics:
Protestant Reformation - Protestant - Doctrine

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;Semper ubi sub ubi

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:"Always where under where" — a Latin translation joke. Nonsensical, but the English translation is a pun of "Always wear underwear"

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;Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR)

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:"The Senate and the People of Rome" — i.e., "The Aristocrats and the Commoners", the official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle standards by the Roman Legions.

Related Topics:
Senate - Roman Republic - Legion

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;Sesquipedalia verba

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:"Words a foot and a half long" — long and complicated words that are used without

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;Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice

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:"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you" -- the motto of the U.S. state of Michigan.

Related Topics:
U.S. state - Michigan

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;Sic

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:"Thus", "just so" — states that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, usually despite errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact.

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;Sic itur ad astra

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:"Thus to the stars" — that's how to achieve fame.

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;Sic passim

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:"thus in various places" — used when referencing books; see passim.

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;Sic semper tyrannis

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:"Thus always to tyrants." — state motto of Virginia.

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;Sic transit gloria mundi

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:"So passes the glory of the world" — meaning nothing on Earth lasts forever.

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;Sic vita est

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:"Such is life" — That's how life is.

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;Signetur (sig or S/)

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:"Let it be labeled" ()

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;Signum Fidei

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:"Sign of our faith"

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;Sine anno (s.a.)

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:"Without year" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is unknown.

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;Sine die

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:"Without a (set) day" — originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive order has been made in the case: there is nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set.

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;Sine ira et studio

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:"Without anger or bias" — impartially. From Tacitus, Annals 1.1

Related Topics:
Tacitus - Annals

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;Sine loco (s.l.)

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:"Without place" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication of a document is unknown.

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;Sine nomine (s.n.)

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:"Without name" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a document is unknown.

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;Sine qua non

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:"Without which not" — used to denote something that is an essential part of the whole.

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;Sine scientia ars nihil est

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:"Art without knowledge is nothing". A skill (ars) and knowledge (scientia) are tigthly intervowen and could not exist one without the other.

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;Sit venia verbo

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:"With apologies for the word" — i.e., "pardon my French."

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;Si vis pacem, para bellum

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:"If you wish for peace, prepare for war."

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;Sola Fide

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:"By Faith Alone" - the material principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the Five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches that men are saved by faith apart from works.

Related Topics:
Material principle - Protestant Reformation - Five solas - Protestant - Bible - Saved - Faith

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;Sola Gratia

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:"By Grace Alone" - a motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the Five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches salvation is unearned.

Related Topics:
Protestant Reformation - Five solas - Protestant - Bible - Salvation

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;Sola Scriptura

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:"By Scripture Alone" - the formal principle of the Protestant Reformation and one of the Five solas, referring to the Protestant idea that the Bible alone is ultimately authoritative, not the Pope or Tradition.

Related Topics:
Formal principle - Protestant Reformation - Five solas - Protestant - Bible - Pope - Tradition

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;Soli Deo Gloria

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:"To God Alone the Glory" - a motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the Five solas, referring to the idea that God is the author of all good things and deserves all the praise for them. (Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his manuscripts with the abbreviation S.D.G. to invoke this phrase.)

Related Topics:
Protestant Reformation - Five solas - God - Johann Sebastian Bach

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;Solus Christus (or Solo Christo)

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:"Christ Alone" (or "By Christ Alone") - a motto of the Protestant Reformation and one of the Five solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind.

Related Topics:
Protestant Reformation - Five solas - Protestant - Jesus - Mediator - God - Mankind

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;Stamus Contra Malo

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:Supposed to be "We fight against the evil" — the motto of the Jungle Parol in The Phantom where there actually is a mistranslation to the Latin — it should be "Stamus Contra Malum".

Related Topics:
The Phantom - Latin

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;Stante pede

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:"On standing foot" — immediately.

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;Stare decisis

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: "To stand by things decided" — uphold previous rulings, recognize precedence

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;Statim (stat)

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:"Immediately" ()

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;Status quo (ante)

Related Topics:
Status quo - Ante

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:"The state that was (before)" — the status of affairs or situation prior to some upsetting event.

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;Stet

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:"Let it stand" — marginal mark in proofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or marked for deletion should be retained.

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;Stricto sensu

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:"In the strict sense."

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;Stupor mundi

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:"Wonder of the world", the title by which Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, was known.

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;Sua sponte

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:"Of own accord." — motto of the U.S. Army Rangers. Also a legal term

Related Topics:
U.S. Army Rangers - Legal term

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;Sub Cruce Lumen

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:"Under the Cross is the Light." — motto of the University of Adelaide, Australia.

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;Sub iudice or sub judice

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:"Under a judge" — said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed until it is finished.

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;Sub poena duces tecum

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:"Bring with you under penalty" — legal writ requiring appearance with documents, etc..

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;Sub poena (subpoena)

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:"Under penalty" — of a request (usually by a court) that must be complied to on pain of punishment.

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;Sub rosa

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:"Under the rose" — secretly (a rose was placed above a door to indicate that what was said in the room beyond was not to be repeated outside).

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;Sub specie æternitatis

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:"From eternity's point of view." (Spinoza, Ethics)

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;Sui generis

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:Of its (own) kind — in a class of its own.

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;Sui juris

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:Of one's own right — capable of (legal) responsibility; legal and ecclesiastical use.

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;Sum quod eris / Fui quod sis

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:"I am what you will be / I was what you are" — gravestone incriptions that remind the reader of the inevitability of death. Also see Tu fui, ego eris.

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;Summa cum laude

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:"With the highest honor."

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;Summum bonum

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:"The supreme good."

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;Summum malum

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:"The supreme evil."

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;Sunt lacrimae rerum

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:"There are tears to things." (Virgil, Aeneid)

Related Topics:
Virgil - Aeneid

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;Sunt omnes unum

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:"They are all one."

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;Suo moto

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:"Upon one's own initiative". Usually used when a court of law, upon its own initiative, (i.e. no petition has been filed) proceeds against a person or authority that it deems has committed an illegal act.

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;Suum cuique

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:"To each his own."

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;Suum cuique tribuere

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:"To render to every man his due." — One of Justinian's three basic concepts of law.

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