1.Over half of English vocabulary is derived from Latin, whether directly or indirectly through the Romance languages (Italian, Spanish and French). Latin and English also share many grammatical rules.
2.Many branches of modern science come from either Greek or Latin roots. In chemistry the periodic table symbols are mainly based on the Latin names of those elements. For example, gold has the symbol AU from the Latin word for Gold (aura)
3. Many historical examinations of events involve the Latin language and culture; many current systems of management are based on the systems developed during Roman times.
4. Latin helps you learn other languages. The five Romance language; Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian are derived from Latin.
5. Studies show that on average, Latin students score higher on tests.
6. Fields such as law, medicine and scientific fields use a plethora of Latin terminology.
7. Many top Colleges and Universities public and private admit that when Latin is on a entrance transcript they look more favorably upon a candidate.
8. Many historical authors and artists including William Shakespeare, Dante Alighieri to present day authors including J.K. Rowling, have used the Latin language in their works.
9. Latin is used today by the Catholic Church extensively in Papal documents, liturgy and music. Gregorian chant and many polyphonic works use Latin.
10. Latin is Fun!
A List of Important Latin Terms:
1.Per se: The direct translation of this term is "by itself"
2. Vice versa: From the Latin meaning "to change" or "turn around," this term means to reverse the order of something.
3. Alma mater: The literal translation is "dear/bountiful mother". It is used in everyday language to denote the college or university from which one has graduated.
4. Magnum opus: This Latin term denotes the greatest work done by an artist.
5. Bona fide: It's literal translation means "good faith". In legal terms, it is used to represent something that is presented without deception or fraud, and lawful.
6. Quasi: In Latin, this word means as if or as though. It simply designates something that resembles something else but doesn't quite have all the same features.
7. Verbatim: If you repeat something verbatim you repeat it in exactly the same words, word for word with no changes and no improvisation.
8. Status quo: From the Latin meaning "the state in which" this term is used today to designate the existing state or condition of things.
9. Sic: Found in writing, this Latin word most commonly finds a home in brackets (like this: [sic]) when quoting a statement or writing. It indicates that there is a spelling or grammar error (or just something out of the ordinary) in the original quotation and that the publication has only reproduced it faithfully, not made an error of their own.
10. Id est: Commonly abbreviated to i.e. In Latin, it means "that is" and is used in English when the speaker or writer wants to give an example or explanation that specifies a statement.
11. Deus ex machina: In direct translation, this term means, "God out of a machine" and it harkens back ancient Greek and Roman plays. When the plot would become too tangled or confusing, the writers would simply bring in God, lowered in via a pulley system (the machine) and he would wrap it all up. Today, it's still used in literature to describe a plot where an artificial or improbable means of resolving a conflict is used.
12. Exempli gratia: You'll often see this term abbreviated to e.g. in writing. It means "for the sake of example" and when it see it in a sentence you can expect that is will be followed by some examples. 13. Et cetera: Often abbreviated as etc. Meaning "and the others" it is used to denote that a list of things could continue ad infinitum.
14. Ex libris: Back in the days when books were rarer and more expensive commodities than they were today, it was common to mark your books with a label bearing your own name and this phrase which means "from the library of."
15. Ibidem: Another abbreviated term, this word is more commonly seen in research writing in the form of "ibid." From the Latin for "in the same place" it is found in footnotes and bibliographies to designate that the same source has been cited twice in succession.
16. Et alii: You're unlikely to encounter this Latin phrase in its unabbreviated form, and will most likely only ever see it as et al when included. This is also a term that is found in footnotes and bibliographies which allows writers to refer to a large 3 number of authors without having to write each name out.
17. Ad infinitum: It means "to infinity" and can be used to describe something that goes on, seemingly or actually endlessly
18. De facto: In Latin, de facto means "from the fact" and in use in English it is often used to distinguish was is supposed to be the case from what is actually the reality.
19. In toto: It means in all or entirely. Think of it as saying "in total".
20. Ipso facto: Meaning "by the fact itself" this commonly used and misused term is denotes when something is true by its very nature.
21. Mea culpa: Use this Latin phrase that translates literally to "my fault."
22. In situ: If something happens in situ it happens in place or on site, though the term often designates something that exists in an original or natural state.
23. In vivo: In vivo means "within the living" and the two most common examples of this kind of experimentation are animal testing and clinical trials.
24. A priori: You might come across this term in classes about logic or reasoning. It means taking a general law or idea and applying it to a particular instance without needing experimentation or observation.
25. A posteriori: A posteriori arguments are different than a priori because they are based on actual observation or experimentation.
26. Ergo: Simply put, ergo means therefore and you can exchange it with therefore or hence in any sentence and maintain the same meaning.
27.. Compis mentis: Meaning "in command of one's mind" this term is used in the legal field to denote someone who is competent to stand trial and not encumbered by mental illness or handicap.
28. Subpoena:The word subpoena comes from the Latin meaning "under penalty" and if someone delivers a subpoena to you have to respond or they'll be some big penalties under the law.
29. Ad hominem: In court, or outside of it for that matter, this term is used to designate an argument that attacks someone's character rather than addressing a question or issue at hand. By attacking character, these arguments appeal to emotions and prejudices rather than reason or logic.
30. Habeas corpus: A writ of habeas corpus (literally, have the body) requires a person to appear before the court in person, generally to ascertain whether or not the 5 detention of that person is lawful. Habeas corpus cannot be suspended unless there is reason to believe that a person could pose a danger to the public.
31. Pro bono: Pro bono means "for the good" and it's a term used to designate when something is done free of charge. While the term can be applied in any field, it is most commonly used to describe legal services.
32. Mens rea:Mens rea means "guilty mind," and those who go into a crime intending to commit it have it, differing from those who commit a crime accidentally or without advance planning.
33. Ad hoc: From the Latin meaning "to this," this term gained popularity in the mid- 1600s and it still used today. It refers to something that is formed or done quickly to meets the needs of a particular problem or issue without regard to a more general application and generally lacking advance planning.
34. Per diem: Meaning "by the day" a per diem in most uses today designates a daily allowance used in traveling for work. It can also mean a per-day rate or that someone is paid on a daily basis. Other common similar terms are per annum (by the year) and per capita (by the person.)
35. Curriculum vitae: A curriculum vitae describes a resume. It means literally "the course of one's life".
36. Pro rata: This Latin phrase is something you're likely familiar with in everyday life. It means to charge at a proportional rate.
37. Quid pro quo: Often used to describe an exchange of value necessary for a contract to take place. From the Latin meaning "this for that," it gets used in everywhere from the courtroom to the bedroom.
38. Carpe diem: This well-known phrase comes from a poem by Horace. While there have been arguments about the exact translation, it is most commonly held to mean "seize the day" encouraging individuals to live life to the fullest today without expectation of a tomorrow.
39. E pluribus unum:This is found on American currency. It means "out of many, one" and is found on anything bearing the seal of the United States.
Adapted source of terminology from practicalpages///oedb.org/
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