This page is one of a series listing English translations of notableLatin phrases, such asveni, vidi, vici andet cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations ofGreek phrases, asancient Greekrhetoric andliterature started centuries before the beginning ofLatin literature inancient Rome.[1]
| Latin | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| saltus in demonstrando | leap in explaining | a leap in logic, by which a necessary part of an equation is omitted. |
| salus in arduis | a stronghold (or refuge) in difficulties | a RomanSilver Age maxim. Also the school motto ofWellingborough School. |
| salus populi suprema lex esto | the welfare of the people is to be the highest law | FromCicero'sDe Legibus, book III, part III, sub. VIII. Quoted byJohn Locke in his Second Treatise,On Civil Government, to describe the proper organization of government. Also thestate motto ofMissouri. |
| salva veritate | with truth intact | Refers to two expressions that can be interchanged without changing thetruth value of the statements in which they occur. |
| Salvator Mundi | Savior of the World | Christian epithet, usually referring toJesus. The title of paintings byAlbrecht Dürer andLeonardo da Vinci. |
| salvo errore et omissione(s.e.e.o.) | save for error and omission | Used as a reservation on statements of financial accounts. Often now given in English "errors and omissions excluded" or "e&oe". |
| salvo honoris titulo(SHT) | save for title of honor | Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown. |
| Sancta Sedes | Holy Chair | literally, "holy seat". Refers to thePapacy or theHoly See. |
| sancta simplicitas | holy innocence | Or "sacred simplicity". |
| sancte et sapienter | in a holy and wise way | Alsosancte sapienter (holiness, wisdom), motto of several institutions, notablyKing's College London |
| sanctum sanctorum | Holy of Holies | referring to a more sacred and/or guarded place, within a lesser guarded, yet also holy location. |
| sapere aude | dare to know | FromHorace'sEpistularum liber primus, Epistle II, line 40. Made popular inKant's essayAnswering the Question: What Is Enlightenment? defining theAge of Enlightenment. The phrase is common usage as a university motto. |
| sapiens dominabitur astris | the wise man will master the stars | Astrological aphorism and motto of theUkrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence. |
| sapiens qui prospicit | wise is he who looks ahead | Motto ofMalvern College, England |
| sapienti sat | enough for the wise | FromPlautus. Indicates that something can be understood without any need for explanation, as long as the listener has enough wisdom or common sense. Often extended todictum sapienti sat est ("enough has been said for the wise", commonly translated as "a word to the wise is enough"). |
| sapientia et doctrina | wisdom and learning | Motto ofFordham University, New York. Motto of Hill House School Doncaster, England. |
| sapientia et eloquentia | wisdom and eloquence | One of the mottos of theAteneo schools in the Philippines.[2] |
| sapientia et veritas | wisdom and truth | Motto ofChristchurch Girls' High School, New Zealand. |
| sapientia et virtus | wisdom and virtue | Motto of theUniversity of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. |
| sapientia ianua vitae | wisdom is the gateway to life | Motto of theWirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington, England. |
| sapientia melior auro | wisdom is better than gold | Motto ofUniversity of Deusto, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Spain. |
| sapientia, pax, fraternitas | Wisdom, Peace, Fraternity | Motto ofUniversidad de las Américas, Puebla, Cholula, Mexico. |
| sapientia potentia est | wisdom is power | Motto of the House of Akeleye, Sweden, Denmark, Czechoslovakia. |
| sat celeriter fieri quidquid fiat satis bene | That which has been done well has been done quickly enough | One of the two favorite maxims ofAugustus. The other is "festina lente" ("hurry slowly", i. e., if you want to go fast, go slow).[3] |
| scientia ac labore | By/from/with knowledge and labour | Motto of several institutions |
| scientia aere perennius | knowledge, more lasting than bronze | unknown origin, probably adapted fromHorace's ode III (Exegi monumentum aere perennius). |
| scientia cum religione | religion and knowledge united | Motto ofSt Vincent's College, Potts Point |
| scientiae cedit mare | The sea yields to knowledge | Motto of theUnited States Coast Guard Academy. |
| scientia dux vitae certissimus | Science is the truest guide in life | Motto of theMiddle East Technical University. |
| Scientiae et patriae | For science and fatherland | Motto ofUniversity of Latvia |
| scientia et labor | knowledge and work | motto ofUniversidad Nacional de Ingeniería |
| scientia et sapientia | knowledge and wisdom | motto ofIllinois Wesleyan University |
| scientia imperii decus et tutamen | knowledge is the adornment and protection of the Empire | Motto ofImperial College London |
| scientia ipsa potentia est | knowledge itself is power | Stated originally by SirFrancis Bacon inMeditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased asscientia est potestas orscientia potentia est (knowledge is power). |
| scientia, labor, libertas | science, labour, liberty | Motto of theFree University of Tbilisi. |
| scientia non olet | knowledge doesn't smell | A variation on EmperorVespasian'specunia non olet inSuetonius'De vita Caesarum. Used to say the way in which we learn something doesn't matter as long as it is knowledge acquired. |
| scientia vincere tenebras | conquering darkness by science | Motto of several institutions, such as the Brussels Free Universities (Université Libre de Bruxelles andVrije Universiteit Brussel). |
| scilicet(sc. orss.) | it is permitted to know | that is to say; to wit; namely; in a legal caption, it provides a statement of venue or refers to a location. |
| scio | I know | |
| scio me nihil scire | I know that I know nothing | |
| scire quod sciendum | knowledge which is worth having | motto of now defunct publisherSmall, Maynard & Company |
| scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim | Each desperate blockhead dares to write | as translated byPhilip Francis. FromHorace,Epistularum liber secundus (1, 117)[4] and quoted inFielding'sTom Jones; lit: "Learned or not, we shall write poems without distinction." |
| scuto amoris divini | by the shield of God's love | The motto ofSkidmore College |
| sectamini caritatem | pursue love | From1 Corinthians 14:1, motto of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell |
| seculo seculorum | forever and ever | |
| secundum quid et simpliciter | [what is true] according to something, [is true] absolutely | "unqualified generalization" inAristotle'sSophistical Refutations[5] |
| sed ipse spiritus postulat pro nobis, gemitibus inenarrabilibus | But the same Spirit intercedes incessantly for us, with inexpressible groans | Romans 8:26 |
| sed terrae graviora manent | But on earth, worse things await | Virgil,Aeneid 6:84. |
| sede vacante | with the seat being vacant | The "seat" refers to theHoly See; the vacancy refers to theinterregnum between twopopes. |
| sedes apostolica | apostolic chair | Synonymous withSancta Sedes. |
| sedes incertae | seat (i.e. location) uncertain | Used inbiological classification to indicate that there is no agreement as to which higher order grouping ataxon should be placed into. Abbreviatedsed. incert. |
| sedet, aeternumque sedebit | sit, be seated forever | fromVirgil'sAeneid 6:617: when you stop trying, then you lose |
| semel in anno licet insanire | once in a year one is allowed to go crazy | Concept expressed by various authors, such asSeneca,Saint Augustine andHorace. It became proverbial during theMiddle Ages. |
| semper ad meliora | always towards better things | Motto of several institutions |
| semper anticus | always forward | Motto of the45th Infantry Division (United States) and its successor, the45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States) |
| semper apertus | always open | Motto ofUniversity of Heidelberg |
| semper ardens | always burning | Motto ofCarl Jacobsen and name of a line of beers byDanish breweryCarlsberg. |
| semper eadem | ever the same | personal motto ofElizabeth I, appears above her royal coat of arms. Used as motto of Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Channel Islands, which was founded by Elizabeth I, and ofIpswich School, to whom Elizabeth granted a royal charter. Also the motto of theCity of Leicester andPrince George's County. |
| semper excelsius | always higher | Motto of theK.A.V. Lovania Leuven and the House of Wrigley-Pimley-McKerr[6] |
| semper fidelis | always faithful | Motto of several institutions, e.g.United States Marine Corps |
| semper fortis | always brave | Unofficial motto of theUnited States Navy |
| semper idem | always the same | Motto ofUnderberg |
| semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat | We're always in the manure; only the depth varies. | Lord de Ramsey,House of Lords, 21 January 1998[7] |
| semper instans | always threatening | Motto of 846 NASRoyal Navy |
| semper invicta | always invincible | Motto ofWarsaw |
| semper liber | always free | Motto of the city ofVictoria, British Columbia |
| semper libertas | always freedom | Motto ofPrince George County, Virginia |
| semper maior | always more, always greater | Motto ofIgnatius of Loyola, founder of theJesuits (Society of Jesus) |
| semper necessitas probandi incumbit ei qui agit | the necessity of proof always lies with the person who lays charges | Latinmaxim often associated with theburden of proof in law orin philosophy |
| semper paratus | always prepared | Motto of several institutions, e.g.United States Coast Guard; see alsonunquam non paratus (never unprepared) |
| semper primus | always first | Motto of several US military units |
| semper progrediens | always progressing | Motto of the island ofSint Maarten, ofKing City Secondary School inKing City, Ontario, Canada and ofFairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia) |
| semper reformanda | always in need of being reformed | A phrase deriving from theNadere Reformatie movement in the seventeenth centuryDutch Reformed Church and widely but informally used inReformed andPresbyterian churches today. It refers to the conviction of certain ReformedProtestant theologians that the church must continually re-examine itself in order to maintain its purity ofdoctrine and practice. The term first appeared in print in Jodocus van Lodenstein,Beschouwinge van Zion (Contemplation of Zion), Amsterdam, 1674.[8] |
| semper supra | always above | Motto of theUnited States Space Force |
| semper sursum | always aim high | Motto of several institutions |
| semper vigilans | always vigilant | Motto of several institutions including theCivil Air Patrol of theUnited States Air Force, the city ofSan Diego, California |
| semper vigilo | always vigilant | Motto of the Scottish Police Forces, Scotland |
| Senatus Populusque Romanus(SPQR) | TheSenate and the People of Rome | The official name of theRoman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle standards by theRoman legions. In addition to being anancient Roman motto, it remains the motto of the modern city of Rome. |
| sensu lato | with the broad, or general, meaning | Less literally, "in the wide sense". |
| sensu strictocf. stricto sensu | "with the tight meaning" | Less literally, "in the strict sense". |
| sensus plenior | in the fuller meaning | In biblicalexegesis, the deeper meaning intended by God, not intended by the human author. |
| sequere pecuniam | follow the money | In an effort to understand why things may be happening contrary to expectations, or even in alignment with them, this idiom suggests that keeping track of where money is going may show the basis for the observed behavior. Similar in spirit to the phrasecui bono (who gains?) orcui prodest (who advances?), but outside those phrases' historically legal context. |
| Sermo Tuus Veritas Est | Thy Word Is Truth | motto of theGeneral Theological Seminary,Cornelius Fontem Esua |
| sero venientes male sedentes | those who are late are poorly seated | |
| sero venientibus ossa | those who are late get bones | |
| servabo fidem | Keeper of the faith | I will keep the faith. |
| serviam | I will serve | The answer of St.Michael the Archangel to thenon serviam, "I will not serve" ofSatan, when the angels were tested by God on whether they will serve an inferior being, a man,Jesus, as their Lord. |
| servus servorum Dei | servant of the servants of God | A title for thePope. |
| sesquipedalia verba | words afoot and a half long | FromHorace'sArs Poetica, "proicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba" ("he throws down his high-flown language and his foot-and-a-half-long words"). Aself-referential jab atlong words and needlessly elaborate language in general. |
| Si comprehendis [,] non est Deus | if you understand [something], it is not God | Augustine of Hippo,Sermo 117.3.5;PL 38, 663 |
| si dormiam capiar | If I sleep, I may be caught | Motto ofHMS Wakeful (H88) |
| Si monumentum requiris circumspice | If you seek (his) monument, look around you | from theepitaph onChristopher Wren's tomb inSt Paul's Cathedral. |
| Si non oscillas, noli tintinnare | If you can't swing, don't ring | Inscribed on a plaque above the front door of the Playboy mansion in Chicago. |
| si omnes... ego non | if all ones... not I | |
| si peccasse negamus fallimur et nulla est in nobis veritas | if we deny having made a mistake, we are deceived, and there's no truth in us | FromChristopher Marlowe'sThe Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, where the phrase is translated "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us." (cf. 1 John 1:8 in the New Testament) |
| si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice | if you seek a delightful peninsula, look around | Said to have been based on the tribute to architectChristopher Wren inSt Paul's Cathedral,London:si monumentum requiris, circumspice (see above).State motto ofMichigan, adopted in 1835; the spelling of 'peninsulam' is used in the motto, although the correct ancient spelling is 'paeninsulam'. |
| si quid novisti rectius istis, candidus imperti; si nil, his utere mecum. | if you can better these principles, tell me; if not, join me in following them | Horace,Epistles I:6, 67–68 |
| si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses | If you had kept your silence, you would have stayed a philosopher | This quote is often attributed to the Latin philosopher Boethius of the late fifth and early sixth centuries. It translates literally as, "If you had been silent, you would have remained a philosopher." The phrase illustrates a common use of the subjunctive verb mood. |
| si vales valeo(SVV) | if you are well, I am well (abbr) | A common beginning for ancient Roman letters. An abbreviation ofsi vales bene est ego valeo, alternatively written asSVBEEV. The practice fell out of fashion and into obscurity with the decline in Latin literacy. |
| si vis amari ama | If you want to be loved, love | This is often attributed to the Roman philosopherSeneca, found in the sixth ofhis letters to Lucilius. |
| si vis pacem, para bellum | if you want peace, prepare for war | FromPublius Flavius Vegetius Renatus,De Re Militari. Origin of the nameparabellum for someammunition and firearms, such as theLuger Parabellum. (Similar toigitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum andin pace ut sapiens aptarit idonea bello.) |
| sic | thus | Or "just so". States that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, despite any errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact that may be present. Used only for previous quoted text;ita or similar must be used to mean "thus" when referring to something about to be stated. |
| sic currite ut comprehendatis | Run to win | More specifically, So run, that ye may obtain, 1 Corinthians 24. Motto ofDivine Word University,Madang,Papua New Guinea. |
| sic et non | thus and not | More simply, "yes and no". |
| sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc | we gladly feast on those who would subdue us | Mock-Latin motto ofThe Addams Family. |
| sic infit | so it begins | |
| sic itur ad astra | thus you shall go to the stars | FromVirgil,Aeneid book IX, line 641. Possibly the source of thead astra phrases. Motto of several institutions, including theRoyal Canadian Air Force. |
| sic parvis magna | greatness from small beginnings | Motto of SirFrancis Drake |
| sic passim | Thus here and there | Used when referencing books; seepassim. |
| sic semper erat, et sic semper erit | Thus has it always been, and thus shall it ever be | |
| sic semper tyrannis | thus alwaysto tyrants | Attributed toBrutus at the time ofJulius Caesar's assassination and toJohn Wilkes Booth at the time ofAbraham Lincoln's assassination; whether it was actually said at either of these events is disputed.State motto ofVirginia, adopted in 1776. |
| sic transit gloria mundi | thus passes the glory of the world | A reminder that all things are fleeting. DuringPapal coronations, a monk reminds thePope of his mortality by saying this phrase, preceded bypater sancte ("holy father") while holding before his eyes a burning paper illustrating the passing nature of earthly glories. This is similar to the tradition of a slave in aRoman triumphs whisperingmemento mori in the ear of the celebrant. |
| sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas | use [what is] yours so as not to harm [what is] of others | Or "use your property in such a way that you do not damage others'". A legal maxim related to property ownership laws, often shortened to simplysic utere ("use it thus"). |
| sic vita est | thus is life | Or "such is life". Indicates that a circumstance, whether good or bad, is an inherent aspect of living. |
| sic vos non vobis mellificates apes | Thus you not for yourselves make honey, bees. | Part of a verse written byVirgil after the poet Bathyllus plagiarized his work. |
| sidere mens eadem mutato | Though the constellations change, the mind is universal | Latin motto of theUniversity of Sydney. |
| signetur(sig orS/) | let it be labeled | Medical shorthand |
| signum fidei | Sign of the Faith | Motto of theInstitute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. |
| silentium est aureum | silence is golden | Latinization of the English expression "silence is golden". Also Latinized assilentium est aurum ("silence is gold"). |
| similia similibus curantur similia similibus curentur | similar things are taken care of by similar things let similar things be taken care of by similar things | "like is cured by like" and "let like be cured by like"; the first form ("curantur") is indicative, while the second form ("curentur") is subjunctive. The indicative form is found inParacelsus (16th century), while the subjunctive form is said bySamuel Hahnemann, founder ofhomeopathy, and is known as thelaw of similars. |
| similia similibus solvuntur | similar substances will dissolve similar substances | Used as a general rule inchemistry; "like dissolves like" refers to the ability of polar or non polar solvents to dissolve polar or non polarsolutes respectively.[9] |
| simplex sigillum veri | simplicity is the sign of truth | expresses a sentiment akin toKeep It Simple, Stupid |
| sincere et constanter | sincere and constant | Motto of theOrder of the Red Eagle |
| sine anno(s.a.) | without a year | Used inbibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is unknown. |
| sine die | without a day | Originally from oldcommon law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive order has been made in the case. In modern legal context, it means there is nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set, resulting in an "adjournment sine die". |
| Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus | withoutCeres andBacchus,Venus remains cold | without food and (alcoholic) drink, love will not ensue; fromTerence's comedyEunuchus (161 BC) |
| sine ira et studio | without anger and fondness | Thus, impartially. FromTacitus,Annals 1.1. |
| sine honoris titulo | without honorary title | Addressing oneself to someone whose title is unknown. |
| sine labore non erit panis in ore | without labour there will be no bread in mouth | |
| sine loco(s.l.) | without a place | Used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication of a document is unknown. |
| sine metu | "without fear" | Motto ofJameson Irish Whiskey |
| sine nomine(s.n.) | "without a name" | Used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a document is unknown. |
| sine poena nulla lex | Without penalty, there is no law | Refers to the ineffectiveness of a law without the means of enforcement |
| sine prole | Without offspring | Frequently abbreviated to "s.p." or "d.s.p." (decessit sine prole – "died without offspring") in genealogical works. |
| sine prole superstite | Without surviving children | Without surviving offspring (even in abstract terms) |
| sine timore aut favore | Without Fear or Favor | St.George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada motto |
| sine qua non | without which not | Used to denote something that is an essential part of the whole. See alsocondicio sine qua non. |
| sine remediis medicina debilis est | without remedies medicine is powerless | Inscription on a stained glass in the conference hall of a pharmaceutical mill inKaunas, Lithuania. |
| sine scientia ars nihil est | without knowledge, skill is nothing | Motto of The International Diving Society and of the Oxford Medical Students' Society. |
| sisto activitatem | I cease the activity | Phrase, used to cease the activities of theSejm upon theliberum veto principle |
| sit nomen Domini benedictum | blessed be the name of the Lord | Phrase used in apontifical blessing imparted by aCatholic bishop |
| sit nomine digna | may it be worthy of the name | National motto ofRhodesia, also motto ofDurbanville, South Africa |
| sit sine labe decus | let honour stainless be | Motto of the Brisbane Boys' College (Brisbane, Australia). |
| sit tibi terra levis | may the earth be light to you | Commonly used on gravestones, often contracted as S.T.T.L., the same way as today's R.I.P. |
| sit venia verbo | may there be forgiveness for the word | Similar to the English idiom "pardon my French". |
| socratici viri | "Socrates' men" or "Disciples of Socrates" | Coined byCicero[10][11] to refer to any who owe philosophical reasoning and method toSocrates. |
| sol iustitiae illustra nos | sun of justice, shine upon us | Motto ofUtrecht University. |
| sol lucet omnibus | the sun shines on everyone | Petronius,Satyricon Lybri 100. |
| sol omnia regit | the sun rules over everything | Inscription near the entrance toFrombork Museum |
| sola fide | by faith alone | Thematerial principle of theProtestant Reformation and one of thefive solas, referring to the Protestant claim that theBible teaches that men aresaved byfaith even without works. |
| sola dosis facit venemum | the dose makes the poison | It is credited to Paracelsus who expressed the classic toxicology maxim "All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison." |
| sola gratia | by grace alone | A motto of theProtestant Reformation and one of thefive solas, referring to the Protestant claim thatsalvation is an unearned gift (cf.ex gratia), not a direct result ofmerit. |
| sola lingua bona est lingua mortua | the only good language is a dead language | Example ofdog Latin humor. |
| sola scriptura | by scripture alone | Theformal principle of theProtestant Reformation and one of thefive solas, referring to the Protestant idea that theBible alone is the ultimate authority, not thePope or tradition. |
| sola nobilitat virtus | virtue alone ennobles | Similar tovirtus sola nobilitas |
| solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris | misery loves company | FromChristopher Marlowe'sThe Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. |
| soli Deo gloria(S.D.G.) | glory to God alone | A motto of theProtestant Reformation and one of thefive solas, referring to the idea thatGod is the creator of all good things and deserves all the praise for them.Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his manuscripts with the abbreviationS.D.G. to invoke this phrase, as well as withAMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam). The motto of theMasterWorks Festival, an annual Christian performing arts festival. |
| solus Christus | Christ alone | A motto of theProtestant Reformation and one of thefive solas, referring to the Protestant claim that the Bible teaches thatJesus is the onlymediator between God and mankind. Also renderedsolo Christo ("by Christ alone"). |
| solus ipse | I alone | |
| solvitur ambulando | it is solved by walking | The problem is solved by taking a walk, or by simple experiment. |
| Spartam nactus es; hanc exorna | your lot is cast in Sparta, be a credit to it | fromEuripides'sTelephus,Agamemnon toMenelaus.[12] |
| specialia generalibus derogant | special departs from general | |
| species nova | new species | Used inbiological taxonomy |
| spectemur agendo | let us be judged by our acts | Motto ofHawthorn Football Club |
| Speculum Dinae | Diana's Mirror | Lake Nemi as referred to by poets and painters[13] |
| speculum speculorum | mirror of mirrors | |
| spem gregis | the hope of the flock | fromVirgil'sEclogues |
| spem reduxit | he has restored hope | Motto ofNew Brunswick. |
| spero meliora | I aspire to greater things | Also translated "I expect better" and "I hope for better things." |
| spes bona | good hope | Motto ofUniversity of Cape Town. |
| spes vincit thronum | hope conquers (overcomes) the throne | Refers toRevelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." On theJohn Winthrop family tombstone, Boston, Massachusetts. |
| spiritus mundi | spirit of the world | FromThe Second Coming (poem) byWilliam Butler Yeats. Refers to Yeats' belief that each human mind is linked to a single vast intelligence, and that this intelligence causes certain universal symbols to appear in individual minds. The idea is similar toCarl Jung's concept of thecollective unconscious. |
| spiritus ubi vult spirat | the spirit spreads wherever it wants | Refers to The Gospel of SaintJohn 3:8, where he mentions how Jesus told Nicodemus "The wind blows wherever it wants, and even though you can hear its noise, you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. The same thing happens to whomever has been born of the Spirit." It is the motto ofCayetano Heredia University[14] |
| splendor sine occasu | brightness without setting | Loosely "splendour without diminishment" or "magnificence without ruin".Motto ofBritish Columbia. |
| stamus contra malo | we stand against by evil | The motto of the Jungle Patrol inThe Phantom. The phrase actually violatesLatin grammar because of a mistranslation from English, as the prepositioncontra takes theaccusative case. The correct Latin rendering of "we stand against evil" would be "stamus contra malum". |
| stante pede | with a standing foot | "Immediately". |
| stare decisis | to stand by the decided things | To uphold previous rulings, recognizeprecedent. |
| Stat crux dum volvitur orbis | The Cross is steady while the world turns | Motto of theCarthusian Order. |
| stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus | the rose of old remains only in its name; we hold only empty names | An epigraph quoted at the end ofUmberto Eco'sThe Name of the Rose. A verse byBernard of Cluny (although likely mistranscribed in medieval times from an originalstat Roma pristina nomine..., "primordial Rome remains only in its name..."). |
| stat sua cuique dies | There is a day [turn] for everybody | Virgil,Aeneid, X 467 |
| statim(stat) | "immediately" | Medical shorthand used following an urgent request.[15] |
| statio bene fide carinis | A safe harbour for ships | Motto ofCork City,Ireland. Adapted fromVirgil'sAeneid (II, 23:statio male fida carinis, "an unsafe harbour") but corrupted for unknown reasons to "fide". |
| status aparte | separate state | The special status ofAruba between 1986 and 2010 as a constituent country within theKingdom of the Netherlands, separate from theNetherlands Antilles to which it belonged until 1986. |
| status quaestionis | the state of investigation | most commonly employed inscholarly literature to refer in a summary way to the accumulated results, scholarly consensus, and areas remaining to be developed on any given topic. |
| status quo | the state in which | The current condition or situation. |
| status quo ante | the state in which [things were] before | The state of affairs prior to some upsetting event. Often used as a legal term. |
| status quo ante bellum | the state before the war | A common term in peace treaties. |
| stet | let it stand | Marginal mark inproofreading to indicate that something previously deleted or marked for deletion should be retained. |
| stet fortuna domus | let the fortune of the house stand | First part of the motto ofHarrow School, England, and inscribed upon Ricketts House, at theCalifornia Institute of Technology. |
| stipendium peccati mors est | the reward of sin is death | FromChristopher Marlowe'sThe Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. (See Rom 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.") |
| strenuis ardua cedunt | the heights yield to endeavour | Motto of theUniversity of Southampton. |
| stricto sensucf. sensu stricto | with the tight meaning | Less literally, "in the strict sense". |
| stupor mundi | the wonder of the world | A title given toFrederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. More literally translated "the bewilderment of the world", or, in its original, pre-Medieval sense, "the stupidity of the world". |
| sua sponte | by its own accord | Legal term when a court takes up a motion on its own initiative, not because any of the parties to the case has made the motion. The regimental motto of the75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army. |
| suaviter in modo, fortiter in re | gently in manner, resolutely in execution | Motto ofEssendon Football Club |
| sub anno | under the year | Commonly abbreviateds.a., it is used to cite events recorded inchronicles according to the year under which they are listed. For example, "ASC MS A, s.a. 855" means the entry for the year 855 in manuscript A of theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle. |
| sub cruce lumen | The Light Under the Cross | Motto of theUniversity of Adelaide, Australia. Refers to the figurative "light of learning" and the Southern Cross constellation,Crux. |
| sub divo | under the wide open sky | Also, "under the sky", "in the open air", "out in the open" or "outdoors". Ablative "divo" does not distinguish divus, divi, a god, from divum, divi, the sky. |
| sub finem | toward the end | Used in citations to refer to the end of a book, page, etc., and abbreviated 's.f.' Used after the page number or title. E.g., 'p. 20s.f. ' |
| sub Iove frigido | under cold Jupiter | At night; fromHorace'sOdes1.1:25 |
| sub judice | under a judge | Said of a case that cannot be publicly discussed until it is finished. Alsosub iudice. |
| sub poena | under penalty | Source of the English nounsubpoena. Said of a request, usually by a court, that must be complied with on pain of punishment. Examples includesub poena duces tecum ("take with you under penalty"), a courtsummons to appear and produce tangible evidence, andsub poena ad testificandum ("under penalty to testify"), a summons to appear and give oral testimony. |
| sub rosa | under the rose | "In secret", "privately", "confidentially", or "covertly". In theMiddle Ages, arose was suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber to indicate that what was said in the "under the rose" was not to be repeated outside. This practice originates inGreek mythology, whereAphrodite gave a rose to her sonEros, and he, in turn, gave it toHarpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure that his mother's indiscretions—or those of the gods in general, in other accounts—were kept under wraps. |
| sub nomine(sub nom.) | under the name | "in the name of", "under the title of"; used in legal citations to indicate the name under which the litigation continued. |
| sub silentio | under silence | implied but not expressly stated. |
| sub specie aeternitatis | under the sight of eternity | Thus, "from eternity's point of view". FromSpinoza,Ethics. |
| sub specie Dei | under the sight of God | "from God's point of view or perspective". |
| sub tuum praesidium | Beneath thy compassion | Name of the oldest extanthymn to theTheotokos (Blessed Virgin Mary). Also "under your protection". A popular school motto. |
| Sub umbra floreo | Under the shade I flourish | National Motto ofBelize, referring to the shade of themahogany tree. |
| sub verbo; sub voce | Under the word or heading; abbreviateds.v. Used to cite a work, such as a dictionary, with alphabetically arranged entries, e.g. "Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. 'horse.'"" | |
| sublimis ab unda | Raised from the waves | Motto of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham |
| subsiste sermonem statim | stop speaking immediately | |
| Succisa virescit | Cut down, we grow back stronger | Motto ofDelbarton School |
| Sudetia non cantat | One doesn't sing on theSudeten Mountains | Saying fromHanakia |
| sui generis | Of its own kind | In a class of its own; of a unique kind. E.g. "TheCity of London is asui generis entity, with ancient rights that differ from all other jurisdictions in theUnited Kingdom." |
| sui iuris | Of one's own right | Capable of responsibility. Has both legal and ecclesiastical use. Commonly renderedsui juris. |
| sum quod eris | I am what you will be | Agravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death (cf.memento mori). Also renderedfui quod sis ("I have been what you are") andtu fui ego eris ("I have been you, you will be I"). |
| sum quod sum | I am what I am | fromAugustine's Sermon No. 76.[16] |
| summa cum laude | with highest praise | |
| summa potestas | sum or totality of power | It refers to the final authority of power in government. For example, power of the Sovereign. |
| summa summarum | all in all | Literally "sum of sums". When a short conclusion is rounded up at the end of some elaboration. |
| summum bonum | the supreme good | Literally "highest good". Alsosummum malum ("the supreme evil"). |
| summum ius, summa iniuria | supreme law, supreme injustice | FromCicero (De officiis, I, 10, 33). An acritical application of law, without understanding and respect of laws's purposes and without considering the overall circumstances, is often a means of supreme injustice. A similar sentence appears inTerence (Heautontimorumenos, IV, 5):Ius summum saepe summa est malitia ("supreme justice is often out of supreme malice (or wickedness)"). |
| sumptibus auctoris | published [cost of printing paid] by author | Found in self-published academic books of the 17th to 19th century. Often preceded by Latin name of city in which the work is published. |
| sunt lacrimae rerum | there are tears for things | FromVirgil,Aeneid. Followed byet mentem mortalia tangunt ("and mortal things touch my mind").Aeneas cries as he seesCarthaginian temple murals depicting the deaths of theTrojan War. See alsohinc illae lacrimae. |
| sunt omnes unum | they are all one | |
| sunt pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant | Children are children, and children do childish things | anonymous proverb |
| sunt superis sua iura | the gods have their own laws | FromOvid'sMetamorphoses,book IX, line 500; also used byDavid Hume inThe Natural History of Religion, chapterXIII |
| suo jure | in one's own right | Used in the context of titles ofnobility, for instance where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage. |
| suo motu | upon one's own initiative | Also renderedsuo moto. 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. It is used chiefly inSouth Asia.[citation needed] |
| suos cultores scientia coronat | Knowledge crowns those who seek her | The motto ofSyracuse University, New York. |
| super firmum fundamentum dei | On the firm foundation of God | The motto ofUrsinus College, Pennsylvania. |
| super fornicam | on the lavatory | WhereThomas More accused the reformer,Martin Luther, of going to celebrateMass. |
| superbia in proelia | pride in battle | Motto ofManchester City F.C. |
| superbus via inscientiae | proud of the way of ignorance | Motto of the Alien Research Labs of the fictionalBlack Mesa Research Facility in the video gameHalf-Life (1998) |
| supero omnia | I surpass everything | A declaration that one succeeds above all others. |
| surdo oppedere | to belch before the deaf | FromErasmus' collection of annotated Adagia (1508): a useless action. |
| surgam | I shall rise | Motto ofColumbia University'sPhilolexian Society. |
| sursum corda | Lift up your hearts | Motto ofHaileybury College, Hertfordshire. The opening dialogue to the preface of the Eucharistic Prayer orAnaphora in the liturgies of the Christian Church.Hymnal for the Germandiocese of Paderborn from 1874 to 1975. |
| sutor, ne ultra crepidam | Cobbler, no further than the sandal! | Thus, don't offer your opinion on things that are outside your competence. It is said that the Greek painterApelles once asked the advice of a cobbler on how to render the sandals of a soldier he was painting. When the cobbler started offering advice on other parts of the painting, Apelles rebuked him with this phrase in Greek, and it subsequently became a popular Latin expression. |
| suum cuique tribuere | to render to every man his due | One ofJustinian I's three basic precepts of law. Also shortened tosuum cuique ("to each his own"). |
| s.v. | Abbreviation forsub verbo orsub voce (seeabove). |
Additional references