Tameri Guide for Writers' Latin Phrases

This is is taken from:
http://www.tameri.com/write/coollatin.html
It is not mine, but I'm sharing their knowledge for its value. =)

Latin Phrases

It’s a matter of taste and style, but not long ago American writers attempted to demonstrate their credentials to the world by including Latin and French phrases within works. A dash of Latin was expected of the moderately educated throughout the Western world.

annus mirabilis - wonderful year

arbiter elegantiae - judge of the elegant; one who knows the good things in life

bona fides - good faith; credentials

carpe diem - sieze the day; enjoy the present

casus belli - cause justifying a war

caveat emptor - buyer beware

cui bono? - for whose advantage?

de facto - of fact; it is

de gustibus non est disputandum - no disputing tastes; there is no accounting for taste

Dei gratia - by the grace of God

Deo gratias - thanks to God

Deo volente - God willing

dis aliter visum - it seemed otherwise to the gods

Dominus vobiscum - Lord be with you

dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - sweet and seemly it is to die for one’s country

ecce homo - behold man

ex cathedra - with authority

ex more - with or according to customs

exempli gratia - for example (e.g.)

genius loci - spirit of the location

hic et ubique - here and everywhere

hinc illae lacrimae - hence, those tears

humanum est errare - to err is human; human is to err

id est - that is (i.e.)

in extremis - at death

in hoc signo vinces - by this sign, you conquer

in loco parentis - in place of the parent

in medias res - into the middle of things; the heart of the matter

in omnia paratus - prepared for all; ready for anything

in perpetuum - forever; perpetually

in propia persona - in person; in one’s own life or words

in statu quo - as things were

in toto - entirely; in total

ipso jure - the law itself

jure divino - Divine law

labor omnia vincit - labor conquers all things; effort results in victory

laborare est orare - to work is to pray

laus Deo - praise God

loco citato - in the location cited

loquitur - he speaks

mens sana in corpore sano - of sound mind in a healthy body

meum et tuum - mine and yours

modus operandi - mode of operating

morituri te salutamus - we who are about to die, salute you

motu proprio - of one’s own accord; on your own

multum in parvo - there is much in little

nemo me impune lacessit - no one attacks me with impunity

nil admirari - wondering at nothing

nolens volens - willing or not

Nota Bene - note well; pay special attention to

omnia vincit amor - love conquers all

opere citato - in the volume cited; in the book cited

otium cum dignitate - leisure with dignity

passim - here and there

pater patriae - father of his country

pax vobiscum - peace be with you

persona non grata - unwelcome person

primus inter pares - first among equals

pro bono publico - for the public good

pro Deo et ecclesia - for God and the Church

pro forma - as a matter of form; standard

quod erat demonstrandum - which was demonstrated; that which was shown

requiescat in pace - rest in peace

sic - thus; so it was

sic passim - so throughout

sic semper tyrannis - thus always to tyrants

sine die - some day; not a particular time

sine quo non - without which, nothing; it is essential

tempus fugit - time flies

timeo Danaos et dona ferentes - I fear the Greeks, even when they bear gifts

verbatim et literatim - word for word, letter for letter

Elegy Update

I heard back form my professor about the pet elegy I wrote in response to his challenge that no one has ever written a good one. I, of course, did not manage to wow him off his feet, but his comments were, for once, not entirely discouraging. He referred to my ending as "Very elegiac," and even though he had suggestions for my freshly drafted poem, I felt them to be helpful, and they had more to do with clarity than an overall message of "make better." Perhaps after heeding some of his advice, I'll offer the poem here, and see what you think?

Quotes on Writing

An extraction from my collection, correlating distinctly with this blog: Quotes and advice pertaining directly to the writing world:

"A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us." ~Franz Kafka

"You know you have read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as though you have lost a friend." ~Paul Sweeney

"Writing is an exploration. You start form nothing and learn as you go." ~E.L. Doctorow

"Do not come lightly to the blank page." ~Stephen King

"Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity." ~Hermann Hesse

"Creativity is making the complicated simple." ~Charles Mingus

"The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar, and familar things new." ~Sam Johnson

"I only know one story. But oftentimes small pieces end up being stories themselves." ~Patrick Rothfuss

"Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential." ~Jessamyn West

"All words are pegs to hang ideas on." ~Henry Ward Beecher

"Sometimes, if there's a book you really want to read, you have to write it yourself." ~ Ann Patchett

"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality--Its a way of understanding it." ~Lloyd Alexander

"The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think." ~Edwin Schlossberg

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." ~Ray Bradbury

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." ~Mark Twain

"I write because I have women living inside me who lay alone on their deathbeds." ~Natasha Nelson

"Every great and original writer, in proportion as he is great and original, must himself create the taste by which he is to be relished." ~William Wordsworth

"If you go into a room...full of books--even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you" ~William Ewart Gladstone

First Publication!

Very exciting news!
Yesterday, I received an email late at night, informing me that my short story, The Difference, and my poem, Francis Lloyd Marlow, have been accepted for my school's art/literature anthology The Sandy River Review, that's published every semester. This may sound like a small-scale deal, but the last 7 semesters I have been here I have submitted, and it was not until try number eight that my work was accepted! I guess it goes to show I've come a long way. Its pretty cool to know I was accepted for publication before I got my BFA, even if the publication itself won't come out until after. ;p


Still have not heard from my professor about the pet Elegy I sent him. I wrote one for a person later, (My father's mother) to meet the parameters of the assignment, and in looking at them both, I think the second one is better, so at least I have something I like to turn in today for workshop, but I am anxious to know if I continued his theory, or disproved it.

Happy Trails, Internet!

So Far, So Good!

I've learned my way around Blogspot fairly well since I made my first post. I'm hoping this will be cozy place to hang out for a while.

Writing news:

~~Poetry professor assigned today that we write an elegy 

Elegy: A poem which subtly notes the absence of someone who has passed away in a manner than invokes sorrow without spoon feeding an individual's anguish.

We were told we are permitted to write about someone we know personally, or a historical figure or celebrity, but that we are not permitted to write about a pet. My professor claimed that, in essence, there is no such thing as a good elegy about a pet. There were several students--including me--who challenged that generalization, and he invited us to turn in two if we really wanted to attempt the "feat." I sent him a draft this evening, and am awaiting commentary.

~~Wes McNair, a very valued poet in Maine who once directed the poetry program at UMF, is coming to campus next week to discuss craft and form with six selected students; this list, to my chair-descending astoundment, included me. I've met him before, and heard him read, but I am very excited to work with him in workshop form. ^_^

~~Finally, the artist statement I have to complete for my BFA senior portfolio is very close to being done. I mailed it out to some dear friends for some last tweaks (or what may turn out to be huge tweaks, as editing goes) and whatnot, but once I have it, perhaps I'll display it here. It is coming to resonate with me even more than I expected.

So where are you, all future friends? Here's hoping I meet you all soon. ^_^

Happy Trails,

~Ellen