Although English is a Germanic language, a significant portion of its many borrowings come from Latin. The list below is by no means exhaustive; it contains only few of the most frequents Latin words in English.
1. a priori. in a way based on theoretical deduction rather than empirical observation.
2. a posteriori. A fact, belief, or argument that is based on actual experience, experiment, or observation. 3. ad hoc. For a particular situation, without planning or consideration of some broader purpose or application. 4. ad hominem. Directed to a particular person rather than generally. 5. ad infinitum. Repeat forever. 6. ad lib short for ad libitum. To speak or perform without preparation. 7. ad nauseum. Repetition that has become annoying or tiresome. 8. affidavit. Sworn statement. 9. alma mater. School from which one graduated. 10. alias. Also known as. Otherwise known as. Less commonly as the proper meaning of at another time, otherwise. 11. alibi. Reason one couldn’t have been in a location where an act was committed. 12. alter ego. Another side of oneself. 13. A.D. or AD short for anno Domini. Number of years since the birth of Jesus Christ. 14. a.m. or AM short for ante meridiem. Before midday (noon.) Morning. 15. bona fide. Genuine. Real. 16. caveat. Warning, caution, disclaimer, or stipulation. 17. CV. Curriculum Vita: A document containing a summary of relevant job experience and education. 18. de facto. existing in fact, although not necessarily intended, legal or accepted. 19. ergo. Therefore. |
20. etc. short for et cetera. And more of a similar nature. And so on.
21. e.g. short for exempli gratia. For example. 22. facsimile short for fac simile. an exact copy, especially of a document 23. in absentia. Conducted in the absence of. 24. in extremis. In / At the extreme. 25. in toto. As a whole. Entirely. All of it. 26. incognito. Unknown. With one’s identity concealed. 27. ipso facto. By that very fact or act. Therefore. 28. lingua franca. Common language in a multi-language environment. 29. mea culpa. Admit, acknowledge, or accept fault personally. 30. modus operandi. Mode or method of operation. How you do things. 31. N.B. short for nota bene. Note well. It is worth noting that. 32. per capita. Per person, for each person, of a population. 33. per se. By itself. Specifically. 34. persona non grata. Person no longer welcome. 35. PM short for post meridiem. After midday (noon.) Afternoon. 36. prima facie. Accepted as true based on initial impression. 37. pro bono. For free. No charge. 38. PS. short for post scriptum. In addition to what has been written. 39. quasi. Resembling. Similar but not quite exactly the same. 40. quid pro quo. Tit for tat. A barter transaction. 41. R.I.P. or RIP short for requiescat in pace. Rest in peace. 42. status quo. the present situation 43. tabula rasa. Clean /blank slate. 44. vs short for versus. Against. In opposition to. In contrast to. 45. veto. refusal to allow something to be done 46. vice versa. The same either way. The other way around. |
A. Match the following abbreviations with their meanings
1. N.B.
2. A.D. 3. AM 4. e.g. 5. R.I.P 6. PS. 7. PM 8. etc. 9. vs 10. CV |
a. for example.
b. In addition to what has been said. c. Afternoon. d. Morning. e. May you rest in peace. f. After the birth of Jesus Christ. g. And so on. h. Summary of education and experience. i. Against. j. Note well. |
KEY: 1. b, 2. f, 3. d, 4. a, 5. e, 6. b, 7. c, 8. g, 9. i, 10. h.
B. Match the Latin words/phrases with their meanings:
1. ad infinitum:
2. pro bono: 3. ad nauseum: 4. persona non grata: 5. Bona fide: 6. status quo: 7. incognito: 8. caveat: 9. veto: 10. facsimile: |
a. for free.
b. refuse. c. exact copy: d. unknown. e. warning. f. repeat forever g. unwelcome person. h. the present situation. i. Real or genuine. j. annoyingly repeated. |
KEY: 1. f, 2. a, 3. j, 4. g, 5. i, 6. h, 7. d, 8. e, 9. b, 10. c.
C. Fill in the gaps with Latin words from the list: caveat - a priori - bona fide - ad hoc - ad infinitum - persona non grata - Affidavits - pro bono - alibi - vice versa - quid pro quo - modus operandi - mea culpa - de facto - lingua franca - facsimile - ipso facto.
1. ______________________ produced in police stations were submitted in the absence of witnesses.
2. Teachers qualified to teach in England are not accepted in Scotland, and _______________________.
3. It is clearly illegal to require sex as a _________________ for promotion.
4. Certain people resist change and always want to maintain the ______________________.
5. We all of us need to do ____________________ work to help people in our community.
6. The diplomat was declared ______________________________ and forced to leave the country.
7. Life can not possibly function without scale and levels of being; they are part of its ___________________________.
8. We can not dismiss claims about alternative medicine or acupuncture ________________________.
9. This is an __________________________ committee specially established to deal with Covid-19.
10. Our teacher is, respectful, helpful, thoughtful- I could go on _______________________.
11. He has a cast-iron ___________________ - he was in abroad when the man was murdered.
12. We are happy to donate to _____________________ charitable causes.
13. He agreed to the interview, with the ____________________________ that he could approve the final article.
14. English is _______________________ the common language of much of the world today.
15. Please, send only ______________________ copies not original copies.
16. If a crime occurs then there is, ___________________________, a guilty party.
17. English has become a _____________________ in many parts of the world.
18. A number of banks have pleaded _______________________.
2. Teachers qualified to teach in England are not accepted in Scotland, and _______________________.
3. It is clearly illegal to require sex as a _________________ for promotion.
4. Certain people resist change and always want to maintain the ______________________.
5. We all of us need to do ____________________ work to help people in our community.
6. The diplomat was declared ______________________________ and forced to leave the country.
7. Life can not possibly function without scale and levels of being; they are part of its ___________________________.
8. We can not dismiss claims about alternative medicine or acupuncture ________________________.
9. This is an __________________________ committee specially established to deal with Covid-19.
10. Our teacher is, respectful, helpful, thoughtful- I could go on _______________________.
11. He has a cast-iron ___________________ - he was in abroad when the man was murdered.
12. We are happy to donate to _____________________ charitable causes.
13. He agreed to the interview, with the ____________________________ that he could approve the final article.
14. English is _______________________ the common language of much of the world today.
15. Please, send only ______________________ copies not original copies.
16. If a crime occurs then there is, ___________________________, a guilty party.
17. English has become a _____________________ in many parts of the world.
18. A number of banks have pleaded _______________________.
KEY: 1. Affidavits , 2. vice versa, 3. quid pro quo , 4. status quo, 5. pro bono, 6. persona non grata , 7. modus operandi, 8. a priori, 9. ad hoc , 10. ad infinitum, 11. alibi, 12. bona fide, 13. caveat, 14. de facto , 15. facsimile , 16. ipso facto, 17. lingua franca, 18. mea culpa.
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