List of Latin phrases (F–O)
Encyclopedia
F
| Latin | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| faber est suae quisque fortunae | every man is the artisan of his own fortune | Appius Claudius Caecus Appius Claudius Caecus Appius Claudius Caecus was a Roman politician from a wealthy patrician family. He was dictator himself and the son of Gaius Claudius Crassus, dictator in 337 BC.-Life:... . Motto of Fort Street High School Fort Street High School Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.... in Petersham, Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... . |
| fac fortia et patere | do brave deeds and endure | Motto of Prince Alfred College Prince Alfred College Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia... in Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million... , Australia. |
| fac simile | make a similar thing | Origin of the word facsimile, and, through it, of fax Fax Fax , sometimes called telecopying, is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material , normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output device... . |
| faciam ut mei memineris | I'll make you remember me | from Plautus Plautus Titus Maccius Plautus , commonly known as "Plautus", was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus... , Persa Persa (play) Persa is a comedic Latin play by the early Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus.-Text:* Latin text edited by Leo at Perseus: -Translations:* English Translation by H. T. Riley at Perseus:... IV.3-24; used by Russian hooligans as tattoo inscription. |
| facile princeps | easily the first | Said of the acknowledged leader in some field, especially in the arts and humanities. |
| facio liberos ex liberis libris libraque | "I make free adults out of children by means of books and a balance." | Motto of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is... and Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census... |
| facta, non verba | deeds, not words | Frequently used as motto. |
| falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus | false in one, false in all | A Roman legal Roman law Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve... principle indicating that a witness who willfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter. The underlying motive for attorneys to impeach opposing witnesses in court: the principle discredits the rest of their testimony if it is without corroboration. |
| feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes | I have done what I could; let those who can do better. | from Henry Baerlein's introduction to his translation of The Diwan of Abul ʿAla by Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri (973–1057); also in Anton Chekhov Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics... 's Three Sisters Three Sisters (play) Three Sisters is a play by Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov, perhaps partially inspired by the situation of the three Brontë sisters, but most probably by the three Zimmermann sisters in Perm... , act I. |
| fecisti patriam diversis de gentibus unam | "From differing peoples you have made one native land" | Verse 63 from the poem De reditu suo by Rutilius Claudius Namatianus Rutilius Claudius Namatianus Rutilius Claudius Namatianus was a Roman Imperial poet, notable as the author of a Latin poem, De Reditu Suo, in elegiac metre, describing a coastal voyage from Rome to Gaul in 416... praising emperor Augustus Augustus Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian... . |
| felix culpa Felix culpa Felix culpa is a Latin phrase that comes from the words Felix and Culpa , and in the Catholic tradition is most often translated "happy fault."... |
fortunate fault | from "Exsultet" of the Catholic liturgy Catholic liturgy The Catholic Church is fundamentally liturgical and sacramental in its public life of worship.-Liturgical principles:As explained in greater detail in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and its shorter Compendium, the liturgy is something that "the whole Christ", Head and Body, celebrates —... |
| felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas | happy is he who can discover the causes of things | Virgil Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid... . "Rerum cognoscere causas" is the motto of the London School of Economics London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London... and the University of Sheffield University of Sheffield The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities... . |
| felo de se Felo de se Felo de se, Latin for "felon of himself", is an archaic legal term meaning suicide. In early English common law, an adult who committed suicide was literally a felon, and the crime was punishable by forfeiture of property to the king and what was considered a shameful burial – typically with... |
felon from himself | An archaic legal term for one who commits suicide Suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse... , referring to early English common law Common law Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action... punishments, such as land seizure, inflicted on those who killed themselves. |
| fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt | men generally believe what they want to | People's beliefs are shaped largely by their desires. Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.... , The Gallic War Commentarii de Bello Gallico Commentarii de Bello Gallico is Julius Caesar's firsthand account of the Gallic Wars, written as a third-person narrative. In it Caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies in Gaul that opposed Roman domination.The "Gaul" that Caesar... 3.18 |
| festina lente | hurry slowly | An oxymoron Oxymoron An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms... ic motto of Augustus Augustus Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian... . It encourages proceeding quickly, but with calm and caution. Equivalent to 'More haste, less speed'. Motto of The Madeira School, McLean, Virginia. |
| fiat iustitia et pereat mundus | let justice be done, though the world shall perish | Motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest... . |
| fiat justitia ruat caelum Fiat justitia ruat caelum Fiat justitia ruat caelum is a Latin legal phrase, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall." The maxim signifies the belief that justice must be realized regardless of consequences. According to the 19th century abolitionist politician Charles Sumner, it does not come from any... |
let justice be done should the sky fall | Attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus. |
| fiat lux | let light be made | Less literally, "let light arise" or "let there be light Let there be light "Let there be light" is an English translation of the Hebrew יְהִי אוֹר . Other translations of the same phrase include the Latin phrase fiat lux, and the Greek phrase γενηθήτω φῶς . The phrase is often used for its metaphorical meaning of dispelling ignorance.The phrase comes from the third verse... " (cf. lux sit). From the Latin translation of Genesis, "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux" ("and God said, 'Let light be made', and light was made."); frequently used as motto for educational institutions. |
| fiat panis | let there be bread | Motto of Food and Agriculture Organization Food and Agriculture Organization The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and... (FAO) |
| fiat voluntas Dei | May God's will be done | The motto of Robert May's School Robert May's School Robert May's School is a secondary school in the village of Odiham, Hampshire, England. The school was founded in 1694 with donations from the will of Robert May, a local man. The current headteacher is Mrs Susan Rafter. In 2006 the school had 1,218 pupils on its register... |
| fiat voluntas tua | Thy will be done | The motto of Archbishop Richard Smith of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Province of Alberta. Its suffragan dioceses are Calgary and Saint Paul. Historically, the archdiocese was preceded by the Diocese of St Albert which was erected in 1871. In 1912 the present archdiocese was erected... . |
| ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris | fictions meant to please should approximate the truth | Horace Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:... Ars Poetica (338) , advice presumably discounted by the magical realists |
| Fidei Defensor Fidei defensor Fidei defensor is a Latin title which translates to Defender of the Faith in English and Défenseur de la Foi in French... (Fid Def) or (fd) |
Defender of the Faith | A title given to Henry VIII of England Henry VIII of England Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France... by Pope Leo X Pope Leo X Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses... on October 17, 1521 before Henry became a heresiarch Heresiarch A heresiarch is a founder or leader of a heretical doctrine or movement, as considered by those who claim to maintain an orthodox religious tradition or doctrine... . Still used by the British monarchs, it appears on all British coins, usually abbreviated. |
| fidem scit | He knows the faith | Sometimes mistranslated to "Keep the faith", when used in contemporary English-language writings of all kinds to convey a light-hearted wish for the reader's well-being. The humor comes from the phrase's similarity in pronunciation to the words "Feed 'em shit". |
| fides qua creditur | the faith by which it is believed | the personal faith which apprehends, contrasted with fides quae creditur |
| fides quae creditur | the faith which is believed | the content of "the faith," contrasted with fides qua creditur |
| fides quaerens intellectum | faith seeking understanding | the motto of Saint Anselm Anselm of Canterbury Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109... , found in his Proslogion Proslogion The Proslogion, , written in 1077-1078, was written as a prayer, or meditation, by the medieval cleric Anselm which serves to reflect on the attributes of God and endeavours to explain how God can have qualities which often seem contradictory... |
| fidus Achates | faithful Achates Achates In the Aeneid, Achates was a close friend of Aeneas; his name became a by-word for an intimate companion. He accompanied Aeneas throughout his adventures, reaching Carthage with him in disguise when the pair were scouting the area, and leading him to the Sibyl of Cumae... |
A faithful friend. From the name of Aeneas Aeneas Aeneas , in Greco-Roman mythology, was a Trojan hero, the son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. His father was the second cousin of King Priam of Troy, making Aeneas Priam's second cousin, once removed. The journey of Aeneas from Troy , which led to the founding a hamlet south of... 's faithful companion in Virgil Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid... 's Aeneid Aeneid The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter... . |
| filae nostrae sicvt angvli incisi similitvdine templi | may our daughters be as polished as the corners' of the temple | Motto of Francis Holland School Francis Holland School Francis Holland School is the name of two independent day schools for girls in central London governed by the Francis Holland Schools Trust... |
| finis coronat opus | the end crowns the work | the end justifies the means. |
| finis vitae sed non amoris | the end of life, but not of love | |
| flagellum dei | scourge of god | referred to Attila the Hun, when he led his armies to invade the Western Roman Empire. |
| flectere si nequeo superos, Achaeronta movebo | if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell | Virgil Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid... 's Aeneid Aeneid The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter... , book 7 |
| floreat etona | may Eton flourish | Motto of Eton College Eton College Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor".... |
| floreat nostra schola | may our school flourish | Common school motto |
| floruit Floruit Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active... (fl.) |
one flourished | Indicates the period when a historical figure whose birth and death dates are unknown was most active. |
| fluctuat nec mergitur Fluctuat nec mergitur Fluctuat nec mergitur is a Latin phrase meaning "He who rises with the wave is not swallowed by it":... |
she wavers and is not immersed | Motto of Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... . |
| fons et origo | the spring and source | "The fountainhead and beginning". The source and origin. |
| fons sapientiae, verbum Dei | the fount of knowledge is the word of God. | The motto of Bishop Blanchet High School. |
| forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit | perhaps even these things will be good to remember one day | From Virgil Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid... 's Aeneid Aeneid The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter... , book I, line 203. |
| fortes fortuna adiuvat | Fortune favours the bold Fortune favours the bold Fortune favors the bold, Fortune favors the brave, Fortune helps the brave, and Fortune favors the strong are common translations of the Latin proverb "Fortes fortuna adiuvat" .- Origins :... |
The motto of the 3rd Marine Regiment |
| fortes in fide | strong in faith | Frequently used as motto. |
| fortis cadere, cedere non potest | The brave may fall, but cannot yield | Motto of Fahnestock Family Arms. |
| fortis est veritas | truth is strong | Motto on the coat of arms Coat of arms A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth... of Oxford Oxford The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through... , England. |
| fortis et liber | strong and free | Motto of Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... . |
| fortis in arduis | strong in difficulties | Motto of Municipal Borough of Middleton Municipal Borough of Middleton The Municipal Borough of Middleton was, from 1886 to 1974, a municipal borough in the administrative county of Lancashire, England, coterminate with the town of Middleton.-Civic history:... from the Earl of Middleton Earl of Middleton The title Earl of Middleton was created in 1656 in the Peerage of Scotland for army officer John Middleton, together with the subsidiary titles Lord Clermont and Fettercairn. He was succeeded by his son, Charles, who served in political offices under Charles II and James II & VI... . |
| fortiter et fideliter | bravely and faithfully | Frequently used as motto. Used by The King's School, Sydney. |
| fortunae meae, multorum faber | artisan of my fate and that of several others | Motto of Gatineau Gatineau Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census... . |
| Fui quod es, eris quod sum | I once was what you are, you will be what i am | An Epitaph Epitaph An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial... , made to remind the reader of the inevitability of death, saying "Once I was alive like you are, and you will be dead as I am now." As believed, it's was carved on a gravestone Headstone A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :... of some Roman military officer. |
| fumus boni iuris Fumus boni iuris Fumus boni iuris is a Latin phrase, used in European courts, meaning "presumption of sufficient legal basis" , being a requirement for admission to certain benefits or pronunciation of certain court actions .It has a prima facie case when there is a possibility... |
presumption of sufficient legal basis | |
| fundamenta inconcussa | unshakable foundation |