Curated category
Latin words and phrases
- Ludus duodecim scriptorumThe name Ludus duodecim scriptorum translates directly to game of twelve markings. This phrase likely describes the three rows of 12 spaces found on most…
- Dignitas (Roman concept)The Latin word dignitas appears in ancient texts without a direct English equivalent. Translators often choose dignity, prestige, or charisma to capture its…
- De factoThe Latin phrase de facto translates to 'in fact' or 'in reality'. It describes practices that exist in the real world regardless of official recognition by…
- Sol InvictusThe word Invictus means unconquered or invincible. Roman inscriptions from the third century BC used this epithet for Jupiter, Mars, Hercules, Apollo, and…
- CancerThe word cancer comes from the ancient Greek term karkinos, meaning crab. Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen observed that tumors with swollen veins…
- VacuumAncient Greek philosophers debated the existence of a vacuum, or void, in the context of atomism. Lucretius argued for the existence of vacuum in the first…
- Mare NostrumIn 30 BC, Roman dominion stretched from the Iberian Peninsula to Egypt. The phrase Mare Nostrum began to describe the entire Mediterranean Sea during this…
- Annus mirabilisThe phrase annus mirabilis translates directly from Latin as year of miracles or marvelous year. Ancient writers used these words to describe times when…