Foreign Words
Foreign Words
The students are required to study carefully the list of foreign words given below. Some of them have become part and parcel of English language and are copiously used in literary and judicial terminology. Although their knowledge is very useful, but they may not be used mere for the sake of showing off one's learning. The absence of their knowledge often exercises constraint on the understanding of the students. The list given below contains such words as a student may come across in newspapers and standard-works on language.
| Foreign Words | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| Vis-a-vis | directly, opposite to |
| a la mode | in the fashion, in vogue |
| A posteriori | from the effect to the cause |
| A' discretion | without restriction |
| A' fond | thoroughly |
| A' gauche | to the left |
| A' maximis ad minima | from the greatest to the smallest. |
| A? propos | to the point |
| Ab aeterno | from eternity |
| Ab ante | from before |
| Ab antiquo | from olden time |
| Ab initio | from the very beginning |
| Ab intra | from within |
| Ab irato | in a fit of passion |
| Ab origine | from the beginning |
| Abonnement | subscription |
| Ad modum | After the method of |
| Ad arbitrium | at pleasure |
| Ad extra | outward |
| Ad finem | to the end |
| Ad hoc | arranged for special purpose |
| Ad infinitum | for indefinite period for ever |
| Ad interim | mean while |
| Ad nauseam | to offensive limit |
| Ad valorem | according to value |
| Ad verbum | word for word |
| Advivum | to the life |
| Advolerm | according to value |
| Aequanimiter | calmly |
| Age quod agis | do with all your power what you do |
| Albeit | although |
| Alibi | false plea of absence |
| Alinude | from another place |
| Allons | come along, let us go! |
| Alma mater | mother institution that son attended |
| Alter ego | bosom friend, one's other self |
| Alter ipse amicus | a friend is another self |
| Alumni | ex students of an institution (Alumnus singular) |
| Amicus curiae | friend of the court in any judicial proceeding |
| Amicus humani generis | a friend of humanity |
| Anima mundi | the soul of the world |
| Animo et Jide | by courage and faith |
| Animus | bad intention |
| Annus Mirabilis | a wonderful year in which great events take place |
| Ante bellum | before the war |
| Ante mer idiem | before noon |
| Ante meridieum | time between midnight and noon |
| Antiquarium | collection of antiquities |
| Apropos | appropriate, to the point |
| Arbitrium | power of decision |
| Arcana imperii | state secrets |
| Au revoir | until we meet again |
| Avant garde | pioneer in movement of art/literaturee |
| Bella, horrida bella | wars, horrible wars |
| Bellum lethale | deadly war |
| Bete noire | an object of dislike |
| Biennium | period of two years |
| Bon Voyage | pleasant journey to you |
| Bon-homie | pleasantness of manners |
| Bona fide | in good faith, sincere |
| Bona fides | good faith |
| Bona mobilia | movable goods |
| Bourgeoisie | middle class |
| Cadeau | a present , a gift |
| Caeca est invidia | envy is blind |
| Carte blanche | full freedom of action |
| Casus belli | act/event leading to war |
| Cause celebre | a very notable trial |
| Caveat actor | let the doer beware |
| Centum | a hundred |
| Chaperon | a person (usually elderly lady) who accompanies a young girl |
| Charge d' affairs | one who acts as an ambassador |
| Circa | about (bom circa 150 BC) |
| Cito | quickly |
| Coiffeur | hair dresser |
| Coiffure | style of hair dressing |
| Compos mentis | of sound mind, sane |
| Con spirito | with spirit |
| Consilio et animis | by wisdom and courage |
| Contra bonos mores | against good manners or morals |
| Coram populo | in the presence of the public |
| Coup d' etat | violent or unconstitutional change in government |
| Coup de grace | the final blow |
| Coup de hasard | a lucky chance |
| Couturier | man dress designer |
| Couturiere | woman dress designer |
| Crimen falsi | crime of perjury |
| Culpa levis | a slight fault |
| Currente calamo | with a running pen |
| Data et accepta | expenses and receipts |
| De bon augure | of good omen |
| De die in diem | form day to day |
| De facto | in fact, real |
| De integro | afresh, anew |
| De jure | according to law, by right |
| De navo | a fresh |
| Debut | first appearance on stage or any event. |
| Debutant | one making first appearance (male) |
| Debutante | one making first appearance (female) |
| Dei gratia | by the grace of God |
| Deja vu | a feeling that something has happened before |
| Demarche | a political step/presentation |
| Denoument | final conclusion in a play |
| Deo gratias | thanks to God |
| Deo favente | with God?s favour |
| Detente | easing of strained relations |
| Detenu | a prisoner |
| Deus avertat | God forbid ! |
| Deus det | God grant ! |
| Dictum de dicto | hearsay, report |
| Domine, dirige nos | God, direct us ! |
| Dramatis personae | characters in a play |
| Dum spiro, spero | while I breathe, I hope |
| Editio princeps | original edition ( of a book) |
| Elite | select, choice |
| Emeritus | retired but retaining honorary title (emeritus-professor) |
| En bloc | in a group, collectively |
| En masse | in a mass |
| En route | on the way to |
| Entrenous | between ourselves |
| Eo nomine | by that name |
| Erenata | according to the exigencies of the case |
| Esprit de corps | spirit of belonging to one organisation |
| Et hoc genus omne, et id | and everything of this or that sort |
| Et, tu, Brute | and you too Brutus |
| Ex parte | on one side only |
| Ex curia | out of court |
| Ex delicto | owing to crime |
| Ex dono | as a gift |
| Ex gratia | as a matter of grace, favour |
| Ex officio | by virtue of one's post |
| Ex parte | done not in the presence of other |
| Ex post facto | by subsequent act |
| Ex tacito | silently |
| Ex utraque parte | on either side |
| Ex voto | according to one?s prayer |
| Exampli Grata | e.g., for example. |
| Expressis verbis | in express terms |
| Faber est quisque fortun | everyone fashions his own fortune |
| Facta non verba | deeds not words |
| Factum est | it is done |
| Fadaise | a silly talk |
| Fait accompli | an accomplished fact |
| Fata obstant | he Fate opposes it |
| Fecit | made or executed |
| Fiance | a man to whom one is engaged to marry |
| Fiancee | a woman to whom one is engaged to marry |
| Fiat justitia, ruat clelu | let justice be done, though the heavens should fall |
| Fide et amore | by faith and love |
| Fidus et audax | faithful and bold |
| Fillius nullius | a bastard |
| Forte | a person's special talent |
| Foreign Words | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| Gaillard | lively |
| Garcon | a boy, bachelor |
| Gloria in excelsis | Glory to God is the highest |
| Hauteur | haughtiness |
| Hoc anno | in this year |
| Hoc age | attend to what you do |
| Hoc loco | in this place |
| Hoc tempore | at this time |
| Hominis est errare | to err is human |
| Hors de combat | out of the combat; disabled |
| Ibid | in the same book/chapter |
| Id est | i.e, that is to say |
| Impromptu | without study |
| In toto | in the whole, entirely |
| In abstracto | in the abstract |
| In camera | not open to public |
| In curia | in court |
| In equilibris | in equilibrium |
| In esse | infact |
| In extenso | at full length |
| In pace | in peace |
| In statu quo | in the former state |
| In terrorem | as a warning |
| Infra dig | below one's dignity |
| Infra dignitatem | below one?s dignity |
| Inter alia | among other things |
| Inter alia - | among other things |
| Inter se | amongst themselves |
| Ipso Facto | really, by that very fact |
| Joie de vivre | joy of living |
| Joie? de vivre | joy of living |
| Jure humano | by human law |
| Jure divino | by divine law |
| Labor ipsev oluptas | labour itself is pleasure |
| Laissez faire - | free from govt, control/interference |
| Lapsus memoriae | a slip of the memory |
| Lapsus calami | a slip of the pen |
| Lapsus linguae | a slip of the tongue |
| Lese majeste | high treason |
| Lingua Franca | common language spoken by people |
| Literatur | literary man |
| Locus standi | right to be heard, to interfere |
| Lucri causa | for the sake of gain |
| Lusus naturae | a freak of nature |
| Magnum bonuni | a great good |
| Magnum opus | a great book or a work of art |
| Mala fide | in bad faith |
| Melange | mixture, blending, medley |
| Memento mori | remember that thou shalt die |
| Menage | household, domestic |
| Mirabile dictu | wonderful to tell |
| Mirabile visu | wonderful to see |
| Modus operandi | method of dealing with a work |
| Modus Vivandi | way of living |
| Mutatis Mutandis | with necessary changes |
| Nexus | bond, a link, connection |
| Nolens volens | willing or not willing, whether he will or not |
| Noli me tangere | do not touch me |
| Nom de plume | pen name, assumed name |
| Nonpareil | incomparable, unparallel |
| Nota Bene | take note, N.B. |
| Nouveaux Riches | people who are newly rich |
| Nulli secundus | unparalleled, second to none |
| Nunc est bibendum | now is the time for drinking |
| Obiter dictum | a passing remark |
| Omnia bona bonis | all things are good to the good |
| Onus probandi | the burden of proof |
| Outre | exaggerated |
| Par excellence . - | excellent, superb |
| Pari Passu | at an equal rate/pace |
| Particeps criminis | an accomplice |
| Per annum | per year |
| Per centum | by the hundred |
| Per diem | per day, daily |
| Per se | by itself |
| Persona non grata | a person not acceptable |
| Populus vult decipi | the people wish to be fooled |
| Post meridieum | afternoon |
| Post mortem | after death |
| Post obitum | after death |
| Pot pourri | meddling, mishmash, mix hire |
| Prima Facie | based on the first impression |
| Primo | in the first place |
| Pro rata | in proportion |
| Pro tempore | for the time being temporarily |
| Proletarian | a member of poor class |
| Qui tacet consentit | he who keeps silence consents |
| Quid pro quo | something given or taken as equivalent to another |
| Quid pro quo | something given or returned as a equivalent of something |
| R.S.V.P. | respondez s' ilvous plait, please reply |
| Raison d'etre | reason for existence, real purpose |
| Re cla'me | publicity, press?agent, stunt |
| Rendezvous - | private meeting place |
| Res gestae | exploits |
| Resume | a summary or abstract |
| Riposte | repartee, retort |
| Sang froid | coolness in a trying condition |
| Sans | without, deprived of |
| Sine die | for an indefinite period |
| Sine odium | without hatred |
| Sine qua non | without which not, an indispensable condition. |
| Sine quanon | indispensable qualifications |
| Son et lumiere | A historical play staged with sound and light |
| Sponte sua | of one?s own accord |
| Status Quo | the same position |
| Sub judice | under consideration |
| Summum bonum | chief good |
| Suo moto | on one's own |
| Suus cuique mos | everyone has peculiar habits |
| Terra incognita | an unknown country |
| Tete o tete | a private conversation |
| Tour de force | a feat of strength or skill |
| Tu quoque Brute | and thou too Brutus ! |
| Ultima thule | the utmost limit |
| Ultra Vires | beyond one's authority |
| Vale | farewell |
| Veni, vidi, vici | I came, I saw, I conquered |
| Versus | against |
| Via media | middle course |
| Vice | in place of |
| Vice versa | in opposite ways |
| Vis-a-vis | opposite, facing |
| Viz | namely, that is to say |
| Volente Deo | God willing |
| Vollte face | a complete turnabout, reversal of policy |
| Vox populi | voice of the people |
| Vox populi,vox Dei | the voice of the people is the voice of God |
| Xerox | photo copy. |
| Xystum | a shaded walk in a garden |
| Zeitgeist | the spirit of the contemporary time |
| Zonam perdidit | he has lost his wealth, he is in need of money. |