Monday, October 31, 2011

Glossary : Latin Phrases

Criminology / Legal
Affidavit (L) = “he asserted”, is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by a affiant or deponent under an oath.

Alias (L) = “at another time”, “otherwise”, an assumed name or pseudonym.

Alibi (L) = “elsewhere”, a legal defense where a defendant attempts to show that he was elsewhere at the time a crime was committed.

Alter ego (L) = “the other I”, is a second self, a second personality within a person, who is often oblivious to the persona’s actions.

Bona fide (L) = “in good faith”, denotes sincere, honest intention or belief, regardless of the outcome of an action

De facto (L) = “by [the] fact”,  means “in practice but not necessary ordained by law”.

Ex gratia (L) = “from grace”, refers to someone voluntarily performing an act purely out of kindness.  An ex gratia payment is one made without recognizing any liability or legal obligation.

Ex officio (L) = “from the office”, “by right of office”, often used when someone holds one position by virtue of holding another.

Ex parte (L) = “from [by or for] one party”, means a legal proceeding brought by one person in absence of and without representation or notification of other parties.

Habeas corpus (L) = “may you have [your] body” , is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention.

In absentia (L) = “in the absence”, means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present.

In utero (L) = “in the uterus”, refers to an embryo or fetus, or unborn child.

Modus operandi  (L), ( plural modi operandi ) = “mode of operation”, usually refers to criminal’s manner of working.  Often shortened to M.O.

Per se (L) = “ in itself”, without referring to anything else.

Pro bono publico (L) = “for the public good”, professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at reduced fee as a public service.  Usually shortened to pro bono.

Quorum (L) = “of whom”, the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional.

Status quo (L) = “the state in which”, meaning the current or existing state of affairs.

Sub poena (L) = “under penalty”, is a write by government agency, or court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure.

Veto (L) = “I forbid”, the right to unilaterally stop a certain piece of legistlation.




Academic
Alma mater (L) = “nourishing mother”, is often any school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually from which one has graduated.

Alumnus (L), ( plural alumni ) = “male pupil”, refer to former student, member, employee, contributor, inmate.
Alumna (L), ( plural alumnae ) = “female pupil”

Emeritus (L) = “male veteran”, usually used to designate a retired professor, bishop or other professional or as a title.
Emerita (L) = “female veteran”

Et alii (L) = “and others”, used to stand for a list of names.  Often shortened to et. al.



Sciences
Ex situ (L) = “off-site”. Antonym of in situ

In situ (L) = “in the place”, in the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangment.

In silico (L) = “in silicon”, means performed on computer or via computer simulation.

In vivo (L) = “within the living”, is experiment or process within a living organism.  Antonym to in vitro.

In vitro (L) = “within glass”, is experiment or process within a laboratory setting.

Sensu lato (L) = “with the broad meaning”, in the wide sense

Sensu stricto (L) = “with the tight meaning”, in the strict sense.

Sensu strictissimo “with the tightest meaning”, in the strictest sense.




Others
Ad hoc (L) = “for this”, generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes.

Agenda (L) = “things to be done”

Cum (L) = “together with”

Re (L) = “[in] the matter of”, about, regarding, with reference to ; especially in letters and  document.

Via (L) = “by the road”, by way of, by means of

Vice versa (L) = “with position turned”, the other way around.


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