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This subpage provides English translations of not-so common Latin phrases (i.e. not always found in dictionaries).


ab urbe condita; anno urbis conditae, abbreviated A.U.C.?, "from the founding of the city" (of Rome); 753 B.C., according to Livy's count; used as a reference point by the Romans for establishing dates, as we use A.D. today.
ante litteram: "before the letter", a qualifier for an expression when applied to something that existed before the expression itself was introduced or became common. Example of usage from Alan Turing:
Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954), British mathematician and computer scientist ante litteram.
("Computer scientist" was not in use in Turing's days.)


quod erat demonstrandum, a.k.a. Q.E.D.: "that which was to be demonstrated." This abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a proof to indicate that the assignment is complete.
quo vadis: "where do you go".

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Last edited December 10, 2001 10:49 pm by MichaelTinkler (diff)
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