Thomas Davidson

“ Atreus, son of Pelops, who served up the flesh of Thyestes' children to their father.
Atropos, one of the Fates of Greek mythology, who cut the destined thread of life.
at spes non fracta (L.) , but hope is not yet crushed. ”

“ Aristides (Gr.) , an embodiment of justice, from the figure in ancient Greek history.
Aristippus (Gr.) , an embodiment of self-indulgence, from the founder of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy.
ariston men hydor (Gr.) , nothing like water.
ariston metron (Gr.) , the middle course is the best: the golden mean.
arrectis auribus (L.) , with ears pricked up.
arrière-garde (Fr.) , rear-guard.
arrière pensée (Fr.) , a mental reservation.
ars est celare artem (L.) , true art is to conceal art.
ars longa, vita brevis (L.) , art is long, life short. ”

“ Äpfel-strudel (Ger.) , a wafery paste made of flour, butter, and warm water, covered with buttered bread-crumbs, raisins, sugar, allspice, and apples, and rolled up.
a piacére (It.) , at pleasure.
à pied (Fr.) , on foot.
à pieds joints (Fr.) , with feet joined.
à plaisir (Fr.) , at pleasure.
à point (Fr.) , to a point: exactly right.
apollinaris, an alkaline mineral water containing carbonate of soda, derived from the Apollinaris Spring in the valley of the Ahr, in the Rhine province.
Apollo, the Greek sun-god, a representative of youthful manly beauty. ”

“ Domine, dirige nos! (L.) , Lord, direct us!—the motto of London.
Dominus illuminatio mea (L.) , the Lord is my enlightening.
domus et placens uxor (L.) , a home and a pleasing wife.
donna è mobile (It.) , woman is changeable. ”

“ Virgilium vidi tantum (L.) , I just saw Virgil [and no more] .
virginibus puerisque (L.) , for maidens and boys—for the young person.
virtus post nummos (L.) , virtue after money—i.e. money first.
virtute officii (Late L.) , by virtue of office.
vis a tergo (L.) , compulsion from behind.
vis-à-vis (Fr.) , opposite: facing.
vis comica (L.) , comic power.
vis inertiæ (L.) , the power of inertia: passive resistance.
vita brevis, ars longa (L.) , life is short, art is long.
vita patris (L.) , or v.p., in the father's lifetime.
vita sine litteris mors est (L.) , life without literature is death. ”

“ Weltgeist (Ger.) , the world-spirit.
Weltschmerz (Ger.) , world-sorrow: sympathy with universal misery: thorough-going pessimism.
Wiener Schnitzel (Ger.) , a veal cutlet dressed with bread-crumbs and eggs.
Xanthippe (Gr.) , a shrewish wife—from the wife of Socrates.
xerafin, xeraphim (Port.) , a silver coin of Goa, worth about 1s. 5d.
Xeres (Sp.) , wine of Xeres, sherry.
xystum, pl. xysta (L.—Gr.) , a covered colonnade in a gymnasium, a shaded walk in the garden of a Roman village. ”

“ Asherah, the sacred tree erected beside Canaanite altars, wrongly translated in the A.V. as 'grove.' See Grove in Dict.
Ashtaroth (pl.) , Ashtoreth (pl.) , Astarte, the chief Canaanite goddess, female counterpart to Baal, corresponding to the Assyrian Ishtar.
asinus ad lyram (L.) , an ass at the lyre, one ignorant of music.
askesis, ascesis (Late L.—Gr.) ; training: the monastic life, asceticism. ”

“ Kaiserschmarn (Ger.) , a pudding consisting of flour and eggs fried in lard.
Knödel (Ger.) , a ball of dough made of bread, eggs, flour, milk, and lard.
Kren (Ger.) , horse-radish.
ktēma es aei (Gr.) , a possession [to be kept] for ever.
Kulturkampf (Ger.) , the war of culture [said by Virchow in 1873 of the conflict between Bismarck and the Catholic Church] .
laborare est orare (L.) , work is prayer.
labore et honore (L.) , by labour and honour.
labor improbus (L.) , persistent, dogged labour.
labor ipse voluptas (L.) , labour itself is pleasure. ”

“ Massilia (L.) , Marseilles.
materfamilias (L.) , the mother of a family.
materia medica (L.) , medicines collectively: all substances used as remedies: the science of their properties and use.
matériel (Fr.) , materials, esp. the baggage and munitions of an army.
matinée (Fr.) , a morning recital or performance.
matre pulchrâ filia pulchrior (L.) , a daughter fairer than her fair mother.
mauvaise honte (Fr.) , false modesty, bashfulness.
mauvais sujet (Fr.) , a bad subject: a worthless fellow;—mauvais ton (Fr.) , bad style, bad form. ”

“ Atalanta, a fleet-footed Arcadian maiden who raced her suitors—defeated by Hippomedon by means of the stratagem of letting fall three golden apples.
Atalantis, Atlantis. See under Atlantean in Dict.
atalaya (Sp.—Ar.) , a watch-tower.
ataraxia (Gr.) , the indifference to circumstances aimed at by the Stoic.
à tâtons (Fr.) , groping.
Athanasius contra mundum (L.) , Athanasius against the world: one resolute man facing universal opposition.
Athēnē, Athēna, the Greek goddess of wisdom, the Roman Minerva. ”

“ Anglicè (L.) , in English.
anguis in herba (L.) , snake in the grass.
anicut, annicut, a Tamil name for a dam or weir across a river.
animal bipes (L.) , the two-footed animal, man;—animal implume, featherless;—animal rationale, rational;—animal risibile, able to laugh.
anima mundi (L.) , the soul of the world—a Platonic conception.
animo et fide (L.) , by courage and faith.
animula vagula (L.) , little soul flitting away—beginning of a poem ascribed to the dying Hadrian, translated or paraphrased by Prior, Pope, Byron, and Dean Merivale.
anno ætatis suæ (L.) , in the year of his [or her] age. ”

“ Campus Martius (L.) , field of Mars, used by the ancient Romans for games, military drill, &c.
canaille (Fr.) , a pack of hounds, the rabble.
canaut (Hind.) , a canvas enclosure.
candida Pax (L.) , white-robed Peace.
candy, candil (Tamil) , a South Indian weight, generally containing 20 maunds, about 500 pounds English.
canopus (L.—Gr.) , a bright star in the southern constellation Argo navis: an Egyptian vase for holding the entrails of the body embalmed.
cantabile (It.) , fit for singing.
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator (L.) , the empty traveller will sing before a robber. ”

“ Egeria, the nymph who instructed the ancient Roman king Numa Pompilius, hence any woman who gives a man his inspiration.
egesta (Late L.) , excrements, fæces.
ego et rex meus (L.) , I and my king [Cardinal Wolsey] .
eheu fugaces ... labuntur anni! (L.) , alas! the fleeting years slip away.
Eile mit Weile (Ger.) , speed with heed, make haste leisurely. Cf. festina lente.
ein mal, kein mal (Ger.) , just once counts nothing.
Eisen und Blut (Ger.) , iron and blood—a famous phrase of Bismarck's. ”

“ Rome, 753 B.C.
abusus non tollit usum (L.) , abuse does not do away with use—i.e. an abuse does not forfeit the legitimate use of a thing.
a capite ad calcem (L.) , from head to heel.
accablé (Fr.) , depressed, overwhelmed. ”

“ Holmia (L.) , Stockholm.
hominibus plenum, amicis vacuum (L.) , full of men, empty of friends.
hominis est errare (L.) , it belongs to man to err.
homme d'affaires (Fr.) , business man: agent: steward; homme de bien, man of worth, good man; homme de cour, courtier; homme de fortune, fortunate man: rich man; homme de lettres, man of letters; homme de paille, man of straw; homme d'épée, military man; homme de robe, a lawyer; homme d'esprit, a man of wit; homme d'état, a statesman; homme du monde, man of fashion. ”

“ Carviol (Ger.) , cauliflower.
cassare (L.) , to quash, make null.
casus belli (L.) , whatever involves or justifies war.
casus conscientiæ (L.) , a case of conscience.
catalogue raisonné (Fr.) , a descriptive catalogue of books, &c., arranged according to their subjects.
causa sine quâ non (L.) , an indispensable cause.
cause célèbre (Fr.) , a peculiarly notable trial.
caveat actor (L.) . let the doer beware.
caveat emptor (L.) , let the buyer beware.
cave canem (L.) , beware of the dog, a frequent inscription on Roman thresholds.
cavendo tutus (L.) , safe through taking care. ”

“ Claviger, the club-bearer, an epithet of Hercules.
forti et fideli nihil difficile (L.) , to the brave and faithful nothing is difficult.
fortis cadere, cedere non potest (L.) , the brave man may fall, he cannot yield. ”

“ Dieu vous garde! (Fr.) , God guard you!
digito monstrari (L.) , to be pointed out with the finger: to be famous.
di grado in grado (It.) , by degrees.
di majorum gentium (L.) , the divinities of superior rank—i.e. the twelve greater gods of classical mythology.
di penates (L.) , household gods.
dis aliter visum (L.) , the gods have adjudged otherwise.
di salto (It.) , at a leap.
disjecta membra (L.) , the scattered members.
distingué, fem. distinguée (Fr.) , distinguished: striking.
distrait, fem. distraite (Fr.) , absent-minded.
dit (Fr.) , called.
divertissement (Fr.) , amusement: sport. ”

“ Erin (n) yes (Gr.) , the Furies.
Eros (Gr.) , the Greek god of sensual passion, miscalled love.
errare est humanum (L.) , to err is human.
escalier (Fr.) , staircase;—escalier dérobé, private staircase. ”