February 28th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "ad arbitrium"

 February 28th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "ad arbitrium"

"ad arbitrium"

"at will," "at pleasure," "at judgment" (according to one's judgment)

Pridie Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 27th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "ad absurdum"

 February 27th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "ad absurdum"

"ad absurdum"

"to the point of absurdity"

a.d. III Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 26th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Actum ne agas."

 February 26th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Actum ne agas."

"Actum ne agas."

"Do not do what is already done," id est, once the matter is settled, do not persist in trying to stir things up. Appears in Terence as "Actum," aiunt, "ne agas."

~ Publius Terentius Afer (c. 195/185 - c. 159 B.C.E.), Phormio II.iii.72

a.d. IV Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 25th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Philosophum non facit barba."

 February 25th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Philosophum non facit barba."

"Philosophum non facit barba."

"A beard does not make a philosopher." (Appearance does not make reality.)

I had learned this as a proverb of uncertain origin. I've seen it attributed to Plutarch (odd, since he wrote in Greek, not Latin) and Aulus Gellius (but could not track that down, even with the Internet). 

a.d. V Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 24th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque."

 February 24th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque."

"Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque."

"The Roman state stands by its ancient customs and heroes." (vir, translated "hero" here, is the Latin word for "man," but does also have the meaning of a heroic man, which is intended here).

~ Quintus Ennius (c. 239 - c, 169 B.C.E.), Annales, location uncertain

a.d. VI Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 23rd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Acta est fabula."

 February 23rd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Acta est fabula."

"Acta est fabula.

"The story is finished," or "the play is finished," "the drama has been acted out," with the sense of "it's all over" - rather like English "it's curtains!" This is the Latin given for the Greek allegedly quoted by the Emperor Augustus as he was dying. 

a.d. VII Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI 

February 22nd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Experientia docet."

 February 22nd, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Experientia docet."

"Experientia docet;" the original is actually past tense, "experientia docuit."

"Experience teaches," it originally appears as "experience has taught."

~ Publius Cornelius Tacitus (c. 56 - c. 120 C.E.), Histories, book 5, chapter 6, contains experientia docuit, in the past tense.

a.d. VIII Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI