The author credited with this famous statement is Cicero, a Roman politician and lawyer. This phrase has been repeated over and over since ancient times, since failure is a constant feature throughout history. This is where the phrase “being delirious” comes from. Literal meaning: “Off the furrows” + “Trembling”Ĭoined in 1813 by British physician Thomas Sutton, Delirium Tremens is the medical term for withdrawal syndrome from alcohol. This fundamental proposition of Western philosophy has become one of the most famous statements in history. This phrase was first uttered by the mathematician, philosopher and scientist René Descartes (1596-1650). Literal meaning: “I think, therefore I am.” We humans haven’t changed that much, have we? 7. The “beware of the dog” sign was written at the entrance to one of the houses. The “Cave Canem” inscription was first found in Pompeii, the Roman city that was buried in ash after Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Horace said this in the First Century BCE, before Drake popularized a different phrase with a similar meaning: YOLO. It indicates the effort and dedication required to make something sublime that will last forever, whereas the life of the human accomplishing the task is brief. Literal meaning: “Art is long, life is short.”Ī fancy guy with a fancy name, Hippocrates of Kos, and also a fancy job - he is considered the father of modern medicine - once said this. In this case, you finally get to understand your alarm clock’s language! 4. You probably know them by their abbreviations: “a.m.” and “p.m.” I know, this article is going to reveal the meaning of so many acronyms you will feel like you finally understand a bigger part of your own language. Literal meaning: “Before midday / after midday”Įven if you haven’t heard these phrases aloud, that doesn’t mean they aren’t Latin phrases we still use. A person with an Alter Ego is a person who leads a double life… but it’s no excuse to behave badly and then blame the “other you”! 3. The term was coined in the 20th century, when psychologists discovered dissociative identity disorder. “The other I” - a different person with a completely different personality. You just handed in your exam? Well, alea iacta est. This expression means that we have passed the point of no return. What, you can’t? Well, it was a symbolic act that basically commenced the Second Civil War in the Roman Republic. Imagine Julius Caesar crossing the river Rubicon. How many of these would you recognize? Here’s a list of 15 of my favorite Latin expressions and their precise origins.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |