Reference Centre, Dictionnaires
Dictionary of Latin Words and Phrases
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A - I
| LATIN | ENGLISH |
| a.d., ante diem | this phrase is usually followed by a specific number, e.g. ante diem quintum meaning 'five days before' the day of the event, and is used to record specific calendar dates.NB include both the day of the event and the day included, to reckon the correct date.Example:a.d. V Id. Mar. means ante diem quintum Idus Martias, which translates to 5 days before the 15th of March, or, the 11th of March. |
| adsum | to be present at, appear before, support, assist |
| abavia, abavus | a person's great-great-grandmother or great-great-grandfather |
| ad perpetuam rei memoriam | As(for) a perpetual record of the matter |
| ad ultimum | finally |
| admissa fuit tenens | was admitted a tenant |
| admitti tenens | to be admitted as a tenant |
| adolescens, adulescens | young man or woman between 15 and 30 years |
| aequalis | something or someone being of the same age as another |
| aetas; aetas suae | age; his or her age |
| aetatum | for life |
| aie., animae | life, soul, spirit |
| aliquis tenens | any tenant holding |
| aliter, and, alius | otherwise, and, other |
| Am., Amen | Amen |
| amicus humani generis | a philanthropist, generous friend of man, friend of the human race |
| amita, amita magna, amita maior, amita maxima | a person's aunt, grand-aunt, great-grandaunt, great-great-grandaunt on the male side of the family |
| ancillae | young servants |
| animo imbecillus | weak, frail |
| anno, annus | of or for one year |
| anno predicto | in the beforesaid/aforesaid year |
| annos natus est | a term used to indicate the age of a person in years and will always be preceded by a numeral, ex. octo annos natus est, meaning he/she is eight years old, or was born eight years ago |
| annus bissextus | leap year |
| anonyma, anonymus | stillborn daughter (anonyma) or son (anonymus |
| antea | formerly |
| antiqorum | ancient |
| Aprilis | April |
| armenta | cattle for ploughing |
| armentales | belonging to a herd |
| armentum | a herd |
| armiger | armour-bearer, used to denote an esquire |
| atavia, atavus | a person's great-great-great-grandmother or great-great-great-grandfather |
| Augustus | August |
| avia/avus | a person's grandmother/grandfather |
| avunculus, avunculus magnus, avunculus maior, avunculus maximus | a person's uncle, grand-uncle, great-granduncle, great-great-granduncle on the female side of the family |
| b.i.d., bis in die | twice a day |
| Beatae memoriae | of blessed memory |
| biduum | two days |
| biennium | for a period of two years |
| bis anno | twice a year |
| boves iugales | ox teams |
| campo | field |
| capel | chapel |
| caper, capra, caprae | male goat, female goat |
| capitis damnare | condemn to death |
| casus | accident, fall, event, misfortune |
| civis | citizen |
| collactanea | foster mother |
| coloni | crofter, farmer, settler or colonist |
| comes | used to denote an earl |
| coniugium | in a marriage, or, the state of being married |
| consobrina/consobrinus | a person's female/male first cousin on mother's side |
| consuetudinar | customary |
| consuetudinariis | customary tenant |
| consuetum pretium | customary price |
| contra leges | illegally |
| convivium | a form of land tenure whereby the tenant was bound to provide meat and drink for his lord once per year |
| copia | a copy.Also an opportunity or means of access to some item. |
| coram | before or in the presence of |
| coram paribus | before one's peers |
| cotari | cottage |
| cott idie | every day |
| contra leges | illegally |
| convincere | to prove guilty of an offence |
| Cui., or Ciu = cuius | whose |
| Ciu aie ppict' ds Am = Cuius animae propicietur deus, amen | may God have mercy on his soul |
| conicere | to commit to prison |
| cottidianus, cottidie | daily, everyday |
| croftum | a croft |
| Cum ad curia | whereas at a court |
| cum haec ita sint | under the circumstances |
| cum suis per tinentibus | with their appurtenances |
| cumque etiam | whereas also |
| D., defunct | died |
| damnare | to pass sentence for a crime |
| debet | owes, as in owes money |
| debent | should, as in should perform a specific act |
| Dei gratia | by the Grace of God |
| denarius, denarium | an English penny |
| Dns or dni, Dominus or Domini | Lord |
| ds., deus | God |
| d.s.p., decessit sine prole | died without issue |
| d.s.p.l., decessit sine prole legitima | died without legitimate issue |
| d.s.p.m. and d.s.p.m.s., decessit sine prole mascula superstite | died without surviving male issue |
| d.s.p.s., decessit sine prole superstite | died without surviving issue |
| d.s.p.v.p., decessit sine prole vita patris | the individual died without issue during the lifetime of his/her own father |
| d.s.p.v.m., decessit sine prole vita matris | the individual died without issue during the lifetime of his/her own mother |
| DV, Deo volente | God willing |
| d.v.m., decessit vita matris | an individual who dies during the lifetime of his/her own mother, implies that the individual had living children at the time of his/her own death |
| d.v.p., decessit vita patris | an individual who dies during the lifetime of his/her own father, implies that the individual had living children at the time of his/her own death |
| dextans | a measure equal to five-sixths |
| diem de die, diem ex die | from day to day |
| diem obire | die |
| dies | day |
| dimidia | one-half of a measurement, such as one-half of one acre |
| diurnas | by day |
| dodrans | a measure equal to three-fourths, or, three-quarters |
| durante termino vite sue | during the term of her life |
| durante vita | during life |
| durat usque | extends to, as in a description of property e.g. the land extends to the roadway. |
| elapso tempore | the time having passed |
| eorum | their |
| episcopi, episcopo | a Bishop of a church |
| equaliter | equal, as in equal proportions |
| equus/equites | horses |
| errare humanum est | to err is human |
| et sequentes (sequentia) | to those that follow |
| et sic de ceteris | and so of the rest |
| ex sursum redditione | by the surrender |
| excipere | to inherit |
| expositio, narratio | an account or story |
| exsequi | to act upon |
| faber suae fortunae | a self-made person |
| familiaritas | to be acquainted with a person |
| faveo linguis | keep silence |
| Februarius | February |
| fecit | made, executed, completed |
| feodo, pro feodo | a fee, for the fee of |
| fidei defensor | defender of the faith |
| fieri | be made |
| filia/filio vinca et heres | the only surviving child (daughter/son) and heir of .... |
| Filiolus | A godson |
| Filius mulieratus | The eldest legitimate son of a woman who was illicitly connected with that son's father before their marriage. |
| Filius populi; filius terrae filius nullius | Each of these expressions were used to represent an illegitimate child: filius populi being a son of the people; filius terrae being a son of the soil or earth; filius nullius being a son of no man. |
| fossoris | a person who digs, a digger |
| frater or fratres | a person's brother |
| frater consanguineas | a person's step-brother sharing a common father |
| frater uterinus | a person's step-brother sharing a common mother |
| fructus | a tree crop |
| frumentum, frumentarius | corn, corn dealer |
| fundi | estate |
| funus | funeral |
| furtum facere | commit a theft |
| gallina | a hen |
| gener | a person's son-in-law |
| generosus | used to denote a gentleman |
| germanus | a term used to describe the fact that two people have the same parents - full brothers, full sisters - a true or full relationship |
| Gloria patri | Glory be to the Father |
| hac, haec | this |
| hac voce | under this word/phrase, hereunder |
| haec aetas | this day, the present day |
| handana | a day's work |
| herbagium | pasture, right of pasture |
| heredes | heirs |
| heredipeta | the next heir |
| hereditaria | heiress |
| hereditarie | by inheritance |
| hereditarius | hereditary heir |
| hereditas, hereditatio | inheritance |
| heres | heirs |
| heres ex triente | an heir to one-third (of an estate) |
| hic iacet (jacet) | here lies dead |
| hieme | winter |
| hinc | hence |
| hinc inde | hereupon |
| hora | the hour, the time of day, a season |
| hornus | this year, or, this year's |
| hsi or hse, hic sepultus, hic est | here is buried, here is |
| hui eccli'e, huius ecclesiae | of this Church |
| humatio | burying |
| iam adero | I'll be back soon |
| Ianuarius | January |
| Id., Idus | the 13th day of mosty months, but the 15th of March, May, July, October |
| Idem tenet | the same holds, as in '...the same holds true for...' |
| ignobilitas | of low-standing birth |
| Ihs (Jhs)or Ihu (Jhu), Ihesus (Jhesus) | Jesus |
| illicitus | illegal |
| imprimis | especially, or firstly/primary when used in a Will e.g. "Imprimis, I recommend my soul...". |
| impubes | under age |
| in annum | for one year |
| in antea | henceforth, for the future |
| in articulo mortis | at the point of death |
| in continuatione | in consideration |
| in curiam domini | in the Lord's (of the manor) Court |
| in dies | daily |
| in facie ecclesiae | before the Church |
| in futuro | henceforth |
| in manifesto | publicly |
| in memoriam | in memory of |
| in nomen Dei | in the name of God |
| in nomine Domini | in the name of the Lord |
| in patria | in one's home town or native land |
| in perpetuum | forever |
| in saecula saeculorum | for ever and ever |
| incerti cognominis | of uncertain surname |
| infans | a child or infant |
| infelix | ill-fated |
| ingenus, ingenuus | freeholder, freeborn |
| inquillinus | tenant or inhabitor |
| inter diu | during the day |
| inter sicarios accusare | to be charged with the crime of murder |
| interfectrix | murderess |
| interficere | put to death |
| ita distinguitur | is thus described |
| iugam terrae | a yoke of land, containing half a plough-land |
| iugerum | an acre of land, (240 feet by 120 feet) |
| Iulius | July |
| Iunius | June |
| iuvencae (juvencae) | heifers |
| iuvenci (juvenci) | young bulls |
| iuxta (juxta) | next to or beside |
| iuxta ecclesiam de | next to or beside the Church of |
K - Z
| LATIN | ENGLISH |
| Kal., Kalendis | the first day of any month |
| lac mulgere | milk |
| legem doctore | doctor of laws |
| leges violare | break the law |
| liber rusticus | free peasant |
| liberi, baro, franchilanus | freeman |
| ligna | a piece of wood |
| lignum | firewood |
| lucrum | profit |
| Maius | May |
| maleficium | misdeed, a wrong, mischief |
| maleficus | criminal |
| malevolus | malicious |
| malignus | unkind, ill-natured, spiteful |
| maritus | husband |
| Martius | March |
| mater | mother |
| matertera, matertera magna, matertera maior, matertera maxima | a person's aunt, grand-aunt, great-grandaunt, great-great-grandaunt on the female side of the family |
| matre orbus | a child that is without a mother |
| matrimonium | a marriage |
| mercatores | merchant or dealer in goods |
| metreta, metretae | a liquid measure of about 9 gallons |
| mensis | the month of; of or for a month |
| menstruus | monthly |
| mente captus | imbecile, insane |
| mercator | a merchant |
| messus | harvest |
| miles | used to denote a knight |
| modo ad hanc curiam | now to this court |
| modo venit | now comes |
| morens posuit | sadly placed |
| moribundus, moriens | on one's death bed |
| mors | death |
| mortem sibi consciscere | commit suicide |
| MS or ms, memoriae sacrum | sacred to the memory of |
| multo die | late in the day |
| nathale | Christmas |
| natu minimus, also, pullus | youngest child |
| natu minor | to be younger than another but not to be the youngest |
| natus est | was born |
| navem conscendere | to go abroad |
| nepos/neptis | color="#300036" size="2" grandson/granddaughter |
| nex interitus | violent death |
| nobilitas | of high-standing birth |
| nomina baptisatorum | the names of those baptised |
| nomina defunctorum | the names of those who have died |
| nomina nuptorum | the names of those married |
| nomina sepultorum | the names of those buried |
| nomine | in the name of, in respect of, or, under the heading of |
| Non., Nonae | the 5th day of most months but the 7th of March, May, July, October |
| noverca | step-mother |
| nudius; nudius tertius | days since, days ago; day before yesterday |
| nullus tunc venit | no one came |
| nuptiae | the marriage ceremony |
| nurus | a person's daughter-in-law |
| nutruis | foster child |
| obit | died |
| obitus | natural death |
| olim | at times, or, at one time; once, or, once upon a time; one day in the future |
| omnia et singla premissa predictus | all and singular of the said premises |
| opifices | craftsman, artisan or maker of things |
| "or 'p' aia", is, orate pro anima | pray for the soul of |
| orbus | childless; but, when used in relation to a child it indicates that the child is without a father |
| oua | eggs |
| ovis | sheep |
| pascha | Easter |
| pater | father |
| patruelis | a person's first cousin on the male side of the family |
| patruus, patruus magnus, patruus maior, patruus maximus | a person's uncle, grand-uncle, great-granduncle, great-great-granduncle on the male side of the family |
| pecora | livestock |
| pecus | cows, can also imply a flock of sheep |
| per easdum | by the same, as in 'by the same terms the tenancy is held' |
| perendie | day after tomorrow |
| piscatores | a fisher |
| piscaria, pisceriis | fishery, fisheries |
| pomarium | an orchard |
| porcus | pigs |
| pos., posuit | placed |
| postea crescentibus | otherwise due |
| postridie | the next day, or, the day after |
| ppict'., propitius | favourable, gracious |
| praeut | compared with |
| prata | meadow or grassland |
| predictam | aforesaid |
| presolvo | paid for previously |
| preterea | moreover |
| prid., pridie | the day immediately before a specific day of any month |
| priscus | aboriginal |
| privigna, privignus | a person's step-daughter, step-son |
| pro defalta tenentie | by default of the tenancy |
| proavia/proavus | a person's great-grandmother/great-grandfather |
| probatus | approved, such as the case of a Will having been probated or proved in Court |
| pronepos/proneptis | great-grandson/great-granddaughter |
| prout | according as |
| pruneta | plum trees |
| puella | girl or young wife |
| puellula | little girl |
| puellus | little boy |
| puer | boy, child, son also a term for a slave |
| pueritia (puertia) | childhood, youth |
| quadrans | a measure equal to one-fourth, or, one-quarter |
| quadragesima | representing the 40 days of Lent and therefor, taken as meaning Lent |
| quadriennium | four years |
| quaestio inter sicarios | to stand trial for the crime of murder |
| quaestores | money lender or treasury official |
| quando dominus uoluerit (voluerit) | when the Lord (of the manor) shall wish |
| que fuit filia/fil et heres | who was the daughter/son and heir |
| quedam | a certain, as in referring to a certain piece of land or property |
| quemlibet terminum | each term, such as in calling for the dates of payment of monies due at certain times of the year |
| quicumque legerit hunc titulum | whoever reads this inscription |
| Quinctilis | the term used to describe the fifth month of the Roman calendar, which month we know as July |
| quincunx | a measure equal to five-twelfths |
| quinquennium | five years |
| quolibet | each |
| quondam | formerly |
| quotannis | every year |
| R.I.P., requiescat in pace | may he/she rest in peace |
| renders, as in renders service to another individual | |
| redditionum et servicii | rights and services |
| reliquam | remainder |
| roda, rode | a rod (land measurement) |
| sacerdos | a priest |
| sciendum quod omne | let it be know that all.... |
| scilicet or "scilt" | that is |
| scrofa | sows |
| secundum consuetudem | according to custom |
| seit fuit | was seized |
| seges | cornfield, or crops in general |
| semestre spatium | half of a year |
| semis | a measure equal to one-half |
| senectus | old age |
| senex | a man or woman 45 years of age or older, old man, old woman |
| sepulcralis | a funeral |
| sepulcretum | cemetery |
| sepulcrum | a grave or tomb |
| sepultura | burial |
| seruicium (servicium) militare | military service |
| servi | maid servants |
| sextans | a measure equal to one-sixth |
| Sextilis | the term used to describe the sixth month of the Roman calendar, which month we know as August |
| silvae, sylvae | woodlands or forests |
| sine, sine die | without, without a date |
| socer | mother's father, a man's father-in-law |
| socrus | mother's mother, a man's mother-in-law |
| solidis | an English shilling |
| solutio, solutionis | a payment made or to be made |
| solvere, solvi, solvo, solutum | to pay |
| solvitur | released, set free |
| soror | sister |
| soror consanguinea | step-sister sharing a common father |
| soror uterina | step-sister sharing a common mother |
| sororis maritus | a wife's husband's brother, a woman's brother-in-law |
| subinquillinus | sub-tenant |
| sui iuris est | he is of age |
| suillus, sus | pigs |
| superannato | a livestock yearling |
| tempus fugit | time flies |
| tenens | a tenant |
| tenet | to hold, such as in holding a piece of property |
| terminus | a term as in the length of time of a lease |
| terra ista iacet (jacet) in | this land lies in, as in, this land lies in the parish of Melksham |
| terra vocat | land called |
| terrere | cows |
| tertio quoque anno | every other year |
| testim et ultime voluntatis | last Will and Testament |
| triduum | three days |
| triennium | for a period of three years |
| triens | a measure equal to one-third |
| tritavia, tritavus | a person's great-great-great-great-grandmother or great-great-great-great-grandfather |
| ubi supra | where above mentioned |
| uirgatam (virgatam) | a virgate (land measurement) |
| ultimo | often found in early English parish registers to indicate the last day of a month rather than the more formal prid. Kal., or pridie Kalendis ... |
| unamaliam | another |
| uncia | one-twelfth, or, one ounce |
| uxor | wife |
| uxoris frater | a man's wife's brother, a man's brother-in-law |
| uxoris soror | a man's wife's sister, a man's sister-in-law |
| vacca | cows |
| vaccae fetal (foetal) | breeding cows |
| vaccae steriles | barren cows |
| valetudo | ill-health |
| venia | absolution |
| vetitus | illicit |
| vinea, vinetum | grape vines, vineyard |
| vir | grown man, also, a husband |
| vita brevis | life is short |
| vitricus | step-father |
| vitulus/vitula | male/female calf |
| vixit bene plenis | lived to be a good old age |
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