A Collection of Language Guides

Bella! Horidda bella!~ wars! Terrible wars!

Beātus ille quī procul negōtiīs~ happy the man who far away from business… tills with his own oxen the fields his father owned.

Barbā tenus sapientēs~ literally, ‘wise as far as the beard’, i.e. with the appearance of wisdom only.

Avito viret honore~ he is green with ancestral honours; such are the honours heaped on his forefathers that he a thrives on them b wears them like a laurel crown

A verbis ad verbera~ from words to blows

Ave Maria~ Hail Mary~ a the angel’s salutation to the Virgen Mary, from St Luke’s gospel b the first two words of a prayer to the Virgin as Mother of God, often set to music

Ave atque vale~ hail and farewell: a greeting followed by a goodbye

Aut vincere aut mori~ either to conquer or to die

Aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet~ one should be born either king or fool

Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poetae~ poets seek either to profit or to please

Aut non tentaris aut perfice~ either do not attempt or finish the job

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam~ either I shall find a way or I shall make one

Aut insanit homo aut versus facit~ either the man is mad or he is writing poetry

Aut Caesar aut nullus (or nihil)~ either Caesar (i.e. the emperor) or nobody (nothing) i.e. all or nothing