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The Latin word for «find» is «invenit.»
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Q: What is the latin word for find?
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It’s guaranteed that you have or will run into some of these Latin terms in anything including the lightest reading. That’s because they’re everywhere. In newspapers, textbooks, manuals, et cetera. They are used in, inter alia, academic writing, text messaging, and, quite extensively, law documents. So, they are, ipso facto, very important to know. Ergo, we thought it’s a good idea to combine these Latin words and phrases in one place and explain what they mean so that when you run into some of them next time, you go like, ha! I have seen this word somewhere and I know what it means. So, let’s get down to it.
1. a priori
A belief or conclusion based on assumptions or reasoning of some sort rather than actual experience or empirical evidence. Before actually encountering, experiencing, or observing a fact.
2. a posteriori.
A fact, belief, or argument that is based on actual experience, experiment, or observation. After the fact.
3. ad astra.
To the stars.
4. ad hoc.
For a particular situation, without planning or consideration of some broader purpose or application.
5. ad hominem.
Directed to a particular person rather than generally, such as an attack on a person rather than a position they are espousing.
6. ad infinitum.
Repeat forever.
7. ad lib
Short for ad libitum. As you desire, at one’s pleasure. To speak or perform without preparation.
8. ad nauseam.
Repetition that has become annoying or tiresome.
9. affidavit.
He has sworn. Sworn statement.
10. alma mater.
Nourishing, kind, bounteous mother. School from which one graduated.
11. alias.
Also known as. Otherwise known as. Less commonly as the proper meaning of at another time, otherwise.
12. alibi.
In another place. Elsewhere. Reason one couldn’t have been in a location where an act was committed.
13. alter ego.
Other self. Another side of oneself.
14. A.D.
short for anno Domini. In the year of our Lord. Number of years since the birth of Jesus Christ.
15. a.m.
Short for ante meridiem. Before midday (noon.) Morning.
16. animus.
Spirit, mind, courage anger. Animosity. Intense opposition and ill will towards something, somebody, or some social group, commonly emotional, passionate, and mean-spirited. Hatred.
17. ante.
Before. Earlier. In a Supreme Court opinion, ante refers to an earlier page of the same opinion.
18. ante bellum.
Before the war.
19. ante mortem.
Before death.
20. bona fide.
Genuine. Real. With no intention to deceive.
21. c. / ca. / or cca.
Short for circa. Around. About. Approximately. Relative to a certain year.
22. carpe diem.
Seize the day or moment. Make the best of the present rather than delay or focus on the future.
23. caveat.
Warning, caution, disclaimer, or stipulation.
24. cf.
Short for confer. Compare to. In reference to, as a comparison.
25. cogito ergo sum.
I think, therefore I am — Descartes.
26. consensus.
Agreement. General or widespread agreement.
27. corpus.
Body, especially of written or textual matter such as books and papers.
28. curriculum.
Race. Course of a race. Path of a race. Subjects comprising a course of academic study.
29. CV
Short for curriculum vitae. The course of one’s life. Resume. List of significant academic and professional accomplishments, achievements, awards, education, and training.
30. de facto.
True or matter of fact as it is, regardless of intent, good reason, authority, or official reason for being such.
31. dictum.
Something said. Noteworthy, authoritative statement or principle. Common wisdom.
32. doctor.
Teacher. Learned person. Doctor.
33. ergo.
Therefore.
34. et al.
Short for et alia (neuter plural) or et alii (masculine plural) or et aliae (feminine plural). And others. And all of the others.
35. etc.
Short for et cetera.
36. e pluribus unum.
— Out of many, one — U.S. motto.
37. ex post.
After.
38. ex post facto.
After the fact.
39. e.g.
Short for exempli gratia. For the sake of example. For example.
40. ibid.
Short for ibidem or ib idem. In the same place. For a citation, indicates that it is from the same place as the preceding citation.
41. id.
short for idem. From the same source. For a citation, indicates that it is from the same source, but not from the same location in that source. In contrast to ibidem (ibid.) which means the same location or place in the same source as the preceding citation.
42. i.e.
Short for id est. That is. In other words.
43. in absentia.
Conducted in the absence of.
44. in camera.
In chambers. In private, commonly for legal proceedings, in the judge’s office (chambers.) before digital photography cameras were little “chambers.”
45. in situ.
In position. In place.
46. in toto.
As a whole. Entirely. All of it.
47. incognito.
Unknown. With one’s identity concealed. This is actually an Italian word, derived from the Latin word incognitus.
48. inter alia.
Among others. Among other things.
49. innuendo.
By nodding. Implied. Indirectly implied. Suggested. Oblique allusion.
50. intra.
Within. In a Supreme Court opinion, refers to a decision of another court, typically an appeals court.
51. ipso facto.
By that very fact or act. Therefore.
51. lingua franca.
Common language in a multi-language environment. Technically, it’s Italian.
52. magnum opus.
Great work. Greatest work. Masterpiece.
53. M.O.
short for modus operandi. Mode or method of operation. How you do things.
54. n.b. or N.B.
short for nota bene. Note well. It is worth noting that.
55. per capita.
Per person, for each person, of a population. Individually, but not for any particular person.
56. per cent.
or percent short for per centum. For each one hundred.
57. per se.
By itself. Intrinsically. Specifically.
58. p.m. / PM
short for post meridiem. After midday (noon.) Afternoon.
59. post.
After. Later. In a Supreme Court opinion, post refers to a later page of the same opinion.
60. post mortem.
After death.
61. prima facie.
On its face. Accepted on its face. Accepted as true based on initial impression. Accepted as true unless proven false.
62. PS.
short for post scriptum. Written after. After what has been written. In addition to what has been written. In addition.
63. quasi.
As if. As though. Resembling. Similar but not quite exactly the same. Having many but not all the features of.
64. quid pro quo.
This for that. An exchange of goods or services. A barter transaction. Any contractual transaction.
65. sic
or [sic]. So, this. The previous word should be taken literally even if it is not correct or appropriate.
66. stat.
or stat short for statim. Immediately. Now. without delay.
67. status quo.
The existing state of affairs. As it is. As things are.
68. stricto sensu
or sensu stricto. In a narrow, tight, or strict sense. Strictly speaking.
69. sui generis.
Of its own kind. Unique. Outside of existing categories. In law, outside of existing law.
70. supra.
Above. From the previous cited source.
71. tabula rasa.
Clean slate. Blank slate. Absence of any preconceived notions, ideas, goals, or purpose.
72. veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
73. verbatim.
The same exact words. Literally.
74. vs.
short for versus. Against. In opposition to. As opposed to. In contrast to.
75. veto.
I forbid. Reject.
76. vice versa.
As well as the two immediately preceding subjects of a statement reversed. The same either way. The other way around.
77. viz.
short for videre licet or videlicet. Namely. That is.
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This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above. At the time when biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books that are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the common language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.
While learning Latin is now less common, it is still used by classical scholars, and for certain purposes in botany, medicine and the Roman Catholic Church, and it can still be found in scientific names. It is helpful to be able to understand the source of scientific names. Although the Latin names do not always correspond to the current English common names, they are often related, and if their meanings are understood, they are easier to recall. The binomial name often reflects limited knowledge or hearsay about a species at the time it was named. For instance Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzee, and Troglodytes troglodytes, the wren, are not necessarily cave-dwellers.
Sometimes a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for dog). These words may not be included in the table below if they only occur for one or two taxa. Instead, the words listed below are the common adjectives and other modifiers that repeatedly occur in the scientific names of many organisms (in more than one genus).
Adjectives vary according to gender, and in most cases only the lemma form (nominative singular masculine form) is listed here. 1st-and-2nd-declension adjectives end in -us (masculine), -a (feminine) and -um (neuter), whereas 3rd-declension adjectives ending in -is (masculine and feminine) change to -e (neuter). For example, verus is listed without the variants for Aloe vera or Galium verum.
The second part of a binomial is often a person’s name in the genitive case, ending -i (masculine) or -ae (feminine), such as Kaempfer’s tody-tyrant, Hemitriccus kaempferi. The name may be converted into a Latinised form first, giving -ii and -iae instead.
Words that are very similar to their English forms have been omitted.
Some of the Greek transliterations given are Ancient Greek, and others are Modern Greek.
In the tables, L = Latin, G = Greek, and LG = similar in both languages.
This list is not, and is not intended to be, exhaustive. To find other taxa which include the names listed here, use the intitle command in the search box
A[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acanthus etc. | G ἄκανθος (ákanthos) | thorny, spiny | Acanthus plant; Parorchis acanthus, a flatworm Munida acantha, a squat lobster; prickly ceratina, Ceratina acantha spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias; Reinhardt’s snake-eater, Polemon acanthias cotton thistle, Onopordum acanthium |
acanthus – acanthias – acantha – acanthium |
| acaulis | G, L | stemless | silver thistle, Carlina acaulis;
dwarf date palm, Phoenix acaulis |
acaulis – acaule |
| actin-, actino- | G ἀκτίς (aktis) | ray, radial | Schefflera actinophylla, Actinopterygii | actin — actino |
| acutus | L | sharpened, pointed | American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus;
angled sunbeam (butterfly), Curetis acuta; northern pintail, Anas acuta |
acutus – acuta – acutum |
| aculeatus | L | prickly | short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus;
three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus; butcher’s-broom, Ruscus aculeatus |
aculeatus – aculeata – aculeatum |
| adustus | L | singed, burnt | side-striped jackal, Canis adustus; dark onyx cowry, Erronea adusta |
adustus – adusta – adustum |
| aequalis | L | equal | common Atlantic grenadier, Nezumia aequalis; clay-coloured billbug, Sphenophorus aequalis Trogoxylon aequale, a beetle; Omophron aequale, a ground beetle |
aequalis – aequale |
| aestivus | L | summer | summer asphodel, Asphodelus aestivus; rough green snake, Opheodrys aestivus turquoise-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva; summer spider orchid, Caladenia aestiva Loddon lily, Leucojum aestivum; common wheat, Triticum aestivum |
aestivus – aestiva – aestivum |
| affinis | L | neighbouring, similar, kindred | lesser scaup, Aythya affinis; dugite, Pseudonaja affinis blue tongue, Melastoma affine; Persian violet, Exacum affine |
affinis – affine |
| africanus | L | African | reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus; southern African frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus africana; African clubhook-squid, Notonykia africanae; |
africanus – africana, africanae – africanum |
| agrestis | L | of the field, wild | field vole, Microtus agrestis;
green field-speedwell, Veronica agrestis |
agrestis – agreste |
| alatus | L āla | winged | pitcher plant, Nepenthes alata;
sharpwing monkeyflower, Mimulus alatus; winged elm, Ulmus alata; winged everlasting, Ammobium alatum; winged loosestrife, Lythrum alatum; winged seahorse, Hippocampus alatus; winged-stem passion flower, Passiflora alata |
alatus – alata – alatum |
| albiceps | L | white-headed | blow fly, Chrysomya albiceps;
moth, Syngamia albiceps; wood groundling, Parachronistis albiceps; Mexican golden red rump tarantula, Brachypelma albiceps |
albiceps |
| albidens | L | white-toothed | white-toothed brush mouse, Coccymys albidens; see also leucodon |
albidens |
| albopictus | L | painted white | Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus; Moneilema albopictum |
albopictus – albopicta – albopictum |
| albus | L | white | white ibis, Eudocimus albus; white oak, Quercus alba; mistletoe, Viscum album |
albus – alba – album |
| alpinus | L | alpine; of the Alps | alpine aster, Aster alpinus; alpine bearberry, Arctostaphylos alpina; alpine feverfew, Parthenium alpinum |
alpinus – alpina – alpinum |
| amabilis | L | lovable | lovable lily, Lilium amabile; lovely cotinga, Cotinga amabilis; lovely fairywren, Malurus amabilis; lovely fir, Abies amabilis |
amabilis – amabile |
| ambiguus | L | uncertain | beautiful woolly sunflower, Eriophyllum ambiguum; doubtful cone, Conus ambiguus; questionable Stropharia, Stropharia ambigua; tick bush, Kunzea ambigua |
ambiguus – ambigua – ambiguum |
| amblys | G ἀμβλύς (amblús) | blunt, dull | marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus | amblys – All pages with titles beginning with Ambly |
| americanus | L | American | American black bear, Ursus americanus; American hazel nut, Corylus americana; American mastodon, Mammut americanum |
americanus – americana – americanum |
| amphi- | G ἀμφί (amphí) | of all kinds, on all sides | amphibian; Amphipoda | All pages with titles beginning with Amphi |
| ampulla | L | bottle, flask | northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus | ampullatus – ampullata – ampullatum – All pages with titles beginning with Ampulla |
| amurensis | L | from the Amur River | Amur grape, Vitis amurensis | amurensis – amurense |
| anglicus | L | from England | Common cordgrass, Sporobolus anglicus; Bibio anglicus, a fly; English sundew, Drosera anglica; English whitebeam, Sorbus anglica; English stonecrop, Sedum anglicum | anglicus – anglica – anglicum |
| angolensis | L | from Angola | African teak, Pterocarpus angolensis | angolensis – angolense |
| angustiflorus | L | narrow-flowered | Eastwood’s bellflower, Campanula angustiflora;
narrowflower lupine, Lupinus angustiflorus |
angustiflorus – angustiflora – angustiflorum |
| angustifolius | L | narrow-leaved | narrowleaf cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium;
narrowleaf cottonwood, Populus angustifolia; narrowleaf sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius |
angustifolius – angustifolia – angustifolium |
| angustus | L | narrow | narrow-banded widow, Dingana angusta; narrowleaf pansy monkeyflower, Mimulus angustatus; slimleaf bean, Phaseolus angustissimus; Prairie acacia, Acaciella angustissima; sea snail, Vexillum angustissimum |
angustus – angusta – angustum – angustatus – angustissimus – angustissima – angustissimum |
| antarcticus | L | of the southern hemisphere | chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarcticus;
gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus; |
antarcticus – antarctica – antarcticum |
| anthos | G ἄνθος (ánthos) | flower | anthozoans, Anthozoa;
golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha; |
All pages with titles beginning with Antho |
| anthropo- | G ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) | man, human being | Paranthropus | All pages with titles beginning with Anthropo |
| apis | L | bee | western honey bee, Apis mellifera;
white sage, Salvia apiana |
apianus – apiana – apianum – All pages with titles beginning with Api |
| aquaticus | L | found near water | eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus; wild rice, Zizania aquatica; water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica; |
aquaticus – aquatica – aquaticum |
| arborescens | L | tree-like or shrub-like | Artemisia arborescens;
Aloe arborescens; Hydrangea arborescens |
arborescens |
| archaeo- | G ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos) | ancient | Archaeopteryx | All pages with titles beginning with Archaeo – All pages with titles beginning with Archeo |
| arch-, archi-, archo-, -archus | G ἀρχός (arkhos) | ruler, leader, prince, highest, greatest | Archidendron grandiflorum | archi — archo
archo — archus |
| arctos | G ἄρκτος (árktos) | bear | grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis;
common bearberry, Arctostaphylos |
arctos – All pages with titles beginning with Arcto |
| arena | L | sand | sand iris, Iris arenaria; sand rock-cress, Arabidopsis arenosa; sand seatrout, Cynoscion arenarius; sand-dusted cone, Conus arenatus |
arenarius – arenaria – arenarium – arenatus – arenata – arenosa |
| arenicolus | L | sand-dwelling | dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus; sand goldenrod, Solidago arenicola; sanddwelling dewberry, Rubus arenicola; sandy stargazer, Gillellus arenicola |
arenicolus – arenicola |
| argentatus | L | silvery | European herring gull, Larus argentatus | argentatus – argentata – argentatum |
| argenteus | L | silvery | silver buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea; silver tree, Leucadendron argenteum; silvery lupine, Lupinus argenteus; white mulberry, Pipturus argenteus |
argenteus – argentea – argenteum |
| argentum | L | silver | sea snail, Calliostoma argentum | argentum |
| argillicola | L | living on clay | clay Fiddler Crab, Minuca argillicola; Hullsia argillicola | argillicola |
| aromatica | G ἄρωμα (árōma) | aromatic | clove nutmeg, Ravensara aromatica; Croton aromaticus; clove, Syzygium aromaticum |
aromaticus – aromatica – aromaticum |
| arthro- | G ἄρθρον (árthron) | joint | Arthropoda | All pages with titles beginning with Arthro |
| arvensis | L | in the field | skylark, Alauda arvensis; field horsetail, Equisetum arvense |
arvensis – arvense |
| asiatica | L | Asian | white-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica; Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus, Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus |
asiatica – asiaticus |
| astro-, astero- | G ἄστρον (ástron) | star | starfish (class), Asteroidea | All pages with titles beginning with Astero – All pages with titles beginning with Astro |
| ater | L | dull black | common chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater; Eurasian coot, Fulica atra; black swan, Cygnus atratus; black yarrow, Achillea atrata; creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus see also niger |
ater – atra – atrum – atratus – atrata – atratum |
| atropurpureus | L | deep purple, blackish-purple | Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’; Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea; purple-flowered cotoneaster, Cotoneaster atropurpureus |
atropurpureus – atropurpurea – atropurpureum |
| aurantius, aurantiacus | L | orange-colored | bitter orange, Citrus aurantium | aurantius – aurantia – aurantium; aurantiacus – aurantiaca – aurantiacum |
| aureus | L | golden | golden jackal, Canis aureus; Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) see also chrysos |
aureus – aurea – aureum |
| auritus | L | having (large) ears | brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus; double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita yerba santa, Piper auritum; blue eared pheasant, Crossoptilon auritum |
auritus – aurita – auritum |
| australis | L | southern | southern right whale, Eubalaena australis | australis – australe |
B[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| baccatus | L | berry-bearing | common yew, Taxus baccata; Conus baccatus, a sea snail | baccatus — baccata — baccatum |
| barbatus | L barba | bearded | bearded catasetum, Catasetum barbatum; bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus; black-chinned siskin, Spinus barbata; Bornean bearded pig, Sus barbatus; golden-beard penstemon, Penstemon barbatus | barbatus – barbata – barbatum |
| bicolor | L | two-colored | bicolor angelfish, Centropyge bicolor; bicolor cleanerfish, Labroides bicolor; bicolored moth, Manulea bicolor | bicolor |
| bicoloratus | L | two-colored | bicolored angle, Macaria bicolorata; Kenya two-headed snake, Micrelaps bicoloratus; orchid, Bulbophyllum bicoloratum | bicoloratus – bicolorata – bicoloratum |
| bicornis | L | two-horned | black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis | bicornis |
| bios | G βίος (bíos) | life | amphibian; biota, all living things | bios |
| blandus | L | pleasant, smooth, alluring | Greek windflower, Anemone blanda; Mallos blandus, a spider | blandus — blanda — blandum |
| borealis | L | northern | northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis northern bedstraw, Galium boreale |
borealis — boreale |
| brachion | G βραχίων (brakhíōn) | arm | Przewalski’s gerbil, Brachiones przewalskii; Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus | All pages with titles beginning with Brachio |
| brasiliensis | L | Brazilian | Brazilian brown bat Eptesicus brasiliensis | All pages with titles containing Brasiliensis |
| brachy- | G βραχύς (brakhús) | short | Brazilian gold frog, Brachycephalus didactylus | All pages with titles beginning with Brachy |
| brachyphyllus | G | short-leaved | extinct plant genus, Brachyphyllum; flower, Colchicum brachyphyllum; leaf-nosed bats, Brachyphylla; shortleaf baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla; see also brevifolius |
brachyphyllus – brachyphylla – brachyphyllum |
| brady- | G βραδύς (bradús) | slow | pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus | All pages with titles beginning with Brady |
| branchia | G βράγχιον (bránkhion) | gills | Lamellibranchia (class, syn. Bivalva); Branchiopoda (class, brine shrimps) | All pages with titles beginning with Branchi |
| brasiliensis | L | from Brazil | Brazilian marsh rat, Holochilus brasiliensis; Brazilian stick mantis, Brunneria brasiliensis; rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis | brasiliensis – brasiliense |
| brevi- | L brevis | short | silvery-cheeked hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis | brevis — breve — All pages with titles beginning with Brevi |
| brevicaudatus | L | short-tailed | bearded leaf chameleon, Rieppeleon brevicaudatus; sea snail, Lophiotoma brevicaudata; short-tailed ceratosoma, Ceratosoma brevicaudatum | brevicaudatus – brevicaudata – brevicaudatum |
| brevicollis | L | short-necked | short-necked oil beetle, Meloe brevicollis | brevicollis – brevicolle |
| brevifolius | L | short-leaved | Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia; short-leaved dudleya, Dudleya blochmaniae subsp. brevifolia; shortleaf sneezeweed, Helenium brevifolium; zig-zag bog-rush, Schoenus brevifolius; see also brachyphyllus |
brevifolius – brevifolia – brevifolium |
| brevirostris | L | short beak | pignosed arrowtooth eel, Dysomma brevirostre; shortnose ponyfish, Leiognathus brevirostris |
brevirostris – brevirostre |
| britannicus | L | from Great Britain | Rumex britannica, a knotweed; British yellowhead, Inula britannica; Cortinarius britannicus, a mushroom; Geastrum britannicum, an earthstar fungus | britannicus — britannica — britannicum |
| bulbus | G βολβός | bulb | bulbous buttercup, Ranunculus bulbosus; onion cone, Conus bulbus |
bulbus – bulbosus – bulbosa |
C[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| caecus | L | blind | blind mole, Talpa caeca; northern eyed hawkmoth, Smerinthus caecus | caecus — caeca — caecum |
| caeruleus | L | blue | Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus; blue passion flower, Passiflora caerulea | caeruleus — caerulea — caeruleum |
| californicus | L | California | California blue dorid, Felimare californiensis | californicus — californica — californiensis |
| callosus | L | calloused | large vesper mouse, Calomys callosus; tree fern, Cyathea callosa; orchid, Paphiopedilum callosum | callosus — callosa — callosum |
| calvus | L | bald | Altolamprologus calvus, Isbrueckerichthys calvus, both fish Banasa calva, a stink bug; Trichocorixa calva, a water boatman Intrasporangium calvum, a bacterium; Bulbophyllum calvum, an orchid |
calvus— calva — calvum |
| cambricus | L, from Cambria | from Wales | wild cotoneaster, Cotoneaster cambricus; Alalcomenaeus cambricus, fossil arthropod Welsh wave, Venusia cambrica; Welsh eyebright, Euphrasia cambrica Welsh poppy, Papaver cambricum; limestone polypody, Polypodium cambricum Welsh groundsel, Senecio cambrensis; Flexicalymene cambrensis, a fossil trilobite |
cambricus — cambrica — cambricum — cambrensis |
| canadensis | L | from Canada | bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis | canadensis — canadense |
| candidus | L | brightly white, shining white | Madonna lily, Lilium candidum | candidus — candida — candidum |
| canescens | L | turning grey- or white-haired | Geraea canescens (desert sunflower); Atriplex canescens | canescens |
| canis | L | dog | coyote, Canis latrans; Dipylidium caninum (a tapeworm) | canis — caninus — canina — caninum |
| canorus | L canōrus | melodious | common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus; Chinese hwamei, Garrulax canorus Cuban grassquit, Phonipara canora; Campylocheta canora, a tachinid fly |
canorus — canora — canorum |
| canus | L | gray (haired), pale gray | grey-headed woodpecker, Picus canus; woolly groundsel, Senecio canus | canus — cana — canum |
| caprae | L | of a goat | Staphylococcus caprae | caprae — capri |
| castaneus | L | chestnut(-colored) | chestnut bolete, Gyroporus castaneus; reddish carpenter ant, Camponotus castaneus chestnut, Castanea; chestnut short-tailed bat, Carollia castanea chestnut leek orchid, Prasophyllum castaneum; red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum |
castaneus — castanea — castaneum |
| cauda | L | tail | long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus; thintail skate, Dipturus leptocaudus; northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda | |
| caulos | G καυλός (kaulós) | stem, stalk | stemless gentian, Gentiana acaulis | acaulis — acaule |
| cephalo- | G κεφαλή (kephalḗ) | head | Mediterranean gull, Larus melanocephalus; blue-spotted grouper, Cephalopholis argus | All pages with titles beginning with Cephal |
| -ceps | L caput | head | pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps; biceps (two-headed muscle) | |
| ceros | L cornū G κέρας (kéras) | horn | narwal, Monodon monoceros; rhinoceros (nose horn) | |
| cest | L cestus G κεστός (kestós) | girdle, belt, stitched | Cestoda | All pages with titles beginning with Cest |
| chaetes | G χαίτη (khaítē) | flowing hair, or mane | wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou | |
| chilensis | L | from Chile | paradise tanager, Tangara chilensis | chilensis — chilense |
| chinensis | L | from China | China rose, Rosa chinensis; Chinese onion, Allium chinense; Chinese sumac, Rhus chinensis; see also Sinense, below |
chinensis – chinense |
| chloro- | G χλωρός (khlōrós) | pale green | common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus | All pages with titles beginning with Chloro |
| chordatus | L | spined | chordates; Stylephorus chordatus, Tinospora cordifolia | chordatus – chordata – chordatum |
| chroma | G χρῶμα (khrôma) | color | clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus | All pages with titles beginning with Chrom |
| chrysos | G χρυσός (khrusós) | gold | Chrysochloridae (golden moles); golden pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus; maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus see also aureus |
All pages with titles beginning with Chryso |
| chrysophyllus | G | gold-leaved | golden chinquapin, Chrysolepis chrysophylla; golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Phlomis chrysophylla; satinleaf, Chrysophyllum oliviforme |
chrysophyllus – chrysophylla – chrysophyllum |
| cilium | L | eyelash | Ashland thistle, Cirsium ciliolatum; bristleworm, Polydora ciliata; eyelash gecko, Correlophus ciliatus; queen angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris; Australian red cedar, Toona ciliata; sickle-leaved cymodocea, Thalassodendron ciliatum |
ciliaris – ciliare – ciliatus – ciliata – ciliatum – ciliolatum |
| cinereus | L | ash, ash-colored | masked shrew, Sorex cinereus; Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea; gray thrasher, Toxostoma cinereum; common gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
cinereus – cinerea – cinereum |
| cirrhus | G κιρρός (kirrhós) | orange | fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus; mrigal carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosus; silverspotted sculpin, Blepsias cirrhosus |
cirrhosus – cirrhosa – cirrhosum |
| citri | L | citrus | the citrus blossom moth, Prays citri | citri |
| colchicus | L | from Colchis (Greek Κολχῐ́ς, Kolchís) or Georgia | common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus; Phoxinus colchicus, a minnow Caucasian bladdernut, Staphylea colchica; Colchic holly, Ilex colchica Colchic nase, Chondrostoma colchicum; Cyclamen colchicum, a primrose |
colchicus — colchica — colchicum |
| cneme | G κνήμη (knḗmē) | shin, leg | white-legged damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes | |
| —cola | L —cola | inhabitant | Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola; paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola The forms —colus and —colum are also found, although they are not considered to be correct Latin: deepwater grenadier, Coryphaenoides profundicolus; black-sided flowerpecker, Dicaeum monticolum.[1] |
|
| clathratus | L | grated, latticed | kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus; clathrate nassa, Nassarius clathratus slender-armed starfish, Luidia clathrata; latticed sandperch, Parapercis clathrata Allium clathratum, an onion; Vexillum clathratum, a sea snail |
clathratus — clathrata — clathratum |
| collaris | L | collared | ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris; collared pika, Ochotona collaris collared carpetshark, Parascyllium collare; mottled sand grasshopper, Spharagemon collare |
collaris – collare |
| compressus | L compressus | slender, pressed together | slender oatgrass, Danthonia compressa; slender crayfish, Faxonius compressus emerald cockroach wasp, Ampulex compressa; empire gudgeon, Hypseleotris compressa Dendrobium compressum, an orchid |
compressus – compressa – compressum |
| concolor | L | having uniform color throughout | cougar, Puma concolor; white fir, Abies concolor | |
| conno- | G κόννος (kónnos) | beard | wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou | All pages with titles beginning with Conno |
| corax | L corvus G κόραξ (kórax) | crow, raven | common raven, Corvus corax | corax |
| cordatus | L | heart-shaped | cordate (leaf shape); small-leaved lime, Tilia cordata; sea potato, Echinocardium cordatum |
cordatus – cordata – cordatum |
| cordifolius | L | heart-shaped leaves | heartleaf aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium; heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia; Tucson bur ragweed, Ambrosia cordifolia |
cordifolius – cordifolia – cordifolium |
| coriaceus | L, from corium («leather») | leathery | Pajahuello tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus; beach bird’s eye, Alectryon coriaceus blue china vine, Holboellia coriacea; leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea green tea-tree, Leptospermum coriaceum; inland rock orchid, Dendrobium coriaceum |
coriaceus — coriacea — coriaceum |
| cornu | L cornū | horn | garden snail, Cornu aspersum; great ramshorn, Planorbarius corneus |
All pages with titles beginning with Cornu |
| coronatus | L | crowned | crowned lemur, Eulemur coronatus; crowned turban shell, Lunella coronata |
coronatus – coronata – coronatum |
| costatus | L | ribbed | ribbed slipper shell, Maoricrypta costata; striped Raphael catfish, Platydoras costatus | costatus – costata – costatum |
| crassus, crassi— | L | thick, fat | creeping blueberry, Vaccinium crassifolium; inflated spiny crab, Rochinia crassa; mouthless crab, Cardisoma crassum |
crassus – crassa – crassum |
| cristatus | L | crested | aardwolf, Proteles cristatus; blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata; crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum |
cristatus – cristata – cristatum |
| crocos | G κρόκος (krókos) | yellow | bicoloured white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon; saffron, Crocus sativus; spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta |
All pages with titles beginning with croc |
| crypto- | G κρυπτός (kruptós) | hidden | Cryptococcus; Cryptosporidium | All pages with titles beginning with Crypto |
| culminicola | L | summit dweller | Elaeocarpus culminicola; Euxoa culminicola; Pinus culminicola, Potosi pinyon | All pages with titles containing culminicola |
| cursor | L | runner, racer | cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor; cursorial akodont, Akodon cursor; Lacépède’s ground snake, Erythrolamprus cursor | cursor |
| curvirostris | L | curved beak | boxer snipe eel, Nemichthys curvirostris; curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre |
curvirostris – curvirostre |
| cyano- | G κυανός (kuanós) | blue-green | azure-winged magpie, Cyanopica cyanus; big blue octopus, Octopus cyanea; blue orchid, Aganisia cyanea |
All pages with titles beginning with Cyano – cyaneus – cyanea – cyaneum |
D[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dactyl-, dactylo- | G δάκτυλος (dáktulos) | finger or toe | black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla; Pterodactylus | All pages with titles beginning with Dactyl |
| deca-, deka- | G δέκα (déka) | ten | alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus | All pages with titles beginning with Deca |
| decem | L | ten | Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata | |
| delphis | G δελφύς (delphús) | womb | virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana | |
| dendr-, dendri-, dendro-, -dendron, -dendrum | G δένδρον (déndron) | tree | Philodendron, Dendrobium, Rhododendron | dendro — dendron — dendrum |
| derma | G δέρμα (dérma) | skin | yellow staining mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus | All pages with titles beginning with Derm |
| di- | G δι- (di-) | two | Christmas orchid, Dipodium punctatum | Too common a letter combination for any useful search |
| diffusus | L diffundere | diffuse | diffuse spineflower, Chorizanthe diffusa; fly, Paralimnophila diffusior; rush, Juncus diffusissimus; spreading groundsmoke, Gayophytum diffusum; spreading lupine, Lupinus diffusus; spreading phlox, Phlox diffusa |
diffusus – diffusa – diffusum – diffusior – diffusissimus |
| digitatus | L | having fingers | finger rush Juncus digitatus; baobab, Adansonia digitata; dead man’s fingers, Alcyonium digitatum |
digitatus — digitata — digitatum |
| dilatatus | L | dilated, extended | dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum; Maianthemum dilatatum |
dilatatus — dilatata — dilatatum |
| dioica | L | dioicous | common nettle, Urtica dioica | dioica |
| dino-, deino- | G δεινός (deinós) | terrifying | dinosaur, Deinotherium | All pages with titles beginning with Dino |
| diplo- | G διπλός (diplós) | double | two-eyed orange spider, Diploglena capensis | All pages with titles beginning with Diplo |
| disc, disk | G δίσκος (dískos) | disc | common fungus moth, Metalectra discalis | All pages with titles beginning with Disc — discalis — discale |
| dodeca- | G δώδεκα (dṓdeka) | twelve | Henderson’s shootingstar, Dodecatheon hendersonii | All pages with titles beginning with Dodeca |
| dolicho- | G δολιχός (dolikhós) | elongated, long | knight anole, Anolis dolichocephalus | All pages with titles beginning with Dolicho |
| domesticus | L | of the house or domestic | domestic pig, Sus scrofa domestica; house sparrow, Passer domesticus |
domesticus — domestica — domesticum |
| dorsum | L | back | back-striped weasel, Mustela strigidorsa | All pages with titles beginning with Dors |
| dubius | L | doubtful | little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
see also nomina dubia |
dubius – dubia |
| dulcis | L | sweet | almond, Prunus dulcis | dulcis – dulce |
| dumetorum | L, from dumus, «bramble» | «of the thickets» | Blyth’s reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum; bitter yam, Dioscorea dumetorum; coastal green hairstreak, Callophrys dumetorum | dumetorum |
| dumicola | L | scrub dweller | Acaena dumicola; Cerbera dumicola; Stegodyphus dumicola, African social spider | All pages with titles containing dumicola |
E[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eburneus | L eburneus | ivory-colored | ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea | eburneus — eburnea — eburneum |
| echinatus | L | prickly, spiny | Edisto crayfish, Procambarus echinatus; shortleaf pine, Pinus echinata | echinatus — echinata — echinatum |
| echino- | L echīnus G ἐχῖνος (ekhînos) | hedgehog, sea-urchin | great globe thistle, Echinops sphaerocephalus; diadema urchin, Echinothrix diadema; San Pedro cactus, Echinopsis pachanoi | All pages with titles beginning with Echino |
| edulis | L | edible | common cockle, Cerastoderma edule; king bolete, Boletus edulis; oyster, Ostrea edulis; passion fruit, Passiflora edulis | edulis — edule |
| elatior | L | taller | true oxlip, Primula elatior | elatior |
| electro- | G ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron) | amber, amber-colored or
electric (modern usage) |
broad-billed motmot, Electron platyrhynchum; electric eel, Electrophorus electricus |
No simple way to distinguish biological from other uses |
| elegans | L | elegant | crimson rosella, Platycercus elegans ; Granastyochus elegantissimus; Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima; false aralia, Plerandra elegantissima; Caecum elegantissimum |
elegans — elegantissimus — elegantissima — elegantissimum |
| emarginatus | L | having no edges | Phongolo suckermouth, Chiloglanis emarginatus; Gibraltar sea lavender, Limonium emarginatum; acerola, Malpighia emarginata; bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata |
emarginatus — emarginata — emarginatum |
| enanti- | G ἐναντίος (enantíos) | opposite, against | Enantiornithes | All pages with titles beginning with Enantio |
| ennea- | G ἐννέα (ennéa) | nine | banded sunfish Enneacanthus obesus; scurvy-grass sorrel, Oxalis enneaphylla | All pages with titles beginning with Ennea |
| ensatus | L | sword-like | California giant salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus | ensatus — ensata — ensatum |
| ensis, ensi- | L | sword, lance | jackknife clam, Ensis minor; swordleaf rush, Juncus ensifolius | All pages with titles beginning with Ensi — ensiformis |
| -ensis | L | of, from (a place) | Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat); Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis | |
| eques | L | knight, horseman | North Atlantic codling, Lepidion eques ; western horse lubber grasshopper, Taeniopoda eques; leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques Aspergillus equitis; Cygnus equitum; Hoheria equitum |
eques |
| erectus | L | upright | Homo erectus («upright man»); upright chickweed, Moenchia erecta | erectus — erecta — erectum |
| erio- | G ἔριον (érion) | wool, woolly | common cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium | All pages with titles beginning with Erio |
| erosus | L | indented, jagged, serrated | jícama, Pachyrhizus erosus; serrated hinge-back tortoise, Kinixys erosa | erosus — erosa — erosum |
| erythro- | G ἐρυθρός (eruthrós) | red[2] | spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus; dog’s-tooth violet, Erythronium dens-canis | All pages with titles beginning with Erythro |
| esculentus | L | edible | edible frog, Pelophylax kl. esculentus; Gyromitra esculenta | esculentus esculenta esculentum |
| europaeus | L | European | European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus; European owl moth, Brahmaea europaea | europaeus – europaea – europaeum |
| excelsus | L | exalted | African teak, Milicia excelsa; excelsior cone, Conus excelsus | excelsus – excelsa – excelsum |
F[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fallax | L | false | false swift, Borbo fallax; green marvel, Acronicta fallax | fallax |
| falx | L | sickle | sickle milkvetch, Astragalus falcatus; sickle-leaved hare’s-ear, Bupleurum falcatum; sicklethorn, Asparagus falcatus; wild pear, Persoonia falcata | falcatus – falcata – falcatum – falciformis – falx |
| familiaris | L | domestic, common, familiar | dog, Canis lupus familiaris | |
| felis | L | cat | black-footed cat, Felis nigripes; cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis | |
| felinus | L | cat-like, feline | cat gecko, Aeluroscalabotes felinus; marine otter, Lontra felina | felinus – felina – felinum |
| -fer | L | -bearing | western honey bee, Apis mellifera; coconut, Cocos nucifera | |
| ferox | L | ferocious, wild, bold | long snouted lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox; fossa, Cryptoprocta ferox | ferox |
| ferus | L | wild | wild horse, Equus ferus; wild Bactrian camel, Camelus ferus | ferus – fera – ferum |
| ferrugo | L | rust | ferruginous swift, Borbo ferruginea; reddish-brown corky spine fungus, Hydnellum ferrugineum; rusty bloodwood, Corymbia ferruginea; rusty parrotfish, Scarus ferrugineus; rusty pitohui, Pseudorectes ferrugineus |
ferrugineus – ferruginea – ferrugineum |
| fidelis | L | faithful | faithful sea slug, Goniobranchus fidelis; faithful leafcutting bee, Megachile fidelis; Pacific sideband, Monadenia fidelis | fidelis |
| filum | L | thread | desert fan palm, Washingtonia filifera; thread fern, Blechnum filiforme; thread-leaved sundew, Drosera filiformis | filifer – filifera – filiformis – filiforme |
| fimbriatus | L | fringed, fibrous | Coomsaharn char, Salvelinus fimbriatus; crested gliding lizard, Draco fimbriatus trumpet cup lichen, Cladonia fimbriata; fringed jumping spider, Portia fimbriata fringed earthstar, Geastrum fimbriatum; gang-gang cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum |
fimbriatus – fimbriata – fimbriatum |
| flavus | L | golden yellow, light yellow | yellow pitcher plant, Sarracenia flava; yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis | flavus – flava – flavum |
| floridus | L | flowery | blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida; floral banded wobbegong, Orectolobus floridus | floridus – floridum |
| flor- | L flos | flower | southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; great white trillium, Trillium grandiflorum | All pages with titles beginning with flori |
| fodiens | L fodere | digging | burying beetle, Nicrophorus defodiens; burying beetle, Nicrophorus infodiens; Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens; lowland burrowing tree frog, Smilisca fodiens | |
| folium | L | leaf | American beech, Fagus grandifolia; broad-leaved sermountain, Laserpitium latifolium; Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia; Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia; upright snottygobble, Persoonia longifolia | |
| formosanus | L fōrmōsānus | from Taiwan (formerly called Formosa) | Formosan black bear, Ursus thibetanus formosanus; Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Taiwan flower mantis, Acromantis formosana; Taiwanese sweet gum, Liquidambar formosana red quinoa, Chenopodium formosanum; Taiwan saddled carpetshark, Cirrhoscyllium formosanum |
formosanus – formosana – formosanum |
| formosus | L fōrmōsus | (well-)formed, beautiful | beautiful bronzeback tree snake, Dendrelaphis formosus; Asian arowana, Scleropages formosus Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa; least killifish, Heterandria formosa giant maidenhair, Adiantum formosum; beautiful giant-flowered dendrobium, Dendrobium formosum |
formosus – formosa – formosum |
| fragilis | L frangere | breakable | brittle bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis; brittle willow, Salix × fragilis; candy cap, Lactarius fragilis; Dientamoeba fragilis; dead man’s fingers, Codium fragile; fragile wart frog, Limnonectes fragilis | fragilis |
| fuliginosus | L | sooty | jet black ant, Lasius fuliginosus; ruby tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa; sooty hairstreak, Satyrium fuliginosum; sooty milkcap, Lactarius fuliginosus | fuliginosus – fuliginosa – fuliginosum |
| fulvus | L | deep yellow, tawny | Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva; sulphur leather coral, Rhytisma fulvum; tawny grisette, Amanita fulva; yellow ground squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus | fulvus – fulva – fulvum |
| furcatus | L | forked | forked viburnum, Viburnum furcatum; forked wormwood, Artemisia furcata; swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcatus | furcatus – furcata – furcatum |
| fuscus | L | dark, dark brown | dusky hopping mouse, Notomys fuscus; dusky pitcher-plant, Nepenthes fusca; rusty peat moss, Sphagnum fuscum; sooty tern, Sterna fuscata | fuscus – fusca – fuscum |
G[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gala, galum | G γάλα (gála) | milk | soap plants, Chlorogalum | |
| garrulus | L | chattering, talkative | Garrulus, a genus of jays; Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Eupithecia garrula, an inchworm moth; chestnut-winged chachalaca, Ortalis garrula Chelostoma garrulum, a carder bee; Omicron garrulum, a potter wasp |
garrulus – garrula – garrulum |
| gaster, gastro-, gastr- | L gaster G γαστήρ (gastḗr) | belly | common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster; Gastropoda | |
| geo- | G γαῖα, γῆ (gê) | Earth | Conus geographus, geography cone; Geotrichum | |
| giganteus | L | giant | giganteus (a sea snail); Aldabra giant tortoise, Aldabrachelys gigantea | giganteus – gigantea – giganteum |
| gigas | G γίγας | giant | Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas; snow morel, Gyromitra gigas; cœur de la mer, Entada gigas | All pages with titles containing gigas |
| glaber | L glaber | smooth; hairless[3] | naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber; smooth sumac, Rhus glabra; Omphiscola glabra (a snail) | glaber – glabra – glabrum |
| glacialis | L | found in glaciers | North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis; glacier wormwood, Artemisia glacialis glacier lantern fish, Benthosema glaciale; Endocellion glaciale, a daisy |
glacialis – glaciale |
| glandulosus | L | having kernels | Tasmanian laurel, Anopterus glandulosus, Basilan Island caecilian, Ichthyophis glandulosus; honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, warty jumping-slug, Hemphillia glandulosa; skunk currant, Ribes glandulosum, |
glandulosus – glandulosa – glandulosum |
| glaucus | L glaucus G γλαυκός (glaukós) | blue-green, blue-gray, gleaming | silvery blue butterfly, Lepidochrysops glauca; Glaucidae, nudibranch family | glaucus – glauca – glaucum |
| glutinosus | L glutinosus | sticky | common alder, Alnus glutinosa; viscid black earth tongue, Glutinoglossum glutinosum; northern slimy salamander, Plethodon glutinosus |
glutinosus – glutinosa – glutinosum |
| glyco-, glycy-, glyc- | G γλυκύς (glukús) | sweet | liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra; soybean, Glycine max | |
| gracilis, gracile | L | slender, graceful | western spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis; slough darter, Etheostoma gracile; Gracilisuchus | gracilis – gracile |
| gracilipes | L grăcĭlĭpes[4] | slender-footed | slender frog, Austrochaperina gracilipes; slender-legged bushfrog, Gracixalus gracilipes; slenderstalk monkeyflower, Mimulus gracilipes; slimfoot century plant, Agave gracilipes | gracilipes |
| graniticus | L | granite | granite claw flower, Calothamnus graniticus; granite poverty bush, Eremophila granitica; granite serpentweed, Tonestus graniticus |
graniticus – granitica – graniticum |
| graveolens | L gravis | strong-smelling | common rue, Ruta graveolens; lippia, Lippia graveolens | graveolens |
| gregarius | L gregārius, from grex (“flock, herd”) | sociable | sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius; goldfish plant, Nematanthus gregarius; desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria; Leptospermum gregarium, an Australian myrtle | gregarius – gregaria – gregarium |
| griseus | L (a New Latin loanword from Germanic) | grey | desert monitor, Varanus griseus; bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus; parent bug, Elasmucha grisea; lichen mimic, Gonatista grisea paperbark maple, Acer griseum; white-banded house jumping spider, Hypoblemum griseum |
griseus – grisea – griseum |
| groenlandicus | L | from Greenland (Old Norse Grœnland) | harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus; spiny lobster, Lebbeus groenlandicus Arctic woolly bear moth, Gynaephora groenlandica; elephanthead lousewort, Pedicularis groenlandica bog Labrador tea, Rhododendron groenlandicum |
groenlandicus – groenlandica – groenlandicum |
| gyrino-, gyrinus | G γυρῖνος (gurînos) | tadpole | spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus; e.g. Crassigyrinus, Proterogyrinus |
H[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| haema-, hema- | G αἷμα (haîma) | blood | Haemosporida; Bacteria sp., Haemophilus influenzae | |
| hali-, halio- | G ἅλς (háls) | of the sea, salt | Steller’s sea eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus; grey seal, Halichoerus grypus; black abalone, Haliotis cracherodii | |
| hamatus | L | hooked | Slender-billed kite, Helicolestes hamatus ; Ruitersbos pincushion, Leucospermum hamatum; Dark Tiger (butterfly) Tirumala hamata | hamatus — hamatum — hamata |
| haplo- | G ἁπλόος (haplóos) | simple, single | mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa; Mongolosaurus haplodon | |
| hedra- | G ἕδρα (hédra) | seat, facet | Chinese ephedra, Ephedra sinica | |
| helio- | G ἥλιος (hḗlios) | sun | sunflower, Helianthus annuus; sun spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia | |
| hemisphaerica | G | half-sphere | sand laurel oak, Quercus hemisphaerica, sulphur rose, Rosa hemisphaerica | Hemisphaerica |
| hetero- | G | diversely or different | melancholy thistle, Cirsium heterophyllum, Leucanthemum heterophyllum, Smith’s cress, Lepidium heterophyllum | heterophyllum |
| hexa- | G ἕξ (héx) | six | water primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala | |
| hibernicus | L | from Ireland | Irish whitebeam, Sorbus hibernica; Atlantic ivy, Hedera hibernica; Southern bristetail, Dilta hibernica; Irish hare, Lepus timidus hibernicus; Mycobacterium hiberniae; Pisidium hibernicum | hiberniae — hibernicus — hibernicum — hibernica |
| hibridus | L | hybrid | butterbur, Petasites hybridus, brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus; kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida; alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum; | hibridus — hybridus — hibrida — hybrida — hibridum — hybridum |
| hippo- | G ἵππος (híppos) | horse | seahorse, Hippocampus; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | |
| hirsutus | L | hairy | hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta; hairy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus hirsutus; hairy St John’s-wort, Hypericum hirsutum |
hirsutus — hirsuta – hirsutum |
| hispidus | L | rough, shaggy, bristly, prickly | banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus; shaggy bracket, Inonotus hispidus ringed seal, Pusa hispida; wax gourd, Benincasa hispida bristly starbur, Acanthospermum hispidum; white butterfly triggerplant, Stylidium hispidum |
hispidus — hispida – hispidum |
| homo | L | human, man | modern human, Homo sapiens; Neanderthal, Homo neanderthalensis | |
| hortensis | L hortus | from the garden | broad-leaved anemone, Anemone hortensis; garden orache, Atriplex hortensis; Mexican longwing, Heliconius hortense; Orphean warbler, Sylvia hortensis |
hortensis – hortense |
| humilis | L | low, small, humble | Mediterranean dwarf palm, Chamaerops humilis; Talaud flying fox, Acerodon humilis Argentine ant, Linepithema humile; Italian jasmine, Jasminum humile |
humilis – humile |
| hydro- | G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο- (húdōr, hudro-) | water | Chinese water deer, Hydropotes inermis; capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris | |
| hyemalis | L hiems | winter | dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis; winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis rough horsetail, Equisetum hyemale; putty root, Aplectrum hyemale Mucor hiemalis and Hebeloma hiemale, both fungi |
hyemalis – hyemale – hiemalis – hiemale |
| hyper- | G ὑπέρ (hupér) | over, above | St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum | |
| hyperboreus | G ὑπέρ Βορέᾱ (hupér Boréā) | from the Arctic region (Hyperborea) | glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus; tundra fleabane, Erigeron hyperboreus tangle or cuvie, Laminaria hyperborea; estuary beggarsticks, Bidens hyperborea boreal bur-reed, Sparganium hyperboreum; boreal haircap moss, Polytrichum hyperboreum |
hyperboreus – hyperborea – hyperboreum |
| hypo-, hyp- | G ὑπό (hupó) | under, beneath | zebra pleco catfish, Hypancistrus zebra; common cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris radicata |
I–K[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iliacus | L | having a distinctive flank | redwing, Turdus iliacus; Etaxalus iliacus, a beetle fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca; Rhytiphora iliaca, a beetle |
iliacus – iliaca |
| imbricatus | L | tiled | Mountain owl’s-clover, Orthocarpus imbricatus | imbricatus – imbricata – imbricatum |
| indicus | L | Indian | Malaysian tapir, Tapirus indicus | indicus – indica – indicum |
| inaequalis | L | unequal | variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis | inaequalis – inaequale |
| inedulis | L | inedible | fungus, Caloboletus inedulis | inedulis – inedule |
| inermis | L | unarmed, defenceless | water deer, Hydropotes inermis; henna tree, Lawsonia inermis turkey-berry, Canthium inerme; white milkwood, Sideroxylon inerme |
inermis – inerme |
| ingratus | L | offensive | See Ingrata | ingrata – ingratus – ingratum |
| innotatus | L | unmarked | unmarked dagger moth, Acronicta innotata | innotata |
| irregularis | L | unusual or irregular | variable burrowing asp, Atractaspis irregularis; viper’s bugloss, Hadena irregularis | irregularis – irregulare |
| japonicus | L | Japanese | food wrapper plant, Mallotus japonicus; Japanese pagoda tree, Styphnolobium japonicum; Japanese spiraea, Spiraea japonica; see also nipponensis | japonicus – japonica – japonicum |
| jubatus | L iubātus | having a mane, crested | cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus; Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus purple pampas grass, Cortaderia jubata; maned forest lizard, Bronchocela jubata foxtail barley, Hordeum jubatum; Piptochaetium jubatum, a speargrass species |
jubatus – jubata – jubatum |
| kentuckiensis | L | from Kentucky | Kentucky lady’s slipper, Cypripedium kentuckiense; Kentucky lichen moth, Cisthene kentuckiensis | kentuckiensis – kentuckiense |
L[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lact- | L lac | milk, sap, milky white | Chinese peony, Paeonia lactiflora; milk-caps, Lactifluus; Lactophrys; Aspalathus lactea | |
| laetus | L | pleasant, bright | Crombrugghia laetus, scarce light plume moth; Myoporum laetum, mousehole tree; Parhelophilus laetus | laetus — laetum |
| laevis | L | smooth | red-eyed assassin bug, Platymeris laevicollis; smooth bedstraw, Cruciata laevipes | All pages with titles containing Laevis |
| lagus | G λαγώς (lagṓs) | hare | European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus; viscachas, Lagidium spp. | |
| lancea | L | lance | sculptured seamoth, Pegasus lancifer; swamp lousewort, Pedicularis lanceolata | |
| lateralis | L | side | black-flanked rock-wallaby, Petrogale lateralis | |
| lapponicus | L | from Lapland/Sápmi (New Latin Lapponia) | Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus; Lapland mountain sorrel, Rumex lapponicus bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica; pincushion plant, Diapensia lapponica Lapland rosebay, Rhododendron lapponicum; Lapland poppy, Papaver lapponicum |
lapponicus – lapponica – lapponicum |
| latus | L | flank; broad | horse-eye jack, Caranx latus; wideleaf waterparsnip, Sium latifolium; wych elm, Ulmus glabra ‘Latifolia Aurea’ | |
| laxus | L | wide, yielding | American globeflower, Trollius laxus; Cyperus laxus, a sedge flowering grass, Freesia laxa; tufted forget-me-not, Myosotis laxa Bredasdorp conebush, Leucadendron laxum; false lily turf, Chlorophytum laxum |
laxus – laxa – laxum |
| lepidus | L | pleasant, pleasing, charming | rock rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus; ocellated lizard, Timon lepidus desert woodrat, Neotoma lepida; embossed hawthorn buprestid, Dicerca lepida greenthroat darter, Etheostoma lepidum; Leccinellum lepidum, a bolete |
lepidus – lepida – lepidum |
| lepis, lepido- | G λεπίς (lepís) | scale, rind, husk, flake | large-scale mullet, Liza macrolepis; Lepidoptera | |
| lepto-, lepti- | G λεπτός (leptós) | light | Leptictidium auderiense, Leptospira kirschneri | |
| lepus | L | hare | black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus | |
| leuco-, leuc- | G λευκός (leukós) | white | white-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus | |
| leucocephalus | G | white-headed | bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus; white-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala; white-headed marsh tyrant, Arundinicola leucocephala; white-headed stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus; also see albiceps |
leucocephalus – leucocephala – leucocephalum |
| leucodon | G | white-toothed | bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon; lesser mole-rat, Spalax leucodon; white-toothed cowry, Cypraea leucodon; white-toothed woodrat, Neotoma leucodon; also see albidens |
leucodon |
| leucurus | G | white-tailed | white-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura; white-tailed robin, Cinclidium leucurum; white-tailed stonechat, Saxicola leucurus |
leucurus – leucura – leucurum |
| limosus | L | muddy | limosa harlequin frog, Atelopus limosus; mud amnicola, Amnicola limosus |
limosus – limosa – limosum |
| lineatus | L | lined or striped | thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus; Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata | |
| lobos | L lobus G λοβός (lobós) | lobe | three-lobe buttercup, Ranunculus trilobus | |
| longi- | L longus | long | frog shark, Somniosus longus, galingale, Cyperus longus; Turmeric, Curcuma longa; Long pepper, Piper longum, |
longus – longa – longum –All pages with titles beginning with longi |
| longicaudatus | L | long-tailed | long-tailed pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus; longtail catfish, Olyra longicaudata; longtail tadpole shrimp Triops longicaudatus |
longicaudatus – longicaudata – longicaudatum |
| longicollis | L | long-necked | eastern long-necked turtle, Chelodina longicollis | longicollis – longicolle |
| longifolius | L | long-leaved | long-leaf persoonia, Persoonia longifolia; long-leaf wild buckwheat, Eriogonum longifolium; long-leaved butterwort, Pinguicula longifolia; longleaf bush lupine, Lupinus longifolius; longleaf sunflower, Helianthus longifolius |
longifolius – longifolia – longifolium |
| longirostris | L | long beak | longbeak buttercup, Ranunculus longirostris; longsnout blacksmelt, Dolicholagus longirostris |
longirostris – longirostre |
| luctuosus | L | sorrowful, mournful | forget-me-not bug, Sehirus luctuosus; white-shouldered tanager, Tachyphonus luctuosus; four-spotted moth, Tyta luctuosa |
luctuosus – luctuosa – luctuosum |
| luminosus | L | glowing | cucubano, Ignelater luminuosus; New Zealand glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa; striped flying squid, Eucleoteuthis luminosa |
luminuosus – luminuosa – luminuosum |
| luteus | L | yellow, saffron-colored | yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus; yellow vetch, Vicia lutea; red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea |
luteus – lutea – luteum |
M[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| macro- | G μακρός (makrós) | long, large | big-headed mole rat, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus; rock onion, Allium macrum; sea snail, Turbonilla macra | macra – macrum |
| macroura | G | long-tailed | hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura | macroura |
| maculatus | L | spotted | tiger quoll, Dasyurus maculatus; spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius | maculatus — maculata — maculatum |
| madagascariensis | L | from Madagascar | Madagascar day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis; Malagasy ground boa, Acrantophis madagascariensis; Malagasy tree boa, Sanzinia madagascariensis; Madagascar fruit-bat argasid, Ornithodoros madagascariensis | madagascariensis |
| magnus | L | great, large | streaked spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna | magnus – magna – magnum |
| major | L | greater | great tit, Parus major | |
| malabaricus | L | from Malabar | chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabaricus | |
| marginatus | L | bordered | gold edge Japanese euonymus, Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureomarginatus’ ; marginated tortoise, Testudo marginata | marginatus — marginata — marginatum |
| maritima | L | of the sea | sea beet, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima; samphire, Crithmum maritimum, sea holly, Eryngium maritimum; polar bear, Ursus maritimus, sea rush, Juncus maritimus, |
maritima – maritimum – maritimus |
| mauretanicus | L | from Mauretania (the Maghreb, northwest Africa) | Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus; Moroccan hairstreak, Tomares mauretanicus Adscita mauretanica, a moth; Marginella mauretanica, a sea snail |
mauretanicus — mauretanica — mauretanicum |
| mauro- | G μαυρός (maurós) | dark, black | dark shrew, Crocidura maurisca | |
| maximus | L | largest | royal tern, Sterna maxima | |
| mega- | G μέγας (mégas) | large, great | megalodon shark, Carcharodon megalodon | |
| megacephalus | G | big-headed | Andriyashev large-headed sculpin, Andriashevicottus megacephalus; big-head rush, Juncus megacephalus; big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala; big-headed tiger beetle, Megacephala megacephala; coastal plain hawkweed, Hieracium megacephalum; large-headed rice rat, Hylaeamys megacephalus | megacephalus – megacephala – megacephalum |
| mel | L | honey | black sage, Salvia mellifera; Nephelium melliferum; western honey bee, Apis mellifera | |
| melano- | G μελανός (melanós) | black | black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris | melanus – melana |
| melanocephalus | G | black-headed | black-headed fleabane, Erigeron melanocephalus; black-headed snake, Tantilla melanocephala; ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum | melanocephalus – melanocephala – melanocephalum |
| melanophyllus | G | black-leaved | Melanophylla; Melanophyllum | melanophyllus – melanophylla – melanophyllum |
| melanops | G | black-eyed, black-faced | black-eyed blue, Glaucopsyche melanops; black-fronted dotterel, Elseyornis melanops; gray spiny mouse, Scolomys melanops | melanops |
| mephitis | L | bad odor | striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis; yellow-pigmented bacteria, Luteimonas mephitis | |
| meridionalis | L | southern | southern oak bush cricket, Meconema meridionale; Andean blueberry, Vaccinium meridionale southern mammoth, Mammuthus meridionalis; Zimbabwe grey baboon tarantula, Ceratogyrus meridionalis |
meridionale — meridionalis |
| micro- | G μικρός (mikrós) | small | littleleaf pussytoes, Antennaria microphylla | |
| microphyllus | G | small-leaved | baby sage, Salvia microphylla; boxleaf azara, Azara microphylla; littleleaf box, Buxus microphylla; littleleaf mock-orange, Philadelphus microphyllus; small-leaf climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum | microphyllus – microphylla – microphyllum |
| minimus | L | smallest | least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus | |
| minor | L | smaller | great frigatebird, Fregata minor | |
| minuta | L | small | dwarf waterclover, Marsilea minuta, little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta; little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus, harvest mouse, Micromys minutus; little willowherb, Epilobium minutum, |
minuta — minutus — minutum |
| monile | L | necklace | Conus monilifer | |
| mono- | G μόνος (mónos) | single | Swinhoe’s storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis; Monotreme | |
| monoica | L | monoicous | the sandpaper saucer-berry, Cordia monoica | monoica |
| monospermus | L | Having a single sperm cell | one-seed juniper Juniperus monosperma | monospermus — monosperma — monospermum |
| monspeliensis | L | from Montpellier | Montpellier cistus, Cistus monspeliensis | monspeliensis — monspessulanus — monspessulana — monspessulanum |
| montanus | L mons | of the mountains | mountain bottlebrush, Melaleuca montana; mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus montanus; mountain thistle, Acanthus montanus; tree sparrow, Passer montanus | montanus |
| morpho- | G μορφή (morphḗ) | shape | Menelaus blue morpho, Morpho menelaus | |
| mus, mys | L mūs G μῦς (mûs) | mouse | house mouse, Mus musculus; as rodent, e.g. Phoberomys, Telicomys | |
| mulgere | G | to milk | European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus | Caprimulgus |
| muralis | L | growing on the wall | annual wall-rocket Diplotaxis muralis, Psammophiliella muralis |
N[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| naevius | L | having moles or spots | varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius; spotted salamander, Hynobius naevius striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia; common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia spotted oncidium, Oncidium naevium; Cyrtidium naevium, a fungus |
naevius – naevia – naevium |
| nanos | G νᾶνος (nânos) L nanus | dwarf | brown-capped woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus; dwarf birch, Betula nana; dwarf shrew, Sorex nanus |
nanus |
| natans | L | floating | Water caltrop, Trapa natans | |
| neomexicanus | L | from New Mexico | New Mexico whiptail, Aspidoscelis neomexicanus; New Mexican yucca, Yucca neomexicana; New Mexico thistle, Cirsium neomexicanum |
neomexicanus – neomexicana – neomexicanum |
| niger, nigr- | L | black | black skimmer, Rynchops niger; black pine, Pinus nigra; black softshell turtle, Nilssonia nigricans; black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes; black-spined Atlantic tree-rat, Phyllomys nigrispinus See also: ater |
nigra — nigras — nigrus — nigrum — nigrescens |
| nippon(ensis) | L | from Japan (natively known as Nippon) | freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium nipponense; Japanese bobtail squid, Sepiolina nipponensis; Sika deer, Cervus nippon; Crested ibis, Nipponia nippon See also: japonicus |
nipponensis – nipponense – nippon |
| nitidus | L nitere | shining | Baja cape kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula nitida; Mauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima; shining pea clam, Pisidium nitidum; shining tree iguana, Liolaemus nitidus |
nitidus – nitida – nitidum |
| nix | L | snow | snow buckwheat, Eriogonum niveum; snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis; snow petrel, Pagodroma nivea; snow sheep Ovis nivicola; snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus; snowy primrose, Primula nivalis; snowy sunflower, Helianthus niveus; |
nivalis – niveus – nivea – niveum – nivosus |
| nonus | L | ninth | honey fungus, Armillaria nabsnona | |
| norvegicus | L | from Norway | Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus; brown rat, Rattus norvegicus; rose fish, Sebastes norvegicus; Northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica; highland cudweed, Gnaphalium norvegicum; | norvegicus – norvegica – norvegicum |
| nothos | G νόθος (nóthos) L nothus | false, wrong | bluefin notho killifish, Nothobranchius rachovii; New Zealand red beech, Nothofagus fusca |
|
| noton | G νῶτον (nôton) | back | black-backed antshrike, Thamnophilus melanonotus | |
| notos | G νότος (nótos) | southern | fawn hopping mouse, Notomys cervinus | |
| novaeangliae | L | from New England | humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae; Sphaerophoria novaeangliae, a syrphid fly New England boneset, Eupatorium novae-angliae; New England aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae |
novaeangliae – novae-angliae |
| novaehollandiae | L | from New Holland (Australia) | emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae; New Holland rattlepod, Crotalaria novae-hollandiae; Sepia novaehollandiae, a cuttlefish | novaehollandiae – novae-hollandiae |
| novaeseelandiae | L | from New Zealand | southern boobook, Ninox novaeseelandiae New Zealand scallop, Pecten novaezelandiae yellow-dabbled flounder, Brachypleura novaezeelandiae New Zealand horned orchid, Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae red bidibid, Acaena novae-zelandiae |
novaeseelandiae – novae-zelandiae – novae-zeelandiae – novaezeelandiae – novaezelandiae |
| noveboracensis | L | from New York (Novum Eboracum) | margined carrion beetle, Oiceoptoma noveboracense; New York fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis; northern waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis |
noveboracensis – noveboracense |
| novem | L | nine | nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus; nine-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata |
|
| nucifera | L | bearing nuts | butter-nut of Guiana, Caryocar nuciferum; coconut, Cocos nucifera |
All pages with titles containing nucifera |
| nutans | L | nodding | nodding madia, Harmonia nutans; nodding spurge, Euphorbia nutans |
nutans |
O[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| obscurus | L | dark | dark bolo mouse, Necromys obscurus; dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus; obscure morning glory, Ipomoea obscura; rare clubmoss, Lycopodium obscurum | obscurus – obscura – obscurum |
| obsoletus | L | obsolete, degenerate | Pantherophis obsoletus; Great Plains skink, Plestiodon obsoletus | obsoletus – obsoletum |
| occidentalis | L | western | eastern arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis; western clover, Trifolium occidentale | occidentalis – occidentale |
| ocean | G ὠκεανός (ōkeanós) | ocean | oceanic gecko, Gehyra oceanica; Mediterranean tapeweed, Posidonia oceanica |
oceanicus – oceanica |
| octo-, octa- | G ὀκτω- ὀκτα- | eight | common octopus, Octopus vulgaris | |
| -odon, -odus | G ὀδών (odṓn), ὀδούς (odoús) | tooth | Dimetrodon, Rhizodus | |
| oeso- | G οἰσέμεν (oisémen), οἰσ- | carry | Oesophagostomum | |
| officinalis | L | for the workshop; medicinal | ginger, Zingiber officinale; rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis |
officinalis – officinale |
| oleraceus | L | used as a vegetable | cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and so on, Brassica oleracea; common sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus | oleraceus – oleracea – oleraceum |
| oleum, olearis | L | oil | Omphalotus olearius, jack o’lantern mushroom | |
| ommato— | G ὄμμᾰ (ómma), gen. ὄμμᾰτος (ómmatos) | eye | Ommatokoita, Ommatochila, Ommatospila | All pages with titles beginning with Ommato |
| ophis | G ὄφις (óphis) | serpent | Carphophis vermis, western wormsnake | |
| ophrys | G ὀφρύς (ophrús) | eyebrow | bee orchid, Ophrys; Central American bushmaster, Lachesis stenophrys Melanophrys, fly genus; Cyanophrys, butterfly genus |
All pages with titles beginning with Ophry |
| -ophthalmus | G ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós) | eye | common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus; Ariosoma ophidiophthalmus, an eel; Spanish ling, Molva macrophthalma; Hippopsicon macrophthalmum, a beetle; Cyprinion microphthalmum, a fish; gold-eye lichen, Teloschistes chrysophthalmus | |
| ops | G ὤψ (ṓps) | face, eye | Triceratops | |
| -opsis | G ὄψις (ópsis) | resembling | Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis | |
| orientalis | L | eastern | Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis | orientalis – orientale |
| ortho- | G ὀρθός (orthós) | straight | Orthoptera | |
| oryza | G ὄρυζα (óruza) | rice | Asian rice, Oryza sativa; rice rats, Oryzomys | |
| ovatus | L | egg-shaped | shagbark hickory, Carya ovata | ovatus – ovata – ovatum |
P[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pachy- | G παχύς (pakhús) | thick, stout | Pachycephalosaurus | |
| palaemon | G Παλαίμων (Palaímōn) | Palaemon, a sea god whose name means «wrestler» | Palaemon, crustacean genus; chequered skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon Palaemonias, Palaemonella and Palaemonetes, shrimp genera |
palaemon |
| pallidus | L | pale | Dalmatian iris, Iris pallida | pallidus – pallida – pallidum |
| palustris | L paluster | of the marsh | mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris; marsh marigold, Caltha palustris; Sphagnurus paluster, mushroom; | palustris – paluster — palustre – palustrium |
| pan- panto- | G πᾶν (pân) | all | Pancratium (a flower); Pangaea | |
| paradoxus | L, from G παράδοξος (parádoxos) | contrary to expectation, strange, uncharacteristic | Pallas’s sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus, puzzle sunflower, Helianthus paradoxus ghost mantis, Phyllocrania paradoxa, paradoxical frog, Pseudis paradoxa green-banded broodsac, Leucochloridium paradoxum, few-flowered garlic, Allium paradoxum |
paradoxus – paradoxa – paradoxum |
| parilis | L | equal | Syngrapha parilis, a moth; Metasphenisca parilis, a fruit fly Nephroma parile, a fungus; Malmesbury pincushion, Leucospermum parile |
parilis – parile |
| parviflorus | L | small-flowered | small-flowered mallow, Malva parviflora; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus |
parviflorus – parviflora – parviflorum |
| parvifolius | L | small-leaved | Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia; littleleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus parvifolius; small-leaved lomatium, Lomatium parvifolium |
parvifolius – parvifolia – parvifolium |
| parvus | L | small | dwarf catshark, Asymbolus parvus; mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus; small onion, Allium parvum |
parvus – parvum |
| pecten | L | comb | Venus comb murex, Murex pecten | |
| ped | L pēs | foot | showy lady slipper, Cypripedium reginae | |
| pelagicus | L, G πελαγικός | of the open sea | pelagic cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus | pelagicus – pelagica – pelagicum |
| penn- | L penna | feather, wing | Darwin’s rhea, Rhea pennata; great auk, Pinguinus impennis |
|
| penta- | G πέντε (pénte) | five | five-fingered skink, Chalcides pentadactylus | |
| petro- | G πέτρα (pétra), L petra | rock, stone | Roberts’s flat-headed bat, Sauromys petrophilus; rock daisy, Erigeron petrophilus |
|
| phago- | G ἔφαγον | eat | African scat (fish), Scatophagus tetracanthus; Ichthyophaga, the («fish-eating») sea eagle |
|
| phenolicus | L | able to degrade phenol | Pseudoalteromonas phenolica | phenolicus – phenolica – phenolicum |
| philippinensis | L | from the Philippines | katmon tree, Dillenia philippinensis; Philippine cobra, Naja philippinensis |
|
| pholis | G φολῐ́ς (pholís) | horny scale | bluespotted grouper, Cephalopholis argus | |
| phyllo- | G φύλλον (phúllon) | leaf | garden lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus | |
| physi- | G φύσις (phúsis) | nature | Symphysia («naturally joined») (a plant)[5] | |
| phyto- | G φυτόν (phutón) | plant | Astrophytum, Astrophytum myriostigma (a cactus); epiphyte | |
| pictus | L | painted | Pimelodus pictus, a catfish; painted skipper, Hesperilla picta; painted tunicate, Clavelina picta; Abutilon pictum, a shrub |
pictus – picta – pictum |
| platy- | G πλατύς (platús) | flat and broad | flathead trout, Salmo platycephalus; platypus | |
| plicatilis | L | flexible, pliable | fan-aloe, Kumara plicatilis; lobed river mullet, Cestraeus plicatilis Dendrobium plicatile, an orchid; Cormohipparion plicatile, an extinct horse |
plicatilis – plicatile |
| plumosum | L | feathered | big tarweed, Blepharizonia plumosa; buzzer midge, Chironomus plumosus | plumosus – plumosa – plumosum |
| pod- | G πούς (poús) | foot, leg, stem | red-footed spikesedge, Eleocharis erythropoda; Arthropoda; Gastropoda | |
| poliocephalus | G | grey-headed | ashy-headed goose, Chloephaga poliocephala; grey-crowned flatbill, Tolmomyias poliocephalus; grey-headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus; grey-headed goshawk, Accipiter poliocephalus; hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus; white-headed langur, Trachypithecus poliocephalus; yellow-lored tody-flycatcher, Todirostrum poliocephalum |
poliocephalus – poliocephala – poliocephalum |
| poly- | G πολύς (polús) | many, much | common knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare | |
| pomum | L | fruit | apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella; apple murex, Phyllonotus pomum; codling moth, Cydia pomonella; emu apple, Kunzea pomifera; Osage orange, Maclura pomifera |
pomum – pomifer – pomifera – pomonella |
| ponticus | G Πόντος (Póntos) | Pontic; from Pontus, Turkey | Black Sea field mouse, Apodemus ponticus; Pontic adder, Vipera pontica; Pontic rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum; Roman wormwood, Artemisia pontica |
ponticus – pontica – ponticum |
| praecox | L | early | early onion, Allium praecox; neon rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox; wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox |
praecox |
| praestans | L | excelling | Kamchatka bilberry, Vaccinium praestans; goliath webcap mushroom, Cortinarius praestans; (a butterfly), Ypthima praestans; (a ground beetle), Lesticus praestans; Tulipa praestans |
praestans |
| praeustus | L | burned at the end, scorched, withered | brownback trevally, Carangoides praeustus; Adetus praeustus, a beetle Serixia praeusta, a beetle; Tricholauxania praeusta, a fly; Trogoxylon praeustum, a beetle |
praeustus – praeusta – praeustum |
| prātum | L | meadow | Inyo meadow lupine, Lupinus pratensis; meadow foxtail, Alopecurus pratensis; meadow sedge, Carex praticola; meadow waxcap, Cuphophyllus pratensis |
pratensis – pratense – praticola |
| princeps | L | first, leader, principal, princely | Korean wormwood, Artemisia princeps; princely spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx princeps; American pika, Ochotona princeps | princeps |
| proto- | G πρῶτος (prôtos) | first | Protozoa | |
| pruinosus | L | pruinose, «frosted», covered in white granules | Tibetan blue bear, Ursus arctos pruinosus; frosted myotis, Myotis pruinosus fuzzywuzzy airplant, Tillandsia pruinosa; frosted hawthorn, Crataegus pruinosa crimson-tailed marsh hawk, Orthetrum pruinosum; dotted blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium pruinosum |
pruinosus – pruinosa — pruinosum |
| pruriens | L | itching | velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens | pruriens |
| pseudo- | L G ψευδής (pseudḗs) | false or fake | Brazilian false rice rat, Pseudoryzomys simplex; pastel flower, Pseuderanthemum variabile |
|
| psychrophilus | G ψυχρός (psukhrós) | cold-loving | bacterial rod, Flavobacterium psychrophilum; bacterium, Geobacter psychrophilus; whip-lash squid, Mastigoteuthis psychrophila |
psychrophilus – psychrophila – psychrophilum |
| pterus, -pter | G πτερόν (pterón) | wing, feather | white-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus; Pteranodon (winged toothless); Pterodactylus (winged finger); Pteridophyta; Diptera; Coleoptera |
|
| ptyo- | G πτύον (ptyon) | fan | fan-fingered geckos, Ptyodactylus; crag martin, Ptyonoprogne | All pages with titles beginning with Ptyo |
| puberulus | L | having short, soft hairs | Hydroporus puberulus, a diving beetle; Leptomyrmex puberulus, an ant mountain bellwort, Uvularia puberula; hairy melicope, Melicope puberula plains flax, Linum puberulum; red berry stick plant, Teucrium puberulum |
puberulus – puberula – puberulum |
| pubescens | L | downy | downy oak, Quercus pubescens | pubescens |
| pugil | L pugil | a boxer | fighting conch, Strombus pugilis | pugilis |
| pulchellus | L | pretty little[6] | beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchella; green pygmy goose, Nettapus pulchellus |
pulchellus – pulchella – pulchellum |
| pumilus | L | dwarf | Cape dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum; dwarf cuckoo, Coccycua pumila; dwarf mouse-ear, Cerastium pumilum; eastern forest bat, Vespadelus pumilus; shaggy fleabane, Erigeron pumilus; Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila |
pumila – pumilus – pumilum |
| punctatus | L | spotted, marked with punctures | dotted thyme-moss, Rhizomnium punctatum; thirteen-spotted lady beetle, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata |
punctatus – punctata – punctatum |
| pungens | L pungens | pungent | blue spruce, Picea pungens; pungent slippery jack, Suillus pungens |
pungens |
| purpurascens | L | somewhat purple | veiled purple hygrophorus, Hygrophorus purpurascens | purpurascens |
| purpureus | L purpureus | purple | purple amole, Chlorogalum purpureum; purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea; purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus |
purpureus – purpurea – purpureum |
| pygmaeus | L, from the Pygmaeī | pygmy, dwarf | Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus; pygmy three-toed sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus; Western Greece goby, Economidichthys pygmaeus; western pygmy marmoset, Cebuella pygmaea; smooth spike-primrose, Epilobium pygmaeum; alpine glacier poppy, Papaver pygmaeum | pygmaeus – pygmaea – pygmaeum |
| pygo- | G πυγή (pugḗ) | tail, rump | chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarcticus |
Q[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quadri- | L quattuor | four, square | burr grass, Festuca quadriflora (four-flowered); four-coloured bushshrike, Telophorus quadricolor; fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus; whorled loosestrife, Lysimachia quadrifolia (four-leaved) |
All pages with titles beginning with Quadri |
R[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| radix | L | root or radish | taproot fleabane, Erigeron radicatus | radix – radicans – radicatus – radicis |
| rāmus | L | branch | branched draba, Draba ramosissima; branched murex, Chicoreus ramosus |
ramosus – ramosa – ramulosus |
| regalis | L | royal | Synalpheus regalis; regal moth, Citheronia regalis; royal lily, Lilium regale |
regalis – regale |
| repandus | L repandus | curved upwards, turned up | dragon’s tongue, Hemigraphis repanda; hedgehog mushroom, Hydnum repandum; Peruvian apple cactus, Cereus repandus |
repandus – repanda – repandum |
| repens | L | creeping, crawling (rēpēns) | creeping buttercup, Ranunculus repens | |
| repens | L | unexpected (rĕpēns) | white clover, Trifolium repens | |
| reptans, rept- | L | creeping, crawling | bugle, Ajuga reptans; creeping cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans; Reptilia |
reptans |
| reticulata | L | reticulated | mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata | reticulatus – reticulata – reticulatum |
| rhino- | G ῥίς (rhís) | nose | orange leaf-nosed bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia; rhinoceros | |
| rhiza | G ῥίζα (rhíza) | root | bushy seedbox, Ludwigia helminthorrhiza; Rhizobium (nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria) | |
| rhynchos | G ῥύγχος (rhúnkhos) | beak or snout | mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; Rhamphorhynchus | |
| rhytis | G ῥῠτίς (rhutís) | wrinkled, folded | shaggy moss, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus; Rhytidodon (syn. Rutiodon) | |
| rigidus | L | rigid, stiff | big galleta, Hilaria rigida | rigidus – rigida – rigidum |
| rossicus | L | from Russia | Pliosaurus rossicus | |
| rostr- | L rōstrum | beak, bill, snout | common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra | |
| rostralis | L | with a beak | buttoned snout moth, Hypena rostralis | rostralis – rostrale |
| rostratus | L rōstrātus | having a beak | beaked sedge, Carex rostrata; beaked yucca, Yucca rostrata; Caribbean sharp-nose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata; longnose surgeonfish, Zebrasoma rostratum |
rostratus – rostrata – rostratum |
| ruber, rubr- | L ruber | red | red maple, Acer rubrum; red valerian, Centranthus ruber; ruby bolete, Hortiboletus rubellus; summer tanager, Piranga rubra |
ruber – rubra – rubrum – rubellus – rubrescens |
| ruder- | L rūdus, rūderis | rubbish | Cannabis ruderalis; Porophyllum ruderale; ruderal bumblebee, Bombus ruderatus |
ruderalis – ruderale – ruderatus |
| rudis, rud- | L | rough, rude | coarse chameleon, Trioceros rudis; pied kingfisher Ceryle rudis; rough gecko, Naultinus rudis; rough mabuya, Eutropis rudis |
rudis – rude |
| rufus, ruf- | L | red, reddish | red wolf, Canis rufus; rufous rubber cup, Galiella rufa |
rufus – rufa – rufum – rufescens |
| rupestris | L | living on cliffs or rocks | Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris; rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris rock campion, Atocion rupestre; alpine tea-tree, Leptospermum rupestre |
rupestris – rupestre |
| rupicola | L | cliff dweller | Diplacus rupicola, Death Valley monkeyflower; Narcissus rupicola; Tabernaemontana rupicola | All pages with titles containing rupicola |
| russus | L | reddish | Lophocampa russus, a moth; Toxitiades russus, a beetle; Schistura russa, a stone loach; Steccherinum russum, a fungus | russus – russa – russum |
| russulus | L | little reddish one | greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula; Mimeresia russulus, a butterfly; pinkmottle woodwax, Hygrophorus russula; Bryum russulum, a moss | russulus – russula – russulum |
S[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sanctus | L | sacred | See sanctus (species) | sanctus |
| sanguis | L | blood | bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis | sanguinis |
| sapiens | L | wise | recent subspecies of humans: Homo sapiens sapiens («wise wise man») | |
| saponaria | L | soapy[7][8] | soapworts (Saponaria spp.), soapbark (Quillaja saponaria), Ramaria flavosaponaria | saponaria |
| sativus | L | sown, cultivated | oat, Avena sativa; pea, Pisum sativum; rice, Oryza sativa |
sativus – sativa – sativum |
| saura, -saur | G σαῦρος (saûros) | lizard, reptile | lancetfish, Alepisaurus; Maiasaura (dinosaur) | |
| scriptus | L | written, scribbled, scrawled | Cape bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus; scrawled filefish, Aluterus scriptus pond slider, Trachemys scripta; long hoverfly, Sphaerophoria scripta; Grammatophyllum scriptum, an orchid; Steindachneridion scriptum, a catfish |
scriptus – scripta – scriptum |
| sculptus | L | sculpted | reed-stemmed orchid, Epidendrum sculptum; sculpted lanternshark, Etmopterus sculptus; sculpted puffball, Calvatia sculpta |
sculptus – sculpta – sculptum |
| septem | L | seven | seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata | |
| septentrionalis | L | Northern Hemisphere (septentrional, «of the seven plough-oxen», a reference to The Plough) | northern rockling, Ciliata septentrionalis northern spleenwort, Asplenium septentrionale |
septentrionalis – septentrionale |
| setosus | L | bristly or shaggy | hairy Atlantic spiny rat, Trinomys setosus; artic iris Iris setosa, Diadema setosum |
setosus – setosa – setosum |
| sidero— | G σίδηρος (sídēros) | iron | Siderostigma, Sideroxylon; lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros | All pages with titles beginning with Sidero |
| silvestris, sylvestris silvaticus | L | from woodland or forest; wild | wildcat, Felis silvestris; snowdrop anemone, Anemone sylvestris; Wood frog, Lithobates sylvaticus |
silvestris, sylvestris – silvestre, sylvestre – silvaticus, sylvaticus |
| similis | L | similar | Callinectes similis | similis |
| simplex | L | simple | see List of species named simplex | simplex |
| sinensis | L | from China | tea, Camellia sinensis | sinensis – sinense |
| smaragdinus | G σμάραγδος (smáragdos) | emerald | green grass lizard, Takydromus smaragdinus; Carabus smaragdinus, a beetle Smaragdina, beetle genus; Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina Epidendrum smaragdinum, an orchid; Smaragdia, snail genus |
smaragdinus – smaragdina – smaragdinum – Smaragdia |
| speciosus | L | showy | queen’s crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa; Japanese lily, Lilium speciosum |
speciosus – speciosa – speciosum |
| sperma | G σπέρμα (spérma) | seed | African daisies, Osteospermum | |
| sphen-, spheno- | G σφήν (sphḗn) | wedge | tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus | |
| squamatus | L | with scales | scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus, scaled woodcreeper, Lepidocolaptes squamatus | |
| stichus, sticticus | G στίχος (stíkhos) | line, file | Ochlerotatus sticticus, a mosquito; western erete, Eretes sticticus Acalolepta stictica, a beetle; Punctelia stictica, a lichen Trypetisoma sticticum, a fly; Diorygma sticticum, a lichen Toothfish, Dissostichus |
sticticus – stictica – sticticum |
| stoma | G στόμα (stóma) | mouth, opening | stomate, Gnathostomata | |
| striatus | L | striped | African striped skink, Trachylepis striata; striated heron, Butorides striatus; striped Barbados lily, Hippeastrum striatum |
striatus – striata – striatum |
| strictus | L | straight, narrow, erect | chocolate lily, Dichopogon strictus; Oxalis stricta; Babiana stricta; Nardus stricta, bog haircap moss, Polytrichum strictum |
strictus – stricta – strictum |
| strix, strig- | L or G | owl | kakapo or owl parrot, Strigops habroptilus; tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides; tawny owl, Strix aluco |
|
| suber | L | cork | cork oak, Quercus suber | |
| suchos, -suchus | G σοῦχος (soûkhos) | crocodile (from Egyptian) | Eusuchia; Koolasuchus |
|
| sulcatus | L | furrowed | furrowed wakerobin, Trillium sulcatum; grooved helmet-orchid, Nematoceras sulcatum |
sulcatus – sulcata – sulcatum |
| syriacus | L | Syrian | common milkweed, Asclepias syriacus | syriacus – syriaca – syriacum |
T[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tardus, tardi- | L | slow, late | great bustard, Otis tarda; Chisos Mountains oak, Quercus tardifolia |
|
| tele-, tel- | G τῆλε (têle) | far, distant | New South Wales waratah, Telopea speciosissima | |
| tenax | L | clinging, tenacious | bear grass, Xerophyllum tenax; tough bully, Sideroxylon tenax; tough-leaved iris, Iris tenax |
tenax |
| tenuis | L | thin, slender, fine | slender rush, Juncus tenuis; plealeaf knotweed, Polygonum tenue |
tenuis – tenue |
| terrestris, terrestre | L | terrestrial | large earth bumblebee, Bombus terrestris bent orchid, Geodorum terrestre |
terrestris – terrestre |
| tetra- | G τετρα- | four | four-leaved allseed, Polycarpon tetraphyllum; Tetrapoda | |
| therium, ther- | G θηρίον (thēríon), θήρ (thḗr) | beast, wild animal | giant ground sloth, Megatherium americanum; stinkpot turtle, Sternotherus odoratus; gelada, Theropithicus gelada |
|
| timidus | L | shy, timid | Mountain hare, Lepus timidus; Rhene timidus, a jumping spider; dwarf three-toed slider, Lerista timida; Elysia timida, a sea slug; Zodarion timidum, an ant spider | timidus – timida – timidum |
| tinctorius | L | for dyeing | woad, Isatis tinctoria | tinctorius – tinctoria – tinctorium |
| tomentosus | L | furry | bristle-tail filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus; fuzzy mock-orange, Philadelphus tomentosus; woollyleaf ceanothus, Ceanothus tomentosus |
tomentosus – tomentosa – tomentosum |
| trachy- | G τραχύς (trachys) | rough | Trachyscorpia, fish genus; Trachyaretaon, insect genus | All pages with titles beginning with trachy |
| tri-, tris- | L tri-, G τρι- (tri-) | three | black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla; three-cornered garlic, Allium triquetrum |
|
| tricho-, -thrix | G θρίξ (thríx), τριχ- (trikh-) | hair | cloud ear fungus, Auricularia polytricha | |
| tripartitus | L | three-part | threepart violet, Viola tripartita; threetip sagebrush, Artemisia tripartita |
tripartitus – tripartita |
| tristis | L | sad, disagreeable, bitter, foul | ever-flowering gladiolus, Gladiolus tristis American goldfinch, Carduelis tristis Mupli beetle, Luprops tristis |
|
| trivialis | L | commonplace, ordinary | tree pipit, Anthus trivialis; southern dewberry, Rubus trivialis; northern water plantain, Alisma triviale; Bulbophyllum triviale, an orchid |
trivialis – triviale |
| troglodytes | L G τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs) | cave-dweller | chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes; wren, Troglodytes troglodytes |
|
| tropicalis | L | tropical | Candida tropicalis (yeast); Rostraureum tropicale (fungus) |
tropicalis – tropicale |
| truncatus | L | truncated, foreshortened | common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus; pink fairy armadillo, Chlamyphorus truncatus; rattlesnake flower, Brazoria truncata; false Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera truncata; Shantung maple, Acer truncatum; truncate leek orchid, Prasophyllum truncatum |
truncatus – truncata – truncatum |
| trygon | G τρῡγών (trygōn) | stingray turtledove |
Fontitrygon, Hemitrygon, Trygonoptera, all ray genera Geotrygon and Trugon, dove genera |
trygon – trugon – All pages with titles beginning with trygo |
| typhlo- | G τύραννος (typhlós) | blind | Typhlobarbus nudiventris, fish species; Typhlochactidae, scorpion family | All pages with titles beginning with typhl |
| tyranno- | G τυφλός (túrannos) | tyrant, tyrannical | Tyrannosaurus rex; Tyrannodoris; Tyrannoneustes; Tyrannotitan; |
U[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ulmus | L | elm | American elm, Ulmus americana; elmleaf goldenrod, Solidago ulmifolia; Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila; Ulmus | |
| ulos | G οὖλος (oûlos) | woolly | Uloborus; Ulotrichi; Ulotrichopus | All pages with titles beginning with Ulo |
| unus | L | one | Monotropa uniflora; unicolor woolly lemur, Avahi unicolor | |
| ura | G οὐρά (ourá) | of the tail | mourning dove, Zenaida macroura; coral snake, Micrurus corallinus |
V[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Examples | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vaginalis | L | sheathed, vaginal | Alyce clover, Gardnerella vaginalis | vaginalis |
| variabilis | L | variable | grey bunting, Emberiza variabilis | variabilis – variabile |
| variegatus | L | variegated | variegated laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus; croton, Codiaeum variegatum | variegatus – variegata – variegatum |
| varius | L | different, variegated, variable | lace monitor, Varanus varius; yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius barred owl, Strix varia; purple crown vetch, Securigera varia variable triplefin, Forsterygion varium; grass cerith, Bittiolum varium |
varius – varia – varium |
| velox, velocis | L | swift | swift fox, Vulpes velox; Velociraptor | velox |
| ventralis | L | ventral, of the belly | Hispaniolan parrot, Amazona ventralis; southern dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale |
ventralis – ventrale |
| venustus | L | beautiful | giraffe hap, Nimbochromis venustus; beautiful pit viper, Trimeresurus venustus flamevine, Pyrostegia venusta; orchard spider, Leucauge venusta Himalayan maidenhair, Adiantum venustum; magnificent leafy moss, Plagiomnium venustum |
venustus – venusta – venustum |
| vernicosa | L | varnished | varnished maxillaria, Maxillaria vernicosa | vernicosus – vernicosa – vernicosum |
| vernus, vernalis | L | spring (season) | spring gentian, Gentiana verna; spring pheasant’s eye, Adonis vernalis; spring sneezeweed, Helenium vernale |
vernalis – vernale |
| verrucosus | L | rough-skinned | Javan warty pig, Sus verrucosus; reef stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa | verrucosus – verrucosa – verrucosum |
| versicolor | L | many-colored | varied honeyeater, Lichenostomus versicolor; Vietnam mouse-deer, Tragulus versicolor | versicolor |
| verticillata | L | whorled | spaghetti bryozoan, Amathia verticillata; whorled plectranthus, Plectranthus verticillatus | verticillatus – verticillata – verticillatum |
| verus | L | true, genuine | true aloe, Aloe vera; lady’s bedstraw, Galium verum | verus – verum |
| victoriae | L | Victorian | Victoria’s bar, Cigaritis victoriae | victoriae |
| villosus | L[9] | hairy, shaggy | hairy nightshade, Solanum villosum; hairy stonecrop, Sedum villosum; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa; hairy woodpecker, Picoides villosus; shaggy hawkweed, Hieracium villosum; villous deadly carrot, Thapsia villosa |
villosus – villosa – villosum |
| virginiana | L | Virginia | Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana; Rosa virginiana, the Virginia rose | virginiana – virginianum |
| viridis | L | green | frog orchid, Coeloglossum viride; green alder, Alnus viridis; green wrasse, Labrus viridis |
viridis – viride |
| virosus | L | poisonous | cowbane, Cicuta virosa; poisonous lettuce, Lactuca virosa | virosus — virosa |
| viticola (vitis-cola) |
L | grape vine inhabitant or cultivator | Phomopsis viticola; Plasmopara viticola; Schizomyia viticola | viticola |
| volans | L | flying | flying dragon, Draco volans; southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans | volans |
| vulgaris | L | common | common octopus, Octopus vulgaris; common privet, Ligustrum vulgare | vulgaris – vulgare |
X–Z[edit]
| Latin/Greek | Language | English | Example | Search for titles containing the word or using the prefix: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xanthos | G ξανθός | yellow | yellow staining mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus | All pages with titles beginning with Xanth |
| zebratus | L | cross-striped | Kolombatovic’s goby, Chromogobius zebratus | |
| zoster | G ζωστήρ (zōstḗr) | belt, girdle | white-eyes, Zosterops; Zosterophyllum; Zosterocarpus abyssicola | All pages with titles beginning with Zoster |
| zygos | G ζυγός | joined | Zygophyllum; Zygoptera | All pages with titles beginning with Zygo |
See also[edit]
- Glossary of scientific naming
- List of commonly used taxonomic affixes
- List of descriptive plant species epithets (A–H)
- List of descriptive plant species epithets (I–Z)
- List of Greek and Latin roots in English
- List of Latin place names used as specific names
- List of Latin words with English derivatives
- List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes
- List of taxa named by anagrams
- Latin names of cities
References[edit]
- ^ Harbach, Ralph E. (October 17, 2018). Culicipedia: Species-group, genus-group and family-group names in Culicidae (Diptera). CABI. ISBN 9781786399052 – via Google Books.
- ^ Chuck Griffith. «Dictionary of Botanical Epithets».
- ^ «Rhus glabra L.» Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ^ «Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, G, Gracchus, grăcĭlĭpes». Retrieved 2016-01-17.
- ^ Umberto Quattrocchi (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. CRC Press. p. 2610. ISBN 978-0-8493-2673-8.
- ^ Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short (1879). «pulchellus». A Latin Dictionary.
- ^ Saponaria. Flora of North America.
- ^ Griffith, Chuck (2005). «Dictionary of Botanical Epithets». Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
saponarius saponaria saponarium soapy sapo sapon noun/m soap (from German) arius ari adj adjective suffix for nouns or numbers: connected to or possessed by
- ^ «Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, villōsus». Retrieved 2016-01-17.
External links[edit]
- Latin names decoded with relevant images/photos at agrozoo.net
- Dictionary of botanical epithets
- European Species Names in Linnaean, Czech, English, German and French
Latin may not be commonly spoken today, but this classical language played a crucial role in world history and contributed to many words we’re familiar with in English today.
Because it is no longer spoken often, Latin has a certain appeal to modern language learners; it seems interesting, unique, and somewhat mysterious.
As you explore the language, you’ll find that there are plenty of cool Latin words you can use for usernames!
We list the best examples (with English translations/definitions) below.
We also have a Latin username generator and tips on finding your own neat Latin word for a username.
-
Invicta
unconquered/invincible
-
Permaximum
greatest
-
Lumen
light
-
Regius
royal
-
Aurum
gold
-
Magnus
great
-
Ventus
wind
-
Formidonis
terror
-
Nemo
no one
-
Electus
chosen
-
Terra
land
-
Papilio
butterfly
-
Ignotus
unknown
-
Serpentis
snake
-
Umbra
shadows
-
Monstrum
monster
-
Sine
without
-
Suavis
sweet
-
Pax
peace
-
Crepusculum
twilight
-
Mico
sparkle
-
Ignis
fire
-
Bellum
war
-
Imber
rain shower
-
Lux
light
-
Trucido
slay
-
Gladius
sword
-
Alius
different
-
Obscurus
dark
-
Quia
because
-
Amabilis
lovely
-
Immortalis
immortal
-
Nihil
nothing
-
Oscen
songbird
-
Lea
lioness
-
Idoneus
capable
-
Deus
God
-
Accensum
to set on fire
-
Leo
lion
-
Sapientia
wisdom
-
Vagus
wandering
-
Dexter
right
-
Fulminare
thunderbolts
-
Fulgeo
shining or radiant
-
Tutis
protected
-
Luna
moon
-
Aer
air
-
Tyrannus
tyrant
-
Solus
alone
-
Ergo
therefore
-
Vita
life
-
Sors
destiny
-
Habere
to have
-
Ara
altar
-
Artificiosus
skillful/artful
-
Spes
hope
-
Miles
soldier
-
Acer
sharp-minded
-
Vespa
wasp
-
Meliora
better
-
Tempestas
storm
-
Audire
to listen
-
Palmarium
outstanding
-
Stella
star
-
Unus
one
-
Antebellum
before war
-
Circa
approximately
-
Acerbus
bitter
-
Aliqui
someone
-
Mors
death
-
Subpoena
under penalty
-
Abduco
retreat
-
Lacero
to tear
-
Meus
my
-
Bonus
good
-
Verbatim
word for word
-
Ire
to go
-
Caelum
heaven
-
Audio
I hear
-
Silva
forest
-
Primus
first
-
Deorsum
down
-
Tempus
time
-
Ludus
sport/game
-
Novus
new
-
Libertas
freedom
-
Gaudium
joy
-
Felicitas
happiness
-
Prudentia
prudence
-
Potentia
power
-
Ingenium
talent
-
Caeleste
celestial
-
Serenus
serene/calm
-
Fortis
strong
-
Eximius
excellent
-
Strenuus
vigorous
-
Aberro
wander
-
Sacer
sacred
-
Fortuna
luck
-
Illustris
brilliant
-
Susurrar
whisper
-
Memento
remember
-
Diende
next
-
Anima
soul
-
Scribere
to write
-
Veto
forbid
-
Ultimus
last
-
Fides
faith
-
Dicere
to say
-
Res
things
-
Ego
I
-
Abditum
to conceal
-
Contra
contrary
-
Tamen
however
-
Passer
sparrow
-
Misericordia
mercy
-
Laetus
delighted
-
Amare
to love
-
Videre
to look
-
Praecipio
teach/advise
-
Adversum
against
-
Sinister
left
-
Apricus
sunlight
-
Nomen
name
-
Pulchritudo
beauty
-
Praeclarus
excellent
-
Aequus
equal
-
Veritas
truth
-
Benevolentia
benevolence/kindness
-
Humanitas
kindness
-
Sursum
up
-
Multus
much
-
Alii
others
-
Esse
to be
-
Emeritus
retired
-
Natura
nature
-
Serenitas
serenity
Latin Username Generator
Tips for Creating Your Own Latin Username
When choosing a Latin word for a username, you don’t necessarily need an in-depth knowledge of the language — just a good dictionary!
The best dictionaries you’ll find are those that come from academic institutions. (They tend to be more reliable than other online dictionaries, which may not be accurately sourced.)
In creating our list, we used the University of Notre Dame’s Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid and William Whitaker’s Words, which allows you to browse by letter or search for an English word.
We also recommend Latinitium, which offers four searchable Latin dictionaries online; you can search for Latin or English words.
With your dictionary of choice on hand, consider the following techniques to find a cool Latin word for a username:
- Translate a word you like in English. Search for your favorite thing/name/word in English in one of the searchable Latin dictionaries. You’ll find the Latin translation of the word you search; similar words or synonyms may also appear in your search results. You might want to jot down a handful of your favorite words, so you have options, since not every word you like in English will translate well into Latin!
- Randomize! Use a dictionary that is browsable by letter, click on a random letter, and look through the words until you find one that you like. Leaving an element of your choice up to chance can help you find words you were unaware of and find a word that immediately catches your eye.
in: Character, Featured, Knowledge of Men
• May 10, 2019 • Last updated: September 3, 2021
What do great men like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt all have in common?
They all were proficient in Latin.
From the Middle Ages until about the middle of the 20th century, Latin was a central part of a man’s schooling in the West. Along with logic and rhetoric, grammar (as Latin was then known) was included as part of the Trivium – the foundation of a medieval liberal arts education. From Latin, all scholarship flowed and it was truly the gateway to the life of the mind, as the bulk of scientific, religious, legal, and philosophical literature was written in the language until about the 16th century. To immerse oneself in classical and humanistic studies, Latin was a must.
Grammar schools in Europe and especially England during this time were Latin schools, and the first secondary school established in America by the Puritans was a Latin school as well. But beginning in the 14th century, writers started to use the vernacular in their works, which slowly chipped away at Latin’s central importance in education. This trend for English-language learning accelerated in the 19th century; schools shifted from turning out future clergymen to graduating businessmen who would take their place in an industrializing economy. An emphasis on the liberal arts slowly gave way to what was considered a more practical education in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
While Latin had been dying a slow death for hundreds of years, it still had a strong presence in schools until the middle of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1960s, college students demanded that the curriculum be more open, inclusive, and less Euro-centric. Among their suggested changes was eliminating Latin as a required course for all students. To quell student protests, universities began to slowly phase out the Latin requirement, and because colleges stopped requiring Latin, many high schools in America stopped offering Latin classes, too. Around the same time, the Catholic Church revised its liturgy and permitted priests to lead Mass in vernacular languages instead of Latin, thus eliminating one of the public’s last ties to the ancient language.
While it’s no longer a requirement for a man to know Latin to get ahead in life, it’s still a great subject to study. I had to take classes in Latin as part of my “Letters” major at the University of Oklahoma, and I really enjoyed it. Even if you’re well out of school yourself, there are a myriad of reasons why you should still consider obtaining at least a rudimentary knowledge of the language:
Knowing Latin can improve your English vocabulary. While English is a Germanic language, Latin has strongly influenced it. Most of our prefixes and some of the roots of common English words derive from Latin. By some estimates, 30% of English words derive from the ancient language. By knowing the meaning of these Latin words, if you chance to come across a word you’ve never seen before, you can make an educated guess at what it means. In fact, studies have found that high school students who studied Latin scored a mean of 647 on the SAT verbal exam, compared with the national average of 505.
Knowing Latin can improve your foreign language vocabulary. Much of the commonly spoken Romanic languages like Spanish, French, and Italian derived from Vulgar Latin. You’ll be surprised by the number of Romanic words that are pretty much the same as their Latin counterparts.
Many legal terms are in Latin. Nolo contendere. Mens rea. Caveat emptor. Do you know what those mean? They’re actually common legal terms. While strides have been made to translate legal writing into plain English, you’ll still see old Latin phrases thrown into legal contracts every now and then. To be an educated citizen and consumer, you need to know what these terms mean. If you plan on going to law school, I highly recommend boning up on Latin. You’ll run into it all the time, particularly when reading older case law.
Knowing Latin can give you more insight to history and literature. Latin was the lingua franca of the West for over a thousand years. Consequently, much of our history, science, and great literature was first recorded in Latin. Reading these classics in the original language can give you insights you otherwise may have missed by consuming it in English.
Moreover, modern writers (and by modern I mean beginning in the 17th century) often pepper their work with Latin words and phrases without offering a translation because they (reasonably) expect the reader to be familiar with it. This is true of great books from even just a few decades ago (seems much less common these days – which isn’t a hopeful commentary on the direction of the public’s literacy I would think). Not having a rudimentary knowledge of Latin will cause you to miss out on fully understanding what the writer meant to convey.
Below we’ve put together a list of Latin words and phrases to help pique your interest in learning this classical language. This list isn’t exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination. We’ve included some of the most common Latin words and phrases that you still see today, which are helpful to know in boosting your all-around cultural literacy. We’ve also included some particularly virile sayings, aphorisms, and mottos that can inspire greatness or remind us of important truths. Perhaps you’ll find a Latin phrase that you can adopt as your personal motto. Semper Virilis!
Latin Words and Phrases Every Man Should Know
- a posteriori — from the latter; knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence
- a priori — from what comes before; knowledge or justification is independent of experience
- acta non verba — deeds, not words
- ad hoc — to this — improvised or made up
- ad hominem — to the man; below-the-belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument
- ad honorem — for honor
- ad infinitum — to infinity
- ad nauseam — used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea
- ad victoriam — to victory; more commonly translated into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans
- alea iacta est — the die has been cast
- alias — at another time; an assumed name or pseudonym
- alibi — elsewhere
- alma mater — nourishing mother; used to denote one’s college/university
- amor patriae — love of one’s country
- amor vincit omnia — love conquers all
- annuit cœptis –He (God) nods at things being begun; or “he approves our undertakings,” motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill
- ante bellum — before the war; commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the American Civil War
- ante meridiem — before noon; A.M., used in timekeeping
- aqua vitae — water of life; used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in France
- arte et marte — by skill and valour
- astra inclinant, sed non obligant — the stars incline us, they do not bind us; refers to the strength of free will over astrological determinism
- audemus jura nostra defendere — we dare to defend our rights; state motto of Alabama
- audere est facere — to dare is to do
- audio — I hear
- aurea mediocritas — golden mean; refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes
- auribus teneo lupum — I hold a wolf by the ears; a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version is, “to have a tiger by the tail”
- aut cum scuto aut in scuto — either with shield or on shield; do or die, “no retreat”; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle
- aut neca aut necare — either kill or be killed
- aut viam inveniam aut faciam — I will either find a way or make one; said by Hannibal, the great ancient military commander
- barba non facit philosophum — a beard doesn’t make one a philosopher
- bellum omnium contra omnes — war of all against all
- bis dat qui cito dat — he gives twice, who gives promptly; a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts
- bona fide — good faith
- bono malum superate — overcome evil with good
- carpe diem — seize the day
- caveat emptor — let the buyer beware; the purchaser is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need
- circa — around, or approximately
- citius altius forties — faster, higher, stronger; modern Olympics motto
- cogito ergo sum — “I think therefore I am”; famous quote by Rene Descartes
- contemptus mundi/saeculi — scorn for the world/times; despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher’s rejection of a mundane life and worldly values
- corpus christi — body of Christ
- corruptissima re publica plurimae leges — when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous; said by Tacitus
- creatio ex nihilo — creation out of nothing; a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context
- cura te ipsum — take care of your own self; an exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others
- curriculum vitae — the course of one’s life; in business, a lengthened resume
- de facto — from the fact; distinguishing what’s supposed to be from what is reality
- deo volente — God willing
- deus ex machina — God out of a machine; a term meaning a conflict is resolved in improbable or implausible ways
- dictum factum — what is said is done
- disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus — learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if tomorrow you’re going to die
- discendo discimus — while teaching we learn
- docendo disco, scribendo cogito — I learn by teaching, think by writing
- ductus exemplo — leadership by example
- ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt — the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling; attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca
- dulce bellum inexpertis — war is sweet to the inexperienced
- dulce et decorum est pro patria mori — it is sweet and fitting to die for your country
- dulcius ex asperis — sweeter after difficulties
- e pluribus unum — out of many, one; on the U.S. seal, and was once the country’s de facto motto
- emeritus — veteran; retired from office
- ergo — therefore
- et alii — and others; abbreviated et al.
- et cetera — and the others
- et tu, Brute? — last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, used today to convey utter betrayal
- ex animo — from the heart; thus, “sincerely”
- ex libris — from the library of; to mark books from a library
- ex nihilo — out of nothing
- ex post facto — from a thing done afterward; said of a law with retroactive effect
- faber est suae quisque fortunae — every man is the artisan of his own fortune; quote by Appius Claudius Caecus
- fac fortia et patere — do brave deeds and endure
- fac simile — make alike; origin of the word “fax”
- flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo — if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell; from Virgil’s Aeneid
- fortes fortuna adiuvat — fortune favors the bold
- fortis in arduis — strong in difficulties
- gloria in excelsis Deo — glory to God in the highest
- habeas corpus — you should have the body; a legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term for a prisoner’s right to challenge the legality of their detention
- habemus papam — we have a pope; used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope
- historia vitae magistra — history, the teacher of life; from Cicero; also “history is the mistress of life”
- hoc est bellum — this is war
- homo unius libri (timeo) — (I fear) a man of one book; attributed to Thomas Aquinas
- honor virtutis praemium — esteem is the reward of virtue
- hostis humani generis — enemy of the human race; Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general
- humilitas occidit superbiam — humility conquers pride
- igne natura renovatur integra — through fire, nature is reborn whole
- ignis aurum probat — fire tests gold; a phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances
- in absentia — in the absence
- in aqua sanitas — in water there is health
- in flagrante delicto — in flaming crime; caught red-handed, or in the act
- in memoriam — into the memory; more commonly “in memory of”
- in omnia paratus — ready for anything
- in situ — in position; something that exists in an original or natural state
- in toto — in all or entirely
- in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus — then we will fight in the shade; made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300
- in utero — in the womb
- in vitro — in glass; biological process that occurs in the lab
- incepto ne desistam — may I not shrink from my purpose
- intelligenti pauca — few words suffice for he who understands
- invicta — unconquered
- invictus maneo — I remain unvanquished
- ipso facto — by the fact itself; something is true by its very nature
- labor omnia vincit — hard work conquers all
- laborare pugnare parati sumus — to work, (or) to fight; we are ready
- labore et honore — by labor and honor
- leges sine moribus vanae — laws without morals [are] vain
- lex parsimoniae — law of succinctness; also known as Occam’s Razor; the simplest explanation is usually the correct one
- lex talionis — the law of retaliation
- magna cum laude — with great praise
- magna est vis consuetudinis — great is the power of habit
- magnum opus — great work; said of someone’s masterpiece
- mala fide — in bad faith; said of an act done with knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or mislead someone; opposite of bona fide
- malum in se — wrong in itself; a legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong
- malum prohibitum — wrong due to being prohibited; a legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law
- mea culpa — my fault
- meliora — better things; carrying the connotation of “always better”
- memento mori — remember that [you will] die; was whispered by a servant into the ear of a victorious Roman general to check his pride as he paraded through cheering crowds after a victory; a genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of his death
- memento vivere — remember to live
- memores acti prudentes future — mindful of what has been done, aware of what will be
- modus operandi — method of operating; abbreviated M.O.
- montani semper liberi — mountaineers [are] always free; state motto of West Virginia
- morior invictus — death before defeat
- morituri te salutant — those who are about to die salute you; popularized as a standard salute from gladiators to the emperor, but only recorded once in Roman history
- morte magis metuenda senectus — old age should rather be feared than death
- mulgere hircum — to milk a male goat; to attempt the impossible
- multa paucis — say much in few words
- nanos gigantum humeris insidentes — dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants; commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
- nec aspera terrent — they don’t terrify the rough ones; frightened by no difficulties; less literally “difficulties be damned”
- nec temere nec timide — neither reckless nor timid
- nil volentibus arduum — nothing [is] arduous for the willing
- nolo contendere — I do not wish to contend; that is, “no contest”; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn’t admit guilt, but will accept punishment for a crime
- non ducor, duco — I am not led; I lead
- non loqui sed facere — not talk but action
- non progredi est regredi — to not go forward is to go backward
- non scholae, sed vitae discimus — we learn not for school, but for life; from Seneca
- non sequitur — it does not follow; in general, a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent); often used in humor
- non sum qualis eram — I am not such as I was; or “I am not the kind of person I once was”
- nosce te ipsum — know thyself; from Cicero
- novus ordo seclorum — new order of the ages; from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States
- nulla tenaci invia est via — for the tenacious, no road is impassable
- obliti privatorum, publica curate — forget private affairs, take care of public ones; Roman political saying which reminds that common good should be given priority over private matters for any person having a responsibility in the State
- panem et circenses — bread and circuses; originally described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman mob; today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters
- para bellum — prepare for war; if you want peace, prepare for war; if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack
- parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus — when you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things; sometimes translated as, “once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely”
- pater familias — father of the family; the eldest male in a family
- pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina — if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you don’t, money is your master
- per angusta ad augusta — through difficulties to greatness
- per annum — by the year
- per capita — by the person
- per diem — by the day
- per se — through itself
- persona non grata — person not pleasing; an unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person
- pollice verso — with a turned thumb; used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator
- post meridiem — after noon; P.M.; used in timekeeping
- post mortem — after death
- postscriptum — thing having been written afterward; in writing, abbreviated P.S.
- praemonitus praemunitus — forewarned is forearmed
- praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes — lead in order to serve, not in order to rule
- primus inter pares — first among equals; a title of the Roman Emperors
- pro bono — for the good; in business, refers to services rendered at no charge
- pro rata — for the rate
- quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu — it is how well you live that matters, not how long; from Seneca
- quasi — as if; as though
- qui totum vult totum perdit — he who wants everything loses everything; attributed to Seneca
- quid agis — what’s going on; what’s up, what’s happening, etc.
- quid pro quo — this for that; an exchange of value
- quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur — whatever has been said in Latin seems deep; or “anything said in Latin sounds profound”; a recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more important or “educated”
- quis custodiet ipsos custodes? — who will guard the guards themselves?; commonly associated with Plato
- quorum — of whom; the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional
- requiescat in pace — let him rest in peace; abbreviated R.I.P.
- rigor mortis — stiffness of death
- scientia ac labore — knowledge through hard work
- scientia ipsa potentia est — knowledge itself is power
- semper anticus — always forward
- semper fidelis — always faithful; U.S. Marines motto
- semper fortis — always brave
- semper paratus — always prepared
- semper virilis — always virile
- si vales, valeo — when you are strong, I am strong
- si vis pacem, para bellum — if you want peace, prepare for war
- sic parvis magna — greatness from small beginnings — motto of Sir Frances Drake
- sic semper tyrannis — thus always to tyrants; attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; whether it was actually said at either of these events is disputed
- sic vita est — thus is life; the ancient version of “it is what it is”
- sola fide — by faith alone
- sola nobilitat virtus — virtue alone ennobles
- solvitur ambulando — it is solved by walking
- spes bona — good hope
- statim (stat) — immediately; medical shorthand
- status quo — the situation in which; current condition
- subpoena — under penalty
- sum quod eris — I am what you will be; a gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death
- summa cum laude — with highest praise
- summum bonum — the supreme good
- suum cuique — to each his own
- tabula rasa — scraped tablet; “blank slate”; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge
- tempora heroic — Heroic Age
- tempus edax rerum — time, devourer of all things
- tempus fugit — time flees; commonly mistranslated “time flies”
- terra firma — firm ground
- terra incognita — unknown land; used on old maps to show unexplored areas
- vae victis — woe to the conquered
- vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas — vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity; from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)
- veni vidi vici — I came, I saw, I conquered; famously said by Julius Caesar
- verbatim — repeat exactly
- veritas et aequitas — truth and equity
- versus — against
- veto — I forbid
- vice versa — to change or turn around
- vincit qui patitur — he conquers who endures
- vincit qui se vincit — he conquers who conquers himself
- vir prudens non contra ventum mingit — [a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind
- virile agitur — the manly thing is being done
- viriliter agite — act in a manly way
- viriliter agite estote fortes — quit ye like men, be strong
- virtus tentamine gaudet — strength rejoices in the challenge
- virtute et armis — by virtue and arms; or “by manhood and weapons”; state motto of Mississippi
- vive memor leti — live remembering death
- vivere est vincere — to live is to conquer; Captain John Smith’s personal motto
- vivere militare est — to live is to fight
- vox populi — voice of the people
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