Foreign Phrases

The following list comprises foreign phrases which are frequently used in official correspondence and state papers. They should generally be underscored in typewritten matter.

a fortiori - with stronger reason; much more.

a posteriori - from effect to cause; from what comes after.

a priori - from cause to effect; from what went before.

ad hoc - as to this.

ad infinitum - without limit.

ad interim - in the meantime. (Not underscored in title "Charge d'Affaires ad interim")

ad referendum - for reference; for further consideration.

ad valorem - according to the valuation. (Not italicized in English text)

bona fide - in good faith.

bona fides - good faith.

casus belli - an event which is allegedly the cause of war.

casus foederis - some action or event which brings into operation a particular treaty of alliance

and justifies one party to that treaty in calling upon another party to come to his

assistance.

ceteris paribus - other things being equal.

coup d'etat - unexpected stroke of policy or statesmanships: often accompanied by violence;

often involves a charge in government.

de facto - actually; in fact; in deed.

de jure - rightfully; lawfully; by legal title.

droit civil - common law.

droit de detraction - emigration duty.

et sequentes, et sequentia - and the following.

ex aequo et bono - according to what is just and good.

ex gratia - in favour.

ex officio - by virtue of his office.

ex post facto - from or by an artefact; by subsequent matter.

ex professo - openly; avowedly.

force majeure - superior or irresistible force.

gotong royong - collectivity.

hors de cause - outside of the cause.

in extenso - fully; at length.

in fine - in or at the end.

in flagrante delicto - in the very act of committing the crime.

in tot. - in the whole; completely.

inter alia - among other things.

ipso facto - by the fact itself.

ipso jure - by the law itself.

jus civile - civil law.

jus gentium - the law of nations.

jus sanguinis - the right of blood.

jus soli - right of the scil: indicating the citizenship of a person by the place of his birth.

lapsus calami - slip of the pen.

lapsus linguae - slip of the tongue.

lapsus memoriae - slip of the memory.

lex loci - the law of the place.

locus standi

(a place of standing) - a right to be heard.

mala fides - bad faith.

mali exempli - of bad example.

mare clausum - closed sea.

mare liberum - free sea.

modus operandi - mode of operations.

modus vivendi

(plu. modi vivendi) - a temporary arrangement between two sovereignties providing for the conduct

of certain affairs pending negotiations for a treaty on the same subject.

mufakat - consensus.

mushawarah - discussion; consultation.

mutatis mutandis - with necessary changes.

non compas mentia - not of sound mind, memory, or understanding.

non sequitur - it does not follow.

opere citato - in the work cited. (To be used only with the name of an author or in connection

with the name of the author)

parens patriae - father of his country.

per annum - by the year.

per diem - by the day.

per se - by itself; alone.

persona non grata

(plu. personae non gratae) - one who is not acceptable.

prime facie - at first view; on the first appearance.

pro confesso - as confessed.

pro rata - according to the rate, proportion, or allowance.

pro tanto - for so much.

pro tempore - for the time being.

proces-verbal

(proces-verbaux) - official report(s), journal(s), minute(s) of proceedings.

quid pro quo - one thing for, or in place, of another.

ratione personae - by reason of the person.

requete civile - appeal to the highest court for that court to reconsider its own decision.

res judicata - a matter that has already been judicially determined.

status quo - the state of things existing at any given time.

status quo ante - the state of things existing before.

ultra vires - beyond their powers.