Carpe Diem: Seize The Day: A Little Book of Latin Phrases

by Sean McMahon

A linguistic treasure, this compact, engaging collection puts fifty-five revered Latin phrases at readers' fingertips, from the universally quoted caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) to ex nihilo, nihil fit (from nothing, nothing comes) to tempus fugit (time flies).

An entertaining volume with a scholarly twist, 'Carpe Diem: Seize the Day' will inform, advise, and delight both the casual reader and anyone who appreciates the art of language.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

59 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 1995

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Veni, vidi, vici' is perhaps the Latin phrase that many will remember. Translated 'I came, I saw, I conquered' it is the phrase popularly attributed to Julius Caesar who, according to Appian, used it in a letter to the Roman Senate around 47 BC.

The book title 'Carpe diem', 'Seize the day', is one also probably widely known for it is sometimes used in modern parlance when one is being urged to make the most of things. And, of course, probably everyone knows the old favourite, 'Tempus fugit', 'Time flies', because we are all well aware that it does ... blimey, am I really that old already?

'Caveat emptor', 'Let the buyer beware', is another that raises its head in these days of fake goods being sold while 'Omnia vincit amor', 'Love conquers all', is perhaps one not quite as well known despite the English translation being much used.

Some of the phrases in the book are more obscure such as 'Quem Iupiter vult perdere dementat prius', which translates as 'Whom Jupiter wishes to destroy, he first makes mad'; I must confess I can't quite see a use for that phrase. And there are many others like that which would not come into modern language or even, perhaps, appear as a motto in heraldry. Possibly 'Fiat justitia, ruat caelum', 'Let justice be done, though the heavens fall' could appear on a coat of arms of, say, a judge but I doubt whether we would see 'De mortuis nil nisi bonum', 'Say nothing but good of the dead' appearing on suchlike.

It is what could be called a 'scholarly book' and the reason I ventured into it was that I took Latin at school and wondered what I would remember other than 'Amo, amas, amat' or 'Bellum, bellum, bellum, belli, bello, bello'! Thanks goodness I have left nominative, accusative, vocative, genetive, dative, ablative behind ... with due respect to Mr 'Plush Astell (our Latin teacher).

So, with this book 'Res ipsa loquitur'............... oh, sorry, just in case a translation is needed, that reads, 'The thing stands for itself'. It was a bit of fun anyway.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never manage to work any of these into regular conversation, but the thought was there.