Saturday, August 08, 2015

Vocabulary - Latin

I intend to run through all the European languages that have contributed to English and cherry pick some interesting words. I will start off with Latin.

As you know Latin is a source language for many words in English. Some of these words have mutated when they have entered English but a lot of words are used in English the way they were in original Latin. A look at a few of them,

ab origine
From the very beginning; from the source or origin.
This is the source word for aboriginal/aborigine.

caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware
It is the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty.

in camera:
In secret; privately

lapsus linguae
A slip of the tongue

fac simile
an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or manuscript. It means “make the like”
This is the source word for fax.

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