Et Cetera

• This Latin phrase means "and other things." In English, people use it to mean, "and so on, and so forth . . ., " when they want to convey the impression of a series of things similar to what they've already mentioned, without naming them. In written English this phrase is usually abbreviated as etc.
  
  

A Priori

• This means, "from the former." A priori means a concept or understanding that comes without questioning or debate. It is knowledge that is innate, natural and already known. A priori reasoning is self-evident; it needs no support, proof or analysis.
  
  

Ad Hominem

• This phrase, meaning "against the person," means a personal attack, one not related to the debate or argument at hand. When someone in a debate gets off the subject and questions the motivations or innate honesty of the opponent, then he is engaging in an ad hominem attack.
  
  

Ad Libitum

• Ad libitum, or "at your pleasure," means in music performance to do as you please---play without written notes or by following the composer's instructions. When they want to just perform as they feel, musicians and actors will "ad lib." When public speakers lose their notes, or the use of a teleprompter, they either ad lib or look foolish.
  
  

Mea Culpa

• "My guilt" in Latin is used by somebody who admits fault or guilt when accused of something. It is very often used by politicians or by those who write about them.
  
  

Habaeus Corpus

• "Have the body," in Latin, is a phrase that has become part of the criminal justice system in the English-speaking world. A writ of habaeus corpus forces the arresting authority to produce a prisoner so that charges can be brought and decided by a court of law. Hundreds of other Latin phrases have been adopted by the legal profession, including subpoena duces tecum (a subpoena for records), nunc pro tunc (now for then, or a court order that applies retroactively), sua sponte (a motion made by the court, not by the parties), and de novo (to do again, as in a hearing or trial).
  
  

Needing No Translation

• Many Latin words have been adopted in their original form by the English language and are familiar to everyone who speaks the language. These include alibi, ego, non sequitor, per capita, per diem, persona non grata, quid pro quo, quorom, rigor mortis, R.I.P. (which stands for "requiescat in pace"), semper fi(delis), status quo, subpoena, verbatim and versus.