Living Latin: The Heritage of Latin Phrases and Quotations in English

John Parker after a career of teaching mathematics retired to Cornwall and returned to his first love the Latin language. He set about compiling this book an extensive list of Latin words and phrases used by English writers and indeed by English speakers in the recent past and in the present. In the book he not only translates the Latin but also includes passages showing just how authors have embraced Latin and tucked it into their English... Even before puberty Martin had known that deep within him were the makings of a great lover.... Samanthas initial response to his tentative but markedly amorous advances seemed to hold out hope of his proceeding shortly a posse ad esse. (P. J. Dorricot)... I begin to think Watson said Holmes that I make a mistake in explaining. Omne ignotum pro magnifico you know and my poor reputation... will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid. (Arthur Conan Doyle)... Mrs. Knox was told that I had taken Mrs. McRory for a run in the car at one oclock in the morning and on hearing it said De gustibus non est disputandum. (E. OE. Somerville and Martin Ross)... Whether I owe my recovery to the Carp to the Return of Spring or to the Vis medicatrix Naturae I am not yet able to determine. (Aldous Huxley). The book also notes how music groups have adopted Latin titles for themselves and for their compositions: as well as Status Quo we have Carpe Diem De Profundis and Veni Vidi Vici. Many institutions have Latin mottoes: Moorfields Eye Hospital has Fiat Lux̦ the Black Watch have Nemo me Impune Lacessit the Feltmakers Company have Decus et Tutamen in Armis and HMS Dauntless has Nil Desperandum not to mention the Citius Altius Fortius of the Olympic Games. And this is just a sample. Theres plenty more inside.