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List of Latin phrases: N



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This page lists direct English translations of Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and
et cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations of Greek phrases, as Greek
rhetoric and literature reached its peak centuries before that of ancient Rome.

This list covers the letter N. See List of Latin phrases for the main list.

Contents
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&nbsp;F&nbsp; · &nbsp;G&nbsp; · &nbsp;H&nbsp; · &nbsp;I&nbsp; · &nbsp;L&nbsp; ·
&nbsp;M&nbsp; ·  N  · &nbsp;O&nbsp; · &nbsp;P&nbsp; · &nbsp;Q&nbsp; · &nbsp;R&nbsp;
· &nbsp;S&nbsp; · &nbsp;T&nbsp; · &nbsp;U&nbsp; · &nbsp;V&nbsp; · full
References


[edit] N


Latin Translation Notes
nasciturus pro iam nato habetur, quotiens de commodis eius agitur The unborn is deemed
to have been born to the extent that his own inheritance is concerned Refers to a
situation where an unborn child is deemed to be entitled to certain inheritance rights.
natura abhorret a vacuo nature abhors a vacuum Pseudo-explanation for why a liquid will
climb up a tube to fill a vacuum, often given before the discovery of atmospheric
pressure.
natura nihil frustra facit nature does nothing in vain Cf. Leucippus: "Everything that
happens does so for a reason and of necessity."
natura non contristatur nature is not saddened That is, the natural world is not
sentimental or compassionate.
natura non facit saltum ita nec lex nature does not make a leap, thus neither does the
law Shortened form of "sicut natura nil facit per saltum ita nec lex" (just as nature
does nothing by a leap, so neither does the law), referring to both nature and the legal
system moving gradually.
natura non facit saltus nature makes no leaps A famous aphorism of Carl Linnaeus stating
that all organisms bear relationships on all sides, their forms changing gradually from
one species to the next. From Philosophia Botanica (1751).
naturalia non sunt turpia What is natural is not dirty. Based on Servius' commentary on
Virgil's Georgics (3:96): "turpis non est quia per naturam venit."
naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret. You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork,
yet she still will hurry back. You must take the basic nature of something into account.
- Horace, Epistles, Book I, epistle iv, line 24.
navigare necesse est vivere non est necesse to sail is necessary; to live is not
necessary Attributed by Plutarch to Gnaeus Pompeius, who, during a severe storm,
commanded sailors to bring food from Africa to Rome.
ne plus ultra nothing more beyond Also nec plus ultra or non plus ultra. A descriptive
phrase meaning the best or most extreme example of something. The Pillars of Hercules,
for example, were literally the nec plus ultra of the ancient Mediterranean world. Holy
Roman Emperor Charles V's heraldic emblem reversed this idea, using a depiction of this
phrase inscribed on the Pillars—as plus ultra, without the negation. This represented
Spain's expansion into the New World.
ne sutor ultra crepidam Cobbler, no further than the sandal! Thus, don't offer your
opinion on things that are outside your competence. It is said that the Greek painter
Apelles once asked the advice of a cobbler on how to render the sandals of a soldier he
was painting. When the cobbler started offering advice on other parts of the painting,
Apelles rebuked him with this phrase in Greek, and it subsequently became a popular
Latin expression.
nec dextrorsum, nec sinistrorsum Neither to the right nor to the left Do not get
distracted. Motto for Bishop Cotton Boys' School and the Bishop Cotton Girls' School,
both located in Bangalore, India.
nec spe, nec metu without hope, without fear 
nec tamen consumebatur and yet it was not consumed Refers to the Burning Bush of Exodus
3:2. Motto of many Presbyterian churches throughout the world, including Australia.
nec temere nec timide neither reckless nor timid The motto of the Dutch 11th air
manoeuvre brigade 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade
neca eos omnes, deus suos agnoscet kill them all, God will know his own. alternate
rendition of Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. by Arnaud Amalric.
nemine contradicente (nem. con.) with no one speaking against Less literally, "without
dissent". Used especially in committees, where a matter may be passed nem. con., or
unanimously.
nemo dat quod non habet no one gives what he does not have Thus, "none can pass better
title than they have".
nemo est supra legis nobody is above the law 
nemo iudex in causa sua no man shall be a judge in his own cause Legal principle that no
individual can preside over a hearing in which he holds a specific interest or bias.
nemo malus felix peace visits not the guilty mind Also translated to "no peace for the
wicked." Refers to the inherent psychological issues that plague bad/guilty people.
nemo me impune lacessit no one provokes me with impunity Motto of the Order of the
Thistle, and consequently of Scotland, found stamped on the milled edge of certain
British pound sterling coins. It is also the motto of the Montressors in the Edgar Allan
Poe short story "The Cask of Amontillado"
nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit No mortal is wise at all times The wisest may make
mistakes.
nemo nisi per amicitiam cognoscitur No one learns except by friendship Used to imply
that one must like a subject in order to study it.
nemo saltat sobrius Nobody dances sober The short and more common form of "Nemo enim
fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit", "Nobody dances sober, unless he is completely
insane."
nemo tenetur seipsum accusare no one is bound to accuse himself A maxim banning
mandatory self-incrimination. Near-synonymous with accusare nemo se debet nisi coram
Deo. Similar phrases include: nemo tenetur armare adversarium contra se (no one is bound
to arm an opponent against himself), meaning that a defendant is not obligated to in any
way assist the prosecutor to his own detriment; nemo tenetur edere instrumenta contra se
(no one is bound to produce documents against himself, meaning that a defendant is not
obligated to provide materials to be used against himself (this is true in Roman law and
has survived in modern criminal law, but no longer applies in modern civil law); and
nemo tenere prodere seipsum (no one is bound to betray himself), meaning that a
defendant is not obligated to testify against himself.
Nemo igitur vir magnus sine aliquo adflatu divino umquam fuit No great man ever existed
who did not enjoy some portion of divine inspiration From Cicero De Natura Deorum, book
2, 167
nervos belli, pecuniam infinitam Endless money forms the sinews of war In war, it is
essential to be able to purchase supplies and to pay troops (as Napoleon put it, "An
army marches on its stomach").
nihil ad rem nothing to do with the point That is, in law, irrelevant and / or
inconsequential.
nihil dicit he says nothing In law, a declination by a defendant to answer charges or
put in a plea.
nihil novi nothing of the new Or just "nothing new". The phrase exists in two versions:
as nihil novi sub sole (nothing new under the sun), from the Vulgate, and as nihil novi
nisi commune consensu (nothing new unless by the common consensus), a 1505 law of the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and one of the cornerstones of its Golden Liberty.
nihil obstat nothing prevents A notation, usually on a title page, indicating that a
Roman Catholic censor has reviewed the book and found nothing objectionable to faith or
morals in its content. See also imprimatur.
Nihil sine Deo Nothing without God The motto of the Kingdom of Romania, while ruled by
the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty (1878–1947).
nil admirari be surprised at nothing Motto of the Fitzgibbon family. See John
FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare
nil desperandum nothing must be despaired at That is, "never despair".
nil mortalibus ardui est nothing is impossible for humankind From Horace's Odes. Motto
of Rathkeale College, New Zealand.
nil nisi bonum (about the dead say) nothing unless (it is) good Short for nil nisi bonum
de mortuis dicere. That is, "Don't speak ill of anyone who has died". Also "Nil magnum
nisi bonum" (nothing is great unless good), motto of St Catherine's School, Toorak as
well as Pennant Hills High School.
nil nisi malis terrori no terror, except to the bad The motto of The King's School,
Macclesfield.
nil per os, rarely non per os (n.p.o.) nothing through the mouth Medical shorthand
indicating that oral foods and fluids should be withheld from the patient.
nil satis nisi optimum nothing [is] enough unless [it is] the best Motto of Everton
F.C., residents of Goodison Park, Liverpool.
nil sine labore nothing without labour Motto of Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane Girls
Grammar School, Greenwich Public School, and Victoria School
nil sine numine nothing without the divine will Or "nothing without providence". State
motto of Colorado, adopted in 1861. Probably derived from Virgil's Aeneid Book II, line
777, "non haec sine numine divum eveniunt" (these things do not come to pass without the
will of Heaven). See also numen.
nil volentibus arduum Nothing [is] arduous for the willing Nothing is impossible for the
willing
nisi Dominus frustra if not the Lord, [it is] in vain That is, "everything is in vain
without God". Summarized from Psalm 127, "nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum
laboraverunt qui aedificant eam nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem frustra vigilavit qui
custodit" (unless the Lord builds the house, they work on a useless thing who build it;
unless the Lord guards the community, he keeps watch in vain who guards it). The motto
of Edinburgh.
nisi prius unless previously In England, a direction that a case be brought up to
Westminster for trial before a single judge and jury. In the United States, a court
where civil actions are tried by a single judge sitting with a jury, as distinguished
from an appellate court.
nolens volens unwilling, willing That is, "whether unwillingly or willingly". Sometimes
rendered volens nolens, aut nolens aut volens or nolentis volentis. Similar to
willy-nilly, though that word is derived from Old English will-he nil-he ([whether] he
will or [whether] he will not).
noli me tangere do not touch me Commonly translated "touch me not". According to the
Gospel of John, this was said by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection.
noli turbare circulos meos Do not disturb my circles! That is, "Don't upset my
calculations!" Said by Archimedes to a Roman soldier who, despite having been given
orders not to, killed Archimedes at the conquest of Syracuse, Sicily. The soldier was
executed for his act.
"nolite te bastardes carborundorum"
(Dog Latin) "Don't let the bastards grind you down From The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret
Atwood — the protagonist (Offred) finds the phrase inscribed on the inside of her
wardrobe. One of many variants of Illegitimi non carborundum.
nolle prosequi to be unwilling to prosecute A legal motion by a prosecutor or other
plaintiff to drop legal charges, usually in exchange for a diversion program or
out-of-court settlement.
nolo contendere I do not wish to contend That is, "no contest". A plea that can be
entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn't admit
guilt, but will accept punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas cannot be used as
evidence in another trial.
nomen dubium doubtful name A scientific name of unknown or doubtful application.
nomen est omen the name is a sign Thus, "true to its name".
nomen nescio (N.N.) I do not know the name Thus, the name or person in question is
unknown.
nomen nudum naked name A purported scientific name that does not fulfill the proper
formal criteria and therefore cannot be used unless it is subsequently proposed
correctly.
non bis in idem not twice in the same thing A legal principle forbidding double jeopardy.
non causa pro causa not the cause for the cause Also known as the "questionable cause"
or "false cause". Refers to any logical fallacy where a cause is incorrectly identified.
non compos mentis not in control of the mind See compos mentis. Also rendered non compos
sui (not in control of himself). Samuel Johnson, author of the first English dictionary,
theorized that the word nincompoop may derive from this phrase.
non ducor, duco I am not led; I lead Motto of São Paulo city, Brazil. See also pro
Brasilia fiant eximia.
non constat it is not certain Used to explain scientific phenomena and religious
advocations, for example in medieval history, for rulers to issue a 'Non Constat'
decree, banning the worship of a holy figure. In legal context, occasionally a backing
for nulling information that was presented by an attorney. Without any tangible proof,
Non constat information is difficult to argue for.
non facias malum ut inde fiat bonum you should not make evil in order that good may be
made from it More simply, "don't do wrong to do right". The direct opposite of the
phrase "the ends justify the means".
non impediti ratione cogitationis unencumbered by the thought process motto of radio
show Car Talk
non in legendo sed in intelligendo legis consistunt the laws depend not on being read,
but on being understood 
non liquet it is not proven Also "it is not clear" or "it is not evident". A sometimes
controversial decision handed down by a judge when they feel that the law is not
complete.
non loqui sed facere not talk but action Motto of the University of Western Australia's
Engineering faculty student society.
non mihi solum not for myself alone Motto of Anderson Junior College, Singapore.
Non nobis Domine 'Not to us (oh) Lord' The title of a Christian hymn and theme-song of
the Charismatic Episcopal Church, C.E.C. - Protestant denomination, not related to the
high Episcopal Church of the ordinary Anglican Communion of Christianity. The main theme
of the hymn is: 'Non nobis Domine, tuo da glorium.' This is translated as: 'Not to us,
(oh) Lord... unto thy name (be) glory.'
non nobis solum not for ourselves alone Appears in Cicero's De Officiis Book 1:22 in the
form non nobis solum nati sumus (we are not born for ourselves alone). Motto of Lower
Canada College, Montreal.
non obstante veredicto not standing in the way of a verdict A judgment notwithstanding
verdict, a legal motion asking the court to reverse the jury's verdict on the grounds
that the jury could not have reached such a verdict reasonably.
non olet it doesn't smell See pecunia non olet.
non omnis moriar I shall not all die "Not all of me will die", a phrase expressing the
belief that a part of the speaker will survive beyond death.
non plus ultra nothing further beyond the ultimate
non possumus not possible 
non progredi est regredi to not go forward is to go backward 
non prosequitur he does not proceed A judgment in favor of a defendant when the
plaintiff failed to take the necessary steps in an action within the time allowed.
non scholae, sed vitae discimus We learn not for school, but for life. from Seneca.
Also, motto of the Istanbul Bilgi University.
non quis sed quid not who but what Used in the sense "what matters is not who says it
but what he says" – a warning against ad hominem arguments. Also, motto of
Southwestern University.
non sequitur it does not follow In general, a comment which is absurd due to not making
sense in its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally
inconsistent), often used in humor. As a logical fallacy, a conclusion that does not
follow from a premise.
non serviam I will not serve Possibly derived from a Vulgate mistranslation of the Book
of Jeremiah. Commonly used in literature as Satan's statement of disobedience to God,
though in the original context the quote is attributed to Israel, not Satan.
non sibi Not for self. A slogan used by many schools and universities.
non sibi, sed suis Not for one's self but for one's own. A slogan used by many schools
and universities. Including Tulane University.
non sibi, sed patriae Not for self, but for Country. Engraved on the doors of the United
States Naval Academy chapel. Also the motto of the USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
non silba, sed anthar; Deo vindice Not for self, but for others; God will vindicate. A
slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan.
non sum qualis eram I am not such as I was Or "I am not the kind of person I once was".
Expresses a change in the speaker.
non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum Do not hold as gold all that shines as
gold. Also, "All that glitters is not gold." Parabolae. Also used by Shakespeare in The
Merchant of Venice.
non timebo mala I will fear no evil This is the phrase printed on the Colt, in
Supernatural.
non vi, sed verbo Not through violence, but through the word alone Martin Luther on
Catholic church reform. (see Protestant Reformation)
nosce te ipsum know thyself From Cicero, based on the Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν
(gnothi seauton), inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. A non-traditional Latin
rendering, temet nosce (thine own self know), is translated in The Matrix as "know
thyself".
nosus decipio we cheat As translated in Amazing Grace (2006 film), "we cheat." From verb
decipere: to ensnare, trap, beguile, deceive, cheat.
noster nostri Literally "Our ours" Approximately "Our hearts beat as one."
nota bene (n.b.) mark well That is, "please note" or "note it well".
novus ordo seclorum new order of the ages From Virgil. Motto on the Great Seal of the
United States. Similar to Novus Ordo Mundi (New World Order).
nulla dies sine linea Not a day without a line drawn. Pliny the Elder attributes this
maxim to Apelles, an ancient Greek artist.
nulla poena sine lege no penalty without a law Refers to the legal principle that one
cannot be punished for doing something that is not prohibited by law, and is related to
Nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali.
nulla tenaci invia est via For the tenacious, no road is impassable. Motto of the Dutch
car builder Spyker.
nullam rem natam no thing born That is, "nothing". It has been theorized that this
expression is the origin of Italian nulla, French rien, and Spanish and Portuguese nada,
all with the same meaning.
nulli secundus second to none Motto of the Coldstream Guardsand Nine Squadron Royal
Australian Corps of Transport and the Pretoria Regiment.
nullius in verba On the word of no man Motto of the Royal Society.
nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali no crime, no punishment without a
previous penal law Legal principle meaning that one cannot be penalised for doing
something that is not prohibited by law. It also means that penal law cannot be enacted
retroactively.
nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit There has been no great wisdom
without an element of madness 
numerus clausus closed number A method to limit the number of students who may study at
a university.
numen lumen God our light The motto of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
nunc dimittis now you send beginning of the Song of Simeon, from the Gospel of Luke.
nunc est bibendum now is the time to drink Carpe-Diem-type phrase from the Odes of
Horace, Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus (Now is the time to drink,
now the time to dance footloose upon the earth).
nunc pro tunc now for then Something that has retroactive effect, is effective from an
earlier date.
nunc scio quid sit amor now I know what love is From Virgil, Eclogues VIII.
nunquam minus solus quam cum solus never less alone than when alone. 
nunquam non paratus never unprepared Motto of the Scottish clan Johnston & the Irish
sept O'Donoghue. Also motto of The Grange School, a British school located in Santiago,
Chile.


[edit] Notes





[edit] References



* Adeleye, Gabriel G. (1999). World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions. Ed. Thomas J.
  Sienkewicz and James T. McDonough, Jr. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers,
  Inc. ISBN 0865164223.
* Hardon, John, Fr. Modern Catholic Dictionary.
* Stone, Jon R. (1996). Latin for the Illiterati. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN
  0415917751.



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