CLAT UG: Words and Phrases of Foreign Origin
Here is a list of Words and Phrases of Foreign Origin prepared especially to help the students who are willing to crack CLAT UG.
Here is a list of Words and Phrases of Foreign Origin prepared especially to help the students who are willing to crack CLAT UG.
“A man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a weak thinker. The richer and more copious one's vocabulary and the greater one's awareness of fine distinctions and subtle nuances of meaning, the more fertile and precise is likely to be one's thinking. Knowledge of things and knowledge of the words for them grow together. If you do not know the words, you can hardly know the thing.”.................................... Henry Hazlitt
CLAT UG: Words and Phrases of Foreign Origin
1. A La Carte - On the Menu
2. A La Minute - To the Minute
3. A La Mode - In Fashion, Style
4. A Priori - Based on theory rather than observation
5. Ab Initio - From the beginning
8. Ab Origine - From the origin
9. Acme - The highest point of a structure
10. Acrobat - Wire Walker
11. Actionable Per Se – The very Act is punishable and no proof of damage is required
12. Ad Absurdum - To the point of absurdity
13. Ad Hoc - For the specific purpose, case or situation at Hand
14. Ad Infinitum - Forever, For Ending Period
15. Ad Libitu - At the discretion of the performer
16. Ad Nauseam - To an excessive trend
17. Addendum - An item to be added, especially a supplement to a book.
18. Adieu - Farewell, Good Bye
19. Affaire D’amour - A Love Affair
20. Agitprop - Artistic Political Propaganda
21. Aide De Camp - A Military Officer acting as Secretary and confidential assistant to the Superior of General or flag rank, Camp Assistant
22. Aide-Mémoire - Memory Aid; A Note serving as a reminder
23. Alibi – a statement by somebody that says you were in a different place at the time of a crime, elsewhere, a false excuse for absence
24. Alma Mate - The School, College Or University that one has Attended
25. Alma Mater - One's Old School, Mother Institution ( School, College, University) A Person Attended
26. Alpha And Omega - The Beginning and the end
27. Alter Ego - Other (Alternative) Self, A Bosom Friend
28. Ambiance - The Mood, Character, Quality, Tone, Atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment.
29. Amicus Curiae – A friend of the court or member of the bar who is appointed to assist the Court
30. Amnesia - Oblivion
31. Amour-Propre - Self Love; Self Respect
32. Amphibious/Amphibians - Living a Double Life
33. Anachronism - Wrong time reference
34. Anagoge/Anagogy - Spiritual Uplift, reference to a principle
35. Anagram - Transpose the letters of one word so as to form another
36. Analogy: Proportion
37. Analyse/Analysis - Loosen, Simplify
38. Anamnesis - Recollection, Reminiscence
39. Anecdote - Unpublished
40. Anemia - Refers to a Condition characterized by a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of the Red Blood Cells (Or of the Hemoglobin).
41. Anesthetic - Lack of Sensation, Insensibility under surgical treatment
42. Angst - Dread and Anxiety
43. Anno Domin - In a specified year of the Christian era
44. Annus Mirabilis - Wonderful Year
45. Anorexia - Lack of Appetite
46. Antagonize - Struggle against, Prove a match for
47. Ante Meridiem - Before Noon
48. Aperitif - Cocktail
49. Apple Strudel - A Type of Pastry made with thin layers of dough, rolled Up with a fruit filling
50. Apropos - (French Expression) With Reference To
51. Aqua - Water
52. Arthritis - Inflammation of Joint
53. Aspirin - Acetylsalicylic Acid
54. Assentio Mentium – The Meeting of Minds
55. Attache - Attached; A Person assigned to a diplomatic post
56. Au Contraire - On the Contrary
57. Au Courant - Up-To-Date
58. Au Gratin - With Gratings; anything that is grated and put on top of a dish, like breadcrumbs or cheese
59. Au Revoi - Used to express farewell
60. Audi Alteram Partem – No man shall be condemned unheard.
61. Bas-Relief - Low Relief/design; Sculpture that is only slightly more prominent than its background.
62. Beau Geste - A Fine or Noble Gesture, Often Futile.
63. Beau Monde - High Society
64. Billet-Dou - A Love Letter
65. Blond / Blonde - Fair-Haired
66. Bolshevik - A Revolutionary or Radical
67. Bon Appétit - Good Appetite; Enjoy Your Meal
68. Bon Mot - A Witty Remark or Comment
69. Bon Vivant - A person who lives luxuriously and enjoys Good Food and Drink.
70. Bon Voyage - Have A Good Trip
71. Bona Fide - Made or Carried Out in Good Faith; Sincere
72. Bonhomie - Friendliness, Sociability
73. Bonjour - Good Morning
74. Boulevard - A Broad City Street. Often tree-lined and landscaped
75. Bourgeoisie - The Middle Class
76. Boutique - A Shop
77. Brunette - Small, Dark-Haired Female
78. Carpe Diem - Seize the day
79. Carte Blanche - Unrestricted power to act on One's Own.
80. Carte Blanche - Authority or permission to do something the way one chooses to do It
81. Carte Blanche – Unlimited Authority
82. Casus Belli - An Act Justifying War
83. Cause Celebre- A Widely Known Controversial Case or Issue
84. Caveat – Let a Person be Aware
85. Caveat Emptor - Let The Buyer Beware
86. Caveat Venditor -Let The Seller Beware.
87. Cemetery - Graveyard
88. Census - Count of Citizens
89. Cerise - Cherry; The French Word for the fruit gives the word for the Colour
90. Certiorari – A writ by which orders passed by an inferior court are quashed.
91. C'est La Vie - That's Life
92. Chaise Longue - Long Chair
93. Charge D'affaires - Charged with Business; A Substitute or Replacement Diplomat
94. Chef D'ouvre - Chief Work; Masterpiece
95. Chic - Stylish
96. Coffee Klatsch (Klatch) - A Casual Social Gathering For Coffee And Conversation.
97. Collum - Collar
98. Comme Ci Comme Ca - So-So
99. Commissar - An Official
100. Corpus – Body
101. Coup D’etat French. The Sudden Overthrow of A Government, Usually By A Small Group of Persons in or Previously in Positions of Authority
102. Coup De Grace: Finishing Blow
103. Coup D'etat - Sudden Overthrow Of A Government.
104. Creme Fraiche - Fresh Cream
105. Crepe De Chine - Chinese Crepe; Soft Fine Or Sheer Clothing Crepe Especially Of Silk
106. Crime Passionnel - Passionate Crime; Crime of Passion
107. Cuisine - Kitchen, Style, or Cuisine Refers Only to a Particular Type of Food/Cooking, Such as French Cuisine, Southern Cuisine, etc.
108. Cuisine French. A Characteristic Manner Or Style of Preparing Food
109. Damnum Sine Injuria – Damage without injury.
110. De Facto – In Fact.
111. De Facto - In Reality, or Fact
112. De Jure – By Law.
113. De Jure Latin. According To Law
114. De Novo – To Make Something new.
115. De Rigueur - Strictly Required, As By Etiquette, Usage, or Fashion
116. Debutante - Beginner; Débutante Is The Feminine Form of Débutant
117. Degustation - Tasting; The French Word Simply Refers To the act of Tasting,
118. Dei Gratia - By The Grace of God
119. Dei Gratia- By The Grace of God
120. Deja Vu -Already Seen/ Felt
121. Democracy - Rule By The People
122. Denatio Mortis Causa – Gift because of Death.
123. Denouement - Finale / Final Part of A Play
124. Detinue – Tort of wrongfully Holding Goods which belong to someone else
125. Deus Ex Machine: A Contrived Device to resolve a Situation
126. Dictum – Statement of Law made By the Judge in the Course of the Decision but not necessary to the decision itself
127. Diesel - The Diesel Engine is named for its German Inventor, Rudolf Diesel
128. Dobermann - Dog Breed named for the German Friedrich Louis Dobermann
129. Dogma-- The Established Belief or Set of Principles Held By A Religion, Ideology Or By Any Organization. .
130. Doli Incapax – Incapable of Crime
131. Doppelganger-- A Ghostly Double, Look-Alike, or Clone of A Person
132. Doppler Effect - Apparent Change in the frequency of Light Or Sound Waves, Caused By Rapid Movement; Named For The Austrian Physicist C.J. Doppler who discovered the effect
133. Du Jour - Of the Day
134. Duma - A Legislative Body
135. Eau De Cologne: Water From Cologne
136. Eau De Toilette - A Very Weak Perfume
137. En Bloc - Together/ In A Group
138. En Masse – A Large Group, in One Group Or Body; Altogether
139. En Route - On The Way
140. En Suite - In Sequence, Part Of A Set, Together
141. Enfant Terrible - An Incorrigible Child; An Outrageously Outspoken Or Bold Person
142. Entente Cordiale - Cordial Agreement
143. Entre Nous - Between Ourselves; Confidentially
144. Ergo - Consequently
145. Erratum - Error; Mistake
146. Erratum - An Error in Printing Or Writing Especially Such an Error Noted in A List of Corrections and Bound Into A Book
147. Estoppel – Prevented From Denying.
148. Et Ceter - And Other Unspecified Things of the same Class; and So Forth
149. Et Cetera - And the rest
150. Ethos - "Accustomed Place." It Refers To A Disposition Or Characteristics Peculiar To A Specific Person, Culture Or Movement
151. Euge! - Well Done
152. Eureka! - I Have Found it
153. Ex Gratia – As A Favour.
154. Ex Officio – Because of an Office Held
155. Ex Officio - By Virtue of Office or Position
156. Ex Parte – Proceedings in the absence of the Other Party.
157. Ex Post Facto- Retroactively
158. Ex-Cathedra - With Authority; Used Especially for those Pronouncements of the Pope that are considered infallible.
159. Extempore - Spoken, Carried Out Or Composed With Little Or No Preparation Or Forethought
160. Factum Probans – Relevant Fact.
161. Fahrenheit - The Fahrenheit Temperature Scale is Named For Its German Inventor, Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, Who Invented The Alcohol Thermometer
162. Fait Accompli - An Accomplished Fact, Presumably Irreversible
163. Fait Accompli - An Accomplished, Presumably Irreversible Deed or Fact
164. Fait Accompli - Established Fact
165. Fatum – Beyond Human Foresight.
166. Faux - False
167. Faux Pas - A Social Blunder
168. Feinschmecker - Gourmet
169. Femme Fatale - Deadly Woman; An Alluring, Mysterious Woman Who Seduces Men into Compromising Situations
170. Flagrante Delicto - In The Act
171. Foie Gras - Fat Liver; The Liver Of A Force-Fed Goose, Considered A Delicacy
172. Frankfurter - Hot Dog, Originally A Type of German Sausage (Wurst) From Frankfurt
173. Fraus Est Celare Fraudem – It is a fraud to Conceal A Fraud
174. Functus Officio – No Longer Having Power or Jurisdiction.
175. Gauche - Awkward; Tactless, Lacking Social Grace
176. Genre - Type; Used Mostly In Art And Film
177. Gourmet - A Connoisseur Of Fine Food And Drink
178. Gratis - Without Charge
179. Gratis - Free of Cost, Without Charge
180. Habeas Corpus – A Writ To Have The Body Of A Person To Be Brought In Before The Judge.
181. Harmonia: Agreement, Harmony
182. Haute Couture: High Cuisine; High-Class, Fancy (And Expensive) Cooking or Food
183. Hermaphrodite - Human And Animal Having Both Male And Female Sex Organs
184. Hoi Polloi - The Common People
185. Hypnos - Sleep
186. I.E. (Id Est) - That Is
187. Ibidem - In The Same Place. Used In Footnotes And Bibliographies to Refer to the Book, Chapter, Article, Or Page Cited Just Before.
188. Id Est - That is to Say.
189. Impromptu- Without Preparation
190. In Absentia - While or Although Not Present; In Absence.
191. In Lieu Of – Instead of.
192. In Loco Parentis - In The Place of A Parent
193. In Medias Res - In The Middle of A Sequence Of Occurences
194. In Memoriam - In Memory of; As A Memorial To
195. In Personam – A Proceeding in which relief I Sought against a specific person
196. In Promptu – In readiness.
197. In Situ - Situated in The Original Or Natural Position
198. In Status Quo – In The Present State.
199. In Toto - Totally; Altogether
200. In Vino Veritas - In Wine There Is Truth
201. Injuria Sine Damno – Injury Without Damage.
202. Innuendo – Spoken Words Which Are Defamatory Because They Have A Double Meaning.
203. Inter - Among, Between
204. Interim - Meanwhile, Interval
205. Intra - Within
206. Ipso Facto: By The Fact Itself
207. Joie De Vivre: Joy of Living; The Quality In People Who Live Life To The Fullest
208. Jus – Law or Right.
209. Jus In Personam – Right Against A Specific Person.
210. Jus In Rem – Right Against The World At Large.
211. Jus Non Scriptum – Customary Law.
212. Jus Scriptum – Written Law.
213. Justitia Nemini Neganda Est – Justice Is To Be Denied To Nobody
214. Kindergarten - A School Or Class For Young Children Between the Ages of Four And Six Years.
215. Kudos - Fame or Glory, Usually Resulting From An Important Act Or Achievement.
216. Laissez-Faire - Let It Be - A Policy of Non-Interference.
217. Leitmotif - A Recurrent/Repeated Theme
218. Lex Non-A Rege Est Violanda – The Law Must Not Be Violated Even By The Kin
219. Locus Standi – Right Of A Party To An Action To Appear And Be Heard By The Court.
220. Magnum Opus - A Great Work
221. Magnum Opus Latin - A Great Work Especially A Literacy Or Artistic Masterpiece.
222. Magnum Opus - A Great Work
223. Magnus - Big, Great, Magnitude
224. Mala Fide – In Bad Faith
225. Mammoth - A Prehistoric Mammal
226. Mandamus – We Command. A Writ Of Command Issued By A Higher Court To Government/Public Authority, To Compel The Performance of a Public Duty.
227. Marathon - A Long Distance Race
228. Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday
229. Mater- Mother
230. Matinee: Morning
231. Melancholy - Sorrowful
232. Memento Mori: A Reminder That You Must Die
233. Mens Rea – Guilty Mind
234. Mise En Scene: The Stage Setting; Surroundings
235. Misnomer – A Wrong or Inaccurate Name Or Term
236. Modus Operandi – Method of Operating
237. Modus Vivendi – Way of Living.
238. Mot Juste - The Exact, Appropriate Word
239. Mutatis Mutandis - Making Necessary Changes
240. Ne Plus Ultra - The Most Intense Degree of A Quality Or State
241. Nemo Bis Punitur Pro Eodem Delicto – Nobody Can Be Twice Punished For The Same Offence
242. Nemo Debet Esse Judex In Propria Causa – Nobody Can Be Judge in His Own Case
243. Nom De Plume - Pen Name
244. Nouvelle Cuisine - New Cuisine; Cooking Style Developed In The 1960's And 70's That Emphasized Lightness And Freshness
245. Novation – Transaction In Which A New Contact Is Agreed upon by all parties to replace an existing contract
246. Oh La La: Oh Dear
247. Onus Probandi – Burden of Proof.
248. Opus Dei - The Work of God
249. Oui / Non- Yes/ No.
250. Palimony – Money Which The Court Orders A Man To Pay Regularly To A Woman With Whom He Has Been Living And From Whom He Is Separated.
251. Panic – Fright
252. Papier Mache - Mashed Paper; Used For Art
253. Par Excellence - The Best of The Best
254. Passé - Old-Fashioned, Out-of-Date, Past its Prime
255. Per - According To; In Accordance With
256. Per Capita - For Each Person
257. Per Curiam – By a Court
258. Per Incuriam – Because of Lack of Care.
259. Per Se - By or in itself, Naturally
260. Persona Grata - Fully Acceptable or Welcome Especially to a Foreign Government
261. Persona Non-Grata - Unacceptable Person
262. Persona Non-Grata: Unacceptable or Unwelcome Person
263. Petit - Small; (Law) Lesser, Minor
264. Petite - Small, Short
265. Phobia - Fear
266. Photon - Plant
267. Plethora - When One Goes Beyond What Is Needed Or Appropriate. It Represents An Excess Or Undesired Abundance.
268. Post Meridiem - Afternoon; Used Chiefly In The Abbreviated Form To Specify The Hour
269. Post-Mortem - Examination of A Body After Death; Autopsy
270. Post-Mortem - Latin of or Relating To A Medical Examination Of A Dead Body.
271. Postpartum - After Childbirth
272. Potpourri - Rotten Pot; A Scented Mixture Of Dried Flowers And Spices; A Miscellaneous Group Or Collection
273. Prima Donna - Temperamental And Conceited Person
274. Prima Facie - At First Sight, Clear And Evident
275. Prior - First, Primary, Priority
276. Pro And Con - For And Against
277. Pro Bono - Done Or Donated Without Charge
278. Pro Bono - Done Without Compensation For The Public Good.
279. Pro Rata - Proportional; Proportionally
280. Pro Rata - In Equal Parts
281. Pro Tempore - For The Time Being; Temporarily
282. Psalm - To Play, Twang
283. Pseudo - False, A Falsity
284. Quasi - Having Likeness To Something; Resembling
285. Qui Facit Per Alium, Facit Per Se – He Who Acts Through other Acts Himself
286. Quid Pro Quo – Something For Something
287. Quo Warranto – By What Authority? A Writ Calling Upon One To Show Under What Authority He Holds or Claims A Public Office.
288. Requiescat In Pace - Rest In Peace
289. Ras - Tomorrow
290. Ratio Decidendi – Principle Or Reason Underlying A Court Judgement.
291. Répondez S’il Vous Plaît - Please Reply
292. Res Ipsa Loquitor – The Thing Speaks For Itself.
293. Résumé - A Brief Account Of One’s Professional Or Work Experience And Qualification
294. Rex Non-Protest Peccare – The King Can Do No Wrong
295. Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex – The Welfare of the is the Supreme Law
296. Samovar - An Urn For Heating Tea
297. Sangfroid - Coolness And Composure, Especially in trying Circumstances
298. Sans Souci - Carefree
299. Sarcasm - Bitterness
300. Savoir-Faire - The Ability To Say And Do The Correct Thing
301. Schadenfreude - Pleasure At Someone Else's Misfortunes
302. Sine Die -Without A Day Specified For A Future Meeting; Indefinitely
303. Sine Qua Non - Indispensable Element Or Condition
304. Sobriquet - Nickname
305. Sponsor - One Who Accepts Responsibility for Another
306. Sputnik - A Traveling Companion
307. Status Quo - The Existing State Or Condition
308. Sui Generis - Unique
309. Sulon: Sanctuary
310. Sur place – In place
311. Suo Moto - Latin Expression - On Its Own Motion/ Act On Its Own Initiative
312. Tanche De Vie - Slice of Life
313. Tete-A-Tete - Without The Intrusion of A Third Person; In Intimate Privacy
314. Tout De Suite -Immediately
315. Tout Ensemble: All Together
316. Tout Le Monde - Everybody; Everyone of Importance.
317. Trahison De Clercs - Treason of The Intellectuals
318. Tristesse: Melancholy
319. Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium – Where There Is A Right, There Is A Remedy
320. Ultima Ratio Regum - The Final Argument Of Kings (War)
321. Uno Animo - With One Mind
322. Urbi Et Orbi - To The City And The World (To Everyone)
323. Utile Dulci - The Useful With The Agreeable
324. Va Et Vient - Coming And Going (Traffic)
325. Vendetta - Blood Feud, Quarrel Between Two Families For Vengeance.
326. Ventre A Terre - Belly To The Ground (At Very Great Speed)
327. Verbatim - Using Exactly The Same Words; Corresponding Word For Word
328. Verbatim Ac Litteratim - Word For Word, And Letter For Letter
329. Verboten: Forbidden, As By Law; Prohibited
330. Versus - Against
331. Veto – Ban Or Order Not To Allow Something To Become Law, Even If It Has Been Passed By A Parliament.
332. Via - By Way of
333. Vice Versa – Reverse Position.
334. Vide - Used To Direct A Reader’s Attention
335. Vieux Jeu - Old Game (Old Hat)
336. Vin Du Pays - Wine of The Locality
337. Virgo Intacta - Untouched Virgin
338. Virtue Et Armis - By Valor of Arms
339. Vis Major – Act Of God.
340. Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The Healing power of nature
341. Vis-À-Vis - Face To Face; With Opposite To, Compared With, In Relation To
342. Vita Nuova - New Life
343. Viva Voce - By Word of mouth
344. Volenti Non-Fit Injuria – Damage Suffered By Consent Gives No Cause Of Action.
345. Vox Et Praeterea Nihil - Voice and Nothing more
346. Vox Populi - Popular opinion or sentiment
347. Waiver – Voluntarily giving up or removing the conditions
348. Weltschmerz - Sorrow over the evils of the world.
349. Zeitgeist - The Thought Or Sensibility Characteristic of A Particular Period Of Time.
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