A

ab initio (L) : from the beginning

ab origin (L) : from the origin

addenda(L) : list of additions (addenda to a book)

ad libitum (L) : speak or perform in public without advance preparation. (Extempore)

ad valorem (L) : according to value

ad hoc (L) : a body elected or appointed for a particular work (ad hoc committee)

ad infinitum (L) : to infinity, endlessly, forever

alma mater (L) : a school or a college which one has attended

a la carte (F) : according to the card/list (A la carte dishes are available here)

a la mode (F) : according to the fashion

alter ego (L) : the other self; alternative personality; intimate friend (He is my alter ego – we go everywhere together)

amende honorable (F) : a public or open apology, reparation

amour proper (F) : self-love; self-esteem

ancienregime (F) : the former order of things, a political or social system that has been displaced by a more modern one.

a posteriori (L) : empirical, from effect to cause

a priori (L) : from cause to effect (presumptive) Every science cannot be taught a priori.

apropos (L) : with reference to (apropos our talk)

au courant (L) : fully acquainted with matters, well-informed, up-to- date

au fait (F) : expert, having detailed knowledge

au revoir (F) : until we meet again (to say au revoir at parting)

avant-propos (F) : preliminary matter, preface

avant-garde (F) : new, unusual or experimental

B

beau ideal (F) : the ideal of perfection

beau monde (F) : the world of fashion

beaux sprits (F) : men of wit

bete noire (F) : a special aversion (India has always been bete noire for Pakistan)

bona fide (L) : genuine sincere (He is a bona fide citizen of India).

bizarre (F) : strange, unknown

bon voyage (F) : have a good journey

C

casus belli (L) : that which causes or justifies war

causecelebre (F) : a famous case in law, controversial well-publicised issue

charged’affaires (F) : a deputy to the Ambassador/a diplomatic representative to a minor country

chef d’ oeuvre (F) : masterpiece (Mona Lisa is Vinci’s chef d’ oeuvre.)

circa (L) : approximately (‘circa 1930′)

confere (F) : colleague

contretemps (F) : a minor dispute or disagreement

corrigenda (L) : a thing to be corrected (in a book)

coupd’etat (F) : violent change in government (There was a coup d’etatin Cambodia and the Kingwas overthrown.)

coup de grace (F) : a finishing stroke (The coup de grace of the Russian Revolution brought about the total annihiliation of the Czar family.)

cul-de-sac(F) : a blind alley (The failure of the policy of non- alignment in 1962 saw our foreign policy reach a cul- de-sac.)

D

debacle (F) : an utter failure or disaster (debacle of opposition in the election)

de facto (L) : actual or in fact (de facto recognition to a state)

de jure (L) : from the law, by right

de novo (L) : anew, again (trial of a case)

de’ nouement (L) : the end of a plot or narrative (in a play)

deprofundis (L) : a heartfelt appeal or feeling

dernierressort (F) : last resort

detente (F) : easing of strained relations especially between countries

dramatis personae (L) : characters of a novel, play or narrative

E

elite (L) : select group or class (The elite of town)

enfant terrible (F) : child who asks awkward questions; person or thing causing embarrassment by unruliness

entrepreneur (F) : a person who sets up business taking greater financial risk

en masse (F) : all together (They took leave enmasse.)

en rapport (F) : in harmony

entourage (F) : group of people accompanying a dignitary (P.M.’s entourage)

errata (L) : list of errors

esprit de corps (F) : the animating spirit of a particular group like a regiment

et cetera (L) : and the rest

eureka (G) : I (have) found it !

ex-officio (L) : by virtue of his office/status/position

expose (F) : a report in the media that reveals something discreditable

ex post facto (L) : with retrospective action or force

F

fait accompli (F) : a thing already done/accomplished fact

faux pas (F) : a social blunder

G

gauche (F) : unsophisticated/socially awkward

H

hoi polloi (G) : the common people

I

impasse (F) : a deadlock (Talks reached an impasse.)

in extenso (L) : in full

in memoriam (L) : in memory of

in toto (L) : entirely/as a whole (The Committee’s recommendations were accepted in toto.)

ipso facto (L) : by that very fact or act

laissez-faire (F) : a policy of non-interference

M

mala fide (L) : in bad faith (opposite of bona fide)

malapropos (F) : ill-timed/inappropriately

modus operandi (L) : a way of doing something (of a gang, group, etc.)

mutatis mutandis (L) : with the necessary changes (Rules will come into force mutatis mutandis.)

N

noblesse oblige (F) : privilege entails responsibility

nota bene (L) : note well (Abbreviation-N.B.)

P

par excellence (F) : better than the others of the same kind

paripassu (L) : side by side, equally or equivalently per se (L) : by itself

piece de resistance (F) : the important feature of a creative work or meal, etc.

poste restante (F) : a department in the post office that keeps letters for a period till called for

post mortem (L) : examination/analysis made after death/or an event has occured

prima facie (L) : at first view of consideration (It is prima facie a good case.)

probonopublico (L) : for the good of the public

pro forma (L) : denoting a standard document or form

pro rata (L) : according to rate or proportion

protege (F) : one under the protection/guidance of another older or experienced person (SouthVietnam was U.S.’s protege.)

Q

quid pro quo (L) : a favour or advantage given in return for something

R

raison d’ etre (F) : the most important reason for a thing’s existence

resume (F) : a summary or curriculum vitae

S

sanctum sanctorum (L) : holy of holies (temple, church, etc.)

seriatim (L) : point by point

sine die (L) : without a day being appointed (The meeting was adjourned sine die.)

status quo (L) : the existing condition (status quo on the border should be maintained)

ste t(L) : let it stand, do not deter

subjudice (L) : under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion (The case is sub judice.)

subrosa (L) : confidentially/done in secret

sui generis (L) : in a class by itself

summumbonum (L) : the chief good

T

terra incognita (L) : an unknown territory

tour de force (F) : a notable feat of strength or skill

U

ultra vires (L) : beyond one’s authority

V

verbatim (L) : word for word

vice versa (L) : conversely

videlicet (L) : namely, more formal term for viz.

vis-a-vis (F) : in relation to, as compared with, in a position facing one another

viva voce (L) : an oral examination

voxpopuli, vox Dei (L) : the voice of the people is the voice of God

Z

Zeigeist (G) : the defining spirit of a particular period or age