Common Latin Words and Phrases Quiz

Answer: In the forest

A res nullius is an object that doesn't belong to anyone. Typical examples are wild animals or wild mushrooms. So, if you find edible mushrooms in a forest, you're free to pick - unless specific rules would apply.
In a public library one could perhaps stumble over an umbrella left by another visitor. However, this umbrella is not a res nullius: it clearly belongs to some one, but the finder doesn't know the owner.
Speaking in a strict legal way, you own your pet and its food bowl, as well as the contents. However, don't ever disturb your pet when it is feeding.
Your neighbour's car is clearly not yours, and your neighbour owns not only the car but also the contents of its boot.

Answer: A small bone near the base of the spine

The major bones in the lower leg are the tibia and the fibula. These I knew at once.
The skull consists of two major parts: the part that protects the brain and the part that supports the face. Some skull bones are the temporal bones, the frontal bone and the parietal bones (all protecting the brain), as well as the mandibles.
I didn't know any of the carpal bones. I found (among others) the lunate bone and the pisiform bone.
The os sacrum is at the base of the spine. It is a cluster of five vertebrae that merge into one single bone around the age of 16 to 18.

Answer: Work and pray

"The Lord be with you" is the translation of the Latin phrase "Dominus vobiscum". Whenever someone recites this phrase, the proper answer is "Et cum spiritu tuo" - "And with your spirit".
"The die is thrown" has no reference whatsoever with the Roman Catholic Church. Julius Caesar has been reported to use this phrase ("Alea iacta est") when he and his army crossed the Rubicon river in Italy, thus starting a civil war.
"Lead us not into temptation" is one of the verses of the "Our Father". The specific verse in Latin is "Et ne inducas nos in temptationem".
"Ora et labora" was the device of the Benedictine monks.

Answer: Between wars

There is of course no Latin word for "between inventions" - I've invented this phrase.

"Between rivers" would make "interfluvium" in Latin. The Greek expression "Mesopotamia" is far better known.

"Between reigns" is the Latin word "interregnum". A famous interregnum is the Commonwealth of England (1649-1660), dominated by Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.

The word we're looking for is the "interbellum", as for example the period between 1918 and 1939. After all, some historic sources treat the Second World War as a mere continuation of the First World War. This is oversimplified: whereas German resentment with the Treaty of Versailles and the consequent economic difficulties have contributed to a new outbreak of war, the Japanese involvement was a novelty.

Answer: With highest honour

There are several universities using some kind of distinction upon the points scored when graduating. The systems may differ, but in many states and countries the following scale is used : "rite" for sufficiently graduated (enough points to graduate), "cum laude" (with honour) for obtaining a higher score, "magna cum laude" (with great honour) for reaching a yet higher score, and "summa cum laude" (with highest honour, also sometimes called "maxima cum laude") for a top score. In Belgium, one needs to score 70% of the available points for a "cum laude", 80% for a "magna cum laude" and 90% for a "summa cum laude".

As the "summa cum laude" is very rare, some institutions don't use it at all.

Answer: Out of many, one

"Union makes strength" is the English equivalent of the Belgian motto "L'union fait la force". This motto is however not in Latin, but in French.

"Order and advancement" can be used to translate the Brazilian state device "Ordem e progresso". This motto is in Portuguese, not in Latin.

The Latin phrase "Luctor et emergo" applies to the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is translated into "I struggle and I emerge", which is quite literally the case for some communities in Zeeland: there are villages below sea-level, so without dykes and other interventions with nature these villages would not be inhabited.

"E pluribus unum" refers to the unification of several states. "Out of many, one" country emerged, and this united country has prevailed in world economy and military matters, but also in cultural achievements (for instance, movie and television).

Answer: I roll

The Latin word "Volo" (*not* "Volvo") could mean "I fly" as well as "I want". I've not yet encountered any car manufacturer using this versatile Latin word.

"Hear" translates into Latin as "Audi", a German make of car. The founder of this automobile manufacturer translated his proper name "Horch" into Latin, for his previous company owned the right to the Horch brand name.

"Sooner" is "prius" in Latin. The Japanese auto constructor Toyota uses this word for its hybrid electric car.

I haven't found a specific reason why the Latin phrase Volvo ("I roll") is used as a brand name for cars, trucks and buses. It might be associated with the movement of the wheels of these vehicles.

Answer: Drink

Carl Orff (1895-1982) was a German composer. His oratorio "Carmina burana" premiered in 1937.

You might do all of these options "in taberna", but some actions have a more appropriate setting.

Fighting (pugnare) is what one mostly does in the arena (literally taken: the sand). Battles between armies would take place in the battlefield (the "locus proelii" or the "locus pugnae").

Sleeping ("dormire", confer the French "dormir") can roughly be done everywhere. But most people prefer a bed ("lectus") to sleep in.

Dancing is called "saltare" in Latin. This Latin word has left traces in almost every modern language: the "salto" is nowadays more associated with acrobatics, but was in the Roman time a typical dance movement. As far as I know, Romans had no specific place to dance, but it occurred most frequently in the theatre ("theatrum"). Mind you, this Latin word is in fact a Greek word in Latin disguise.

The "taberna" in which one of the scenes of the "Carmina Burana" takes place, can best be compared to a modern pub. So it is only natural to drink there. Let's put it in Latin: "in taberna est bibendum", you have to drink in the pub.

Answer: What had to be proven

Ellery Queen is the pseudonym for two American mystery authors: Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred Bennington Lee (1905-1971).

According to the title Ellery Queen gave to this collection of short stories, "Q.E.D." stands for "Queen's Experiments in Deduction". However, the Latin abbreviation is for "Quod erat demonstrandum".

And now the main question: what does "Quod erat demonstrandum" translate to?

"The Origin of Evil" is another book by Ellery Queen. The Latin translation (if anyone would care to write it) would be entitled "De Origine Mali" (where "Mali" has no connection whatsoever with the African country).

"Cat of Many Tails" is yet another book by Ellery Queen. The title of the Latin translation would probably be "Feles Pluribus Caudas".

"Blame It on the Bellboy" has no bearings with Ellery Queen. It is the title of a movie by Mark Herman and starring Dudley Moore. If a Latin translation would be made, the title could be "Servus Accusandum".

So "Q.E.D." - "Quod Erat Demonstrandum" means "What Had to Be Proven". Now such a title is not as catchy as "Q.E.D.", is it?

Answer: The state as before the war

Let's start with the part on "To die for one's country". This translates to "Pro patria mori", the second part of a famous verse by the Roman poet Horace. He stated "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" - "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country".

"Out of your mind" is "Insanus" (or "Insana" in the female version). This Latin word has left clear traces in modern English.

"The seventh heaven" is naturally an excellent place to be. Being in this place of utter happiness would be translated in Latin as "Essere in caelo septimo". I don't know any music bands bearing the name "Caelo septimo", but "Nirvana" comes close enough.

"Statu quo" is in fact translated as "the state in which". This grammatical incongruence comes from the fact that "Statu quo" is more or less a shorthand notice for the diplomatic term "in statu quo res erant ante bellum".