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List of Latin phrases (E)
List of Latin phrases (E)
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This page is one of a series listing English translations of notable Latin phrases, such as veni, vidi, vici and et cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations of Greek phrases, as ancient Greek rhetoric and literature started centuries before the beginning of Latin literature in ancient Rome.[1]

Latin Translation Notes
e causa ignota of unknown cause Often used in medicine when the underlying disease causing a symptom is not known. See also idiopathic.
E pluribus unum out of many, one Literally, out of more (than one), one. The former national motto of the United States, which "In God We Trust" later replaced; therefore, it is still inscribed on many U.S. coins and on the U.S. Capitol. Also the motto of S.L. Benfica. Less commonly written as ex pluribus unum
ecce Agnus Dei behold the lamb of God John the Baptist exclaims this after seeing Jesus[2]
ecce ancilla domini behold the handmaiden of the Lord From Luke 1:38 in the Vulgate Bible. Name of an oil painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and motto of Bishopslea Preparatory School.
ecce homo behold the man From the Gospel of John in the Vulgate 19:5 (Douay-Rheims), where Pontius Pilate speaks these words as he presents Jesus, crowned with thorns, to the crowd. It is also the title of Nietzsche's autobiography and of the theme music by Howard Goodall for the ITV comedy Mr. Bean, in which the full sung lyric is Ecce homo qui est faba ("Behold the man who is a bean").
ecce panis angelorum behold the bread of angels From the Catholic hymn Lauda Sion; occasionally inscribed near the altar of Catholic churches; it refers to the Eucharist, the Bread of Heaven; the Body of Christ. See also: Panis angelicus.
editio princeps first edition The first published edition of a work.
Ego sum I am Phrase from the Gospel of John as a title of Jesus (based on the Koine Greek term ἐγώ εἰμι Ego eimi)
ego te absolvo I absolve you Part of the formula of Catholic sacramental absolution, i. e., spoken by a priest as part of the Sacrament of Penance (see also absolvo).
ego te provoco I challenge you Used as a challenge; "I dare you". Can also be written as te provoco.
eheu fugaces labuntur anni Alas, the fleeting years slip by From Horace's Odes, 2, 14
ejusdem generis of the same kinds, class, or nature From the canons of statutory interpretation in law. When more general descriptors follow a list of many specific descriptors, the otherwise wide meaning of the general descriptors is interpreted as restricted to the same class, if any, of the preceding specific descriptors.
eluceat omnibus lux let the light shine out from all The motto of Sidwell Friends School
emeritus veteran Retired from office. Often used to denote an office held at the time of one's retirement, as an honorary title, e. g. professor emeritus and provost emeritus. Inclusion in one's title does not necessarily denote that the honorand is inactive in the pertinent office.
emollit mores nec sinit esse feros a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel From Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto (II, 9, 48). Motto of University of South Carolina.
ens causa sui existing because of oneself Or "being one's own cause". Traditionally, a being that owes its existence to no other being, hence God or a Supreme Being (see also Primum Mobile).
ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem by the sword she seeks a serene repose under liberty Motto of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, adopted in 1775.
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity Occam's razor or Law of Parsimony; arguments which do not introduce extraneous variables are to be preferred in logical argumentation.
entitas ipsa involvit aptitudinem ad extorquendum certum assensum reality involves a power to compel certain assent A phrase used in modern Western philosophy on the nature of truth.
eo ipso by that very (act) Technical term in philosophy and law. Similar to ipso facto. Example: "The fact that I am does not eo ipso mean that I think." From the Latin ablative form of id ipsum ("that thing itself").
eo nomine by that name
epicuri de grege porcum A pig from the herd (or sty) of Epicurus From Horace, Epistles
equo ne credite do not trust the horse From Virgil, Aeneid, II. 48–49; a reference to the Trojan Horse.
erga omnes in relation to everyone Used in law, especially international law, to denote a kind of universal obligation.
ergo therefore Denotes a logical conclusion (see also cogito ergo sum).
errantis voluntas nulla est the will of a mistaken party is void Roman legal principle formulated by Pomponius in the Digest of the Corpus Juris Civilis, stating that legal actions undertaken by man under the influence of error are invalid.
errare humanum est to err is human Sometimes attributed to Seneca the Younger, but not attested: Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum, et tertia non datur (To err is human; to persist [in committing such errors] is of the devil, and the third possibility is not given.) Several authors contemplated the idea before Seneca: Livy, Venia dignus error is humanus (Storie, VIII, 35) and Cicero: is Cuiusvis errare: insipientis nullius nisi, in errore perseverare (Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault) (Philippicae, XII, 2, 5). Cicero, being well-versed in ancient Greek, may well have been alluding to Euripides' play Hippolytus some four centuries earlier.[3] 300 years later Saint Augustine of Hippo recycled the idea in his Sermones, 164, 14: Humanum fuit errare, diabolicum est per animositatem in errore manere.[4] The phrase gained currency in the English language after Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism of 1711: "To err is human, to forgive divine" (line 325).
erratum error I. e., mistake. Lists of errors in a previous edition of a work are often marked with the plural errata ("errors").
eruditio et religio scholarship and duty Motto of Duke University
esse est percipi to be is to be perceived Motto of George Berkeley for his subjective idealist philosophical position that nothing exists independently of its perception by a mind except minds themselves.
esse quam videri to be, rather than to seem Truly being a thing, rather than merely seeming to be a thing. The motto of many institutions. From Cicero, De amicitia (On Friendship), Chapter 26. Prior to Cicero, Sallust used the phrase in Bellum Catilinae, 54, 6, writing that Cato esse quam videri bonus malebat ("preferred to be good, rather than to seem so"). Earlier still, Aeschylus used a similar phrase in Seven Against Thebes, line 592: ou gar dokein aristos, all' enai thelei ("he wishes not to seem the best, but to be the best"). Motto of the State of North Carolina.
est modus in rebus there is measure in things there is a middle or mean in things, there is a middle way or position; from Horace, Satires 1.1.106; see also: Golden mean (philosophy). According to Potempski and Galmarini (Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9471–9489, 2009) the sentence should be translated as: "There is an optimal condition in all things", which in the original text is followed by sunt certi denique fines quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum ("There are therefore precise boundaries beyond which one cannot find the right thing").
esto perpetua may it be perpetual Said of Venice, Italy, by the Venetian historian Fra Paolo Sarpi shortly before his death. Motto of the U.S. state of Idaho, adopted in 1867; of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka; of Sigma Phi Society.
esto quod es be what you are Motto of Wells Cathedral School
et adhuc sub iudice lis est it is still before the court From Horace, Ars Poetica (The Art of Poetry) 1.78.
et alibi (et al.) and elsewhere A less common variant on et cetera ("and the rest") used at the end of a list of locations to denote unenumerated/omitted ones.
et alii, et aliae, et alia (et al.) and others Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest") to denote names that, usually for the sake of space, are unenumerated/omitted. Alii is masculine, and therefore it can be used to refer to men, or groups of men and women; the feminine et aliae is proper when the "others" are all female, but as with many loanwords, interlingual use, such as in reference lists, is often invariable. Et alia is neuter plural and thus in Latin text is properly used only for inanimate, genderless objects, but some use it as a gender-neutral alternative.[5] APA style and MLA style uses et al. if the work cited was written by more than three authors; AMA style lists all authors if ≤6, and 3 + et al. if >6. AMA style forgoes the period (because it forgoes the period on abbreviations generally) and it forgoes the italic (as it does with other loanwords naturalized into scientific English); many journals that follow AMA style do likewise.
et cetera (etc., &c.) and the rest In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or "and more".
et cum spiritu tuo and with your spirit The usual response to the phrase Dominus vobiscum used in Roman Catholic liturgy, for instance at several points during the Catholic Mass.[6] Also used as a general form of greeting among and towards members of Catholic organisations.
et facere et pati fortia Romanum est Acting and suffering bravely is the attribute of a Roman The words of Gaius Mucius Scaevola when Lars Porsena captured him
et facta est lux And light came to be or was made From Genesis, 1:3: "and there was light". Motto of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. See also Fiat lux.
et hoc genus omne and all that sort of thing Abbreviated as e.h.g.o. or ehgo
et in Arcadia ego and in Arcadia [am] I / I [am/exist] even in Arcadia Phrased from the perspective of the personification of death to indicate death's reality under even the most blissful of circumstances, associated in classical times with the then-pastoral Arcadia region of the Peloponnese in Greece; see also memento mori; also the name of paintings and TV episodes – see Et in Arcadia ego (disambiguation).
et lux in tenebris lucet and light shines in the darkness From the Gospel of John 1.5, Vulgate. Motto of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. See also Lux in Tenebris, 1919 play by Bertolt Brecht.
et nunc reges intelligite erudimini qui judicatis terram "And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth." From the Book of Psalms, II.x. (Vulgate) Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, 2.10 (Douay-Rheims).
et passim (et pass.) and throughout Used in citations after a page number to indicate that there is further information in other locations in the cited resource. See also passim.
et sequentes (et seq.) and the following (masculine/feminine plural) Also et sequentia ("and the following things": neut.), abbreviations: et seqq., et seq., or sqq. Commonly used in legal citations to refer to statutes that comprise several sequential sections of a code of statutes (e. g. National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 159 et seq.; New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-17 et seq.).
et suppositio nil ponit in esse and a supposition puts nothing in being More usually translated as "Sayin' it don't make it so".
Et tu, Brute? And you, Brutus? Or "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?" Indicates betrayal by an intimate associate. From William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, based on the traditional dying words of Julius Caesar. However, these were almost certainly not Caesar's true last words: Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying in Greek, the language of the Roman elite at the time, καὶ σὺ τέκνον (Kaì sù téknon?), translated as "You too, (my) child?", quoting from Menander.
et uxor (et ux.) and wife A legal term.
et vir and husband A legal term.
Etiam si omnes, ego non Even if all others, I will never Saint Peter to Jesus, from the Vulgate, Gospel of Matthew 26:33; New King James Version: Matthew 26:33).
etsi deus non daretur even if God were not a given This sentence synthesizes a famous concept of Hugo Grotius (1625).
evoles ut ira breve nefas sit; regna arise, that your anger may [only] be a brief evil; control [it] A bilingual palindrome, yielding its English paraphrase, "Anger, 'tis safe never. Bar it! Use love!"
ex abundanti cautela out of an abundance of caution In law, describes someone taking precautions against a very remote contingency. "One might wear a belt in addition to braces ex abundanti cautela".[7] In banking, a loan in which the collateral is more than the loan itself. Also the basis for the term "an abundance of caution" employed by United States President Barack Obama to explain why the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court John Roberts had to re-administer the presidential oath of office, and again in reference to terrorist threats.
ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. From the Gospel of Matthew, XII.xxxiv (Vulgate), 12.34 (Douay-Rheims) and the Gospel of Luke, VI.xlv (Vulgate), 6.45 (Douay-Rheims). Sometimes rendered without enim ("for").
ex aequo from the equal Denoting "on equal footing", i. e., in a tie. Used for those two (seldom more) participants of a competition who demonstrated identical performance.
ex Africa semper aliquid novi "(There is) always something new (coming) out of Africa" Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 8, 42 (unde etiam vulgare Graeciae dictum semper aliquid novi Africam adferre[8]), a translation of the Greek «Ἀεὶ Λιβύη φέρει τι καινόν».
ex amicitia pax peace from friendship Often used on internal diplomatic event invitations. A motto sometimes inscribed on flags and mission plaques of diplomatic corps.
ex animo from the soul Sincerely.
ex ante from before Denoting "beforehand", "before the event", or "based on prior assumptions"; denoting a prediction.
Ex Astris Scientia From the Stars, Knowledge The motto of the fictional Starfleet Academy of Star Trek. Adapted from ex luna scientia, which in turn derived from ex scientia tridens.
ex cathedra from the chair A phrase applied to the declarations or promulgations of the Catholic Supreme Pontiff (Pope) when, preserved from the possibility of error by the Holy Spirit (see Papal infallibility), he solemnly declares or promulgates ("from the chair" that was the ancient symbol of the teacher and governor, in this case of the Church) a dogmatic doctrine on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at least being intimately connected to divine revelation. Used, by extension, of anyone who is perceived as speaking as though with supreme authority.
ex cultu robur from culture [comes] strength The motto of Cranleigh School, Surrey.
ex debito Justitia justice, which cannot be denied on King's writ, to be granted to the subject[9]
ex Deo from God
ex dolo malo from fraud "From harmful deceit"; dolus malus is the Latin legal term denoting "fraud". The full legal phrase is ex dolo malo non oritur actio ("an action does not arise from fraud"). When an action has its origin in fraud or deceit, it cannot be supported; thus, a court of law will not assist a man who bases his course of action on an immoral or illegal act.
ex duris gloria From suffering [comes] glory Motto of Rapha Cycling club (see also Rapha (sportswear))
ex facie from the face Idiomatically rendered "on the face of it". A legal term typically used to state that a document's explicit terms are defective absent further investigation. Also, "contempt ex facie" means contempt of court committed outside of the court, as contrasted with contempt in facie.
ex factis jus oritur the law arises from the facts
ex fide fiducia from faith [comes] confidence Motto of St George's College, Harare and Hartmann House Preparatory School
ex fide fortis from faith [comes] strength Motto of Loyola School in New York City, New York, United States.
ex glande quercus from the acorn the oak Motto of the Municipal Borough of Southgate, London, England, United Kingdom.
ex gratia from kindness More literally "from grace". Refers to someone voluntarily performing an act purely from kindness, as opposed to for personal gain or from being compelled to do it. In law, an ex gratia payment is one made without recognizing any liability or obligation.
ex hypothesi from the hypothesis Denoting "by hypothesis"
ex ignorantia ad sapientiam; ex luce ad tenebras (e.i.) from ignorance into wisdom; from light into darkness Motto of the fictional Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts, from the Cthulhu Mythos
ex infra (e.i.) "from below" Recent academic notation denoting "from below in this writing". See also ex supra.
ex juvantibus from that which helps The medical pitfall in which response to a therapeutic regimen substitutes proper diagnosis.
ex lege from the law
ex libris from the books Precedes a person's name, denoting "from the library of" the nominate; also a synonym for "bookplate".
ex luna scientia from the moon, knowledge The motto of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, derived from ex scientia tridens, the motto of Jim Lovell's alma mater, the United States Naval Academy
ex malo bonum good out of evil From Saint Augustine of Hippo, "Sermon LXI", in which he contradicts the dictum of Seneca the Younger in Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, 87:22: bonum ex malo non fit ("good does not come from evil"). Also the alias of the song "Miserabile Visu" by Anberlin in the album New Surrender.
ex mea sententia in my opinion
ex merito Justitiae [9] from merit, justice / justice from merit The measure of justice is from the merit of the deed.
ex mero motu out of mere impulse, or of one's own accord
ex nihilo nihil fit nothing comes from nothing From Lucretius, and said earlier by Parmenides; in conjunction with "creation": creatio ex nihilo – "creation out of nothing"
ex novo anew something that has been newly made or made from scratch (see also de novo)
Ex Oblivione from oblivion The title of a short story by H. P. Lovecraft
ex officio from the office By virtue or right of office. Often used when someone holds one office by virtue of holding another: for example, the President of France is an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. A common misconception is that all ex officio members of a committee or congress may not vote; but in some cases they do. In law ex officio can also refer to an administrative or judicial office taking action of its own accord; in the latter case the more common term is ex proprio motu or ex meru motu, for example to invalidate a patent or prosecute infringers of copyright.[10]
ex opere operantis from the work of the one working Theological phrase contrasted with ex opere operato, referring to the notion that the validity or promised benefit of a sacrament depends on the person administering it
ex opere operato from the work worked A theological phrase meaning that the act of receiving a sacrament actually confers the promised benefit, such as a baptism actually and literally cleansing one's sins. The Catholic Church affirms that the source of grace is God, not just the actions or disposition of the minister or the recipient of the sacrament.
ex oriente lux light from the east Originally refers to the sun rising in the east, but alludes to culture coming from the Eastern world. Motto of several institutions.
ex oriente pax peace comes from the east (i.e. from the Soviet Union) Shown on the logo as used by East Germany's CDU, a blue flag with two yellow stripes, a dove, and the CDU symbol in the center with the words ex oriente pax.
ex parte from a part A legal term that means "by one party" or "for one party". Thus, on behalf of one side or party only.
ex pede Herculem from his foot, so Hercules From the measure of Hercules' foot you shall know his size; from a part, the whole.
ex post from after "Afterward", "after the event". Based on knowledge of the past. Measure of past performance
ex post facto from a thing done afterward Said of a law with retroactive effect
ex professo from one declaring [an art or science] Or 'with due competence'. Said of the person who perfectly knows his art or science. Also used to mean "expressly".[11]
ex proprio vigore on its own legal phrase[12]; also in Insular Cases and elsewhere with the 'ex'.
ex rel., or, ex relatio [arising] out of the relation/narration [of the relator] The term is a legal phrase; the legal citation guide called the Bluebook describes ex rel. as a "procedural phrase" and requires using it to abbreviate "on the relation of", "for the use of", "on behalf of", and similar expressions. An example of use is in court case titles such as Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar.
ex scientia tridens from knowledge, sea power The United States Naval Academy motto. Refers to knowledge bringing men power over the sea comparable to that of the trident-bearing Greek god Poseidon.
ex scientia vera from knowledge, truth The motto of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
ex silentio from silence In general, the claim that the absence of something demonstrates the proof of a proposition. An argumentum ex silentio ("argument from silence") is an argument based on the assumption that someone's silence on a matter suggests ("proves" when a logical fallacy) that person's ignorance of the matter or their inability to counterargue validly.
ex situ out of position opposite of "in situ"
ex solo ad solem from the Earth to the Sun The motto of the University of Central Lancashire, Preston
ex supra (e.s.) "from above" Recent academic notation for "from above in this writing". See also ex infra.
ex tempore from [this moment of] time "This instant", "right away" or "immediately". Also written extempore
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio From a dishonorable cause an action does not arise A legal doctrine which states that a claimant will be unable to pursue a cause of action if it arises in connection with his own illegal act. Particularly relevant in the law of contract, tort and trusts.
ex umbra in solem from the shadow into the light Motto of Federico Santa María Technical University
ex undis from the waves [of the sea] motto in the coat of arms of Eemsmond
Ex Unitate Vires union is strength, or unity is strength Former motto of South Africa
ex vi termini from the force of the term Thus, "by definition"
ex vita discedo, tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo I depart from life as from an inn, not as from home Cicero, Cato Maior de Senectute (On Old Age) 23
ex vivo out of or from life Used in reference to the study or assay of living tissue in an artificial environment outside the living organism.
ex voto from the vow Thus, in accordance with a promise. An ex voto is also an offering made in fulfillment of a vow.
ex vulgus scientia from the crowd, knowledge used to describe social computing, in The Wisdom of Crowds and discourse referring to it.
excelsior higher "Ever upward!" The state motto of New York. Also a catchphrase used by Marvel Comics head Stan Lee.
exceptio firmat (or probat) regulam in casibus non exceptis The exception confirms the rule in cases which are not excepted A juridical principle which means that the statement of a rule's exception (e.g., "no parking on Sundays") implicitly confirms the rule (i.e., that parking is allowed Monday through Saturday). Often mistranslated as "the exception that proves the rule".
excusatio non petita accusatio manifesta an excuse that has not been sought [is] an obvious accusation More loosely, "he who excuses himself, accuses himself"—an unprovoked excuse is a sign of guilt. In French, qui s'excuse, s'accuse
exeat s/he may go out A formal leave of absence
exegi monumentum aere perennius I have reared a monument more enduring than bronze Horace, Carmina III:XXX:I
exempli gratia (e.g.) for example, for the sake of example "For example" or "for the sake of example".[13] The abbreviation "e.g." is often interpreted (Anglicised) as "example given".[14] The plural exemplōrum gratiā to refer to multiple examples, separated by commas, is now not in frequent use.
exemplum virtutis a model of virtue
exercitus sine duce corpus est sine spiritu an army without a leader is a body without a spirit On a plaque at the former military staff building of the Swedish Armed Forces
exeunt they leave Third-person plural present active indicative of the Latin verb exire; also seen in exeunt omnes, "all leave"; singular: exit. Typically used as a stage direction in plays which means that one or more actors should leave the stage.
experientia docet experience teaches This term has been used in dermatopathology to express that there is no substitute for experience in dealing with all the numerous variations that may occur with skin conditions.[15] The term has also been used in gastroenterology.[16] It is also the motto of San Francisco State University.
experimentum crucis experiment of the cross Or "crucial experiment". A decisive test of a scientific theory.
experto crede trust the expert Literally "believe one who has had experience". An author's aside to the reader.
expressio unius est exclusio alterius the expression of the one is the exclusion of the other "Mentioning one thing may exclude another thing". A principle of legal statutory interpretation: the explicit presence of a thing implies intention to exclude others; e.g., a reference in the Poor Relief Act 1601 to "lands, houses, tithes and coal mines" was held to exclude mines other than coal mines. Sometimes expressed as expressum facit cessare tacitum (broadly, "the expression of one thing excludes the implication of something else").
extra domum [placed] outside of the house Refers to a possible result of Catholic ecclesiastical legal proceedings when the culprit is removed from being part of a group like a monastery.
extra Ecclesiam nulla salus outside the Church [there is] no salvation This expression comes from the Epistle to Jubaianus, paragraph 21, written by Saint Cyprian of Carthage, a bishop of the third century. It is often used to summarise the doctrine that the Catholic Church is absolutely necessary for salvation.
extra omnes outside, all [of you] It is issued by the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations before a session of the papal conclave which will elect a new pope. When spoken, all those who are not cardinals, or those otherwise mandated to be present at the conclave, must leave the Sistine Chapel.
extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur he who administers justice outside of his territory is disobeyed with impunity Refers to extraterritorial jurisdiction. Often cited in law of the sea cases on the high seas.
extrema ratio extreme solution last possibility, last possible course of action

References

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This is a list of notable Latin phrases beginning with the letter "E", including their English translations, origins, and contexts of use. Latin phrases have endured in since , influencing fields such as , , , , , and everyday . This page organizes selected phrases thematically to highlight their significance.

Introduction

Overview of Latin Phrases Starting with E

Latin phrases beginning with "E" are concise expressions originating from Classical, Medieval, or , frequently adopted into English to convey ideas with precision, tradition, or rhetorical emphasis in domains such as , academia, and . These phrases often encapsulate complex concepts in few words, preserving the influence of Latin as the of Western scholarship and governance for centuries. As of 2025, collections of historical texts, legal documents, and modern usages document over 90 notable Latin phrases starting with "E," ranging from ancient maxims to contemporary mottos. Their prominence stems from Latin's enduring role in writings, such as those in the , and in legal traditions where precision was paramount; for instance, many "E" phrases appear in and Roman jurisprudence due to the letter's frequency in terms denoting , equity, or exception. This etymological emphasis on "E" (from the Latin prefix ex-, meaning "out of" or "from") reflects themes of origin and derivation prevalent in religious and juridical contexts. This article organizes these phrases into thematic categories to enhance accessibility and understanding, moving beyond purely alphabetical compilations that often overlook interconnections or niche entries. It addresses gaps in existing resources by incorporating cross-references to distinctive modern phrases, such as "ex astris scientia" (adapted from the Apollo 13 mission motto "ex luna scientia," signifying "from the moon, knowledge"). By grouping them thematically—such as religious, legal, or scientific—this structure highlights shared cultural roles while ensuring completeness through updates from diverse authoritative compilations.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Latin phrases beginning with "E" trace their origins to classical antiquity, where they frequently emerged in the works of prominent authors such as Cicero and Virgil. In Virgil's Moretum, a poem attributed to him, the phrase e pluribus unum appears in a description of ingredients blending together, symbolizing unity from diversity, which later influenced modern mottos. Cicero employed exclamatory and prepositional structures starting with "e" or "ex" in his orations and philosophical treatises, such as in De Amicitia, to emphasize relational concepts like emergence or exclusion, contributing to the foundational vocabulary of Latin expression. These phrases often leveraged the exclamation ecce for dramatic emphasis or prepositions like ex and e to denote origin or separation, reflecting the grammatical flexibility of classical Latin in literature and rhetoric. During the medieval and periods, these classical roots expanded through scholarly revival and ecclesiastical use, integrating into broader European intellectual traditions. Medieval scribes and theologians adapted "E" phrases in commentaries on classical texts, while Renaissance humanists like promoted their study to revive ancient , leading to new coinages in mottos and proverbs. This era saw phrases tied to ex prepositions proliferate in academic and diplomatic contexts, bridging antiquity with emerging languages. The played a pivotal role in preserving and disseminating "E" phrases through the Bible and , where St. Jerome's translation incorporated exclamations like ecce from the Gospels and to convey divine revelation. Phrases such as (John 19:5) and (:38) entered liturgical practice, influencing hymns and rituals that shaped Western religious expression for centuries. The influence of these phrases on English intensified during the of 1066, when Latin via Norman French introduced legal and ecclesiastical terms starting with "e" into , and further during , which popularized them in mottos, proverbs, and academia. referenced Latin phrases like et tu, Brute? in (Act 3, Scene 1), embedding them in English literature and theater. In modern usage, they persist in legal systems derived from , such as ex post facto prohibiting retroactive laws, and national symbols like the U.S. Great Seal's , adopted in 1782 to represent unity. Pop culture continues this tradition, with Shakespearean echoes in films and literature. Post-2000 cultural shifts have seen renewed adoption of "E" phrases in sci-fi and environmental contexts, updating their significance. Star Trek's Starfleet Academy motto ex astris scientia ("from the stars, "), canonized in episodes like The Next Generation's "" (1992) and referenced in 2020s series such as Picard, symbolizes exploratory learning. Similarly, ex oriente lux ("light from the east") has gained traction in global exchange initiatives, such as mottos promoting between Eastern and Western cultures, reflecting eastward-looking cultural dynamics.

Thematic Categories

Religious and Liturgical Phrases

The section on religious and liturgical phrases beginning with "E" encompasses expressions drawn primarily from the and , reflecting themes of , , , and and . These phrases have been integral to , homilies, and devotional art, underscoring humanity's relationship with the divine through Christ's passion, the role in redemption, and the transformative power of inner disposition and . Their usage spans from ancient scriptural origins to contemporary liturgical practices, emphasizing spiritual enlightenment and moral introspection. "Ecce homo," translating to "Behold the man," originates from the 19:5, where presents the scourged Christ, crowned with thorns, to the crowd during his trial. This phrase captures the moment of Christ's humiliation and has become a poignant emblem of his suffering in Christian liturgy, particularly during Passion readings in the , where it evokes contemplation of human frailty and divine mercy. In ecclesiastical art, it inspired numerous depictions of the "" theme from the 15th to 17th centuries, including Titian's 1543 oil painting in Vienna's , which portrays Pilate gesturing toward the bound Christ to highlight themes of amid . The expression continues in modern and sermons to reference the Incarnation's redemptive cost. "Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus," meaning "Outside the Church there is no ," articulates a foundational Catholic tracing to early like St. Cyprian of in the 3rd century, but formally defined in Boniface VIII's 1302 bull , which asserts the necessity of submission to the Roman Pontiff for eternal life. As a key tenet of , it underscores the Church as the ordinary , though interpretations evolved; Vatican II's (1964) clarified that non-Catholics may attain through invincible ignorance and implicit desire for truth, without abrogating the principle. In liturgical contexts, it informs prayers for unity, such as in the Roman Canon during Mass, and remains a touchstone in theological discussions on and evangelization. "Ego te absolvo," rendered "I absolve you," constitutes the essential form of absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, as prescribed in the Latin Church's ritual, where a priest declares forgiveness of sins in persona Christi after confession and contrition. Rooted in Canon 990 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which mandates the formula "Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti," it emphasizes the sacramental conferral of grace independently of the priest's personal holiness. This phrase, intoned during individual confessions worldwide, symbolizes divine pardon and reconciliation, reinforcing the Church's role in mediating mercy and often accompanied by an act of penance to restore spiritual wholeness. "Et facta est lux," or "And light was made," derives from Genesis 1:3 in the , part of the creation narrative where commands into being, symbolizing divine order emerging from chaos. Adopted as the motto of upon its founding in 1867 as a historically Black institution rooted in Baptist educational traditions, it represents enlightenment and moral illumination in religious pedagogy, aligning with the college's mission to foster leaders through faith-informed learning. In broader liturgical use, the phrase appears in creation-themed hymns and readings during Masses, evoking themes of and new beginnings in . "Ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur," fully "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," appears in the Gospels of Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45, where teaches that words reveal inner character, warning against hypocrisy among the . This proverb is frequently invoked in Catholic sermons to explore , stressing that authentic manifests in speech and actions born of heartfelt rather than superficial . In homiletic traditions, as noted in patristic commentaries and modern preaching guides, it guides reflections on and , urging believers to cultivate a heart aligned with truths for genuine evangelization. "Ex opere operato," meaning "From the work performed," denotes the theological principle that sacraments confer grace by their intrinsic efficacy, arising from Christ's institution rather than the minister's sanctity or the recipient's merit alone, as defined by the in its 1547 Session VII, Canon 8 on the sacraments. This doctrine counters critiques by affirming the sacraments' objective power in rituals like and , where validity depends on proper form and intention, independent of human failings. In contemporary , it underpins the Church's assurance of grace in sacramental celebrations, such as ordinations and anointings, ensuring the faithful's trust in divine action through ecclesiastical rites. The subsection on legal and juridical phrases beginning with "E" covers expressions central to common law, statutory interpretation, and constitutional principles, often prohibiting retroactivity or guiding textual construction. These terms, inherited from Roman and medieval English law, ensure fairness, predictability, and precision in legal proceedings and legislation. "Ex post facto," meaning "after the fact," refers to laws that retroactively alter the legal consequences of actions committed before their enactment, typically prohibited in criminal contexts to prevent punishment for acts not illegal at the time. The phrase originates from medieval Latin legal usage and is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9 for Congress and Section 10 for states), banning such laws to protect due process, as interpreted in cases like Calder v. Bull (1798). In international law, similar prohibitions appear in Article 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), safeguarding against retrospective criminalization. "Ejusdem generis," translating to "of the same kind," is a canon of statutory construction where general words following specific enumerations are interpreted to include only items of the same class as the specifics, avoiding overly broad applications. Rooted in English common law from the 19th century, as in Powell v. Kempton Park Racecourse Co. (1899), it promotes legislative intent by limiting ambiguity, such as interpreting "vehicles" after "cars, trucks, and motorcycles" to exclude aircraft. This principle applies in contracts and wills, ensuring consistent judicial outcomes.

Philosophical and Literary Phrases

The section on philosophical and literary phrases beginning with "E" explores key Latin expressions that have shaped intellectual discourse, drawing from ancient Roman literature, , and . These phrases often encapsulate profound reflections , , , and mortality, influencing ethical, metaphysical, and aesthetic traditions. Each originates in specific works and carries layered interpretive meanings, from warnings against to on the inescapability of death. Errare humanum est translates to "to err is human," a maxim commonly attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca (1st century AD), though not attested in his works, such as in discussions of moral fallibility. The full proverb extends to errare humanum est, sed in errore perseverare diabolicum ("to err is human, but to persist in error is diabolical"), emphasizing ethical responsibility in correcting mistakes rather than repeating them. This idea profoundly influenced later ethics, notably in Alexander Pope's (1711), where the English poet adapts it to "To err is human; to forgive, divine," highlighting as a counterbalance to inevitable flaws in literary and personal critique. Esse est percipi, meaning "to be is to be perceived," forms the cornerstone of George Berkeley's , articulated in his A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (), specifically in section 3, where he argues that existence depends entirely on by a mind, rejecting substance independent of . This doctrine posits that objects are collections of ideas sustained by divine , challenging empiricist notions of an external world and promoting a theistic framework where reality is mind-dependent. Berkeley's formulation underscores the philosophical shift toward immaterialism, influencing debates on and by prioritizing sensory experience over abstract entities. Ens causa sui, or "being cause of itself," refers to a self-existent whose necessitates its own , a concept central to Baruch Spinoza's metaphysics in his (1677), particularly in Part I, Definition 1 and Proposition 7, where or is defined as the absolutely infinite substance that causes itself without external dependency. This term critiques traditional by portraying as immanent and necessary, integral to Spinoza's , where all things follow deterministically from this self-causing . It has shaped discussions of necessary in , bridging rationalist and secular by eliminating contingent creation. Et tu, Brute?, translating to "Even you, Brutus?" or "You too, Brutus?", dramatizes profound betrayal in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (1599), uttered by Caesar in Act 3, Scene 1 upon seeing his ally among the assassins, symbolizing the collapse of trust and republican ideals. Though fictionalized for theatrical impact, the line draws from historical accounts of Caesar's assassination on March 15, 44 BC, as recorded by and , who describe Brutus's involvement but not these exact words, using the phrase to heighten the emotional weight of personal treachery in political . Shakespeare's has permeated literary of and ambition, evoking existential themes of unforeseen downfall. Equo ne credite, meaning "Do not trust the horse," warns against deception in Virgil's Aeneid (Book II, lines 48–49, ca. 19 BC), spoken by Laocoön to the Trojans regarding the Trojan Horse, part of the fuller line equo ne credite, Teucri; quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes ("Do not trust the horse, Trojans; whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts"). This moment in the epic narrative illustrates the perils of gullibility amid apparent benevolence, symbolizing literary motifs of hidden threats and the folly of ignoring omens. Virgil's phrasing has become a rhetorical archetype for skepticism toward Trojan-like stratagems in deception, influencing epic poetry and moral allegories on vigilance. Et in Arcadia ego, or "I too am in Arcadia," evokes a philosophical confrontation with mortality in pastoral settings, evoking pastoral themes from Virgil's Eclogues (ca. 39–38 BC), the phrase itself originating in Renaissance literature and art, such as Jacopo Sannazaro's Arcadia (1504), a Renaissance prose-poem blending elegy and romance to meditate on death's intrusion into utopian harmony. The phrase gained visual prominence in Nicolas Poussin's painting Et in Arcadia Ego (1637–38), where shepherds decipher its inscription on a tomb, prompting reflection on the universality of death even in paradise, as analyzed in Erwin Panofsky's study of the elegiac tradition. This expression encapsulates existential themes of vanitas, blending literary pastoralism with Baroque iconography to underscore human finitude amid beauty.

State and Institutional Mottos

E pluribus unum ("Out of many, one") serves as the traditional national motto of the , adopted in 1782 as part of the by the on the recommendation of . The phrase first appeared on U.S. coinage in 1795 on the reverse of the ($5 ), symbolizing the unity of the diverse states into a single nation following the Revolutionary War. This motto underscores themes of and cohesion from colonial diversity, reflecting the founders' vision of a . Esse quam videri ("To be rather than to seem") is the official state motto of , adopted by the General Assembly on February 21, 1893, on the suggestion of jurist Walter Clark. Derived from Cicero's De amicitia (44 BC), where it emphasizes authentic friendship over superficial appearances, the phrase symbolizes the state's commitment to integrity, sincerity, and genuine governance over mere pretense. It appears on the state seal, reinforcing 's cultural emphasis on moral substance in public life. Esto perpetua ("May it endure forever" or "Let it be perpetual") is the state motto of , formally adopted in 1891 as part of the designed by Emma Edwards Green, though proposed for the as early as 1867. Originating from Venetian theologian Paolo Sarpi's (1552–1623) reference to the Republic of Venice's , it was selected to denote 's aspiration for perpetual prosperity and stability upon statehood in 1890. The motto encircles the seal's of miners and a woman, evoking the rugged endurance of the state's natural resources and pioneer spirit. Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem ("By the she seeks calm repose under ") is the official motto of , adopted in 1775 by the Provincial Congress as part of the colonial device that evolved into the state seal. The phrase, drawn from a 1760s proposal amid tensions leading to the , portrays a figure of wielding a to defend , symbolizing the balance between martial defense and the pursuit of tranquil freedom. It highlights Massachusetts' foundational role in the fight for , where armed resistance ensured liberty's preservation. Ex oriente lux ("Light from the East") is a longstanding motto of , signifying the origin of enlightenment and moral light from the symbolic East, as referenced in Masonic rituals and encyclopedias since the . It has also been adopted by various universities, including the in 1893, to represent the flow of knowledge and wisdom from ancient Eastern civilizations to the West. The phrase embodies the institutional pursuit of intellectual and ethical illumination, drawing on historical associations with the dawn and . Ex astris scientia ("From the stars, knowledge") is the motto of Starfleet Academy in the franchise, first canonically referenced in the 1992 episode "The First Duty" of Star Trek: The Next Generation, though the series premiered in 1966. Adapted from the U.S. Naval Academy's "Ex scientia tridens" and 's "Ex luna scientia," it symbolizes the acquisition of knowledge through . In modern contexts, it has been referenced in 2020s collaborations with productions, such as educational initiatives promoting STEM fields inspired by the franchise's futuristic academy.

Scientific, Medical, and Academic Phrases

In the realm of , , and academia, Latin phrases beginning with "E" often encapsulate foundational principles, diagnostic terms, and methodological concepts that have endured from to modern empirical inquiry. These expressions highlight the interplay between classical thought and rigorous investigation, providing concise labels for complex ideas in fields ranging from to experimental verification. E causa ignota, translating to "of unknown cause," serves as a medical descriptor for idiopathic conditions where the remains undetermined despite thorough investigation. This term, rooted in 19th-century , is commonly applied in diagnostics for phenomena such as fevers or diseases lacking identifiable origins, as formalized in the 1961 criteria for (FUO) by Petersdorf and Beeson, which defined it as a temperature exceeding 38.3°C on several occasions over three weeks without after one week of study. In contemporary , it denotes cases like certain genetic disorders where sequencing fails to reveal causative mutations, guiding further research into environmental or multifactorial triggers. Ex nihilo nihil fit, meaning "nothing comes from nothing," originates from ' De Rerum Natura in the 1st century BC, articulating a core atomistic principle that matter cannot arise without prior material. This axiom underpins , particularly the law of conservation of mass-energy, as articulated by Lavoisier in the and extended in Einstein's E=mc², rejecting spontaneous creation in isolated systems. In cosmology, it informs debates on the , where quantum fluctuations are seen not as ex nihilo but as perturbations within an existing vacuum state, as explored in inflationary models. Ex vivo, or "out of life," refers to biological processes or experiments conducted on living tissues or organs removed from the , preserving native physiological conditions more closely than purely synthetic models. Emerging in 20th-century , the term gained prominence with advances in , such as Carrel's 1912 maintenance of chick heart tissue, enabling applications in and drug testing. Today, ex vivo gene editing, like modifications on patient-derived cells for personalized therapies, exemplifies its role in precision medicine, as demonstrated in CAR-T cell treatments for approved by the FDA in 2017. Editio princeps, denoting the "first edition," applies in and to the inaugural printed version of an ancient , marking the transition from scribal to mechanical in the . Coined amid the incunabula period, it describes pivotal publications like the 1488 Florence edition of Homer's and by Demetrius Chalcondylas, which standardized access to classical texts for scholars. In academic contexts, it remains essential for , influencing modern digital editions that trace variants back to these originals to ensure scholarly accuracy. Experimentum crucis, "crucial experiment," designates a decisive test that discriminates between competing hypotheses, a concept introduced by Robert Hooke in his 1665 Micrographia to denote pivotal empirical validations. Isaac Newton famously employed it in 1672 to support his theory of light's heterogeneous composition, using prisms to isolate spectral colors and refute the modification hypothesis. In contemporary science, such as quantum mechanics, it manifests in Bell test experiments from the 1980s onward, confirming non-locality over local hidden variables, as verified in Aspect's 1982 photon correlation studies. Ex silentio, "from silence," identifies the logical fallacy of argumentum ex silentio, where absence of evidence is erroneously taken as evidence of absence, particularly critiqued in scientific and evidence-based research. Traced to classical but formalized in modern logic, it warns against inferring non-occurrence from incomplete records, as in archaeological debates where lack of artifacts does not disprove cultural practices. In 2020s AI , it cautions against assuming algorithmic fairness from untested sets, emphasizing the need for proactive audits to avoid biased conclusions from data voids.

Common Idiomatic and Everyday Expressions

Common idiomatic and everyday expressions derived from Latin phrases beginning with "E" have permeated , often as abbreviations or concise idioms in casual communication, writing, and discourse. These phrases, rooted in classical and medieval , simplify lists, provide examples, or emphasize and inherent consequences without requiring elaboration. Their widespread adoption reflects Latin's influence on English through scholarly and legal traditions, making them staples in emails, articles, and as of 2025. Et cetera (etc.), translating to "and the other things," serves as an for "and so on" to truncate lists efficiently. Originating in compilations of goods or ideas, it entered English writing by the , evolving from Roman shorthand ligatures for "et" (and). In contemporary usage, it appears ubiquitously in informal notes, such as "Bring milk, bread, eggs, etc." in grocery lists or emails, and in posts summarizing topics like "AI ethics, privacy concerns, etc." to avoid exhaustive . Exempli gratia (e.g.), meaning "for the sake of example," introduces illustrative instances in and is a standard for "for example." Derived from classical rhetorical practices where speakers cited cases to clarify arguments, it gained prominence in English formal writing from the late . Today, it features in academic emails ("e.g., climate models predict rising seas") and 2025 online debates on platforms like X, where users clarify points such as "Renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind) reduce emissions." Ex tempore, or "from [the] time," denotes improvisation or speaking without prior preparation, often in the form of "extempore." This phrase traces to Roman oratory, as referenced in Cicero's works like In Catilinam, where it described spontaneous delivery contrasting prepared speeches. In modern contexts, it applies to performances and discussions, such as TED Talks billed as "extempore reflections" or 2025 podcast episodes where hosts improvise on current events like "extempore commentary on election results." Eo ipso, translating to "by that very [thing] itself" or "by that very act," functions as a synonym for "" to indicate an inherent or automatic consequence. It appears in texts to denote self-evident results from an action, without needing external proof. Casually, it underscores logical deductions in everyday logic, as in phrases like "Your denial eo ipso proves guilt" in advice forums or media analyses of scandals in 2025 discourse. Experto crede, meaning "believe [one who is an] expert" or "trust the experienced," advises relying on proven over . This proverb originates from Terence's comedy Adelphoe (160 BCE), line 243, where a character urges credence based on personal trials. In literature and advice columns, it appears as "Experto crede: Avoid that ," and in 2025 threads on topics like trends, encouraging users to heed specialists. Et hoc genus omne, or "and all [things] of this kind," acts as a dismissive for entire categories, abbreviated occasionally as e.h.g.o. to imply "and that sort of thing." Coined by in rhetorical works like Pro Murena to sweepingly reference similar items without listing, it suits informal English to evade tedium. Modern examples include casual emails dismissing annoyances ("bills, chores, et hoc genus omne") or 2025 blog posts on consumer gripes, such as "ads, spam, et hoc genus omne cluttering inboxes."

References

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