Expert: Maria - 4/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I was hoping that you could help me out with some latin translations and spelling. Ive got everything translated already, I just need to make sure I translated them correctly and that all the Latin is spell correctly.




1.      Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta – he who excuses himself, accuses himself.
2.      Fata viam invenient – the fates will find a way.
3.      Habet suum venenum blanda oratio – smooth speech has its own poison.
4.      Honor ante Gloria – honor before glory.
5.      In Deo spes mea – in God is my hope.
6.      Liberae sunt nostrae cogitationes – our thoughts are free.
7.      Luctor et emergo – I struggle and I emerge.
8.      Memento – remember.
9.      Nascentes morimur – from the moment we are born, we begin to die.
10.     Natura nihil fit in frustra – nature does nothing in vain.
11.     Nemo nisis mores – no body except death.
12.     Non timetis messor – don’t fear the reaper.
13.     Da mihi basia mille – kiss me with a thousand kisses.
14.     Redivivus – come back to life.
15.     Sic erat in fatis – and so it was fated.
16.     Candide et secure – openly and fearlessly.
17.     Casu consulto – accidentally on purpose.
18.     Citius, Altus, Fortius – faster, higher, stronger.
19.     Nusquam venio fortuitus – nothing happens by chance.
20.     Verum – speak only truth.
21.     Evasit – escape.
22.     Ad astra virtus – virtue leads to heaven.
23.     Adlucem – to the light.
24.     Amore caecus est – love is blind.
25.     At spes non fracta – by hope is not lost.
26.     De nihilo nihil – nothing comes from nothing.
27.     Disce pati – learn to bear.
28.     Domine, dirige nos – God direct us.
29.     Ex mea sentential – in my opinion.
30.     Ex unguibus leonis – from the claws of the lion.


Thank you very much for your help and for your time!!
-Sarah

ANSWER: Hello,

I’ve corrected both the spelling and the translation of some of  the Latin phrases you mention, as you can see below. The other sentences are already correct.


1.Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta –(literally, “An excuse not required is  an obvious accusation“), i.e. “He who excuses himself, accuses himself” (free translation).


4.Honor ante Gloriam – Honor before glory.


10.Nihil frustra natura facit – Nature does nothing in vain.


11.Nemo nisi mors – literally, “Nobody except death”, i.e. “Nobody except death (will part us).


12.Ne timueritis messorem – Don’t fear the reaper.


13.Da mihi basia mille – literally, “Give me a thousand kisses”, i.e. “Kiss me with a thousand kisses”.


14. Redivivus – “Restored to life” as well as “Brought back to life”/ “Come back to life”


15.Sic erat in fatis – So it was fated.


17.Aut casu aut  consulto – Either accidentally or intentionally.


18.Citius, Altius, Fortius – faster, higher, stronger.


19.Nusquam venio fortuitus –Nowhere I come by chance.


20.Verum –the truth.


21.Evasit – He/she/ it escaped.


22.Ad astra virtus – Virtue (rises) to the stars.


23.Ad lucem – to the light.


24.Amor caecus est – love is blind.


25.At spes non fracta – But hope is not broken.


26.De nihilo nihil –literally, “Nothing from nothing”, i.e. “ Nothing comes from nothing”.


27.Disce pati – “Learn to bear/suffer” as well as “ Learn to endure”.


29.Ex mea sententia – In my opinion.


Best regards,
Maria


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much! For "19.Nusquam venio fortuitus –Nowhere I come by chance" I was trying to come up with "Nothing happens by chance", how do I change it around to say that instead of Nowhere I come by chance?

Answer
Hello,

"Nusquam venio fortuitus" means exactly "Nowhere I come by chance" as NUSQUAM (adverb) means "nowhere" (not 'nothing'); VENIO (1st.person singular, present indicative) means "I come" (not 'happens'); FORTUITUS (adjective in the nominative masculine agreed with the subject “I” which is understood in Latin) means “by chance”, “accidentally”, “fortuitously”, “casually”.

As for “Nothing happens by chance", here’s its correct translation: “Nihil  accidit fortuito”  where NIHIL (subject in the nominative neuter) means “nothing”; ACCIDIT (3rd.person singular, present indicative of ACCIDO)  means “happens”; FORTUITO (adverb) means “by chance”.

So, it is obvious that "Nusquam venio fortuitus" meaning “Nowhere I come by chance” and “Nihil  accidit fortuito”  meaning  “Nothing happens by chance" are different phrases with different meaning.

Best,
Maria