List of Latin phrases (E) facts for kids

Latin is an ancient language that was spoken by the Romans. Even though it's not spoken commonly today, many Latin words and phrases are still used in English. You might hear them in movies, read them in books, or even see them on coins!

This list explains some common Latin phrases that start with the letter 'E'. Knowing these phrases can help you understand more about history, law, science, and even everyday sayings.

Exploring Latin Phrases Starting with 'E'

Phrases About Causes and Origins

• e causa ignota
  • Meaning: "of unknown cause."
  • When it's used: Doctors sometimes use this phrase when they don't know what is causing a sickness or symptom. It's like saying, "We don't know why this is happening."

• E pluribus unum
  • Meaning: "out of many, one."
  • When it's used: This famous phrase was once the motto of the United States. It means that from many states or people, one nation is formed. You can still see it on many U.S. coins and on the U.S. Capitol building. It's also the motto for a sports club called S.L. Benfica.

• ex nihilo nihil fit
  • Meaning: "nothing comes from nothing."
  • When it's used: This idea means that everything must have a cause or origin. You can't just get something from absolutely nothing. It's a very old philosophical idea.

• ex novo
  • Meaning: "anew" or "from scratch."
  • When it's used: If something is made ex novo, it means it's completely new and not based on anything that existed before.

Phrases About People and Actions

• ecce homo
  • Meaning: "behold the man."
  • When it's used: This phrase comes from the Bible, where Pontius Pilate says it when he shows Jesus Christ to a crowd. It's also the title of a book by Friedrich Nietzsche and the theme music for the TV show Mr. Bean.

• editio princeps
  • Meaning: "first edition."
  • When it's used: This refers to the very first published version of a book or a piece of writing. It's like the original copy.

• ego te absolvo
  • Meaning: "I absolve you."
  • When it's used: In the Catholic Church, a priest says this as part of a prayer to forgive someone's sins.

• ego te provoco
  • Meaning: "I challenge you."
  • When it's used: This phrase is used to challenge someone, like saying "I dare you!"

• emeritus
  • Meaning: "veteran" or "retired from office."
  • When it's used: This word is often added to a title, like "professor emeritus." It means someone has retired from their job but still holds an honorary title because of their long service.

• ex animo
  • Meaning: "from the soul" or "sincerely."
  • When it's used: If you do something ex animo, you do it with all your heart and truly mean it.

• ex officio
  • Meaning: "from the office" or "by virtue of office."
  • When it's used: This means someone has a certain role or power because of another position they hold. For example, the President of France is automatically a Co-Prince of Andorra just because they are president.

• ex professo
  • Meaning: "from one declaring [an art or science]" or "with due competence."
  • When it's used: This describes someone who is an expert in their field and knows their subject perfectly.

• ex rel. (or ex relatio)
  • Meaning: "[arising] out of the relation/narration [of the relator]."
  • When it's used: This is a legal term. It means a lawsuit is brought by one person on behalf of another, often the government.

• ex voto
  • Meaning: "from the vow."
  • When it's used: An ex voto is an offering or gift given to a church or deity as a way to fulfill a promise or vow.

Phrases About Time and Logic

• eheu fugaces labuntur anni
  • Meaning: "Alas, the fleeting years slip by."
  • When it's used: This phrase reminds us that time passes very quickly.

• ergo
  • Meaning: "therefore."
  • When it's used: This word is used to show a logical conclusion. If A is true, and B is true, ergo C must be true.

• ex ante
  • Meaning: "from before."
  • When it's used: This means "before the event" or "based on earlier guesses." It's used when talking about predictions.

• ex post
  • Meaning: "from after."
  • When it's used: This means "after the event" or "based on what has already happened." It's used when looking back at past performance.

• ex post facto
  • Meaning: "from a thing done afterward."
  • When it's used: An ex post facto law is a law that has a retroactive effect. This means it applies to things that happened before the law was even made. In many countries, these kinds of laws are not allowed, especially in criminal cases.

• ex tempore
  • Meaning: "from [this moment of] time" or "immediately."
  • When it's used: If you do something ex tempore, you do it right away, without much preparation. It can also mean "impromptu."

Phrases About Rules and Exceptions

• ejusdem generis
  • Meaning: "of the same kinds, class, or nature."
  • When it's used: In law, if a list of specific things is followed by a general term, this rule says the general term should only include things of the same type as the specific items. For example, if a rule says "cars, trucks, and other vehicles," "other vehicles" would likely mean things like motorcycles, not airplanes.

• errantis voluntas nulla est
  • Meaning: "the will of a mistaken party is void."
  • When it's used: This is a Roman legal idea. It means that if someone makes a legal decision or agreement because of a big mistake, that decision might not be valid.

• exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis
  • Meaning: "The exception confirms the rule in cases which are not excepted."
  • When it's used: This legal idea means that if a rule has an exception (like "no parking on Sundays"), it actually confirms that the rule applies at all other times (parking is allowed Monday through Saturday).

• expressio unius est exclusio alterius
  • Meaning: "the expression of the one is the exclusion of the other."
  • When it's used: This is another legal principle. If a law specifically mentions one thing, it often means that other similar things are intentionally left out.

Phrases About Wisdom and Knowledge

• eruditio et religio
  • Meaning: "scholarship and duty."
  • When it's used: This is the motto of Duke University, showing their focus on learning and responsibility.

• esse est percipi
  • Meaning: "to be is to be perceived."
  • When it's used: This is a famous idea from the philosopher George Berkeley. It means that something only exists if it is seen or sensed by a mind.

• ex Astris Scientia
  • Meaning: "From the Stars, Knowledge."
  • When it's used: This is the motto of the fictional Starfleet Academy in Star Trek. It means that knowledge comes from exploring space.

• ex luna scientia
  • Meaning: "from the moon, knowledge."
  • When it's used: This was the motto of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, meaning they would gain knowledge from their journey to the moon.

• ex oriente lux
  • Meaning: "light from the east."
  • When it's used: This phrase originally refers to the sun rising in the east. It also means that wisdom and culture often came from Eastern civilizations.

• ex scientia tridens
  • Meaning: "from knowledge, sea power."
  • When it's used: This is the motto of the United States Naval Academy. It means that knowledge gives people power over the sea, like the Greek god Poseidon with his trident.

• ex scientia vera
  • Meaning: "from knowledge, truth."
  • When it's used: This is the motto of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

• ex vulgus scientia
  • Meaning: "from the crowd, knowledge."
  • When it's used: This phrase describes how knowledge can come from many people working together, like in social media or online communities.

Other Interesting Phrases

• ecce panis angelorum
  • Meaning: "behold the bread of angels."
  • When it's used: This phrase comes from a Catholic hymn and refers to the Eucharist, which is seen as the "Bread of Heaven."

• ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
  • Meaning: "by the sword she seeks a serene repose under liberty."
  • When it's used: This is the motto of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It suggests that freedom and peace are achieved through strength and defense.

• entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem
  • Meaning: "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity."
  • When it's used: This is also known as Occam's razor. It's a rule that says when you're trying to explain something, the simplest explanation is usually the best. Don't make things more complicated than they need to be.

• epicuri de grege porcum
  • Meaning: "A pig from the herd (or sty) of Epicurus."
  • When it's used: This phrase is from the Roman poet Horace. It's a playful way to describe someone who follows the philosophy of Epicurus, which focused on seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

• equo ne credite
  • Meaning: "do not trust the horse."
  • When it's used: This comes from the story of the Trojan Horse in Virgil's Aeneid. It's a warning not to trust gifts or things that seem too good to be true, as they might hide a danger.

• errare humanum est
  • Meaning: "to err is human."
  • When it's used: This famous saying means that it is natural for people to make mistakes. It reminds us that nobody is perfect.

• esse quam videri
  • Meaning: "to be, rather than to seem."
  • When it's used: This motto means it's more important to truly be a good person than to just appear to be one. It's the motto of the State of North Carolina and many other groups.

• est modus in rebus
  • Meaning: "there is measure in things."
  • When it's used: This means there's a middle ground or a right balance in everything. It suggests that extremes should be avoided.

• esto perpetua
  • Meaning: "may it be perpetual."
  • When it's used: This phrase expresses a wish for something to last forever. It's the motto of the U.S. state of Idaho and other institutions.

• et alii' (or et al.)
  • Meaning: "and others."
  • When it's used: You often see "et al." in lists of authors or people to mean "and other people." It's used to save space.

• et cetera' (or etc.)
  • Meaning: "and the rest" or "and so on."
  • When it's used: This is a very common phrase used to mean "and more" or "and similar things."

• et in Arcadia ego
  • Meaning: "and in Arcadia [am] I."
  • When it's used: This phrase is often found on artworks depicting a peaceful, ideal place (Arcadia) and reminds us that even in such a place, death exists. It's a reminder that life is fleeting.

• Et tu, Brute?
  • Meaning: "And you, Brutus?" or "Even you, Brutus?"
  • When it's used: These are the famous words from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. They are spoken by Caesar when he realizes his friend Brutus is part of the group betraying him. It means being betrayed by someone close to you.

• ex abundanti cautela
  • Meaning: "out of an abundance of caution."
  • When it's used: This means taking extra precautions, even if they might not be strictly necessary, just to be super safe.

• ex aequo
  • Meaning: "from the equal."
  • When it's used: This means "on equal footing" or "in a tie." If two competitors finish ex aequo, they have the same score.

• ex Africa semper aliquid novi
  • Meaning: "(There is) always something new (coming) out of Africa."
  • When it's used: This old saying means that Africa is a place of constant surprises and new discoveries.

• ex cathedra
  • Meaning: "from the chair."
  • When it's used: This phrase is used in the Catholic Church to describe official statements made by the Pope that are considered to be without error. By extension, it can mean anyone speaking with supreme authority.

• ex gratia
  • Meaning: "from kindness" or "from grace."
  • When it's used: An ex gratia payment is made out of goodwill, not because someone is legally required to pay it.

• ex parte
  • Meaning: "from a part" or "for one party."
  • When it's used: In law, an ex parte hearing or action is done on behalf of only one side in a legal dispute, without the other side being present.

• ex pede Herculem
  • Meaning: "from his foot, so Hercules."
  • When it's used: This means you can understand the whole from just a small part. Like if you know the size of Hercules's foot, you can guess his whole size.

• excelsior
  • Meaning: "higher" or "ever upward!"
  • When it's used: This is the state motto of New York. It means striving for greater heights and always improving. It was also a catchphrase for Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee.

• exeunt
  • Meaning: "they leave."
  • When it's used: This is a stage direction in plays, meaning that multiple actors leave the stage. The singular form is exit.

• experientia docet
  • Meaning: "experience teaches."
  • When it's used: This means that we learn best from our own experiences. It's also the motto of San Francisco State University.

• experimentum crucis
  • Meaning: "experiment of the cross" or "crucial experiment."
  • When it's used: This refers to a very important experiment that can decisively prove or disprove a scientific theory.

• experto crede
  • Meaning: "trust the expert."
  • When it's used: This means you should believe someone who has a lot of experience or knowledge about a subject.

• extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
  • Meaning: "outside the Church [there is] no salvation."
  • When it's used: This is a theological phrase from the Catholic Church, meaning that the Church is necessary for salvation.

• extra omnes
  • Meaning: "outside, all [of you]."
  • When it's used: This command is given during a papal conclave (when cardinals elect a new pope). It means everyone who is not a cardinal must leave the Sistine Chapel.

• extrema ratio
  • Meaning: "extreme solution," "last possibility," or "last possible course of action."
  • When it's used: This refers to a final, drastic measure taken when all other options have failed.