List of Important Foreign Words - 1 | English for CLAT PDF Download

1. A La Carte - On the Menu

2. A La Minute - To the Minute

3. A La Mode - In Fashion, Style

4. A Priori - Based on theory rather than observation

5. Ab Initio - From the beginning

8. Ab Origine - From the origin

9. Acme - The highest point of a structure

10. Acrobat - Wire Walker

11. Actionable Per Se – The very Act is punishable and no proof of damage is required

12. Ad Absurdum - To the point of absurdity

13. Ad Hoc - For the specific purpose, case or situation at Hand

14. Ad Infinitum - Forever, For Ending Period

15. Ad Libitu - At the discretion of the performer

16. Ad Nauseam - To an excessive trend

17. Addendum - An item to be added, especially a supplement to a book.

18. Adieu - Farewell, Good Bye

19. Affaire D’amour - A Love Affair

20. Agitprop - Artistic Political Propaganda

21. Aide De Camp - A Military Officer acting as Secretary and confidential assistant to the Superior of General or flag rank, Camp Assistant

22. Aide-Mémoire - Memory Aid; A Note serving as a reminder

23. Alibi – a statement by somebody that says you were in a different place at the time of a crime, elsewhere, a false excuse for absence

24. Alma Mate - The School, College Or University that one has Attended

25. Alma Mater - One's Old School, Mother Institution ( School, College, University) A Person Attended

26. Alpha And Omega - The Beginning and the end

27. Alter Ego - Other (Alternative) Self, A Bosom Friend

28. Ambiance - The Mood, Character, Quality, Tone, Atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment.

29. Amicus Curiae – A friend of the court or member of the bar who is appointed to assist the Court

30. Amnesia - Oblivion

31. Amour-Propre - Self Love; Self Respect

32. Amphibious/Amphibians - Living a Double Life

33. Anachronism - Wrong time reference

34. Anagoge/Anagogy - Spiritual Uplift, reference to a principle

35. Anagram - Transpose the letters of one word so as to form another

36. Analogy: Proportion

37. Analyse/Analysis - Loosen, Simplify

38. Anamnesis - Recollection, Reminiscence

39. Anecdote - Unpublished

40. Anemia - Refers to a Condition characterized by a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of the Red Blood Cells (Or of the Hemoglobin).

41. Anesthetic - Lack of Sensation, Insensibility under surgical treatment

42. Angst - Dread and Anxiety

43. Anno Domin - In a specified year of the Christian era

44. Annus Mirabilis - Wonderful Year

45. Anorexia - Lack of Appetite

46. Antagonize - Struggle against, Prove a match for

47. Ante Meridiem - Before Noon

48. Aperitif - Cocktail

49. Apple Strudel - A Type of Pastry made with thin layers of dough, rolled Up with a fruit filling

50. Apropos - (French Expression) With Reference To

51. Aqua - Water

52. Arthritis - Inflammation of Joint

53. Aspirin - Acetylsalicylic Acid

54. Assentio Mentium – The Meeting of Minds

55. Attache - Attached; A Person assigned to a diplomatic post

56. Au Contraire - On the Contrary

57. Au Courant - Up-To-Date

58. Au Gratin - With Gratings; anything that is grated and put on top of a dish, like breadcrumbs or cheese

59. Au Revoi - Used to express farewell

60. Audi Alteram Partem – No man shall be condemned unheard.

61. Bas-Relief - Low Relief/design; Sculpture that is only slightly more prominent than its background.

62. Beau Geste - A Fine or Noble Gesture, Often Futile.

63. Beau Monde - High Society

64. Billet-Dou - A Love Letter

65. Blond / Blonde - Fair-Haired

66. Bolshevik - A Revolutionary or Radical

67. Bon Appétit - Good Appetite; Enjoy Your Meal

68. Bon Mot - A Witty Remark or Comment

69. Bon Vivant - A person who lives luxuriously and enjoys Good Food and Drink.

70. Bon Voyage - Have A Good Trip

71. Bona Fide - Made or Carried Out in Good Faith; Sincere

72. Bonhomie - Friendliness, Sociability

73. Bonjour - Good Morning

74. Boulevard - A Broad City Street. Often tree-lined and landscaped

75. Bourgeoisie - The Middle Class

76. Boutique - A Shop

77. Brunette - Small, Dark-Haired Female

78. Carpe Diem - Seize the day

79. Carte Blanche - Unrestricted power to act on One's Own.

80. Carte Blanche - Authority or permission to do something the way one chooses to do It

81. Carte Blanche – Unlimited Authority

82. Casus Belli - An Act Justifying War

83. Cause Celebre- A Widely Known Controversial Case or Issue

84. Caveat – Let a Person be Aware

85. Caveat Emptor - Let The Buyer Beware

86. Caveat Venditor -Let The Seller Beware.

87. Cemetery - Graveyard

88. Census - Count of Citizens

89. Cerise - Cherry; The French Word for the fruit gives the word for the Colour

90. Certiorari – A writ by which orders passed by an inferior court are quashed.

91. C'est La Vie - That's Life

92. Chaise Longue - Long Chair

93. Charge D'affaires - Charged with Business; A Substitute or Replacement Diplomat

94. Chef D'ouvre - Chief Work; Masterpiece

95. Chic - Stylish

96. Coffee Klatsch (Klatch) - A Casual Social Gathering For Coffee And Conversation.

97. Collum - Collar

98. Comme Ci Comme Ca - So-So

99. Commissar - An Official

100. Corpus – Body

101. Coup D’etat French. The Sudden Overthrow of A Government, Usually By A Small Group of Persons in or Previously in Positions of Authority

102. Coup De Grace: Finishing Blow

103. Coup D'etat - Sudden Overthrow Of A Government.

104. Creme Fraiche - Fresh Cream

105. Crepe De Chine - Chinese Crepe; Soft Fine Or Sheer Clothing Crepe Especially Of Silk

106. Crime Passionnel - Passionate Crime; Crime of Passion

107. Cuisine - Kitchen, Style, or Cuisine Refers Only to a Particular Type of Food/Cooking, Such as French Cuisine, Southern Cuisine, etc.

108. Cuisine French. A Characteristic Manner Or Style of Preparing Food

109. Damnum Sine Injuria – Damage without injury.

110. De Facto – In Fact.

111. De Facto - In Reality, or Fact

112. De Jure – By Law.

113. De Jure Latin. According To Law

114. De Novo – To Make Something new.

115. De Rigueur - Strictly Required, As By Etiquette, Usage, or Fashion

116. Debutante - Beginner; Débutante Is The Feminine Form of Débutant

117. Degustation - Tasting; The French Word Simply Refers To the act of Tasting,

118. Dei Gratia - By The Grace of God

119. Dei Gratia- By The Grace of God

120. Deja Vu -Already Seen/ Felt

121. Democracy - Rule By The People

122. Denatio Mortis Causa – Gift because of Death.

123. Denouement - Finale / Final Part of A Play

124. Detinue – Tort of wrongfully Holding Goods which belong to someone else

125. Deus Ex Machine: A Contrived Device to resolve a Situation

126. Dictum – Statement of Law made By the Judge in the Course of the Decision but not necessary to the decision itself

127. Diesel - The Diesel Engine is named for its German Inventor, Rudolf Diesel

128. Dobermann - Dog Breed named for the German Friedrich Louis Dobermann

129. Dogma-- The Established Belief or Set of Principles Held By A Religion, Ideology Or By Any Organization. .

130. Doli Incapax – Incapable of Crime

131. Doppelganger-- A Ghostly Double, Look-Alike, or Clone of A Person

132. Doppler Effect - Apparent Change in the frequency of Light Or Sound Waves, Caused By Rapid Movement; Named For The Austrian Physicist C.J. Doppler who discovered the effect

133. Du Jour - Of the Day

134. Duma - A Legislative Body

135. Eau De Cologne: Water From Cologne

136. Eau De Toilette - A Very Weak Perfume

137. En Bloc - Together/ In A Group

138. En Masse – A Large Group, in One Group Or Body; Altogether

139. En Route - On The Way

140. En Suite - In Sequence, Part Of A Set, Together

141. Enfant Terrible - An Incorrigible Child; An Outrageously Outspoken Or Bold Person

142. Entente Cordiale - Cordial Agreement

143. Entre Nous - Between Ourselves; Confidentially

144. Ergo - Consequently

145. Erratum - Error; Mistake

146. Erratum - An Error in Printing Or Writing Especially Such an Error Noted in A List of Corrections and Bound Into A Book

147. Estoppel – Prevented From Denying.

148. Et Ceter - And Other Unspecified Things of the same Class; and So Forth

149. Et Cetera - And the rest

150. Ethos - "Accustomed Place." It Refers To A Disposition Or Characteristics Peculiar To A Specific Person, Culture Or Movement

151. Euge! - Well Done

152. Eureka! - I Have Found it

153. Ex Gratia – As A Favour.

154. Ex Officio – Because of an Office Held

155. Ex Officio - By Virtue of Office or Position

156. Ex Parte – Proceedings in the absence of the Other Party.

157. Ex Post Facto- Retroactively

158. Ex-Cathedra - With Authority; Used Especially for those Pronouncements of the Pope that are considered infallible.

159. Extempore - Spoken, Carried Out Or Composed With Little Or No Preparation Or Forethought

160. Factum Probans – Relevant Fact.

161. Fahrenheit - The Fahrenheit Temperature Scale is Named For Its German Inventor, Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, Who Invented The Alcohol Thermometer

162. Fait Accompli - An Accomplished Fact, Presumably Irreversible

163. Fait Accompli - An Accomplished, Presumably Irreversible Deed or Fact

164. Fait Accompli - Established Fact

165. Fatum – Beyond Human Foresight.

166. Faux - False

167. Faux Pas - A Social Blunder

168. Feinschmecker - Gourmet

169. Femme Fatale - Deadly Woman; An Alluring, Mysterious Woman Who Seduces Men into Compromising Situations

170. Flagrante Delicto - In The Act

171. Foie Gras - Fat Liver; The Liver Of A Force-Fed Goose, Considered A Delicacy

172. Frankfurter - Hot Dog, Originally A Type of German Sausage (Wurst) From Frankfurt

173. Fraus Est Celare Fraudem – It is a fraud to Conceal A Fraud

174. Functus Officio – No Longer Having Power or Jurisdiction.

175. Gauche - Awkward; Tactless, Lacking Social Grace

176. Genre - Type; Used Mostly In Art And Film

177. Gourmet - A Connoisseur Of Fine Food And Drink

178. Gratis - Without Charge

179. Gratis - Free of Cost, Without Charge

180. Habeas Corpus – A Writ To Have The Body Of A Person To Be Brought In Before The Judge.

181. Harmonia: Agreement, Harmony

182. Haute Couture: High Cuisine; High-Class, Fancy (And Expensive) Cooking or Food

183. Hermaphrodite - Human And Animal Having Both Male And Female Sex Organs

184. Hoi Polloi - The Common People

185. Hypnos - Sleep

186. I.E. (Id Est) - That Is

187. Ibidem - In The Same Place. Used In Footnotes And Bibliographies to Refer to the Book, Chapter, Article, Or Page Cited Just Before.

188. Id Est - That is to Say.

189. Impromptu- Without Preparation

190. In Absentia - While or Although Not Present; In Absence.

191. In Lieu Of – Instead of.

192. In Loco Parentis - In The Place of A Parent

193. In Medias Res - In The Middle of A Sequence Of Occurences

194. In Memoriam - In Memory of; As A Memorial To

195. In Personam – A Proceeding in which relief I Sought against a specific person

196. In Promptu – In readiness.

197. In Situ - Situated in The Original Or Natural Position

198. In Status Quo – In The Present State.

199. In Toto - Totally; Altogether

200. In Vino Veritas - In Wine There Is Truth

201. Injuria Sine Damno – Injury Without Damage.

202. Innuendo – Spoken Words Which Are Defamatory Because They Have A Double Meaning.

203. Inter - Among, Between

204. Interim - Meanwhile, Interval

205. Intra - Within

206. Ipso Facto: By The Fact Itself

207. Joie De Vivre: Joy of Living; The Quality In People Who Live Life To The Fullest

208. Jus – Law or Right.

209. Jus In Personam – Right Against A Specific Person.

210. Jus In Rem – Right Against The World At Large.

211. Jus Non Scriptum – Customary Law.

212. Jus Scriptum – Written Law.

213. Justitia Nemini Neganda Est – Justice Is To Be Denied To Nobody

214. Kindergarten - A School Or Class For Young Children Between the Ages of Four And Six Years.

215. Kudos - Fame or Glory, Usually Resulting From An Important Act Or Achievement.

216. Laissez-Faire - Let It Be - A Policy of Non-Interference.

217. Leitmotif - A Recurrent/Repeated Theme

218. Lex Non-A Rege Est Violanda – The Law Must Not Be Violated Even By The Kin

219. Locus Standi – Right Of A Party To An Action To Appear And Be Heard By The Court.

220. Magnum Opus - A Great Work

221. Magnum Opus Latin - A Great Work Especially A Literacy Or Artistic Masterpiece.

222. Magnum Opus - A Great Work

223. Magnus - Big, Great, Magnitude

224. Mala Fide – In Bad Faith

225. Mammoth - A Prehistoric Mammal

226. Mandamus – We Command. A Writ Of Command Issued By A Higher Court To Government/Public Authority, To Compel The Performance of a Public Duty.

227. Marathon - A Long Distance Race

228. Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday

229. Mater- Mother

230. Matinee: Morning

231. Melancholy - Sorrowful

232. Memento Mori: A Reminder That You Must Die

233. Mens Rea – Guilty Mind

234. Mise En Scene: The Stage Setting; Surroundings

235. Misnomer – A Wrong or Inaccurate Name Or Term

236. Modus Operandi – Method of Operating

237. Modus Vivendi – Way of Living.

238. Mot Juste - The Exact, Appropriate Word

239. Mutatis Mutandis - Making Necessary Changes

240. Ne Plus Ultra - The Most Intense Degree of A Quality Or State

241. Nemo Bis Punitur Pro Eodem Delicto – Nobody Can Be Twice Punished For The Same Offence

242. Nemo Debet Esse Judex In Propria Causa – Nobody Can Be Judge in His Own Case

243. Nom De Plume - Pen Name

244. Nouvelle Cuisine - New Cuisine; Cooking Style Developed In The 1960's And 70's That Emphasized Lightness And Freshness

245. Novation – Transaction In Which A New Contact Is Agreed upon by all parties to replace an existing contract

246. Oh La La: Oh Dear

247. Onus Probandi – Burden of Proof.

248. Opus Dei - The Work of God

249. Oui / Non- Yes/ No.

250. Palimony – Money Which The Court Orders A Man To Pay Regularly To A Woman With Whom He Has Been Living And From Whom He Is Separated.

251. Panic – Fright

252. Papier Mache - Mashed Paper; Used For Art

253. Par Excellence - The Best of The Best

254. Passé - Old-Fashioned, Out-of-Date, Past its Prime

255. Per - According To; In Accordance With

256. Per Capita - For Each Person

257. Per Curiam – By a Court

258. Per Incuriam – Because of Lack of Care.

259. Per Se - By or in itself, Naturally

260. Persona Grata - Fully Acceptable or Welcome Especially to a Foreign Government

261. Persona Non-Grata - Unacceptable Person

262. Persona Non-Grata: Unacceptable or Unwelcome Person

263. Petit - Small; (Law) Lesser, Minor

264. Petite - Small, Short

265. Phobia - Fear

266. Photon - Plant

267. Plethora - When One Goes Beyond What Is Needed Or Appropriate. It Represents An Excess Or Undesired Abundance.

268. Post Meridiem - Afternoon; Used Chiefly In The Abbreviated Form To Specify The Hour

269. Post-Mortem - Examination of A Body After Death; Autopsy

270. Post-Mortem - Latin of or Relating To A Medical Examination Of A Dead Body.

271. Postpartum - After Childbirth

272. Potpourri - Rotten Pot; A Scented Mixture Of Dried Flowers And Spices; A Miscellaneous Group Or Collection

273. Prima Donna - Temperamental And Conceited Person

274. Prima Facie - At First Sight, Clear And Evident

275. Prior - First, Primary, Priority

276. Pro And Con - For And Against

277. Pro Bono - Done Or Donated Without Charge

278. Pro Bono - Done Without Compensation For The Public Good.

279. Pro Rata - Proportional; Proportionally

280. Pro Rata - In Equal Parts

281. Pro Tempore - For The Time Being; Temporarily

282. Psalm - To Play, Twang

283. Pseudo - False, A Falsity

284. Quasi - Having Likeness To Something; Resembling

285. Qui Facit Per Alium, Facit Per Se – He Who Acts Through other Acts Himself

286. Quid Pro Quo – Something For Something

287. Quo Warranto – By What Authority? A Writ Calling Upon One To Show Under What Authority He Holds or Claims A Public Office.

288. Requiescat In Pace - Rest In Peace

289. Ras - Tomorrow

290. Ratio Decidendi – Principle Or Reason Underlying A Court Judgement.

291. Répondez S’il Vous Plaît - Please Reply

292. Res Ipsa Loquitor – The Thing Speaks For Itself.

293. Résumé - A Brief Account Of One’s Professional Or Work Experience And Qualification

294. Rex Non-Protest Peccare – The King Can Do No Wrong

295. Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex – The Welfare of the is the Supreme Law

296. Samovar - An Urn For Heating Tea

297. Sangfroid - Coolness And Composure, Especially in trying Circumstances

298. Sans Souci - Carefree

299. Sarcasm - Bitterness

300. Savoir-Faire - The Ability To Say And Do The Correct Thing

301. Schadenfreude - Pleasure At Someone Else's Misfortunes

302. Sine Die -Without A Day Specified For A Future Meeting; Indefinitely

303. Sine Qua Non - Indispensable Element Or Condition

304. Sobriquet - Nickname

305. Sponsor - One Who Accepts Responsibility for Another

306. Sputnik - A Traveling Companion

307. Status Quo - The Existing State Or Condition

308. Sui Generis - Unique

309. Sulon: Sanctuary

310. Sur place – In place

311. Suo Moto - Latin Expression - On Its Own Motion/ Act On Its Own Initiative

312. Tanche De Vie - Slice of Life

313. Tete-A-Tete - Without The Intrusion of A Third Person; In Intimate Privacy

314. Tout De Suite -Immediately

315. Tout Ensemble: All Together

316. Tout Le Monde - Everybody; Everyone of Importance.

317. Trahison De Clercs - Treason of The Intellectuals

318. Tristesse: Melancholy

319. Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium – Where There Is A Right, There Is A Remedy

320. Ultima Ratio Regum - The Final Argument Of Kings (War)

321. Uno Animo - With One Mind

322. Urbi Et Orbi - To The City And The World (To Everyone)

323. Utile Dulci - The Useful With The Agreeable

324. Va Et Vient - Coming And Going (Traffic)

325. Vendetta - Blood Feud, Quarrel Between Two Families For Vengeance.

326. Ventre A Terre - Belly To The Ground (At Very Great Speed)

327. Verbatim - Using Exactly The Same Words; Corresponding Word For Word

328. Verbatim Ac Litteratim - Word For Word, And Letter For Letter

329. Verboten: Forbidden, As By Law; Prohibited

330. Versus - Against

331. Veto – Ban Or Order Not To Allow Something To Become Law, Even If It Has Been Passed By A Parliament.

332. Via - By Way of

333. Vice Versa – Reverse Position.

334. Vide - Used To Direct A Reader’s Attention

335. Vieux Jeu - Old Game (Old Hat)

336. Vin Du Pays - Wine of The Locality

337. Virgo Intacta - Untouched Virgin

338. Virtue Et Armis - By Valor of Arms

339. Vis Major – Act Of God.

340. Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The Healing power of nature

341. Vis-À-Vis - Face To Face; With Opposite To, Compared With, In Relation To

342. Vita Nuova - New Life

343. Viva Voce - By Word of mouth

344. Volenti Non-Fit Injuria – Damage Suffered By Consent Gives No Cause Of Action.

345. Vox Et Praeterea Nihil - Voice and Nothing more

346. Vox Populi - Popular opinion or sentiment

347. Waiver – Voluntarily giving up or removing the conditions

348. Weltschmerz - Sorrow over the evils of the world.

349. Zeitgeist - The Thought Or Sensibility Characteristic of A Particular Period Of Time.