Latin Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary

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calor licitantis n. Confused, the team tried a larger sample—this time observing thousands of iPod auctions. In that case, 45 to 50% of eBay auctions exceeded the “buy it now” price, she says. Expanding the pool again, they found that the quirk affects expensive and cheap items, men’s cologne and women’s perfume, and books by liberal Sen. Barack Obama and by conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly. The Romans had a term for this auction-house “curse,” Malmendier says, “They called it calor licitantis—bidder’s heat.” [Latin Online] [full cite] (Jul. 18, 2007)

de novo n. In New Jersey, start-up banks—which the banking industry calls “de novos,” or Latin for “from the beginning”—must raise $6 million before they can open. [English Latin Business Jargon] [full cite] (Mar. 2, 2006)

didymo n. Didymosphenia geminata, or didymo, was first identified in Southland’s Mararoa and lower Waiau Rivers in October last year—the first time it had been found in the Southern Hemisphere. [ Language English Latin] [full cite] (Oct. 4, 2005)

manu militari n. Le Pen, 78, was first out of the box. During a candidates’ forum last week in Paris organized by Elle magazine, Le Pen, who describes himself as antiabortion, said he opposed the free distribution of condoms in schools. Instead, “for those who feel the urge, I suggest the manu militari,” he said, using a Latin phrase as a euphemism for masturbation. “It’s a much simpler method.” [Latin Sex & Sexuality] [full cite] (Apr. 13, 2007)

obex n. Like if a gay couple apply for ordination, that would clearly be an obex [obex is Latin term meaning “hindrance”]. [Latin Religion] [full cite] (Dec. 6, 2007)

semper Gumby n. Coasties have one other unofficial motto, borrowed from the Marines—semper Gumby, a reference to the pliant green claymation figure. Semper Gumby is semper paratus reflected off of a funhouse mirror. It’s confidence, professionalism, politeness, adaptability, efficiency and bravery, all warped by resigned frustration. Gumby is flexible, and also bent by other people. Semper Gumby has been notoriously translated by Coast Guard search-and-rescuers as “We have to go out, but we don’t have to come back.” [English Latin Military] [full cite] (Sep. 18, 2005)

suo motu n. The Petroleum Ministry, on the other hand, has been maintaining that the DGH was not a regulator in the statutory sense, as it did not take suo motu cognisance but only took up cases referred to it by the Ministry. [Latin Law] [full cite] (Sep. 14, 2005)

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