? occurring after a quotation means that author, or passage (or both), are uncertain. See p. i. at the bottom, and p. viii. and note. The first words of a quotation beginning with the end of a line of poetry are, in order to save space, frequently run on to the second line, and the commencement of the latter indicated by a capital letter, e.g., No. 16: Ab ovo Usque ad mala, which, correctly written, would run: Ab ovo Usque ad mala. So, also, No. 1385: En sa maison Le dos au feu, le ventre à table, is, to print it at length: En sa maison Le dos au feu, le ventre à table. Quotations not found in their alphabetical place should be looked for in the Index. DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL AND FOREIGN QUOTATIONS. 1. A aucuns les biens viennent en dormant. (Fr.) Prov.Good fortune comes to people while they are asleep. 2. Ab abusu ad usum non valet consequentia. (L.) Law Max. The abuse of anything is no argument against its proper use. 3. Ab actu ad posse valet illatio. (L.)-From what has taken place we may infer what will happen. The uniformity of nature furnishes a ground of induction, upon which we may conclude that a similar condition of things being given, what has happened once will happen again. In the same way a man's habits afford presumption for the recurrence of certain eventualities in his life. A. B. left the turf for the stock exchange; it is likely that he will speculate on the one as he did on the other, ab actu ad posse, etc. 4. Ab alio expectes alteri quod feceris. (L.) P. Syr. ap. Sen. Ep. 94. As you have done to others, expect others to do to you. Cf. Vulg. Luc. 6, 31. 5. A barbe de fol on apprend à raire. (Fr.) Prov.-Men learn to shave by beginning on the beard of a fool. Similar to Fiat experimentum, etc., q.v. 6. A ben conoscer la natura dei popoli, convien esser principe, ed a conoscer ben quella dei principi convien esser popolare. (It.) Mach. To be well acquainted with the dispositions of a people, one should be a prince; and to know well the disposition of a prince, one should be one of the people. 7. Abends wird der Faule fleissig. (G.) Prov.-At evening the idle man is busy. 8. Abeunt studia in mores. (L.)-Pursuits grow into habits. One can by habit get absorbed in what was at first most distasteful. 9. Abi hinc in malam crucem! (L.) Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 163. -Go and be hanged! (2.) Abi in malam rem ! Plaut. Pers. 2, 4, 7.-Go to the deuce! 10. Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit. (L.) (L.) Cic. Cat. 2, 1, 1. He has departed, retreated, escaped, broken away. Said of Catiline's flight from the senate on the discovery of his conspiracy. A good description of any one absconding. 11. Abi, ludis me, credo. (L.) Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 32.-Off with you, you are fooling me, I guess. 12. Ab initio. (L.)—From the beginning. Anything which has been irregularly done must be begun ab initio, afresh, as though nothing had been done in the matter. 13. Ab inopia ad virtutem obsepta est via. (L.) Prov.Poverty obstructs the road to virtue. It is so easy to be good when one is well off. 14. Abnormis sapiens crassaque Minerva. (L.) Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 3. Of plain good sense, untutored in the school. of mother-wit. A shrewd sensible fellow. Full 15. A bon chat bon rat. (Fr.) Prov.-A good rat for a good cat. Opponents should be well matched. Set a thief to catch a thief. An old poacher makes the best gamekeeper. 16. Ab ovo Usque ad mala. (L.) Hor. S. 1, 3, 6.-From eggs to apples. From the beginning to the end: eggs and apples being respectively the first and last courses at a Roman dinner. The phrase applies to any topic, or speaker, monopolising the whole of the conversation at dinner from soup to dessert, or at any other time. 17. Abracadabra. Ancient cabalistic word of Persian origin, said to contain the name of Mithras the sun-god. A paper written with the letters of the spell, so as to form an inverted pyramid, was anciently worn as an amulet against fevers and ague, viz. :— abracadabra abracadab abra a d a 18. Absente auxilio perquirimus undique frustra, Sed nobis ingens indicis auxilium est. (L.)? Use of an index. Without a key we search and search in vain, But a good index is a monstrous gain.-Ed. (See Notes and Queries, 2d Ser. 6, 146.) 19. Absentem qui rodit amicum, Qui non defendit alio culpante, solutos Qui captat risus hominum, famamque dicacis; Qui nequit, hic niger est, hunc tu, Romane, caveto. A blackguard. The man that will malign an absent friend Or when his friend's attacked, does not defend; Who blabs a secret- -Roman, friend, take care, 20. Absint inani funere noniæ, Luctusque turpes et querimoniæ; Mitte supervacuos honores. (L.) Hor. C. 2, 20, 21. Weep not for me. No dirges for my fancied death; No weak lament, no mournful stave; All clamorous grief were waste of breath, And vain the tribute of a grave.-Conington. 21. Absit invidia. (L.)-All offence apart. 22. Absit invidia verbo. (L.) Liv. 9, 19, 15.—I say it with out boasting. 23. Absit omen. (L.)-May the omen mean nothing! I pray there be no ugly meaning in it! 24. Abstineto a fabis. (L.) -Abstain from beans. I.e., keep clear of elections: where, as at Athens, the election of public magistrates was balloted for with beans. 25. Abundans cautela non nocet. (L.) precaution cannot do any harm. Law Max.—Excessive of property the buyer cannot be too careful in requiring a good title with the estate he is treating for. 26. Abundant dulcibus vitiis. (L.) abound in seductive faults. errors are charming. Quint. 10, 1, 129.—They Said of any one whose very 27. Ab uno ad omnes. (L.)-From one to all. Motto of Earl of Perth and Melfort. 28. Ab urbe conditâ, or A. U. C. (L.)-From the building of the City. The date from which the Romans reckoned: generally considered as being 752 B.C. 29. Abyssus abyssum invocat. (L.) unto deep. 30. A causa perduta parole assai. plenty when the cause is lost. is useless. Ps. 41, 7.-Deep calleth (It.) Prov.- Words in Plenty of advice when it 31. Accedas ad curiam. (L.) Law Term.-You may go to the Courts. A writ which removes a plaint from an inferior court (generally the county court) to a higher one. 32. Accede ad ignem hunc; jam calesces plus satis. (L.) Ter. Eun. 1, 2, 5.-Approach this fire, you will soon be warmer than you like. Said of the beauty of Thaïs. 33. Acceptissima semper Munera sunt, auctor quæ pretiosa facit. (L.) Ov. H. 17, 71.—Those presents which derive their value from the donor, are always the most acceptable. Cf. Shakesp. Hamlet, 3, 1, 98: You gave-with words of so sweet breath composed, As made the things more rich. 34. Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno Disce omnes. Now listen while my tongue declares And gather from a single charge (L.) Virg. A. 2, 65. Their catalogue of crimes at large. -Conington. You may judge of the defendant's character from a single charge 35. Accipe nunc victus tenuis quid quantaque secum Affert. Imprimis valeas bene. (L.) Hor. S. 2, 2, 70. Now listen for a space while I declare The good results that spring from frugal fare. Imprimis, health.-Conington. 36. Accipe quæ nimios vincant umbracula soles; Sit licet et ventus te tua vela tegent. (L.) Mart. 14, 28. Umbrellas. An umbrella for the sun you'll handy find, Or it may serve as shelter from the wind.-Ed. 37. Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat. (L.) Hor. S. 2, 2, 6. The mind that's ta'en with outward shows Will always truthful things refuse.-Ed. |