LATINISMS

Lourdes Piñero Leon

A PRIORI The terms a priori ("from the

former") . A priori knowledge or justification is independent of experience (for example 'All bachelors are unmarried'); ). A priori justification makes reference to experience; but the issue concerns how one knows the proposition or claim in question—what justifies or grounds one's belief in it. Galen Strawson wrote that an a priori argument is one of which "you can see that it is true just lying on your couch.

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AD ABSURDUM to the absurd In

logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See also reductio ad absurdum. Not to be confused with ab absurdo (from the absurd).

Carpe diem• Carpe diem is a

phrase from a Latin poem by Horace (See "Source" section below). It is popularly translated as "seize the day". Carpe means "pick, pluck, pluck off, gather", but Horace uses the word to mean "enjoy, make use of."

AD INFINITUM to infinity Going on

forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases in mathematical proof.

AD MULTUS ANNOS

To many years! Expresses a wish for a long life. Similar to the English expression "Many happy returns!"