(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - English Language & Comprehension Skills - Foreign Words & Phrases

English Language & Comprehension Skills
Foreign Words and Phrases

1. Ab initio (Latin) From the beginning.
2. Aborigine (Latin) Native, any of the earliest known inhabitants of a certain region.
3. Actionnaire (French) Shareholder.
4. Actualite (French) Real existence; appropriateness.
5. Ad hoc (Latin) For the special purpose.
6. Ad interim (Latin) In the meantime; temporary.
7. Ad libitum (Latin) As one pleases.
8. Ad referendum (Latin) For further consideration.
9. Ad valorem (Latin) According to value.
10. A Dio (Italian) To God; Addio!Adieu!
11. Agamemnon (Greek) The leader of the Greeks in the Trojan war, king of Mycenae.
12. Aide (French) An assistant, a helper, a mate.
13. Air noble (French) An air of distinction.
14. Ajax (Latin, Greek) The Greek hero next to Achilles in the Trojan war.
15. Alectryon (Greek) A cock.
16. Allah it Allah (Arabian) There is no God but the God the Moslem war cry.
17. Alopecia (Latin, Greek) Fox mange : a skin disease, which destroys the hair; baldness.
18. Allure (French) Mien, gait, air.
19. Alpeen (Irish) A cudgel.
20. Alter ego (Latin) One’s second self, a very close friend, a representative.
21. Affair d’amour (French) A love affair.
22. A’la mode (French) According to the custom; in fashion.
23. Alma Mater (Latin) Benign mother; A term applied by students to the school,
college or university where they have been educated.
24. Anno Christi (Latin) In the year of Christ.
25. Anno Dontini (Latin) In the year of Christ.
26. Ante Meridiem (Latin) Before noon.
27. Ars longa, vita brevis (Latin) Art is long, life is short.
28. Au contraire (Latin) On the contrary.
29. Au revoir (French) Adieu, until we meet again.
30. Auto (Spanish) An act, a drama.
31. Bacchus (Latin, Greek) The god of wine.
32. Basta (Italian) Enough ! No more !
33. Bastide (French) A French country house.
34. Beau garcon (French) A handsome man.
35. Beau jour (French) Fine day, good times.
36. Beaux-arts (French) The fine arts.
37. Beneficiare (French) The person receiving benctits.
38. Bene qui latiut bene vixit (Latin) He has lived\ell who has lived obscure.
39. Billet-doux (French) A love letter.
40. Bonn fide (Latin) In good faith.
41. Bon hoinie (French) Good nature.
42. Bonjour (French) Good day; good morning.
43. Bon voyage (French) A good journey to you.
44. Boutique (French) A shop. tradesman’s stock.
45. Bourgeoisee (French) The social class between the aristocracy and the
working class; middle class.
46. Bravo (Italian) Well done; splendid.
47. Cadre (French) A frame, a scheme; a list of officers.
48. Cafe (French) Coffee.
49. Camaraderie (French) Comrade; Friendly fellowship.
50. Carpe diem (Latin) Enjoy the present day.
51. Cara sposa (Italian) Dear wife.
52. Chef (French) A cook in charge of a kitchen; head cook
53. Chesara’ Sara’ (Italian) What will be will be.
54. Cognito, ergo sum (Latin) I think, therefore, I am.
55. Coiffeur (French) Hair dresser.
56. Contra (Latin) Against.
57. Corpus (Latin) The body of a man or animal, especially a dead body.
58. Coup d’etat (French) Sudden decisive blow in politics.
59. Creme (French) Cream.
60. Creme de la creme (French) Cream of the cream; the very best.
61. Danke, Schoon (German) Many thanks.
62. De bonne grace (French) With good grace.
63. De facto (Latin) In fact, actually.
64. De jure (Latin) In the law; by right.
65. Dei gratin (Latin) By the grace of God.
66. Deluxe (French) Luxurious.
67. Dennode (French) Out of fashion.
68. Desagrement (French) Something disagreeable.
69. Detenu (French) A prisoner.
70. Deus ex inachina (Latin) A character or event brought artificially into
the plot of a story or drama to settle an involved situation.
71. Distrait (French) Absent minded.
72. Dramatis personae (Latin) Characters in a drama or a play.
73. Donna e’ mobile (Italian) Woman is changeable.
74. Duce (Italian) A leader.
75. Ecce! (Latin) Behold!
76. Edition deluxe (French) A splendid and expensive edition of a book.
77. Elegant (French) A person of fashion.
78. Elite (French) The best part.
79. En famille (French) With one’s family; at home; in an informal way.
80. En masse (French) In a group, universally.
81. En prince (French) In princely style.
82. En queue (French) In a string or line.
83. En rapport (French) In agreement, in accord with.
84. En route (French) On the way.
85. Entente (French) An understanding; agreement.
86. Entrepreneur (French) A business man.
87. En rills (French) In town, ‘not at home’.
88. Espirit de corps (French) Group spirit, sense of pride.
89. Errare est liumaru in (Latin) To err is human.
90. Estancia (Spanish) A mansion.
91. Ethos (Greek) Permanent character; in literature and art, chief characteristics of a
work as affecting the intellectual andmoral faculties,
as opposed to pathos which appeals to the emotions.
92. Etoile (French) Star.
93. Et tu, Brute ! (Latin) You too,Brutus! (Caesar’s exclamation, when he sawhismuch
loved Brutus amongst the murderers.)
94. Euge! (Latin, Greek) Well done!
95. Eureka (Meureka) (Greek) I have found it.
96. Excelsior (Latin) Higher; (erroneously) upwards.
97. Exceptio confirmat (probat) The exception proves the rule. regular (Latin)
98. Ex officio (Latin) By virtue of his office.
99. Ex post facto (Latin) After the deed is done; done or made after wards.
100. Extra (Latin) Beyond, outside the scope of.
101. Fade (French) To become less distinct.
102. Fait accompli (French) A thing already done.
103. Fenome (French) Woman, wife.
104. Festa (Italian) A festival.
105. Flair (French) Aptitude; a natural talent or ability.
106. Gallant (French) Gay, elegant, attentive to ladies.
107. Gens de letters (French) Literaryman.
108. Grand (French) Great.
109. Heil (German) Flail!
110. Homo sapiens (Latin) Mankind; human beings. III. Hotel (French)
A hotel, a mansion.
112. Id est (Latin) That is.
113. Ibidem (Latin) In the same place, thing or case.
114. In camera (Latin) In the chamber of the judge.
115. In toto (Latin) In the whole; entirely.
116. Impasse (French) A deadlock.
117. In memoriam (Latin) In the memory of.
118. In petto (Italian) Secretly, not revealed.
119. Inter alia (Latin) Among other things.
120. Inter alios (Latin) Among the persons.
121. Kinder (German) Children.
122. L’allegro (Italian) The cheerful man.
123. Libra (Latin) A pound; a unit of weight.
124. Lingua franca (Italian) Mixed language.
125. Litterateur (French) A man of letters.
126. Locus Standi (Latin) A right to interfere.
127. Magnum opus (Latin) A great work.
128. Malentendu (French) Misunderstood; poorly conceived.
129. Matinee (French) Reception or entertainment held in the afternoon.
130. Milieu (French) Surroundings; environment.
131. Modus (Latin) Manner, mode.
132. Modus operandi (Latin) Manner of working.
133. Monsieur (French) Sir, Mr.
134. Monstre scare (French) A popular public figure who is considered above criticism.
135. Mon and (French) My friend.
136. Nil (Latin) Nothing.
137. Non (Latin) Not.
138. Octroi (French) Duties paid at the gate of a city.
139. Oninia vincist labor (Latin) Labour overcomes all things.
140. Opera (Latin) Plural of opus. Musical works of a composer numbered in
order of composition or publication.
141. Oil (French) yes.
142. Par excellence (French) Eminently, beyond comparison.
143. Par example (Latin) For example.
144. Persona grata (Latin) A person who is acceptable or welcome.
145. Postmortem (Latin) Happening done or made after death.
146. Post (Latin) After, e.g., afternoon.
147. Pater (Latin) Father.
148. Potage (French) Soup.
149. Prima facie (Latin) On first view.
150. Quantum (Latin) Quantity, or amount.
151. Quasi (Latin) As if, seemingly.
152. Regime (French) Form of government.
153. Resume (French) An abstract or summary.
154. R.S.V.P. (Reponds si’1 Reply, if you please, an answer will oblige. vous plait) (French)
155. Suns souci (French) Without care.
156. Sine die (Latin) Without a day being appointed.
157. Status quo (Latin) The existing state of existing affair.
158. Status quoante (Latin) The state of affairs existing prior to a given event.
159. Terra incognita (Latin) An unknown country.
160. Tete-a-tete (French) A private or intimate conversation between two people.
161. Ultra vires (Latin) Beyond one’s powers.
162. Viamedia (Latin) Amiddle course.
163. Vice versa (Latin) The order or relation being reversed, conversely.
164. Vis-a-vis (French) Opposite; face to face.
165. Viva voce (Latin) By word of mouth; orally.
166. Vive la (French) Long live!

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