







a capite ad calcem (Latin motto)
Translation: "From head to heel; thoroughly."

Equivalent to "from top to bottom".

Ab ovo usque ad mala (Latin phrase)
Translation: "From the egg to the apples."

A Roman phrase similar to English, "From soup to nuts"; but it means "From start to finish". This meaning is based on the fact that Roman dinners often started with eggs and ended with fruit.

From the beginning to the end of any enterprise; thoroughly, or without qualification.

Ab uno ad omnes (Latin phrase)
Translation: "From one to all."
Abiit ad majores.
He has gone to his forefathers.

He’s dead.

Up to; so as to make; used in medicine.
@, at, or to.

Used to express the cost of individual items.

This prefix, ad-, appears before vowels and before the consonants d, h, j, m, and v: et al.

Before sc, sp, and st; ad- is simplified to a-: ascend, aspect, et al.

Before c-, ad- is assimilated to ac-: accelerate, accept, accept, accident, accord, accumulate, accurate, accurate, et al.

Before f, ad- becomes af-: affable, affect, affidavit, affiliate, affinity, affirm, affix, afflatus, afflict, affluence, et al.

Before g, ad- becomes ag-: agglomeration, agglutinate, aggrandize, aggravate, aggravate, aggregate, aggression, aggressive, aggressive, aggressor, et al.

Before l, ad- becomes al-: allege, allegiance, alleviate, alliteration, allocate, allude, allure, allusion, alluvium, et al.

Before n, ad- becomes an-: annex, annihilate, annotate, announce, annul, annulment, et al.

Before p, ad- becomes ap-: apparatus, appeal, appearance, append, appendage, appendix, appetite, applaud, applause, applicable, application, applied, apply, appoint, apportion, apposition, appraise, appreciate, apprehend, apprentice, approach, appropriate, approve, approximate, et al.

Before q, ad- becomes ac-: acquaint, acquaintance, acquiesce, acquiescence, acquire, acquisition, acquital, et al.

Before r, ad- becomes ar-: arrears, arrest, arrive, arrogant, et al.

Before s, ad- becomes as-: ascent, ascertain, ascribe, aspect, , assail, assailant, assault, assemble, assent, assert, assertion, , asset, assiduous, assign, assignment, assist, assistant, associate, assonance, assortment, assuage, assume, assumption, assurance, assure, assuredly et al.

ad absurdum (adverb), more ad absurdum, most ad absurdum
A reference to an argument demonstrating the ridiculousness of an opponent's proposition: "To what is absurd; to the point absurdity or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment."
ad annum
Up to the year.

Used to indicate a specific year date.

ad astra
To the stars.
Ad astra per aspera. (Latin motto)


This motto suggests that we achieve great things only by encountering and overcoming adversities; it will be rough going, but we will make it.

Ad augusta per angust. (Latin motto)
Translation: "To honors through difficulties."


ad calendas graecas
At the Greek calends; that is, never; or when hell freezes over.

This statement refers to the calends, the first day of the month, that was a feature of the Roman calendar, but the Greeks had no calends.

The calends was the day that interest on borrowed money was to be paid, so for Roman debtors they were tristes calendae, "the unhappy calends".

Ad captandam benevolentiam (Latin motto)
Translation: "To win good will."

For the purpose of winning good will.