# The jene se qua of uber alles is not sine qua non **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672 "2003-10-26T16:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/1 "2003-10-26T16:23:28Z")
There are a lot of expressions borrowed from other languages. Most of them are frequently being abused by literary underachievers such as myself. For the enlightenment of those reading this thread, choose one (especially one from the title) give its definition, language and/or circumstance of origin, and if possible use it in a sentence. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/2 "2003-10-26T16:27:26Z")
“je ne sais quoi.” French. “I don’t know what.” That indescribable something. Sentence: “He’s neither handsome nor especially witty, but I find myself drawn to him by a certain je ne sais quois.” (I know it’s “je ne sais,” but I can’t remember how to spell the “quois.”) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/3 "2003-10-26T16:30:19Z")
Nitpick: _je ne sais quoi_. Meaning, as I understand it, a certain undefinable quality, usually in the context of differentiating between something that has it and something that doesn’t - from the French for “I don’t know what”, if I remember rightly. Example? “The House of Commons has lost a little _je ne sais quoi_ since TV cameras were introduced.” ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/4 "2003-10-26T16:32:07Z")
Oops. Too late! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/5 "2003-10-26T16:37:44Z")
_sine qua non_ translates to “without which nothing” or thereabouts and can suggest the essential ingredient in some endeavor or thing. It’s Latin. The severed hand crawling over the floor to strangle the teenage intruder is the _sine qua non_ of the slasher movie these days. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/6 "2003-10-26T16:48:38Z")
The great thing about the Straight Dope is that you are not haunted by l’esprit de l’escalier. “L’esprit de l’escalier”: literally “the spirit of the staircase” - French idiomatic phrase for all those witty rejoinders and apt put-downs you thought of too late while going down the stairs on the way out of the party. Party on… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/7 "2003-10-26T20:10:05Z")
_uber alles_, German for “over all (things)”. If you want to indicate that the SDMB is the best thing out there, you might say “SDMB uber alles!” ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/8 "2003-10-26T20:18:02Z")
…and if you did that, the first thing most people would think of would be **Deutschland über Alles**. So unless you’re trying to compare the folks of the SDMB to Nazis, it’s probably not the best term to use. (See “Caifornia über Alles” by the Dead Kennedys.) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/9 "2003-10-26T21:24:12Z")
The “über Alles” in the German national anthem, written in 1841, is not actually a declaration of German superiority - it is a call to unity i.e. we are Germans first, Bavarians, Prussians or whatever second. > **[Deutschland, Deutschland über alles ...](https://stores.militaryhistoryshop.com/blog/deutschland-deutschland-ueber-alles/)** > > Deutschland ueber Alles - A brief history of the German national anthem from 1922 to the present. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mr.Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Hand)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/10 "2003-10-26T21:28:24Z")
Schadenfreude. Enjoyment of others’ misfortuntes. Alternative definition: why I like the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/11 "2003-10-26T21:38:11Z")
Can someone define _res ipsum loquitor_ for me? I read it in an Onion article about the U.S. Supreme Court once. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/12 "2003-10-26T22:22:09Z")
What’s so hard to understand about _res ipsa loquitur_, **Treviathan**? It speaks for itself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/13 "2003-10-27T07:55:57Z")
_Qiud pro quo_, roughly “something for something.” But a political science teacher I had in college defined it better. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/14 "2003-10-27T14:22:35Z")
Uber Allies is German for Super Friends. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/15 "2003-10-27T14:29:41Z")
_Ya lateef,_ according to Ken Kesey, is Arabic for “Look what Al’lah has laid in my garden.” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/16 "2003-10-27T16:04:44Z")
Res Ipsa Loquitur: “the thing speaks for itself”. It’s a term of negligence law that refers to the circumstances of an accident itself being sufficient to support an inference of negligence. Fr’instance, if you’re walking past a warehouse and a barrel rolls out of the second story and hits you on the head, you can pretty well say it’s due to negligence since accidents like that ordinarily don’t happen unless someone was negligent. Thus, “the thing speaks for itself.” If I recall correctly the Onion article had Scalia lifting his robes and saying “res ipsa loquitur.” ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/17 "2003-10-27T16:24:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AskNott \* > \*\*_Ya lateef,_ according to Ken Kesey, is Arabic for “Look what Al’lah has laid in my garden.” \*\* My family is Syrian and I hear them yelling this sometimes. I was told it mean, “come on” or “let’s go.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/18 "2003-10-28T00:26:11Z")
Sticking with the arabic slant, _insh’Allah_ means “God willing”. the Latin _de jure_ and _de facto_ mean by law, and by fact… ie. theoretically, and in practice. Presumably most people have heard “C’est la vie”, or the French for “such is life” (or that’s life). ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/19 "2003-10-28T00:48:25Z")
Here’s two that get mixed up too often. “e.g.” means “exempli gratias,” or “for example’s sake.” It is used when you want to give certain examples. _Many OPEC countries are Arab countries, e.g. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia._ “i.e.” means “id est,” or “that is.” It is used when you want to restate something, or give additional information. _The best acting job in The Matrix films is done by Lawrence Fishbourne, i.e. Morpheus._ ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672/20 "2004-02-18T23:46:52Z")
I’m resurrecting this flatliner, and with good cause. I have compiled what I believe is a very complete list of these terms and their definitions. Now you can impress your friends with your ecumenical lexicon and befuddle your enemies with your au fait erudition. Please feel free to point out errors and omissions. Enjoy! a capella – “Like the chapel” Singing without musical accompaniment a fortiori - “From the stronger” or “even more so” a posteriori - Empirical knowledge obtained by experience (e.g. science) a priori - Knowledge gained through the apprehension of innate ideas, “intuition,” “pure reason,” or other non-experiential sources (e.g. math, philosophy) a propos - Being at once opportune and to the point ab initio – “From the beginning” or “at the start” ad astra – “To the stars” ad hoc – “For this [purpose]” Signifies a solution that has been tailored to a specific purpose ad hominem – “argument against the man” ad infinitum – “to infinity” ad lib - “at liberty” ad nauseam - To a disgusting or ridiculous degree; to the point of nausea affaire de coeur - A love affair. affaire d’honneur - An affair of honor; a duel. agent provocateur - A secret agent who incites suspected persons to commit illegal acts aide de camp - The figure of a lamb bearing a cross; a symbol of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God al dente - Cooked enough to be firm but not soft al fresco – Eating outdoors alma mater – “Nourishing mother” alter ego – “Other self” ancien regime – “Old order” refers to the French monarchy prior to the 1789 Revolution anno domini – “In the Year of the Lord” annus horribilis - “Horrible year” Famously used by Queen Elizabeth II when she described the year 1992 ante meridiem (AM) - “Before noon” aqua vitae - Strong distilled alcohol, especially a strong liquor such as whiskey or brandy art nouveau – A style started in the 1880s that had its climax in the years 1892-1902, characterized by a dynamic, undulating and flowing, curved ‘whiplash’ line of syncopated rhythm au fait - Being up to particular standard or level, especially in being up to date in knowledge aurora australis – Optical phenomenon of solar wind striking the atmosphere in the southern hemisphere aurora borealis - Optical phenomenon of solar wind striking the atmosphere in the northern hemisphere avant garde - Persons or actions that are novel or experimental, particularly with respect to the arts beau monde - The fashionable elite belles lettres - Creative writing valued for aesthetic content bete noire - One that is particularly disliked or that is to be avoided: “Tax shelters had long been the bête noire of reformers” billet doux – A personal letter to a loved one expressing affection bon mot - A clever saying; a witticism bon vivant - A person with refined taste, especially one who enjoys superb food and drink bona fide - Authentic; genuine camera obscura – “Dark chamber” carte blanche - Unrestricted power to act at one’s own discretion; unconditional authority casus belli – “Cause for war” An act or event that provokes or is used to justify war cause celebre - “Celebrated case” A legal or social issue or debate, usually one with scandalous overtones and often carries a connotation that the scandal need not have seemed so scandalous in a rational and enlightened society C’est la vie – “Such is life” ceteris paribus - “All other things being equal” A prediction, or a statement about causal or logical connections between two states of affairs is qualified in order to acknowledge, and to rule out, the possibility of other factors which could override the relationship between the antecedent and the consequent charge d’affaires - The official temporarily in charge of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador chez moi – “At my house” con brio - With great energy con moto – With motion, quickness cordon bleu - A person highly distinguished in a field, especially a master chef cordon sanitaire - A barrier designed to prevent a disease or other undesirable condition from spreading, or a chain of buffer states organized around a nation considered ideologically dangerous or potentially hostile corpus delicti - The material evidence in a homicide, such as the discovered corpse of a murder victim, showing that a crime has been committed corpus juris - “Body of crime” term from Western jurisprudence which refers to the principle that it must be proven that a crime has occurred, before a person can be tried for the crime coup de grace - Finishing stroke or decisive event; a deathblow coup de theatre - An unexpected and sensational event, especially one that reverses or negates a prevailing situation coup d’etat - “Sudden stroke of a nation.” The sudden overthrow of a government by a usually small group of persons in or previously in positions of authority creme de la creme - People of the highest social level. cri de coeur - An impassioned outcry, as of entreaty or protest danse macabre – “Dance of death” danced in churches during the Black Death to remind people of how fragile their lives were and how vain the glories of earthly life were de facto – “By fact” Normative standards de jure – “By law” Legally defined standards de profundis – “Out of the depths” de rigueur - Required by the current fashion or custom; socially obligatory de trop - Excessive or superfluous dei gratia – “By the grace of God” déjà vu- The illusion of having already experienced something actually being experienced for the first time delirium tremens (DT’s) – A condition associated with severe alcohol withdrawal demi monde - A globe as an ensign of royalty deus ex machina – “God from the machine” Originated with Greek and Roman theater, when a machine would lower a god or gods onstage to resolve a hopeless situation. The phrase has been extended to refer to any resolution to a story which does not pay due regard to the story’s internal logic and is so unlikely it challenges suspension of disbelief, and presumably allows the author to end it in the way he or she wanted double entendre – A figure of speech similar to the pun, in which a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. The first, literal meaning is an innocent one, while the second meaning is usually indecently sexual dramatis personae - A list of the characters in a play or story eminence grise - A powerful adviser or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially en bloc - As a unit; all together en famille - In a causal way; at home en masse - In one group or body; all together en passant - In passing; by the way; incidentally en suite - In or as part of a series or set enfant terrible - One whose startlingly unconventional behavior, work, or thought embarrasses or disturbs others: “The radical painter was the enfant terrible of the art establishment” entente cordiale - The diplomatic understanding by which the UK settled its outstanding antagonisms with France and Russia in the middle of the first decade of the 20th century esprit de corps - A common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group ex cathedra - “From the throne [of St Peter]” in Catholic theology, statements made by the pope in his capacity as infallible guide and teacher of the faithful ex gratia - As a favor; not compelled by legal right; ex libris – “From books” a phrase often used in an ownership inscription or a book-plate ex officio - By virtue of office or position ex parte - From or on one side only, with the other side absent or unrepresented; biased ex tempore - Without preparation fait accompli – “Accomplished fact” A diplomatic and political term referring to an action which would be difficult to undo and which therefore becomes the basis for future negotiations and discussions faux ami – “False friend” Literally, a betrayer; figuratively, pairs of words in two languages that look or sound similar but differ in meaning faux pas – “False step” A violation of accepted, although unwritten, social rules femme fatale – “Fatal woman” A stock character, a villainous woman who uses the malign power of sexuality in order to ensnare the hapless hero fin de siecle – “End of the Century” It can refer to the end of any century, but it almost invariably refers to the 19th Century. The term usually refers to the period preceding World War I, which brought about such radical cultural changes and rearrangement of the social order. Colloquially, the term usually suggests a decadent and naive golden age in contrast to the horror that followed force majeure - Superior or overpowering force, or an unexpected or uncontrollable event grande dame - A respected woman having extensive experience in her field gung ho - “Pull together” or “strive for harmony” A Chinese phrase used in the WW2-era Chinese Communist Party’s 8th Route Army, which entered the American vernacular when it was picked up by then-Major Evans F. Carlson, USMC habeas corpus - "You should have the body” A prerogative writ requiring the government to produce a prisoner before a court and justify his imprisonment. Its purpose is to release someone who has been arrested unlawfully haute couture - Trend-setting fashions haute cuisine - Elaborate or skillfully prepared food, especially that of France hoi polloi - “The many” Greek expression denoting the masses in a derogatory sense hysteron proteron - A figure of speech in which the natural or rational order of its terms is reversed, as in “bred and born” instead of “born and bred” ibid - “The same place” The term used to provide an endnote or footnote citation for a source that was cited in the last endnote or footnote. It is also sometimes abbreviated “Id,” especially in legal documents idee fixe - An obsession in absentia - While or although not present; in absence in camera - In secret; privately; in private with a judge rather than in open court in extremis - At the point of death; in grave or extreme circumstances in flagrante delicto – “While the crime is blazing” In the very act of committing an offense; red-handed. In the act of having sex in loco parentis - In place of a parent in medias res - In or into the middle of a sequence of events, as in a literary narrative in propria persona - In one’s own person, especially without representation by an attorney in situ - In its natural position or place; said of a rock or fossil, when found in the situation in which it was originally formed or deposited in toto - Totally; altogether in vitro - In an artificial environment outside the living organism in vivo - Within a living organism inter alia - Among other things ipso facto - “By that very fact” jamais vu - “Never seen” A familiar situation which is not recognized by the observer. Often described as the opposite of déjà vu, it creates a sense of eeriness and the belief that the observer is experiencing the situation for the first time je ne sais quoi – A certain indescribable something joie de vivre - Hearty or carefree enjoyment of life la dolce vita – “The sweet life” laissez faire – “Let things alone” First used by the eighteenth century Physiocrats as an injunction against government interference with trade, it is now used as a synonym for strict free market economics lingua franca - Italian term referring to a language most widely used and adopted as a common means of communication between people of different languages loc cit – “In the place cited” locum tenens - A person, especially a physician or cleric, who substitutes temporarily for another magnum opus – “Great work” Refers to the best or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer mal de mer - Seasickness mea culpa - An acknowledgment of a personal error or fault menage a trois – A sexual encounter involving three people modus operandi - “Mode of operation” Used in police work to describe a criminal’s characteristic patterns and style of work modus vivendi - A manner of living; a way of life. A temporary agreement between contending parties pending a final settlement. mot juste - Exactly the right word or expression nem con - Of one mind; without dissent noblesse oblige - The obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous nom de guerre – “Name of war” pseudonym nom de plume – “Pen name” pseudonym non compos mentis – “Not in control of mind” Insane non sequitur - "It does not follow” A conclusion that does not follow from the premises nouveau riche - One who has recently become rich, especially one who flaunts newly acquired wealth nouvelle cuisine - A contemporary school of French cooking that seeks to bring out the natural flavors of foods and substitutes light, low-calorie sauces and stocks for the traditional heavy butter-based and cream-based preparations objet d’art - An object of some artistic value op cit – “In the work cited” par excellence - Being the best or truest of a kind pas de deux - A close relationship between two people or things per se - Of, in, or by itself or oneself; intrinsically persona non grata - Fully unacceptable or unwelcome, especially to a foreign government petit bourgeois - Lower middle class piece de resistance - An outstanding accomplishment. pince nez - “Pinch nose” (aka Oxford glasses) A style of spectacles, popular in the 19th century, which are supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the nose poco a poco - Little by little; gradually post hoc - “After this” (aka coincidental correlation) A logical fallacy which assumes, or asserts, that if one thing happens after another, the first must be the cause of the second post meridiem (PM) – “After noon” post mortem – “After death” poste restante - A notation written on a letter indicating that the letter should be held at the post office until claimed by the addressee presque vu - “Almost seen” The sensation of being on the brink of an epiphany. Often very disorienting and distracting, it rarely leads to an actual breakthrough. Often described as having something “on the tip of your tongue” prima donna - A temperamental, conceited person prima facie - “At a first sight” Used in English and American law to denote evidence that on its own is sufficient to establish the fact in question, or at least a presumption of it, unless rebutted by other evidence primus inter pares – “First among equals” A term which indicates that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office pro rata - In proportion, according to a factor that can be calculated exactly pro tem - For the time being quid pro quo - “What for what” raison d’etre – “Reason for being” res ipsa loquitor – “The thing speaks for itself” Claims which, as a matter of law, do not have to be explained beyond the obvious facts. It is most useful to plaintiffs in negligence cases rigor mortis - A recognizable sign of human death that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff roman a clef - “Novel with a key” A novel describing real-life events behind a facade of fiction. The “key”, not present in the text, is the correspondence between events and characters in the novel and events and characters in real life. They are often satirical. Romans à clefs are generally written to report inside information on scandals without giving rise to charges of libel savoir faire - To have the knowledge of what to do every time in any situation savoir vivre – Knowing how to live schadenfreude - A German expression meaning pleasure taken from someone else’s misfortune. The equivalent English word is epicaricacy emper fidelis - “Always faithful” sine die - Without a day specified for a future meeting; indefinitely sine qua non - An essential element or condition: “The perfect cake is the sine qua non of the carefully planned modern wedding” son et lumiere - A theatrical entertainment presented at night in a historic, usually outdoor setting, using recorded sound, lighting, and other effects to relate the history of the place sotto voce - In soft tones, so as not to be overheard; in an undertone status quo - “The state of things” sub judice - Under judicial deliberation; before a judge or court of law sub poena - A writ requiring appearance in court to give testimony sui generis – “Of its own genus” In law, it is a term of art used to identify a legal classification that exists independently of other categorizations because of its uniqueness or due to the specific creation of an entitlement or obligation tabula rasa – “Blank slate” The idea forwarded by John Locke that individual human beings are born with no built-in mental content, and that his or her identity is defined overwhelmingly by events after birth terra firma – Dry land terra incognita – Unfamiliar territory tour de force - A feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty uber alles – “Above all others” ultra vires – Outside the power [of a company] vice versa - With the order or meaning reversed; conversely vol au vent - “Flying in the wind” Refers to the lightness of a pastry volte face – About face, reversal of opinion vox populi – “Voice of the people” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jene-se-qua-of-uber-alles-is-not-sine-qua-non/209672.md?page=2)