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Forms of Address: According
Ad valórem. According to value. An ad valórem duty is a certain percentage on the value or price.
A fortiori. With stronger reason.
A la Française, ah lah frang seyze. After the French fashion or custom. A la mode, ah lah mode. According to fashion.
A la rigueur, ah lah regyur. With rigorous formality. Strictly observing the rules of etiquette.
Al fresco. In the open air.
Alias, á le as.
Otherwise. At another time, Alibi, al e bi. In another place.
Amende honorable, ah mang o no rable. A sufficient apology. Honorable redress for an injury. Originally an infamous punishment inflicted, in France, on traitors, parricides, etc, who were brought into court with a rope round their necks and made to beg pardon of God, the King, and the Court. A merveille, ah mair vah yuh. To a wonder. Marvellously, admirably. Amicus curiæ, a mi kus kú ri e. A bystander who gives to a judge a friendly opinion or informs him of some error he has detected. NOTE. In the Latin words (those with no given pronunication) the final e is always sounded e, g., die is pronounced di e and extempore, ex tem po re. All syllables in the given French pronunciation ending. in ng are nasal sounds.
Amor patriæ. The love of country.
Amour propre, ah moor propr. (Lit.) proper love. Self-esteem. A multo fortiori. With much stronger reason. On much stronger grounds. Ante omnia. Before everything else.
A outrance, ah oo trangss. To the utmost. In the strongest terms. In the most decided manner.
A priori. Reasoning a priori infers effects from causes previously known, in opposition to reasoning a posteriori; as when we say, plants do not breathe (effect) because they are not animals (cause). An a posteriori argument is proving the cause from the effect; as when we say that there is a God (cause) from the works of the creation (effect or, when upon seeing a watch, we say there was a watchmaker. All mathematical proofs are of the a priori kind, but judgments in the law courts are of the a posteriori evidence. A propos, ah pro po. To the purpose. In reference to. Arcana imperii. Secrets of the state.
Attaché, a tah shay. One accompanying an ambassador. He has no particular charge but merely the title to connect him with the Legation and to gain admittance into the highest society.
Au courant, o koo rang. Acquainted with matters up to the period. Audi alteram partem. Hear the other side (of the question). Au fait, o fay. Well instructed, Master of a subject. Accomplished. Capable of doing whatever may be requisite in the case.
Au fond, o fong. To the bottom. Thoroughly.
Au reste, o rest.
Besides this. To sum up all. But, however. Nevertheless. Avant coureur, ah vang koo reer. A runner in advance. A harbinger. Bal costumé, bal kos tu may. Fancy ball.