Latin Blog 4: In Toto; In Vitro; In Situ

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LATIN BLOG 4: Understanding Latin Phrases Used in Everyday Language

Andrew Yiannakis,  Ph.D.
Research Professor
University of New Mexico

In this series of blogs I shall be covering over thirty Latin phrases that are frequently used in everyday language.

LATIN BLOG 4 includes the terms:

i. In toto
ii. In vitro
iii. In situ

1. In TOTO
As a whole,  totally or entirely

Example:
The judge accepted her testimony in toto.

2. In VITRO ( in a glass). From Latin “vitrum”, meaning glass.  Originally used as in a test tube (which was made of glass).

Literally in a glass environment;  later generalized to mean in an artificial environment outside the body.

Example:  In vitro fertilization

3. In SITU (from Latin situs,  meaning place or location). In English we get such terms as situate,  situation,  and the like.

The place where something exists or originates; in the original position or place.

Example:  “the dinosaur bones were found in situ”, meaning in their original place.

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Author: andrewyiannakis

Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D., is currently a Research Professor at the University of New Mexico (USA). He is also Professor Emeritus from the University of Connecticut where he taught the Sociology of Leisure, Tourism & Sport, as well as Research Methods and Computer Applications. He also holds the rank of 8th Dan in Traditional Jujutsu and a 6th Dan in Traditional Kodokan Judo. He is the Director of the Institute of Traditional Martial Arts at the University of New Mexico. He is also the Chair of the Traditional Jujutsu Committee of the USJJF. As an amateur historian, he has led several expeditions to Greece to conduct research at Thermopylae, and locate the path the Persians used in 480 BC to encircle, and defeat King Leonidas and the Greek allies. Prof. Yiannakis has published extensively in a number of areas.

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