2006-08-31 01:04:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
sine qua non
(see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which it could not be," an indispensable action or condition. Example: if Charlie Careless had not left the keys in the ignition, his 10-year-old son could not have started the car and backed it over Polly Playmate. So Charlie's act was the sine qua non of the injury to Playmate.
2006-08-31 01:06:58 · answer #1 · answered by crale70 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An essential element or condition: “The perfect cake is the sine qua non of the carefully planned modern wedding” (J.M. Hilary).
2006-08-31 01:07:19 · answer #2 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sine qua non literally means "without which not"(Latin). It refers to whatever is absolutely indispensable for a situation to exist or occur. For example, for there to be sunrises the sun must, absolutely, rise.
2006-08-31 01:13:32 · answer #3 · answered by Tynes 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Sine qua non" or "conditio sine qua non " is a latin term meaning "without which it could not be"
Basically it's the 'must have' defining part of something.
2006-08-31 01:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by ravenofchrist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Latin sine=without qua=which non=not Without this, it is not.
I have haard it used in intellectual speeches to illustrate a point.
2006-08-31 02:27:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The above are correct about the literal translation from the Latin. The easiest useable "translation" is "but for." As in, but for the presence of this person, condition, etc. something else could not have happened.
2006-08-31 01:28:41 · answer #6 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its direct translation from latin would be "without which it could not be", where the 'which' refers to a predefined condition.
try this link for applications,
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2000/11/25.html
2006-08-31 01:27:05 · answer #7 · answered by yasiru89 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋