Collection of Latin words

[mnp]

At the HSBC Bank in Shanghai, China, there is a board/panel in the building with the following Latin words :<br /><br />Historia<br />Probitas<br />Fortitudo<br />Scienta<br />Prudentia<br />Ordinatio<br />Terperantia<br />Aequitas<br />Philosophia<br />Subtilitas<br />Iustitia<br />Labour<br />Vertitas<br />Sapientia<br />Fides<br />Experientia<br /><br />1). What do these words mean ?<br />2). Is there any significance in these words being together ?<br /><br />Thanking you in advance for any replies to this post.

[mr_528]

Historia : History<br />Probitas : Honesty<br />Fortitudo : Strongness?<br />Scienta : Science?<br />Prudentia : Prudence<br />Ordinatio : Rule, order<br />Terperantia : ?<br />Aequitas : Equity<br />Philosophia : philosophy<br />Subtilitas : Under title (Subtitle, Real meaning?)<br />Iustitia : Justice<br />Labour : Work<br />Vertitas : ?<br />Sapientia : wisdom, knowledge<br />Fides : Faith, promise, word of honor<br />Experientia : Experience<br /><br />There you go...

[vinobrien]

I find the presence of these in a bank rather confusing, it has to be said. Are these the things they avoid?<br />Anyway, I think it goes as follows, but be careful as some of these words were not current in classical latin or their meaning changed a bit over time.<br /><br />Historia : History<br />Probitas : Honesty<br />Fortitudo : Bravery<br />Scienta : Knowledge<br />Prudentia : Prudence<br />Ordinatio : Rank<br />Terperantia : Temperantia = balance<br />Aequitas : Equity<br />Philosophia : Philosophy<br />Subtilitas : Subtlety<br />Iustitia : Justice<br />Labour : Work<br />Vertitas : Truth<br />Sapientia : Wisdom<br />Fides : Faith<br />Experientia : Experience<br />

[chrysostom]

It was once commonplace to include personifications of virtues in the decorations of public and semi-public buildings; for instance, railroad stations. Possibly this list is something similar?

[duglasius]

I have to wonder whether you made a type or this bank actually spelled labor, veritas, scientia, and temperantia incorrectly in a public place...the latter would be quite unfortunate.

[benissimus]

Historia : History<br />Probitas : Probity (a good word)<br />Fortitudo : Fortitude<br />Scienta (Scientia*) : Knowledge<br />Prudentia : Prudence<br />Ordinatio : Order<br />Terperantia (Temperantia*) : Moderation (Temperamentum "temperament" would seem more pertinent though)<br />Aequitas : Equality<br />Philosophia : Philosophy, pursuit of knowledge<br />Subtilitas : Finesse<br />Iustitia : Justice<br />Labour (Labor*) : Labor<br />Vertitas (Veritas*) : Truth<br />Sapientia : Wisdom<br />Fides : Faith/Trust/Loyalty<br />Experientia : Experience

[Elucubrator]

Nice renderings. It was pointed out by Vincent earlier in the thread that "terperantia" is just a mispelling for "temperantia".<br /><br />-S.