sic transit gloria mundi

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Latin

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Etymology

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From sīc (thus, so) + trānsit (it goes over, it crosses) the third person singular of trānseō (I go over, I cross) + glōria (glory) + mundī (of the world) the genitive of mundus (the world). Literally meaning "thus passes the glory of the world" or "thus goes the glory of the world". The traditional translation is "thus passes earthly glory".

Pronunciation

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Phrase

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sīc trānsit glōria mundī

  1. ‘Thus passeth the glory of the world’, a traditional phrase used in the ritual of papal coronation.
  2. Glory is fleeting; fame is fleeting.