sine qua non

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Definitions (3)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun An essential element or condition: "The perfect cake is the sine qua non of the carefully planned modern wedding” (J.M. Hilary).

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Late Latin sine quā (causā) nōn, without which (cause) not : Latin sine, without + Latin quā : ablative of quī, which, what, who + Latin nōn, not.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin: sine, without (see sine); qua, ablative singular feminine of qui, which (agreeing with re, thing, understood); non, not: see non.
 

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/ˈsaɪni kweɪ nɑn/
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