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sine qua non - 5 dictionary results

si⋅ne qua non

[sahy-nee kwey non, kwah, sin-ey; Lat. si-ne kwah-nohn]
–noun
an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential: Her presence was the sine qua non of every social event.

Origin:
< LL sine quā (causā) nōn without which (thing) not
si·ne qua non   (sĭn'ĭ kwä nŏn', nōn', sī'nĭ, kwā)   
n.  An essential element or condition: "The perfect cake is the sine qua non of the carefully planned modern wedding" (J.M. Hilary).

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

sine qua non [(sin-i kwah non, nohn)]

The essential, crucial, or indispensable ingredient without which something would be impossible: “Her leadership was the sine qua non of the organization's success.” From Latin, meaning “without which nothing.”


sine qua non 
"an indispensible condition," 1602, from L., lit. "without which not," from sine "without" + qua abl. fem. sing. of qui "which" + non "not." Fem. to agree with implied causa. The L. phrase is common in Scholastic use. Sometimes a masc. form, sine quo non, is used when a person is intended. Proper plural is sine quibus non.

sine qua non

An essential element or condition, as in A perfect cake is the since qua non of a birthday party. This phrase is Latin for "without which not" and has been used in English since about 1600. It appears more in writing than in speech.

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