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Nota Bene for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'noʊtɑ_'bɛnɛ

What does Nota Bene really mean?

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Well, my dear student, let me tell you about the fascinating phrase "Nota Bene." Now, this is a Latin phrase, and it might sound a little fancy, but don't you worry, we're going to break it down together in the simplest way possible. So, "Nota" means "note" and "Bene" means "well" in Latin. When you combine these two words, "Nota Bene" literally means "note well." Think of it as a little reminder to pay close attention or to make sure you really understand something important. It's like when we underline or highlight something in a text to make sure we don't miss a crucial detail!

Now, let me give you an example to make it even clearer. Imagine you're reading a recipe for a delicious chocolate cake, and right before the instructions, you see the words "Nota Bene." It's like the recipe is telling you, "Hey, pay extra attention to the next part because it's really important!" The phrase is used to emphasize the significance of what follows, making sure you give it your full attention.

But wait, I'm not done yet! There's actually another way we can understand "Nota Bene." You see, in some contexts, it can be used as a shortened version of the bigger phrase "Nota Bene Verum Quia Insigniter," which means "note well because it is especially important." It's like a supercharged version of the simple "note well" we talked about earlier. It's a way of really, really emphasizing the importance of the information that's about to come.

So, my dear student, whether it's a simple note of caution or an extra-strong message of importance, "Nota Bene" is like a friendly reminder to stop and pay close attention. It's like a little sign that says, "Hey, make sure you really understand this! It's important!" I hope that clears things up for you and helps you grasp the meaning of this marvelous Latin phrase.

Revised and Fact checked by Sarah Anderson on 2023-10-29 12:30:14

Nota Bene In a sentece

Learn how to use Nota Bene inside a sentece

  • Nota Bene, or NB, is used to indicate an important piece of information in a written document. For example, in an essay, you can write 'NB: The conclusion of this argument is based on previous observations.' This helps to draw attention to the important point mentioned.
  • In a recipe, you may find 'NB: Make sure to preheat the oven before adding the cake batter.' The 'NB' notation helps the cook remember the crucial step for successful baking.
  • When studying a new language, you might come across 'NB: In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe.' This highlights an essential grammatical rule to remember.
  • In a class syllabus, you might see 'NB: Attendance is mandatory for all students.' The instructor uses 'NB' to emphasize the importance of being present in every class.
  • When reading a legal document, you may encounter 'NB: The following terms and conditions apply to all users.' This notation signifies that the mentioned terms are crucial and should not be overlooked.

Nota Bene Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Nota Bene Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.