bourgeoisie: (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.
entrepreneur: which comes from the French word “entreprendre” and means to undertake. It means a businessman, a company manager or a contractor.
fait accompli: a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept.
laissez-faire: the belief that economies and businesses function best when there is no interference by the government. It comes from the French, meaning to leave alone or to allow to do. It is one of the guiding principles of capitalism and a free market economy.
nobless oblige: the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged.
raison d’être: reason for being. The claimed reason for the existence of something or someone; the sole or ultimate purpose of something or someone.
les trente glorieuses: The Bretton Wood restrictions were in force in most major capitalist economies during the Bretton Woods era of fixed exchange rates (1945-71)—otherwise known as the Golden Age of the American economy, or what the French to this day call les trente glorieuses, the Thirty Glorious Years. The American and world economies performed better in this period than ever before or since.
ad hoc: commonly used expression is often used in politics, law, and other social sciences. The direct translation is “to this,” and it refers to something that is formed or arranged quickly, and for a specific purpose only.
ad hominem: the process of criticizing the person, instead of their ideas in a debate, in an attempt win the argument.
ad nauseam: used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea
caveat emptor: Let the (buyer, seller, doer) beware. Typically used to denote who has the burden of research and that there may be no expressed warranty, like in real estate transactions, but can we used to help draw awareness to risk for business leaders.
circa: around, or approximately
de jure: means a state of affairs that is in accordance with law (i.e. that is officially sanctioned)
de facto: means a state of affairs that is true in fact, but that is not officially sanctioned
habeas corpus: a legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to challenge the legality of their detention
magnum opus: great work -- said of someone's masterpiece
modus operandi: method of operating
quasi: seemingly; apparently but not really.
sine qua non: indispensable element or condition.
status quo: the situation in which or current condition
summum bonum: the supreme good
tabula rasa: scraped tablet -- "blank slate"; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge
verbatim: repeat exactly
veto: I forbid