sine qua non

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si·ne qua non

(sĭn′ĭ kwä nŏn′, nōn′, sī′nĭ, kwā)

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 : feminine ablative of quī, which + Latin nōn, not.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sine qua non

(ˈsaɪnɪ kweɪ ˈnɒn)

(Law) an essential condition or requirement

[literally: without which not]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

si•ne qua non

(ˈsɪn eɪ kwɑ ˈnoʊn, ˈnɒn, kweɪ)
n.

an indispensable or essential condition, element, or factor.

[1585–95; < Late Latin sine quā(causā) nōn without which (thing) not]

sine qua non

A Latin phrase meaning without which nothing, used to mean something that is absolutely essential.

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Noun

sine qua non - a prerequisite

essential condition

prerequisite, requirement - something that is required in advance; "Latin was a prerequisite for admission"

sine qua non

noun

Something indispensable:

condition, essential, must, necessity, need, precondition, prerequisite, requirement, requisite.

Translations

sine qua non

[ˈsaɪnɪkweɪˈnɒn] N → sine qua non m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

sine qua non

n → unerlässliche Voraussetzung, Conditio sine qua non f → (to, for für)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

One condition was imposed as a sine qua non upon every candidate for admission into the association, and that was the condition of having designed, or (more or less) perfected a cannon; or, in default of a cannon, at least a firearm of some description.

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(if the classical phrase might be pardoned) a sine qua non.

Noel Vanstone (after submitting himself to the sine qua non, and destroying the letter) waited anxiously for results; while Mrs.

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But it is a condition sine qua non for every state to have a capable defense force,' Gordon said.

Gordon: Only with a capable defense force can we gain support from other countries

Education is a sine qua non for alleviating poverty from the region, which has about 40% of the world's poor.'One of the primary objectives of SAARC as enshrined in its Charter is to 'provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials.' As education empowers people, allowing them to realize their potentials, it has been one of the fundamental areas of focus of SAARC.

South Asian university observes 3rd convention

We believe this is a sine qua non for durable peace and stability in South Asia, the spokesperson added.

Pakistan expresses disappointment after US blocks move to place JuA chief on terror list

A Debt Freedom Plan is sine qua non. Responsible parties must present plan to get rid of national debt the soonest.

Manifestoes 2018 - key issues

Another problem is that indigenous people are seriously handicapped because they cannot make effective representation owing to language problems articulation is a sine qua non of natural justice.

Fewer Sindh judges

With the slogan "You tell stories with words, we tell them with jewelry," the brand is proud to present TOUS medallions fall/winter, comprising the following collections: Do: Creativity in Mix&Match is the sine qua non condition for flaunting TOUS medallions, and using them to tell your own story through jewelry.

TOUS launches 2017-2018 fall/winter collection

L'intention de recourir a la voie de justice intervient apres avoir epuise les voies de dialogue avec les parents d'eleves du village de Deghima, dans la commune d'El-Meharra, qui exigent le lancement des travaux de realisation d'un college au niveau de leur village comme condition sine qua non pour la reprise des cours par leurs enfants, a explique le directeur de l'education, Abderrahmane Boukermouche.

La direction de l'education envisage des poursuites judiciaires contre des parents d'eleves

Iran will introduce its new oil contracts next month in which the transfer of technology will be a sine qua non condition, Petroleum Ministry officials said.

Iran to Adopt "Market for Technology" Strategy in Oil Contracts

So the first row, the most basic, is the 'sine qua non' -- without which, nothing.