sine qua non

Where does the word "sine qua non" come from? It comes from Latin sine qua non, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Sine qua non’s story begins in Latin: sine qua non meant “without which not.” Without which not, from sine (without), qua (which), and non (not). It reached English by 1600s as sine qua non. Latin 'without which not', from Aristotelian philosophy. Today, sine qua non means an essential condition without which something cannot happen.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sine qua non "without which not", without which not, from sine (without), qua (which), and non (not).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s sine qua non "an essential, indispensable condition", Latin 'without which not', from Aristotelian philosophy.