vis inertiae (Latin) the force of inertia, later simply referred to as “inertia,” the tendency of matter to remain at rest if at rest or to stay in motion if in motion.
enigma a perplexing, usually ambiguous, statement; a riddle.
Mikado the emperor of Japan, a title no longer used.
Cassini Count Arthur P. Cassini, Russian ambassador to the United States in 1903.
vis nova (Latin) new force.
ostentatiously in a showy manner.
