vade mecum

va·de me·cum
/ˌveɪdi ˈmiːkəm//ˌvɑːdi ˈmeɪkəm/

noun

A referential book such as a handbook or manual, especially one that is pocketable.

Similar
handbookenchiridion
OriginLatin vāde →
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Meanings

vade mecum1

nounvade mecum (plural vade mecums)

plural vade mecums · alternative vade-mecum · alternative Vade Mecum · alternative vademecum

  1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual, especially one that is pocketable.
  2. A useful object, constantly carried on one's person.

Vade Mecum2

nounVade Mecum (plural Vade Mecums)

plural Vade Mecums

  1. Alternative letter-case form of vade mecum.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location

Similar
handbookenchiridion
Broader
reference bookreferencereference work
Also see
enchiridionhandbook

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinvāde“come”
  2. Englishvade mecum

From the Latin vāde (“come”) mēcum (“with me”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἐγχειρίδιον
  • ἐγχειρίδιον (enkheirídion)referential book
Arabic كتاب تعليمي
  • كتاب تعليميreferential book
Bulgarian ръководство, справочник
  • ръководство (răkovodstvo)referential book
  • справочник (spravočnik)referential book
  • наръчник (narăčnik)referential book
  • пътеводител (pătevoditel)referential book
Catalan vademècum
  • vademècumreferential book
Dutch vademecum
  • vademecumreferential book
Finnish käsikirja, opaskirja
  • käsikirjareferential book
  • opaskirjareferential book
  • opasreferential book
  • vade mecumreferential book
French vade-mecum, vadémécum
  • vade-mecumreferential book
  • vadémécumreferential book
  • vade-mecumuseful object
  • vadémécumuseful object
German Vademecum
  • Vademecumreferential book
Hungarian zsebkönyv, kisokos
  • zsebkönyvreferential book
  • kisokosreferential book
  • kalauzreferential book
  • tájékoztatóreferential book
  • vademecumreferential book
Icelandic handbók, vasakver
  • handbókreferential book
  • vasakverreferential book
  • uppsláttarkverreferential book
  • handargagnuseful object
  • handhægur hluturuseful object
Italian vademecum
  • vademecumreferential book
Polish vademecum, wademekum
  • vademecumreferential book
  • wademekumreferential book
Portuguese vade-mécum, manual
  • vade-mécumreferential book
  • manualreferential book
  • apostilareferential book
Russian руково́дство, спра́вочник
  • руково́дство (rukovódstvo)referential book
  • спра́вочник (správočnik)referential book
Spanish vademécum
  • vademécumreferential book
Turkish el kitabı
  • el kitabıreferential book
Ukrainian довідни́к, інстру́кція
  • довідни́к (dovidnýk)referential book
  • інстру́кція (instrúkcija)referential book

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with vade mecum

SecombeAcombcaecumSeacombeFriockheimshalom aleichem
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

vade mecum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vade%20mecum

MLA

“vade mecum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vade%20mecum. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “vade mecum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vade%20mecum.

Source: vade mecum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.