ad majorem Dei gloriam
/ad mʌɪˌ(j)ɔːrəm ˌdeɪiː ˈɡlɔːrɪəm/(also ad maiorem Dei gloriam, ad majorem gloriam Dei, ad maiorem gloriam Dei)
adverb
To the greater glory of God. Used especially as a dedicatory formula.
- The motto of the Society of Jesus..
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in John Taylor (1578–1653), poet. From post-classical Latin ad maiorem Dei gloriam, lit. ‘to the greater glory of God’ from classical Latin ad + maiōrem, accusative of maior greater + Deī, genitive of Deus God + glōriam, accusative of glōria.