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sine qua non

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sine qua non

Main Entry:: si·ne qua non
Pronunciation:: \ˌsi-ni-ˌkwä-ˈnän, -ˈnōn also ˌsē-; also ˌsī-ni-ˌkwā-ˈnän\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural sine qua nons also sine qui·bus non \-ˌkwi-(ˌ)bu̇s- also -ˌkwī-\
Etymology:: Late Latin, without which not
Date:: 1602

: something absolutely indispensable or essential <reliability is a sine qua non for success>

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