Ab ovo: From the beginning; complete; thorough.
The literal translation of this Latin phrase is “from the egg”.
The Romans used a phrase, “ab ovum usque ad malum” to describe a complete process. The phrase means, “from the egg to the apple”. It describes a complete Roman meal, ending in dessert – the apple. The phrase is similar to our English idiom “soup to nuts”.
The Latin word for “egg” is ovum. From ovum, English derives:
- ovate: an oval outline
- ovule: a small ovum
- ovoid: egg shaped
- Ovaltine: a drink mix with eggs as ingredients
- ovoviviparous: eggs hatched within the body of the parent… some snakes are ovoviviparous
- oviparous: producing eggs
- oval: egg shaped
- oviform: egg shaped, and
- ovary.
