vade mecum

va·de me·cum  (vd mkm, väd m-)

n. pl. va·de me·cums

1. A useful thing that one constantly carries about.

2. A book, such as a guidebook, for ready reference.

---

[Latin vde mcum, go with me : vde, sing. imperative of vdere, to go + m, ablative sing. of eg, I + cum, with.]

---

vade mecum [vah-dee make-um]

Noun

a handbook carried for immediate use when needed [Latin, literally: go with me]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

vade mecum - a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location enchiridion, handbook book of facts, reference book, reference work, reference - a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts; "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic" manual - a small handbook bible - a book regarded as authoritative in its field guidebook, guide - something that offers basic information or instruction ready reckoner, reckoner - a handbook of tables used to facilitate computation