Annuit cœptis

Annuit cœptis (/ˈænjuːɪt ˈsɛptᵻs/; in classical Latin: [ˈannuɪt ˈkoe̯ptiːs]) is one of two mottos on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. (The second motto is Novus ordo seclorum; another motto appears on the obverse side of the Great Seal: E pluribus unum.) Taken from the Latin words annuo (third-person singular present or perfect annuit), "to nod" or "to approve", and coeptum (plural coepta), "commencement, undertaking", it is literally translated, "[he/she/it] favors our undertakings" or "[he/she/it] has favored our undertakings" (annuit could be in either the present or perfect tense).