annus mirabilis

[ ahn-noos mi-rah-bi-lis; English an-uhs-muh-rab-uh-lis ]

noun

, Latin.

, plural an·ni mi·ra·bi·les [ahn, -nee mi-, rah, -bi-les, an, -ahy-m, uh, -, rab, -, uh, -leez, an-ee],

1. year of wonders; wonderful year.

annus mirabilis

/ ˈænʊs mɪˈræbɪlɪs /

noun

1. a year of wonders, catastrophes, or other notable events

annus mirabilis

1. A Latin expression meaning “miraculous year.” The term refers to a year in which an unusual number of remarkable things occurred: “ The Waste Landand Ulysses both appeared in 1922, the annus mirabilis of modern literature.”

Notes

The reverse is an annus horribilus , or “terrible year.” Queen Elizabeth II used the term in 1992, referring to a major fire at Windsor Castle and the widely publicized marital problems of her family members.

Example Sentences

Consider just some of the albums released during this annus mirabilis: “Like a Prayer.”

From New York Times

Then the coronavirus hit and Raphael’s annus mirabilis turned into the world’s annus horribilis.

From New York Times

There was a plague, so Isaac Newton went home, and for him it was an annus mirabilis, which in Latin is a “year of miracles.”

From Washington Post

Two thousand and six was something of an annus mirabilis for Morgan.

From New York Times

“Watchmen” also arrived during what, in hindsight, was an annus mirabilis for comic books.

From New York Times