annus mirabilis

American  

[ahn-noos mi-rah-bi-lis, an-uhs-muh-rab-uh-lis] / ˈɑn nʊs mɪˈrɑ bɪ lɪs, ˈæn əs məˈræb ə lɪs /

noun

Latin.

PLURAL

anni mirabiles

1. year of wonders; wonderful year.

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annus mirabilis British  

/ ˈænʊs mɪˈræbɪlɪs /

noun

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

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annus mirabilis Cultural  

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

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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

My phone, on which I am watching everything unfold, does not believe there is such a phrase as “annus mirabilis.”

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