annus mirabilis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Formal, literary, academic, historical. Used primarily in written contexts, journalism, and scholarly discourse.
Quick answer
What does “annus mirabilis” mean?
A remarkable or fortunate year.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A remarkable or fortunate year; specifically a year of notable events, often of a positive nature.
A year in which a series of extraordinary, often miraculous-seeming, events occur. The term is used historically to denote specific years (like 1666 in English history) and metaphorically for any year of significant achievements or unexpected successes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English due to its historical association with British history (the year 1666, with the Great Fire of London and victories in war). In American English, it is a learned borrowing used in similar contexts but with less cultural specificity.
Connotations
In UK contexts, it can immediately evoke 1666. In US contexts, it is more generic for a 'banner year' but carries a more formal, classical tone.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but relatively higher in UK historical/academic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “annus mirabilis” in a Sentence
[Year/Period] was an annus mirabilis for [Person/Institution/Field].They dubbed it their annus mirabilis.The annus mirabilis of [e.g., physics] was...It proved to be an annus mirabilis.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “annus mirabilis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The period has been annus mirabilis'd by historians.
- They are hoping to annus-mirabilis their way out of the crisis. (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard, presented only to show potential creative use.)
adjective
British English
- The annus-mirabilis effect was felt across the industry.
- She had an annus-mirabilis run of publications.
American English
- The team's annus-mirabilis season is still talked about.
- It was an annus-mirabilis period for quantum computing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used in annual reports or executive speeches to describe a year of exceptional profits or growth: 'Financially, 2023 was an annus mirabilis for the firm.'
Academic
Common in history, science history, and literary studies to denote a year of exceptional output or events (e.g., '1905, Einstein's annus mirabilis').
Everyday
Very rare. Would be considered pretentious or humorous if used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in historical discourse as a technical term for specific years. Also in physics/philosophy referring to Einstein's 1905.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “annus mirabilis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “annus mirabilis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “annus mirabilis”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈeɪnəs/ instead of /ˈænəs/ or /ˈanəs/.
- Misspelling: 'anus mirabilis' (a serious error).
- Using it for a short period (e.g., a month). It strictly refers to a year.
- Overuse in informal contexts where 'amazing year' suffices.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Predominantly yes, it denotes a year of wonderful or remarkably positive events. However, historically it can refer to a year densely packed with momentous events, some of which may be challenging (like the Great Fire of London in 1666), but which are viewed overall as historically significant or transformative.
The direct opposite is 'annus horribilis', meaning a horrible or disastrous year. This term was famously used by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992.
It is not recommended for everyday conversation as it is a formal, literary term. Using it casually may sound pretentious or humorous. Simpler terms like 'amazing year' or 'incredible year' are more appropriate for informal speech.
Stress the first syllable: AN-us (UK: /ˈanəs/; US: /ˈænəs/). The vowel is like the 'a' in 'cat'. It is crucial to avoid pronouncing it like the English word 'anus' (/ˈeɪnəs/).
A remarkable or fortunate year.
Annus mirabilis is usually formal, literary, academic, historical. used primarily in written contexts, journalism, and scholarly discourse. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A year for the history books”
- “A vintage year”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a calendar (ANNUS = year) where every month has a MIRACLE (mirabilis) happening in it. It's a 'year of miracles'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (for remarkable events); A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IS A MIRACLE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'annus mirabilis' MOST appropriately used?