annus horribilis
English edit
Etymology edit
From the Latin annus (“year”) + horribilis (“of horrors”), on the model of annus mirabilis.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
annus horribilis (plural anni horribiles)
- (often italicized) A horrible year
- 1900 February 22, “Year One of the Empire”, in The Nation[1], page 105:
- It is now a full year since the treaty with Spain was ratified, and the ignoble and bloody war in the Philippines began — a true annus horribilis.
- 1936, John T. Whitaker, And Fear Came[2], page 208:
- As the year 1934, an annus horribilis of political murder and bankrupt statesmanship, drew toward a close, Europe had the jitters.
- 2008 December 23, Justin McCurry, Mark Milner, “Sales slump puts Toyota on track for first loss in 70 years”, in The Guardian[3]:
- "Toyota will undoubtedly be looking forward to the end of this financial year, which promised so much, yet has become an annus horribilis," said Ian Fletcher.
- 2022 December 28, Christian Wolmar, “Annus horribilus must mark a turning point for our railway”, in RAIL, number 973, page 44:
- This year, to borrow a timely phrase from our late Queen Elizabeth II, has been the annus horribilus for the railways. Just as she thought that 1992 sparked a possibly existential crisis for the monarchy, many in the rail industry are equally worried about the railways' very future.
Usage notes edit
- Often associated specifically with Queen Elizabeth II, who used the phrase in referring to her family's difficulties in 1992.
Related terms edit
Translations edit
a horrible year
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See also edit
annus horribilis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Portuguese edit
Noun edit
annus horribilis m (uncountable)
- (often italicized) annus horribilis (a horrible year)
Spanish edit
Noun edit
annus horribilis m (plural annus horribilis)
Further reading edit
- “annus horribilis”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014