What does the phrase "annus horribilis" mean?

Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase, which means "terrible year" or "disastrous year." It gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a speech at the end of 1992, a year marked by numerous scandals and a fire at Windsor Castle for the British royal family. The phrase is a play on the more well-known Latin phrase annus mirabilis , meaning "miraculous year." While a few uses of annus horribilis predate Queen Elizabeth II, her remarks popularized the phrase, and it has since been used to describe years of personal or political misfortune.

Where does the phrase "annus horribilis" come from?

The phrase "annus horribilis," Latin for "terrible year," was popularized by Queen Elizabeth II in a 1992 speech reflecting on a year of scandals and disasters for the British Royal Family. However, the expression wasn't original to her. Her former assistant private secretary, Sir Edward Ford, used it in a letter expressing sympathy for the Queen's troubles. The phrase plays off the more well-known annus mirabilis (Latin for "miraculous year"). While Elizabeth II's use of "annus horribilis" brought it widespread attention, there are a few instances of it prior to 1992.

What language is "annus horribilis" and what does each word mean?

Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase that means "terrible year" or "disastrous year". Annus means year. Horribilis means horrible. The phrase gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a 1992 speech to describe the scandals and disasters that the British royal family experienced that year. The phrase is a play on the more common Latin phrase annus mirabilis , which means "wonderful year".

When was "annus horribilis" first used in modern times?

The phrase annus horribilis , meaning "terrible year" in Latin, was made famous by Queen Elizabeth II in a 1992 speech reflecting on a year of scandals and disasters for the British royal family. While the Queen popularized the phrase, earlier usages exist. A Methodist periodical used it in 1891, and The Guardian described 1968 as " annus mirabilis, annus horribilis " in a 1985 book review. The phrase is a play on annus mirabilis ("miraculous year"), which dates back to John Dryden's 1667 poem of the same name.

How has the phrase "annus horribilis" been used to describe difficult years?

The phrase annus horribilis , Latin for "terrible year," gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a 1992 speech to describe a year of scandals and disasters for the British Royal Family. Since then, it has been used to describe other years of great personal or political misfortune. Examples of use: * In 2004, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan used the phrase to describe a year of corruption allegations against the United Nations. * Also in 2004, a British news reporter used it to describe misfortunes of Japan’s royal family. * The year 2020 was also called an annus horribilis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Q: Who made "annus horribilis" famous in recent history?

Queen Elizabeth II popularized the phrase annus horribilis , meaning "terrible year," in a speech given in 1992, a year of scandals for the British royal family. In her speech, the Queen said that 1992 was “not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis.’” The sympathetic correspondent was Sir Edward Ford. The scandals of 1992 included the separation of Prince Andrew from Sarah Ferguson, the divorce of Princess Anne, and the unhappy marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In addition, Windsor Castle sustained significant damage from a fire.

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What does the phrase "annus horribilis" mean?
Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase, which means "terrible year" or "disastrous year." It gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a speech at the end of 1992, a year marked by numerous scandals and a fire at Windsor Castle for the British royal family.

The phrase is a play on the more well-known Latin phrase annus mirabilis, meaning "miraculous year." While a few uses of annus horribilis predate Queen Elizabeth II, her remarks popularized the phrase, and it has since been used to describe years of personal or political misfortune.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of annus horribilis
2. annus horribilis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where does the phrase "annus horribilis" come from?
The phrase "annus horribilis," Latin for "terrible year," was popularized by Queen Elizabeth II in a 1992 speech reflecting on a year of scandals and disasters for the British Royal Family. However, the expression wasn't original to her. Her former assistant private secretary, Sir Edward Ford, used it in a letter expressing sympathy for the Queen's troubles.

The phrase plays off the more well-known annus mirabilis (Latin for "miraculous year"). While Elizabeth II's use of "annus horribilis" brought it widespread attention, there are a few instances of it prior to 1992.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of annus horribilis
2. annus horribilis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What language is "annus horribilis" and what does each word mean?
Annus horribilis is a Latin phrase that means "terrible year" or "disastrous year".
- Annus means year.
- Horribilis means horrible.
The phrase gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a 1992 speech to describe the scandals and disasters that the British royal family experienced that year. The phrase is a play on the more common Latin phrase annus mirabilis, which means "wonderful year".
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of annus horribilis
2. annus horribilis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
When was "annus horribilis" first used in modern times?
The phrase annus horribilis, meaning "terrible year" in Latin, was made famous by Queen Elizabeth II in a 1992 speech reflecting on a year of scandals and disasters for the British royal family.

While the Queen popularized the phrase, earlier usages exist. A Methodist periodical used it in 1891, and The Guardian described 1968 as "annus mirabilis, annus horribilis" in a 1985 book review. The phrase is a play on annus mirabilis ("miraculous year"), which dates back to John Dryden's 1667 poem of the same name.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of annus horribilis
2. annus horribilis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who made "annus horribilis" famous in recent history?
Queen Elizabeth II popularized the phrase annus horribilis, meaning "terrible year," in a speech given in 1992, a year of scandals for the British royal family.

In her speech, the Queen said that 1992 was “not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis.’” The sympathetic correspondent was Sir Edward Ford.

The scandals of 1992 included the separation of Prince Andrew from Sarah Ferguson, the divorce of Princess Anne, and the unhappy marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In addition, Windsor Castle sustained significant damage from a fire.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How has the phrase "annus horribilis" been used to describe difficult years?
The phrase annus horribilis, Latin for "terrible year," gained prominence after Queen Elizabeth II used it in a 1992 speech to describe a year of scandals and disasters for the British Royal Family. Since then, it has been used to describe other years of great personal or political misfortune.

Examples of use:
* In 2004, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan used the phrase to describe a year of corruption allegations against the United Nations.
* Also in 2004, a British news reporter used it to describe misfortunes of Japan’s royal family.
* The year 2020 was also called an annus horribilis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of annus horribilis
2. annus horribilis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

annus horribilis, phrase made famous by Queen Elizabeth II in a speech delivered near the end of 1992, a year marked by scandal and disaster for the British royal family. The queen’s remarks made international news, and the phrase (meaning “terrible year” or “disastrous year,” a play on a better know Latin phrase) subsequently entered the lexicon to describe a year of great personal or political misfortune.

In 1992 the British royal family’s numerous scandals included marriage difficulties for three of the queen’s children, which garnered extensive press coverage. Early in the year her son Prince Andrew separated from Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York. This news was followed in April by the divorce of Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Anne, from Capt. Mark Phillips. In the summer a newly published unauthorized biography of Diana, princess of Wales, consort of Elizabeth’s heir, Prince Charles (later Charles III), revealed details of the couple’s unhappy marriage, adding to tabloid gossip. Then in November a fire caused extensive damage to Windsor Castle.

Shortly after the fire the queen delivered a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Noting her family’s recent challenges, she said:

1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an “Annus Horribilis.”

The “sympathetic correspondent” was the queen’s former assistant private secretary Sir Edward Ford, who had written to Elizabeth’s private secretary expressing sympathy for the queen’s troubles.

Ford’s expression played on the better-known phrase annus mirabilis (Latin for “miraculous year” or “wondrous year”), the use of which in English dates at least to the publication of John Dryden’s epic poem “Annus Mirabilis” in 1667. Dryden’s poem commemorates two victories by the English fleet over the Dutch and the city of London’s survival after the Great Fire of 1666. In this instance annus mirabilis refers to both celebrated and tragic events, unlike the strictly disastrous incidents signified by annus horribilis.

A few obscure uses of annus horribilis predate Queen Elizabeth II’s. In 1891 a Methodist periodical used it to describe the year in which papal infallibility was declared as dogma by the Roman Catholic Church (1870). In 1985 a book review in the British newspaper The Guardian described the tumultuous year of 1968 as “annus mirabilis, annus horribilis.”

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The phrase was used more frequently after the queen popularized it in 1992. In December 2004, after a year in which the United Nations (UN) faced allegations of corruption in an oil-for-food program, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that he was “relieved that this annus horribilis is coming to an end.” That same year it was used by a British news reporter in a year-end recap about the misfortunes that had fallen on Japan’s royal family as well as by former U.S. ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke in reference to Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin’s loss of influence over Georgia and Ukraine after people’s revolutions in the two former Soviet states brought pro-Western presidents to power.

Further, the year 2020, during which the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged much of the globe, was pronounced an annus horribilis in many year-end reviews.

René Ostberg

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