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annus horribilis

/ˈænnʊs haˈribɪlɪs/
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Other forms: anni horribiles

When you’ve had a year that's been nothing but a series of unfortunate events, you’ve experienced an annus horribilis — a "horrible year."

The phrase annus horribilis comes directly from Latin. It’s used to describe a year marked by significant hardships, challenges, or disasters. A famous example is Queen Elizabeth II’s reference to 1992 as her annus horribilis, during which she experienced a series of personal and public difficulties. The term can be considered the evil twin of annus mirabilis, which means a "year of wonders."

Definitions of annus horribilis
  1. noun
    a dreadful year marked by disaster or misfortune
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