[Vocabulary] Annus Horribilis

Status
Not open for further replies.

englishhobby

Key Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Is "annus horribilis" the phrase invented by the Queen or was the phrase used before the tragic events in the royal family in the 1990s?
:?:

That's what I found in the dictionary:
annus horribilis: definition of annus horribilis in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)
But it's not stated how long the phrase has been in use. Had you heard it before the Queen mentioned it in her speech?

See the information here: Annus horribilis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

englishhobby

Key Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Thank you for the information, I have read this article before. It says that the phrase "is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as being in use as early as 1985". I just wanted to ask you (the native English speakers) when you personally heard this phrase for the first time. Was it a new phrase for you personally by the time of the Queen's using it?

I don't really know. Because I am familiar with Latin, this phrase would not have sounded odd to me. Until today, I had no idea that Queen had used it.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
I first heard it in news reports of Lizzie's speech.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
I think she prefers to be called 'Brenda', 5.

At first I thought she meant she had a sore bottom.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
At first I thought she meant she had a sore bottom.

Most of us who also misheard/misunderstood it thought she was referring to Phil the Greek.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Phil the Greek.
In case you are wondering, ems is referring to His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Merit, Companion of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit,Canadian Forces Decoration, Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom. (wikipedia)
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Order_of_Logohu_-_Grand_Companion_%28PNG%29_ribbon.png


Just in case you are interested, as I am sure you all are, this is the ribbon for the higher ranks of the Order of Logohu.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top