14 Dec
2002
14 Dec
'02
10:27 p.m.
At 10:54 PM 14/12/2002 -0500, Heinz Wolter wrote:
Subject: Re: anus horribilis
the latin word for year is "annus".
"anus" horribilis could mean a shitty
year but from a more ~orifice~ point of view ;)
regards,
h
Re Annus Mirabilis, the phrase has entered English because it was the title
John Dryden gave to a poem he wrote described the events of 1666. These
included a naval war with the Dutch, and the terrible Fire of London.
When was it -- six years ago? -- that Windsor Palace was badly damaged by a
fire and much other bad stuff happened to the British royal family, and
Queen Elizabeth II described that year as an "annus horribilis." Thereby 1)
she demonstrated a commendable knowledge of English literature, and 2) a
pretty good grasp of Latin style. "Annus horribilis" ought to mean "a
hair-raising year." That it was.
I understand that the speech writer for the Queen's "Annus Horribilis" talk
admitted later that the declension was incorrect. I recall my parents saying
something like that at the time (both of them had done Latin at school and in
my mothers case, university as well).
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies(a)kerberos.davies.net.au
| "If God had wanted soccer played in the
| air, the sky would be painted green"