OT: anus horribilis

From: Heinz Wolter <h.wolter_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Sat Dec 14 21:52:00 2002

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.
Received on Sat Dec 14 2002 - 21:52:00 GMT