OT: anus horribilis

From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
Date: Sun Dec 15 08:54:00 2002

I'm not sure that the content was temporally restricted.

On Sat, 14 Dec 2002, 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.
>
>

M. K. Peirce

Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
Shady Lea, Rhode Island

"Casta est quam nemo rogavit."
              
              - Ovid
Received on Sun Dec 15 2002 - 08:54:00 GMT