miracle English · revision 7534

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1137|origins=la miraculum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/; /ˈmiɹ.ə.kəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|miracle|t=miracle, story of a miracle, miracle play]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|miraculum|alt=mīrāculum|t=object of wonder]], in Church Latin a marvellous event caused by God,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|miror|alt=mīrārī|t=to wonder at]], from mīrus, wonderful,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from earlier *smeiros, from PIE [[ine-pro|*smey-|alt=*smei-|t=to smile, laugh]] (see [[smile]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A wondrous work of God: 1137, in the ''Peterborough Chronicle'';^(Barnhart 1988) 1154 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It replaced Old English wundortacen and wundorweorc.^(Etymonline) Something that excites wonder, an extraordinary feat, without regard to divine power, is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) and is applied hyperbolically to achievements from about 1386.^(OED 1989) A medieval play based on the life of Christ or the saints is from 1303.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) A marvel, a person or thing of more than natural excellence, is from about 1400,^(OED 1989) and ''to a miracle'', marvellously well, from 1643.^(OED 1989) Latin mirus also lies behind [[admiration]] and [[marvel]].^(Cresswell 2021) In Scotland the EDD records forms such as meracle and merrigle.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1137 – a work of God.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – an extraordinary feat.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – a miracle play.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a marvel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1643 – to a miracle.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An event that cannot be explained by the laws of [[nature]] and is held to be an act of [[God]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An amazing or wonderful event, achievement or person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[miracle play]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[miraculous]]

+ * [[miracle play]]

+ * [[miracle drug]]

+ * [[miracle fruit]]

+ * [[miracle mile]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[marvel]]

+ * [[admire]]

+ * [[mirror]]

+ * [[mirage]]

+ * [[smile]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}