miracle

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #2207

Meanings

1

noun
An amazing event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature and is believed to be caused by God.

Many religions tell stories of miracles.
2

noun
A very lucky or wonderful event that seems almost impossible.

It was a miracle that everyone survived the crash.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms miracles

Derived forms miracle-mongermiraclemongermiraclistmiraculous miraculouslymiraculousnessoutmiracleunmiracle

Etymology

From Middle English miracle, from Old French miracle, from Latin mīrāculum (“object of wonder”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meyh₂- (“to smile, to be astonished”). Doublet of milagro and miraculum. Partially displaced native wonder, from Old English wundor (“miracle, wonder”).

*(s)mey- Proto-Indo-European miracle Middle English mīrāculum Latin *(s)meyh₂- Proto-Indo-European

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# miracle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/
**Frequency rank:** 2207

## Meanings
1. An amazing event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature and is believed to be caused by God.
2. A very lucky or wonderful event that seems almost impossible.

## Examples
- Many religions tell stories of miracles.
- It was a miracle that everyone survived the crash.

## Derived Forms
- miracle-monger
- miraclemonger
- miraclist
- miraculous
- miraculously
- miraculousness
- outmiracle
- unmiracle

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)mey-
- Root: miracle
- Root: mīrāculum
- Root: *(s)meyh₂-

## Etymology
From Middle English miracle, from Old French miracle, from Latin mīrāculum (“object of wonder”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meyh₂- (“to smile, to be astonished”). Doublet of milagro and miraculum. Partially displaced native wonder, from Old English wundor (“miracle, wonder”).

## AI Etymology
Miracle comes from Middle English miracle, from Old French miracle, from Latin mīrāculum (“object of wonder”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meyh₂- (“to smile, to be astonished”). Doublet of milagro and miraculum. Partially displaced native wonder, from Old English wundor (“miracle, wonder”). In present-day English its meanings include an amazing event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature and is believed to be caused by God and a very lucky or wonderful event that seems almost impossible. The historical chain runs through *(s)mey- (Proto-Indo-European), miracle (Middle English), miracle (Old French), mīrāculum (Latin), and *(s)meyh₂- (Proto-Indo-European).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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miracle

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