Miraculous

/mɪˈrækjələs/ adjective

Definition

Extremely surprising, fortunate, or amazing in a way that seems impossible or beyond natural explanation.

Etymology

From Late Latin 'miraculous' (from 'miraculum,' a miracle). 'Miraculum' comes from 'mirari' (to wonder at). The suffix '-ous' makes it an adjective meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of.' Entered English around the 1300s.

Kelly Says

Scientists use 'miraculous' all the time to describe improbable natural events—like the monarch butterfly's multi-generational migration across North America, where each generation has never made the journey before. What seems impossible is often just nature being more clever than we expected.

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