miracle

name

1. A female given name.
2. A surname.

noun

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”).

1. An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin.

   “Many religious beliefs are based on miracles.”

   “An example of a miracle associated with Muhammad is the splitting of the moon.”

2. A fortunate outcome that prevails despite overwhelming odds against it.

   “Secondly, it was a miracle that a document hammered out with such difficulty, satisfying very few of its authors completely and satisfying some of them very little, would turn out to be the most successful political invention in history.”

   “It was a miracle that I survived that ditching in the high waves because I had my seat belt and shoulder harness unbuckled in anticipation of bailing out.”

3. An awesome and exceptional example of something.

   “economic miracle”

   “engineering miracle”

verb

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”).

1. To affect by a miracle; to work a miracle upon.

   “When a patient declares that he has been "miracled," the other pilgrims are apt to rush to him (or her) and ask details; this is not permitted; the miracled invalid is borne or carted away to the Bureau of Medical Certification […]”

   “Deleuze and Guattari are right in miracling fleas into the bestiary, but it is already rich enough to do without them.”