Miracle
Divine intervention or improbable event โ depends on belief.
How We Say It
mirยทiยทkษl
Where It Comes From
Latin miraculum โ object of wonder. From mirari โ to wonder at. Related to mirror โ both from seeing something astonishing. Originally a neutral word for something wonderful before narrowing to mean specifically divine intervention.
How It's Been Used
Retained religious meaning while also acquiring secular uses โ 'economic miracle,' 'medical miracle.' The secular uses borrow the emotional charge of divine intervention without the theological commitment. Whether the gap between the two uses matters is exactly the question the word raises.