Definition

Noun: - A year within the Christian era: A year counted from the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ, often used in formal or historical contexts to denote a specific year in the Anno Domini (A.D.) system.

Usage

• The phrase "year of grace" is a formal, somewhat archaic term for a year in the Common Era (A.D.). It is used to specify a date, particularly in historical, religious, or legal documents.
• It is typically used in the format: "in the year of grace [year number]".

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term emphasizes the theological concept of time proceeding under divine grace since the Incarnation. It is synonymous with "Anno Domini" (A.D.) but carries a more explicitly religious connotation.
• It can be used poetically or rhetorically to lend a historical or solemn tone to a statement about time.

Variants and Related Words

• Anno Domini (A.D.): The Latin equivalent, meaning "in the year of our Lord," used identically to date years.
• Common Era (C.E.): A secular alternative with the same numerical year count as A.D. and "year of grace."
• Year of Our Lord: A direct English translation of "Anno Domini," functionally identical to "year of grace."

Synonyms

• Anno Domini (A.D.)
• Year of Our Lord
• Christian year (in specific contexts)

Notes on Meaning

• This term refers exclusively to years in the Gregorian or Julian calendars counted from the traditional birth year of Christ. It does not refer to a duration (like a calendar year) but to a specific point in the chronological system.
• It is not commonly used in everyday modern English but may appear in historical texts, formal inscriptions, or ceremonial language.

Noun

1. any year of the Christian era