Definition of millennium

The word "millennium" originates from the Latin "mille," meaning "thousand," and the suffix "-ennium," which is a poetic way to form a noun. The term was first used in the 5th century to describe the period of 1,000 years. In the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, the Book of Revelation mentions "a thousand years" (mille annos) during which Christ will reign on earth. Later, the term gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in connection with the apocalyptic concept of a thousand-year reign of Christ. In the 19th century, the term gained a new connotation with the concept of a "new millennium" and the idea of a new era starting with the year 2000. Today, the term "millennium" is widely used to describe the period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 9999, and the ideas, trends, and characteristics associated with it.