Anno Domini means which of the following?

• A. In the year of the King
• B. In the year of the Saints
• C. In the year of the Apostles
• D. In the year of the Lord

Answer: (D)

Anno Domini translates to “in the year of the Lord.” Anno means “in the year,” and Domini is the genitive of Dominus, meaning “the Lord”—referring to Jesus Christ. This dating scheme labels years from roughly the time of Christ’s birth and became the standard way to number years in Christian Europe. That focus on the Lord is what makes this the correct interpretation, as opposed to phrases that would reference kings, saints, or apostles. In contemporary usage you’ll also see CE (Common Era) as a secular equivalent, but the meaning of Anno Domini remains “in the year of the Lord.”