C2 adverb Literary

annals

/ˈæn.əlz/

A chronological record of events, typically year by year, documenting the history of a country, organization, or field of study. It is most commonly used in the plural form to refer to historical archives or the collective memory of past occurrences.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.

I spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.

2

The discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.

The discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.

3

In the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.

In the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.

Word Family

Noun
annals
Adverb
annalistically
Adjective
annalistic
Related
annalist
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Memory Tip

Connect 'annals' to 'annual'. Just as an annual event happens every year, annals are the records of what happened in those years.

Quick Quiz

The legendary athlete's performance will surely go down in the ___ of sporting history.

Correct!

The correct answer is: annals

Examples

1

I spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.

everyday

I spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.

2

The discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.

formal

The discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.

3

In the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.

informal

In the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.

4

The scholar's primary source was the royal annals of the 14th-century dynasty.

academic

The scholar's primary source was the royal annals of the 14th-century dynasty.

5

Our corporate annals reflect a period of unprecedented expansion during the late nineties.

business

Our corporate annals reflect a period of unprecedented expansion during the late nineties.

Word Family

Noun
annals
Adverb
annalistically
Adjective
annalistic
Related
annalist

Common Collocations

in the annals of in the annals of
go down in the annals go down in the annals
historical annals historical annals
scientific annals scientific annals
recorded in the annals recorded in the annals

Common Phrases

in the annals of history

in the annals of history

unmatched in the annals

unmatched in the annals

lost to the annals of time

lost to the annals of time

Often Confused With

annals vs annuals

Annuals are plants that live for one year or publications that come out once a year; annals are historical records.

annals vs annuls

Annuls is a verb meaning to declare something (like a marriage or law) invalid; annals is a plural noun meaning records.

📝

Usage Notes

The word is almost exclusively used in the plural form. While it technically refers to records kept year-by-year, in modern usage, it is a grander, more literary way to say 'history' or 'records'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often treat 'annals' as a singular noun (e.g., 'an annal'), but it should almost always be treated as plural with a plural verb.

💡

Memory Tip

Connect 'annals' to 'annual'. Just as an annual event happens every year, annals are the records of what happened in those years.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'annales' (libri), meaning 'yearly books', derived from 'annus' (year).

Grammar Patterns

Always plural Used with plural verbs Often followed by the preposition 'of'
🌍

Cultural Context

The word is frequently used in the titles of prestigious academic and medical journals, such as the 'Annals of Internal Medicine'.

Quick Quiz

The legendary athlete's performance will surely go down in the ___ of sporting history.

Correct!

The correct answer is: annals

Related Words

blacklist

B2

To put a person, organization, or country on a list of those who are considered unacceptable and should be avoided or excluded from certain activities or privileges. It is often used to describe the denial of employment, trade, or participation based on previous behavior or reputation.

blackmailer

B2

A person who demands money, favors, or specific actions from someone by threatening to reveal damaging secrets or private information about them. It refers to an individual who practices extortion through psychological or reputational leverage.

blackout

B2

A blackout refers to a temporary loss of electrical power over an area or a sudden failure of memory or consciousness in an individual. It can also describe a period of censorship where information or news is intentionally suppressed by an authority.

blackthorn

B2

A thorny deciduous shrub or small tree of the rose family, native to Europe and western Asia, which produces white flowers in early spring and small, bitter, dark blue fruits known as sloes. It is frequently used for creating dense, prickly hedges and is well-known for providing the wood used in traditional Irish walking sticks.

bladder

B2

To swell, puff out, or expand like a balloon, often used in technical contexts to describe membranes filling with air or liquid. Informally, it can also refer to talking at length without much substance or meaning.

blame

B2

To consider or state that someone or something is responsible for a mistake, failure, or negative situation. It involves attributing the cause of a problem to a specific person, group, or factor.

blameless

B2

Describes someone who has done nothing wrong and cannot be held responsible for a bad situation or mistake. It is often used to emphasize a person's innocence or their morally upright character.

blameworthy

B2

Deserving of blame, criticism, or censure because of wrong or negligent behavior. It is often used to describe actions or individuals that are morally or legally responsible for a negative outcome.

blandness

B2

Blandness refers to the quality of being uninteresting, dull, or lacking in strong features and characteristics. In a culinary context, it describes food that lacks flavor or seasoning, while in a general context, it describes things that are mediocre or devoid of personality.

blank

B2

Describes a surface that has no writing, images, or marks on it, or a state of mind where one cannot remember or think of anything. It is frequently used to describe paper, screens, or facial expressions that lack emotion or understanding.

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