annals
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 5I 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.
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.
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
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
I spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.
everydayI spent the afternoon digging through the family annals to find out more about my great-grandfather.
The discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.
formalThe discovery of the new vaccine will forever be recorded in the annals of medical history.
In the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.
informalIn the annals of my worst dating experiences, this one definitely takes the top spot.
The scholar's primary source was the royal annals of the 14th-century dynasty.
academicThe scholar's primary source was the royal annals of the 14th-century dynasty.
Our corporate annals reflect a period of unprecedented expansion during the late nineties.
businessOur corporate annals reflect a period of unprecedented expansion during the late nineties.
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
Annuals are plants that live for one year or publications that come out once a year; annals are historical records.
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
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 Vocabulary
Related Words
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