annals, n. pl.
(ˈænəlz)
[ad. L. annāl-es the historical record of the events of each year, prop. masc. pl. (sc. libri) of annālis yearly, f. annus year. Occas. used in sing.]
1. A narrative of events written year by year.
| 1563 Grafton Epist. to Cecil (R.) Short notes in maner of Annales commonly called Abridgementes. 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. vi. 114 If you haue writ your Annales true, 'tis there. 1622 Heylin Cosmogr. Introd. (1674) 17/2 Annals..are a bare recital only of the Actions happening every year. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. i. 1 Everything beyond that period to which well-attested annals reach is obscure. 1867 Stubbs Benedict's Chron. Pref. I. 12 The difference between chronicles and annals was..that the former have a continuity of subject and style, whilst the latter contain the mere jottings down of unconnected events. |
b. sing. The record or entry of a single year, or a single item, in a chronicle.
| 1699 Bentley Phal. 282 Diodorus in the Annal of that year, says Phæon was Archon. 1814 Sir R. Wilson Pr. Diary II. 309 A modest inscription to record the act of restoration..an annal which the greatest anti-Buonapartist ought to respect. 1865 Earle Sax. Chron. Introd. 10 Here and there may be seen an annal, expressed in riper language, which must be marked as the interpolation of a later Editor. |
c. attrib. quasi-adj.
| 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. iv. Wks. 1851, 175 Huntingdon, as his manner is to comment upon the annal Text, makes a terrible description of that fight. |
2. Historical records generally.
| a 1581 Campion Hist. Irel., Ep. Ded. (1633) 1 Containing Annales and other worthy memorialls. a 1687 Petty Pol. Anat. Ded., An Adventure that shall shine in the Annals of Fame. 1706 Addison Rosamond iii. i, Whatever glorious and renowned In British annals can be found. 1750 Gray Elegy viii, The short and simple annals of the poor. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby vi. ii. 226 The glorious annals of their great country. 1878 C. Stanford Symb. Christ i. 5 The first war recorded in the annals of the human race. |
3. Masses said for the space of a year.
| 1536 Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Conv. I. 52 No priest should sell his saying of tricennals or annals. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 190 Annals are Masses said in the Romish Church for the Space of a Year, or for any other Time, either for the Soul of a Person deceas'd, or for the Benefit of a Person living. |