almanac
[awl-muh-nak]
- an annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of such events and phenomena as anniversaries, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon, tides, etc., and other statistical information and related topics.
- a publication containing astronomical or meteorological information, usually including future positions of celestial objects, star magnitudes, and culmination dates of constellations.
- an annual reference book of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports, entertainment, etc.
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Origin of almanac
1350–1400; Middle English almenak < Medieval Latin almanach < Spanish Arabic al the + manākh calendar < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for almanac
Contemporary Examples
The Almanac also tells us it would be a good time to perform demolitions, if you had any of those planned.
Kornacki, on the other hand, appears to be far more comfortable with the kind of arcana found in The Almanac of American Politics.
Steve Kornacki, MSNBC’s Brainy Replacement for Chris Hayes, Just Wants to Be UsefulDavid Freedlander
March 21, 2013
Historical Examples
He should bring an almanac with him to know when the days go by.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
He showed me an almanac, which had a great circulation in the district.
The Stark Munro LettersJ. Stark Munro
I must positively get an almanac, papa, or I shall make confusion in my dates.
One Of ThemCharles James Lever
I could as soon compose an almanac as and a clue to this puzzle.
The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic CensorStephen Cullen Carpenter
He took the Almanac from Timothy Turtle and they both sat down.
The Tale of Timothy TurtleArthur Scott Bailey
almanac
- a yearly calendar giving statistical information on events and phenomena, such as the phases of the moon, times of sunrise and sunset, tides, anniversaries, etcAlso (archaic): almanack
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Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin almanachus, perhaps from Late Greek almenikhiaka
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for almanac
n.
late 14c., attested in Anglo-Latin from mid-13c., via Old French almanach or Medieval Latin almanachus, of uncertain origin. It is sometimes said to be from a Spanish-Arabic al-manakh "calendar, almanac," but possibly ultimately from Late Greek almenichiakon "calendar," which is said to be of Coptic origin.
This word has been the subject of much speculation. Originally a book of permanent tables of astronomical data; one-year versions, combined with ecclesiastical calendars, date from 16c.; "astrological and weather predictions appear in 16-17th c.; the 'useful statistics' are a modern feature" [OED].
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper