annals
Definitions
A historical record of events written year by year.
编年史；逐年记载的历史。
(figurative) The recorded history of a field or group.
（比喻）某领域或群体的历史记载、史册。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedann (year) + -al (relating to) + -s = 'yearly records.' Ancient chroniclers logged events one year at a time, so the annals are the year-by-year books of the past. The word is almost always plural: the annals of history, the annals of science.
Root ann still carries 9 more wordsWhy It Means This
Roman annals were literally yearly entries — a scribe wrote down the notable events of each year, one year per line. From this bookkeeping sense the word drifted into a grander idiom: 'the annals of history' means the whole written record of the past, and 'to go down in the annals' means to be remembered permanently. Note it's almost never singular.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Her bravery earned her a place in the annals of history.
- 2.
This match will go down in the annals of the sport.
- 3.
The monks kept detailed annals of the abbey for centuries.