almanac

[awl-muh-nak]

noun

1. 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.

2. a publication containing astronomical or meteorological information, usually including future positions of celestial objects, star magnitudes, and culmination dates of constellations.

3. an annual reference book of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports, entertainment, etc.

almanac

/ ˈɔːlməˌnæk /

noun

1. Also (archaic): almanack. a yearly calendar giving statistical information on events and phenomena, such as the phases of the moon, times of sunrise and sunset, tides, anniversaries, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of almanac¹

1350–1400; Middle English almenak < Medieval Latin almanach < Spanish Arabic al the + manākh calendar < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of almanac¹

C14: from Medieval Latin almanachus, perhaps from Late Greek almenikhiaka

Example Sentences

Use encyclopedias, almanacs, anything you can get your hands on.

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“A baby, a baby, a baby!” he muttered as he paged through his almanac.

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“Blast,” she muttered, as Lord Fredrick so often did when he could not find his almanac.

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She did not fully trust the admiral, and so did not mention that Lord Fredrick’s most prized possession was an almanac with all the full-moon dates circled.

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“The children and I will bring the almanac to Lord Fredrick ourselves.”

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Related Words

• calendar 
• journal 
• yearbook