Almanac Definition

ôlmə-năk, ăl-

almanacs

noun

almanacs

An annual publication including calendars with weather forecasts, astronomical information, tide tables, and other related tabular information.

American Heritage

A yearly calendar of days, weeks, and months, with astronomical data, weather forecasts, etc.

Webster's New World

A usually annual reference book composed of various lists, tables, and often brief articles relating to a particular field or many general fields.

American Heritage

A book published annually, containing information, usually statistical, on many subjects.

Webster's New World

(astronomy, navigation) A book or table listing nautical, astronomical, astrological or other events for the year; sometimes, but not essentially, containing historical and statistical information.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
farmer's calendar
fasti (Latin)
register of the year
record
journal
world almanac
farmer's almanac
chronicle
statistical almanac
nautical almanac
astronomical table
ephemeris
annual
calendar
yearbook

Other Word Forms of Almanac

Noun

Singular:

almanac

Plural:

almanacs

Origin of Almanac

Middle English almenak from Medieval Latin almanach from medieval scientific Arabic al-manāḫ the calendar Arabic al- the medieval scientific Arabic manāḫ calendar (variant of Arabic munāḫ halting place, caravan stop (probably applied metaphorically to the position of celestial bodies), abode) (from ’anāḫa to make (a camel) lie down) (from nāḫa to lie down, rest nwḫ in Semitic roots)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Old French almanach, from Medieval Latin almanachus, from Andalusian Arabic [script?] (almanak, “almanac, calendar”), from Arabic المناخ (al-manāx, “climate”), from Late Ancient Greek ἀλμενιχιακά (almenikhiaka, “calendar”), probably ultimately of Coptic origin. Possibly the central syllable -man- is cognate with moon and month, or else was influenced by Proto-Indo-European *mens- (“moon, month”), from Proto-Indo-European base *me- (to measure).

From Wiktionary