annual
UK[ˈæn.ju.əl]US[ˈæn.ju.əl]
adj
happening once every year
adj
relating to a period of one year
n
a book or magazine published once every year
Morpheme Breakdown
ann
ual
ann
year
ual
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'annual' has a clear and direct lineage from the Latin annus, meaning 'year'. The suffix -alis, which became -al in English, was attached to form the adjective annalis, meaning 'yearly' or 'pertaining to a year'. This Latin term passed into Middle English via Old French, retaining its core temporal meaning. The logic is perfectly preserved: something described as 'annual' pertains to the cycle or period of a single year, whether it is an event, a financial calculation, or a publication.
Analysis
Structure: ann (year) + ual (adjective suffix)
- ann: From Latin annus (year). This root functions as the core semantic base of the word.
- ual: From Latin -alis (adjective-forming suffix meaning 'pertaining to'). It transforms the noun root into an adjective.
Examples
The company holds its annual general meeting in March.
Her annual salary was reviewed by the board.
He bought the school's annual to see the photographs from his final year.