menology

See also: Menology

English

Alternative forms

• Menology

Etymology

Partially from meno- (“month-”) +‎ -ology (“study, account”) and partially from anglicization of Medieval Latin mēnologium and Byzantine Greek μηνολόγιον (mēnológion), q.v. Doublet of menologion, menologium, and menologe.

Noun

menology (plural menologies)

1. (uncommon) The study of months; the names and system of months within a given calendar.
   • 1907, Louis H. Gray, “On Certain Persian and Armenian Month-Names...”, in Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 28, page 332:

     ...in Afghanistan, we find two systems of month-names. One of these... is of Indian origin..., while the other is borrowed from the Mohammedan menology...

   The Romans themselves believed Romulus had given them a 10-month lunar calendar, but modern scholars consider the actual original state of Roman menology uncertain.

2. (often capitalized) Synonym of menologium, a monthly record, particularly in Assyriology and certain Christian contexts.
   • 1892, Richard Stanton, A Menology of England and Wales..., p. 645:

     In the Mart. of Donegal, this is the day of St. Comgall (Comhgall), placed in the Menology on the 27th June, as having no day.

   • 1935, Stephen Langdon, Babylonian Menologies and the Semitic Calendars, page 86:

     The menology of the tenth century has the formula ...

   • 2003, Andrew R. George, The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic..., p. 53:

     The duration of the rites of mourning over nine days is... supported by references in a Standard Babylonian menology...

   The Menology of St Symeon mostly repeats earlier accounts but includes some small additions as well.

3. (rare) The content of a menologium, a liturgical calendar or hagiography.
   • 1992, Waltraut Stein translating Edith Stein as "The Prayer of the Church", Great Catholic Writings, p. 45:

     Their readings from the holy Scriptures and from the fathers, from the menologies of the church and the teachings of its principal pastors, are a great, continually swelling hymn of praise to the rule of providence and to the progressive actualization of the eternal plan of salvation.

   The menologies of St Symeon mostly repeat earlier accounts but include some small additions as well.