Forms: 4 cronykle, -ikle, -ecle, kronykele, 4–6 cronycle, -icle, 5 cronycull, -kyl(le, (Sc.) cornykyl, cronikill, -col, 5–6 cronakle, -acle, 6 crownycle, -acle, cronickill, chronacle, -ickle, 6– chronicle. [ME. cronikle, -ykle, a. AF. cronicle = OF. cronique, see CHRONIQUE. Here and in some other words, the non-etymological and non-phonetic -icle may have been due to association with words such as article in which this ending was etymological. The spelling with ch dates to the Renascence.
(Occasional spellings crownicle, -acle in 16th c., appear to imply a fancied connection with crown, as in occasional med.L. coronicula. Sc. writers often had a form cornicle.)]
1. A detailed and continuous register of events in order of time; a historical record, esp. one in which the facts are narrated without philosophic treatment, or any attempt at literary style.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9239. Yn þe Kronykeles hyt ys wryte. Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. (1810), 248. Þei brouht þe cronykles, þat wer in Scotland.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 77 (Mätz.). Broþer Ranulf … compiled and made þis present cronicle.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 104. Cronycle or cronykylle, cronica, historia.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cii. 85. Abbots, Pryours, & men of relygyon wryten the lyues & the dedes of kynges … And therof made grete bokes and lete calle hem cronycles.
1530. Lyndesay, Test. Papyngo, 311. The Cronecklis to knaw I the exhorte.
1541. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 186/1. Out of Autenticke crownycles.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 319. As theyr crownacles make mention.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. i. 99. Recorded for ever in the chronicles of that empire.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 246. Chronicles were written when the science of true history had yet no existence.
1867. Stubbs, Benedict’s Chron., Pref. p. xi.
b. fig.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iv. 126. The old folke (Times doting Chronicles). Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 202. Let me embrace thee [Nestor] good old Chronicle, Thou hast so long walk’d hand in hand with time.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., V. 121. The progress and improvement of society … is a chronicle of inestimable value.
1821. Byron, Sardan., II. i. (1868), 360. The stars, Which are your chronicles.
2. spec. Chronicles: name of two of the historical books of the Old Testament.
1535. Coverdale, The first boke of the Cronicles, called Paralipomenon.
1764. T. H. Croker, etc. Dict. Arts, s.v., In effect, the … chronicles are an abridgement of sacred history to the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity.
1837. Penny Cycl., VII. 129/2. Ezra … is supposed to have died a year or two after compiling the Chronicles.
3. gen. A record, register, narrative, account.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 299. Lesyngis, fablis and veyn cronyclis.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 74. Ignorant Tongues, which neither know My faculties nor person, yet will be The Chronicles of my doing.
1878. Morley, Crit. Misc., Ser. I. Byron, 216–7. The long chronicle of its manifold experiences.
b. Hence: A frequent title of newspapers, e.g., The Daily Chronicle, Weekly Chronicle, etc.
4. attrib. and Comb., as chronicle-sheet, -writer.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 32/1. The common opinion of our chronicle-writers.
1837. Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar, i. (1844), 23. Our chronicle sheet which hangs in the refectory.
