ephemeris, -idis, feminine (ἐφημερίς), or, pure Latin, commentarii diurni (a day-book in which payments, receipts, etc., were set down, and whatever happened to or was done by any of the family; but Plin., 29, 1, 5, also mentions an ephemeris mathematica, a sort of astronomical calendar, in which the lucky and unlucky days were set down): commentarii (writings hastily drawn up; e.g., memorandums of remarkable subjects, comments, remarks, etc.): libelli (general term for small works published): acta diurna, or populi Romani (the minutes or reports of what took place each day in the Senate or assembly of the people at Rome). Hence “a political journal” may be translated by ephemeris or acta diurna; an amusing or instructive one, by libelli.