/ hɪˈstɒrɪkl; NAmE -ˈstɔːr-; -ˈstɑːr-/ adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
connected with the past :
the historical background to the war
You must place these events in their historical context .
2.
connected with the study of history :
historical documents / records / research
The building is of historical importance .
3.
( of a book, film / movie, etc. ) about people and events in the past :
a historical novel
HELP NOTE : Some speakers do not pronounce the 'h' at the beginning of historical and use 'an' instead of 'a' before it. This now sounds old-fashioned.
► his·tor·ic·al·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb :
The book is historically inaccurate.
Historically, there has always been a great deal of rivalry between the two families.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Latin from Greek historikos , from historia narrative, knowing by enquiry, from histōr learned, wise man, from an Indo-European root shared by wit have knowledge .