[his.to.ry] n, pl -ries [L historia, fr. Gk, inquiry, history, fr. histor, istor knowing, learned; akin to Gk eidenai to know--more at wit] (14c) 1: tale, story
2. a: a chronological record of significant events (as affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes b: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena c: an account of a patient's medical background d: an established record "a prisoner with a ~ of violence"
3: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events "medieval ~"
4. a: events that form the subject matter of a history b: events of the past c: one that is finished or done for "the winning streak was ~" "you're ~" d: previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)