I. ˌdäkyəmən.ˈtāshən, -ˌmen- noun
( -s )
1. archaic : instruction , admonition
2. : the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents
3.
a. : the provision of ship's papers to a ship
b. : the provision of documents in substantiation ; also : documentary evidence (as in a treatise)
c.
(1) : the use of historical documents especially in the writing of history or of works relying on the authenticity of historical information
(2) : conformity to historical or objective facts (as in writing or painting)
(3) : the provision of footnotes, appendices, or addenda referring to or containing documentary evidence in verification of facts or in support of theory in a piece of writing (as a biography or history)
4. : the assembling, coding, and disseminating of recorded knowledge comprehensively treated as an integral procedure utilizing semantics, psychological and mechanical aids, and techniques of reproduction including microcopy for giving documentary information maximum accessibility and usability
II. noun
: the usually printed instructions, comments, and other information on the use of a particular piece or system of computer software or hardware