I. ˈhist(ə)rē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Latin historia, from Greek historia inquiry, information, narrative, history, from historein to inquire into, examine, relate (from histor-, histōr judge) + -ia -y; akin to Greek idein to see — more at wit
1. : a narrative of events connected with a real or imaginary object, person, or career : tale , story ; especially : such a narrative devoted to the exposition of the natural unfolding and interdependence of the events treated
carefully recording the history of our vacation for father
a history of passion, greed, and retribution
2.
a. : a systematic written account comprising a chronological record of events (as affecting a city, state, nation, institution, science, or art) and usually including a philosophical explanation of the cause and origin of such events — usually distinguished from annals and chronicle
b. : a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)
an illustrated history of British birds
c. : an account of a sick person's family and personal background, his past health, and present illness
3. : a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events as steps in the sequence of human activities : the study of the character and significance of events — usually used with a qualifying adjective
medieval history
European history
4.
[Middle French histoire story, history, picture, from Latin historia ]
a.
(1) obsolete : a pictorial representation of an historical subject
(2) or history painting : painting especially popular in the 17th and 18th centuries in which a complex of figures conveys a story or message usually based on history or legend
b.
(1) obsolete : drama 1
(2) : a drama based on historical events
5.
a. : the events that form the subject matter of a history : a series of events clustering about some center of interest (as a nation, a department of culture, a natural epoch or evolution, a living being or a species) upon the character and significance of which these events cast light
b. : the character and significance of such a center of interest — compare life history
c. broadly : past events
that's all history now
especially : those events involving or concerned with mankind
d. : previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)
the results of heat treating will depend in part on the previous history of the specimen
thermal history may modify photoelectric reactivity of certain compounds
there was a history of repeated exposure to near-freezing temperature that might explain the mutation
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English historien, from Middle French historier, from Late Latin & Medieval Latin historiare — more at historiated
1. obsolete : narrate , recount
2. obsolete : to decorate with an historical record or scenes from history
III. noun
1. : an established record
a prisoner with a history of violence
2. : one that is finished or done for : one consigned or belonging to the past
the winning streak was history
you're history