Historical
/hɪˈstɒr.ɪ.kəl/noun
Relating to history or to events, people, or things of the past.
Did you know?Before it meant “about the past,” Greek *historia* meant “learning by inquiry,” from the same root as *story*—so history began as an act of questioning, not just recording.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weid-
“to see, know”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἱστορία (historia)
“inquiry, knowledge gained by asking questions or witnessing”
Late Latin
Latin
historicus / historialis
“pertaining to history or historical narrative”
Old French
Old French
historial
“historical, relating to history”
Middle English
English
historical
“pertaining to history or the record of past events”
Modern English
English
historical
“relating to history or based on history”