historical Hear it!

historical Definition

his·tori·cal (his tôr′i kəl, -tär′-)

adjective

  1. of or concerned with history as a science the historical method
  2. providing evidence for a fact of history; serving as a source of history a historical document
  3. based on or suggested by people or events of the past a historical novel
  4. established by history; not legendary or fictional; factual; real
  5. showing the development or evolution in proper chronological order a historical account
  6. historic (sense )

Etymology: < L historicus + -al

historical Related Forms
his·tor′i·cally adverb his·tor′i·cal·ness noun
historical Synonyms

historical

modif.

actual, authentic, factual, true, important in history, constituting history, archival, traditional, commemorated, chronicled; see ancient 2, classical 2, old 3, past 1.

historical Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • context: Dr. Cummins places the story of the Picts in its historical context.
  • perspective: I am coming at this revelation purely from a historical perspective.
  • monument: Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic, is the most important holder of Czech cultural and historical monuments.
  • significance: In each key stage we give children the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance.
  • background: Also included is some historical background of baby showers for you entertainment.
  • geography: Historical Geography In 1835 Gorton was a township in the parish of Manchester.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Yet, it has remained the primary way to understand the material beyond a purely historical reading.
  • genuinely: They are not intended to represent historically accurate facts, even tho they include some genuinely historical figures.
  • much: Is it possible that the differences in the books may not even be as much historical as they are theological?
  • not: Certain statements in this release that are not historical fact constitute " forward-looking information.
  • only: Naively, Bandolier thought that iron deficiency was of only historical interest in Britain, tho important in developing countries with poor diets.
  • entirely: He believes that Mark represents the best account but decides that even Matthew's guards are entirely historical.

Preposition: in

  • nature: Some of the texts that we use in the Literacy Hour are historical in nature.
historical Quotes

Tryas one may to stress the cultural and historical role of the place†it still conveys one overwhelmingly powerful image to your average Englishman: the dirty weekend.

—Smith, Godfrey

I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical.

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

HISTORICALOVERDOSING:To live in a period of time when too much seems to happen.

—Coupland, Douglas

HISTORICAL SLUMMING: the act of visiting locations such as diners, smokestack industrial sites, rural villagesölocations where time appears to have been frozen many years backöso as to experience relief when one returns back to'the present'.

—Coupland, Douglas

   Thetechnologyofdecentralization can bethesaviouror assassin of contemporary and future society. The role of architects may be uncertain, but the role of architecture is not. In order to look forward society may sometimes haveto look back.This it should do inorder to learnfrom previous mistakes and oversights and to preclude similar eventualities in the future. This does not imply historical dependency, as some would assert. The symbiosis of architecture and technology should prevail, engendered by honesty and integrity. The task will not be easy.

—Murphy, Ian

The importance of an historical event lies not in what happened but in what later generations believe to have happened.

—Whitlam, (Edward) Gough

It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.

—Angelou, Maya originally MayaJohnson

It isnot oftenthat nationslearnfromthepastöevenrarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it. For the lessons of historical experience, as of personal experience, are contingent. They teach the consequences ofcertain actions, but theycannot forcea recognition of comparable situations.

—Kissinger, HenryAlfred

It is impossible to understand the economic system in which we are living if we try to interpret it as a rational scheme.It has to be understood as an awkward phase in a continuing process of historical development.

—Robinson, Edwin Arlington

The question of how to apply social theory to historical materials, as it is usually posed, is ridiculous.One does not apply theory to history; rather one uses history to develop theory.

—Stinchcombe, Arthur S