historicist

Variant of historicism

noun

  1. a theory of history holding that the course of events is determined by unchangeable laws or cyclic patterns
  2. the theory that the only true understanding of a person, society, historical period, etc. comes about through knowledge of its history
  3. a reliance on historical precedents in the practice of art, architecture, music, etc.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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