History

Podcast 1 · Introduction

History

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

HIS-tuh-ree  /ˈhɪst(ə)ri/

Definition

The study of past events, especially human affairs; the past events themselves; a continuous record of past events; an account of a person's or organisation's past; a pattern of past behaviour (as in 'a history of violence'); (informal) something no longer relevant — 'that's history'.

Plain meaning

History means the past — the events that have happened — and also the study and recording of those events. It can refer to recorded human events generally, to a specific narrative of the past, or to a person's or place's particular past. Informally, history means something finished and irrelevant.

Register

Neutral and universal. History is one of the most fundamental words in the English vocabulary — used in academic, journalistic, legal, political, and everyday contexts. The informal 'that's history' is casual and dismissive. The formal 'history will judge' is elevated and solemn.