history
history
Pronunciation
/ˈhɪstəri/ or /ˈhɪstri/
His: /hɪs/ (or /hɪs/ if pronounced as two syllables)
to: /tə/ (or /trɪ/ if pronounced as two syllables)
ry: /ri/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: history
Plural Noun: histories
Adjective: historic, historical
Adverb: historically
Verb: historicize (less common, but exists)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The comprehensive and systematic study of past events, particularly concerning human affairs, with an emphasis on their causes, effects, and significance. This includes the collection, organization, and interpretation of information about these events.
Synonyms: chronicle, annals, record, past, antiquity, lore
Antonyms: future, present, prehistory (in the sense of unrecorded past)
Definition 2: The aggregate of past events themselves, especially those that have shaped a particular person, group, nation, or field of study. It refers to the progression of time and the occurrences within it.
Synonyms: background, experience, heritage, tradition, origin, development
Antonyms: uncharted territory, unknown, future
Definition 3: A narrative or account of past events, whether factual or fictional, presented in a chronological order or a thematic arrangement.
Synonyms: story, tale, narrative, account, report, saga
Antonyms: prediction, forecast, prophecy
Definition 4: A person's past record or background, especially concerning their accomplishments, failures, or significant life events.
Synonyms: track record, background, past, credentials, resume (informal)
Antonyms: potential, future plans, prospects
Verb (Historicize - less common)
Definition: To interpret or place an event, idea, or person within its historical context; to view something from a historical perspective.
Synonyms: contextualize, historicise (British English), place in history
Antonyms: decontextualize, isolate, abstract
Examples of Use
Books:
"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." (Commonly attributed to George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905)
"The history of the world is but the biography of great men." (Thomas Carlyle, On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History, 1841)
"In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari traces the journey of our species from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century, exploring the profound impact of cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions." (Book blurb/review of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, 2014)
Newspapers:
"The discovery of the ancient manuscript sheds new light on the forgotten history of the region." ( The New York Times)
"Analysts are closely watching the stock market, comparing current trends to previous periods of economic history." (The Wall Street Journal)
"The city council voted to preserve the historic building, citing its importance to local history." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"A Definitive History of Artificial Intelligence: From Turing to Deep Learning." (Article title on WIRED.com)
"Why Understanding Indigenous History is Crucial for Reconciliation." (Op-ed piece on The Conversation)
"The article offers a fascinating dive into the lesser-known history of street art in Berlin." (Social media caption linking to an article on Atlas Obscura)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "In the acclaimed series The Crown, viewers get a dramatic portrayal of the history of the British royal family." (Description of a show on Netflix)
Documentary Film: "Ken Burns's The Civil War is a seminal work, presenting a comprehensive history of the conflict through archival footage and powerful narration." (Description of a film available on PBS)
Video Game: "Players embark on an epic journey through ancient Greece, interacting with figures and events from real history in Assassin's Creed Odyssey." (Game description/review for PlayStation/Xbox)
Podcast: "This week on 'Stuff You Missed in History Class,' we explore the surprisingly scandalous origins of the modern Olympic Games." (Podcast episode title/description)
Music: "Many protest songs draw upon a rich history of social and political struggle." (Music review or commentary on a platform like Spotify or YouTube)
General Public Discourse:
"That's just water under the bridge, it's history now." (Idiomatic expression, heard in everyday conversation)
"He made history today by becoming the youngest athlete to win three gold medals." (Sports commentator's remark during an Olympic event)
"We need to learn from our history so we don't repeat the same mistakes." (Statement made in a public speech or community meeting)
"This restaurant has a long and interesting history in our neighborhood." (Casual conversation between friends)
"The curator gave an engaging talk on the history of Kenyan art." (Comment after attending a museum exhibit)
10 Famous Quotes Using History
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905)
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." (Maya Angelou, On the Pulse of Morning, 1993)
"The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." (Harry S. Truman, attributed)
"History is written by the victors." (Often attributed to Winston Churchill, though its exact origin is debated and variations exist)
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." (Marcus Garvey, Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, 1923)
"Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft." (Winston Churchill, attributed)
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." (Theodore Parker, often quoted by Martin Luther King Jr., though Parker used "moral law" instead of "moral universe" and did not include "arc," King's phrasing became famous)
"What experience and history teach is this — that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it." (Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of History, 1837)
"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto, 1848)
"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." (Pearl S. Buck, To My Daughters, With Love, 1967)
Etymology
The word "history" has a really interesting past of its own! It didn't start out meaning exactly what we think of today as "the study of past events."
It comes from the Ancient Greek word "historia" (ἱστορία). This word originally meant "inquiry" or "investigation," and also "knowledge gained from an inquiry." It was about seeking out information and the understanding that came from that search. Think of it like a detective asking questions and gathering clues.
The root of "historia" is even older, coming from "histor" (ἵστωρ), which meant "learned," "wise man," or even a "witness" or "judge." So, the earliest ideas tied to "history" were about knowing things, seeing things, and being a reliable source of information.
When the word moved into Latin as "historia," it kept that broad meaning of a "narrative of past events" or an "account" or "tale."
The first known use of "history" in English, around the late 14th century (specifically by John Gower in 1390), still carried this general meaning of a "relation of incidents" – essentially, a "story." In fact, for a long time in English, "history" and "story" were pretty much interchangeable.
It wasn't until the late 15th century that "history" started to narrow down its meaning to specifically refer to a record of past events, particularly those that are factual and significant, similar to how the famous Greek historian Herodotus used it. This is when it began to distinguish itself from just any old "story" and take on the more formal, academic sense we commonly use today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing History
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "history":
Make history: To do something very important or memorable.
Go down in history: To be remembered for a long time.
The rest is history: Used to say that the subsequent events are well-known or easily imagined.
Be history: To be finished, over, or no longer relevant.
History repeats itself: The idea that past events or patterns of behavior will occur again.
History in the making: Referring to an important event happening right now.
To be part of history: To be involved in a significant past event.
Lost to history: Forgotten or unknown over time.
Lesson from history: An insight or warning derived from past events.
A checkered history: A past that contains both successes and failures, or questionable events.
Ancient history: Something that happened a very long time ago and is no longer relevant.
A sense of history: An appreciation or understanding of past events and their significance.
To rewrite history: To change the accepted account of past events, often for political reasons.
Turn the page on history: To move on from past events and look to the future.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of history from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
