historical Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective of or relating to the study of history
    • historical scholars
    • a historical perspective
  2. adjective satellite having once lived or existed or taken place in the real world as distinct from being legendary
    • the historical Jesus
    • doubt that a historical Camelot every existed
    • actual historical events
  3. adjective satellite belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
    historic.
    • historic victories
    • historical (or historic) times
    • a historical character
  4. adjective used of the study of a phenomenon (especially language) as it changes through time
    diachronic.
    • diachronic linguistics

WordNet


His*tor"ic, His*tor"ic*al adjective (Also<
  • Historic
  • Historical
)
Etymology
L. historicus, Gr. : cf. F. historique. See History.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to history, or the record of past events; as, an historical poem; the historic page. -- His*tor"ic*al*ness, n. -- His*to*ric"i*ty n.
    There warriors frowning in historic brass. Pope.

Webster 1913