His'to-ry1, n.
n. [Lat. historia, Gr. ἱστορία, from ἱστορεῖν, to learn or know by inquiry, from ἵστωρ, knowing, from εἰδέναι, to know; Sp. & Pg. historia, It. istoria, Fr. histoire.]
Sense 1. A written statement of what is known; an account of that which exists or has existed; a record; a description.
Sense 2. An account of that which is known to have occurred; a record of the past; a narrative of events; a true story, in distinction from a romance; a statement of the progress of a nation or an institution, with philosophical inquiries respecting effects and causes;—in distinction from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order, without any observations of the annalist; and from biography, which is the record of an individual's life.
For aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history. Shak.
What histories of toil could I declare! Pope.
Natural history, a description and classification of objects in nature, as minerals, plants, animals, &c., and the phenomena which they exhibit to the senses, as distinguished from natural philosophy, or natural science, which explains or accounts for these phenomena.
Synonyms—Chronicle; annals; relation; narration.—HISTORY, CHRONICLE, ANNALS. History is a methodical record of the important events which concern a community of men, usually so arranged as to show the connection of causes and effects. A chronicle is a record of such events, when it conforms to the order of time as its distinctive feature. Annals are a chronicle divided out into distinct years.
Justly Caesar scorns the poet's lays; It is to history he trusts for praise. Pope.
No more yet of this; For 'tis a chronicle of day by day, Not a relation for a breakfast. Shak.
We are assured by many glorious examples in the annals of our religion. Rogers.