historic

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: his=tor=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

historic, a. [L. historicus, Gr. "istoriko`s: cf. F. historique. See History.].

•  Of or pertaining to history, or the record of past events; as, an historical poem; the historic page.  [1913 Webster]

  " There warriors frowning in historic brass."  [1913 Webster]
•  having once lived, existed, or taken place in the real world; -- contrasted with legendary; as, the historical Jesus; doubt that a historical Camelot every existed; actual historical events.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  Belonging to the past; as, historical (or historic) times; a historical character.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  Within the period of time recorded in written documents; as, within historic times. Opposite of prehistoric.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  Same as diachronic.  [WordNet 1.5]

Historical painting, that branch of painting which represents the events of history. -- Historical sense, that meaning of a passage which is deduced from the circumstances of time, place, etc., under which it was written. -- The historic sense, the capacity to conceive and represent the unity and significance of a past era or age.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

historic, adj.
1 famous or important in history or potentially so (a historic moment).
2 Gram. (of a tense) normally used in the narration of past events (esp. Latin & Greek imperfect and pluperfect; (cf. PRIMARY)).
3 archaic or disp. = HISTORICAL.

Idiom

historic infinitive the infinitive when used instead of the indicative. historic present the present tense used instead of the past in vivid narration.

Etymology

L historicus f. Gk historikos (as HISTORY)

ROGET THESAURUS

historic

Description

N description, account, statement, report, expose, specification, particulars, state of facts, summary of facts, brief, return, catalogue raisonne, guidebook, delineation, sketch, monograph, minute account, detailed particular account, circumstantial account, graphic account, narration, recital, rehearsal, relation, historiography, chronography, historic Muse, Clio, history, biography, autobiography, necrology, obituary, narrative, history, memoir, memorials, annals, saga, tradition, legend, story, tale, historiette, personal narrative, journal, life, adventures, fortunes, experiences, confessions, anecdote, ana, trait, work of fiction, novel, romance, Minerva press, fairy tale, nursery tale, fable, parable, apologue, dime novel, penny dreadful, shilling shocker relator, raconteur, historian, biographer, fabulist, novelist, descriptive, graphic, narrative, epic, suggestive, well-drawn, historic, traditional, traditionary, legendary, anecdotic, storied, described, furor scribendi.