adjective
historic
hih-STOR-ik/hɪˈstɔːrɪk/
Connected with events of the historical past.
The astronaut's step onto the Moon recalls a historic moment in space exploration.
Etymology
Historic was probably shortened from historical, whose Latin base meant “of history.” Its meaning narrowed from belonging to history to being noted or celebrated in history—hence important or famous in the past.
In context
really important historic resource the house is our biggest and most important artifact
More examples
- The historic courthouse now houses a local museum.
- Our class visits historic battlefields to learn about the Civil War.
- The exhibit explains the historic agreement that ended the war.
Forms
history noun — The study or record of past events.
Similar words
- historical
- Relates to the past without necessarily suggesting special importance.
- old
- Describes age without necessarily implying a connection to history.