historian English · revision 15268

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-15th century|origins=la historia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hɪˈstɔːɹɪən/, /hɪˈstɔəɹɪən/ ''(UK)''; /hɪˈstɔɹi.ən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|historien]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|historia|t=narrative of past events]] (see [[history]]),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) with a French suffix modelled on words such as [[m|fr|logicien]].^(SOED 2002) Etymonline treats it as if from a Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|*historiānus]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An author of history: the mid-15th century in Etymonline, the 15th century in Merriam-Webster;^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the OED's first quotation is from 1531.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a writer of history in the higher sense, distinguished from an annalist or chronicler, it is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A teller of a narrative or tale is from 1586,^(OED 1989) and a person versed in history from about 1645.^(OED 1989) Old English words for the idea were [[m|ang|þēodwita]] and [[m|ang|wyrdwritere]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-15th century – an author of history.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1531 – a writer of history.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1586 – a storyteller.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who writes or studies [[history]], especially an expert in it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who keeps a [[chronological]] record of events; a [[chronicler]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[history]]

+ * [[story]]

+ * [[historic]]

+ * [[historical]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}