historical

Everyday

1. Historical means to do with history or the past: «historical events», «historical facts». tree →
2. Historical describes a person or event that really existed in the past, not only in a legend. tree →
3. Historical describes a story, film or novel set in the past: «a historical novel». tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, pupils study historical sources (old letters, pictures, objects) to find out what happened, and ask whether a person in a legend is historical (really lived). In reading, «historical fiction» mixes real history with made-up characters. Phrases: «historical source», «historical fiction», «historical figure», «historical site».

Examples

• We read a historical novel about the Romans. tree →
• Is King Arthur a historical person or a legend? tree →
• Old diaries are useful historical sources. tree →
• The castle is an important historical site. tree →
• She dressed as a historical figure for the school day. tree →
• Historical records show the town flooded many times. tree →
• So close is the resemblance, indeed, that it is impossible not to surmise an historical relation between the two. tree →

Note

Both «a historical» and «an historical» are used; «a historical» is more common today. Do not confuse with «historic», which means very important in history: «a historic day» (one people will remember), «a historical day» (just a day in the past).

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Scholars ask whether the book is mentioned in the Talmud and in later writers. Tradition itself credits Abraham with the book. In the primary lessons: In history lessons, pupils study historical sources (old letters, pictures, objects) to find out what happened, and ask whether a person in a legend is historical (really lived). In reading, «historical fiction» mixes real history with made-up characters. Phrases: «historical source», «historical fiction», «historical figure», «historical site».

Examples

• Other positive historical notices are those of Saadjah Gaon, who died a.d. 940, and Judah Halevi, a.d. 1150 ; (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Other positive historical notices are those of Saadjah Gaon, who died A.D. 940, and Judah Halevi, A.D. 1150%; [p. 10] both these Hebrew classics speak of it as a very ancient work. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Some maintain that this essay is mentioned in the Talmud treatise Sanhedrin, p. 66 b. and ibid. 67 b. which passage is according to the commentary of Rashi, to treatise Erubin, p. 63 a., a reliable historical notice. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Both «a historical» and «an historical» are used; «a historical» is more common today. Do not confuse with «historic», which means very important in history: «a historic day» (one people will remember), «a historical day» (just a day in the past).