adjective [usuallybeforenoun]
1 connected with the past:
the historical background to the war * You must place these events in their historical context. * an essay on the historical development of the novel * Women are not allowed to enter the monastery for historical reasons.
2 connected with the study of history:
historical documents / records / research * The building is of historical importance.
3 (of a book, film / movie, etc.) about people and events in the past:
a historical novel / setting
HELPNOTE Some speakers do not pronounce the 'h' at the beginning of historical and use an instead of a before it. This now sounds old-fashioned.
historically adverb:
The book is historically inaccurate. * Historically, there has always been a great deal of rivalry between the two families.
