historical
From the past
Historical is used more generally than the similar adjective historic.
Historical is simply defined as concerning the past or history: There is not enough historical data to look at this problem retrospectively.
We stopped to look at a historical marker next to the highway.
A historical record is one that began in the past and that usually continues to the present.
Speakers use both ‘a’ and ‘an’ before historical because it is often pronounced without the ‘h’ sound, as if it started with a vowel.
Great age, ancient era
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- renaissancePeriod of renewed vitality
- baroqueExcessively ornate or elaborate
- victorianOf 19th-century Britain
regency · colonial · feudal · classical · ancient · byzantine · enlightenment · industrial
Long-established customs passed down
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
mythology · ceremonies · rituals · festivals · costumes · cuisine · architecture · monuments
Stored historical documents
- recordsStored data or albums
- annalsYear-by-year historical account
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- accountRecord of dealings
narrative · memoir · biography · monograph · journal · diary · log · register
Longing for the past
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- throwbackReturn to ancestral type
- retroEvoking recent past
vintage · bygone · remembrance · yesteryear · sepia · memories · longing · sentimental
Those from whom one descends
- forefathersAncestral predecessors
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- explorersThose who venture unfamiliar lands
- foundersThose who begin institutions
revolutionaries · conquerors · emperors · pharaohs · kings · queens · statesmen · warriors
antiquity
Great age, ancient era
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- renaissancePeriod of renewed vitality
- baroqueExcessively ornate or elaborate
victorian · regency · colonial · feudal · classical · ancient · byzantine · enlightenment · industrial · antebellum
traditions
Long-established customs passed down
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
folklore · mythology · ceremonies · rituals · festivals · costumes · cuisine · architecture · monuments · landmarks
archives
Stored historical documents
- recordsStored data or albums
- annalsYear-by-year historical account
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
account · narrative · memoir · biography · monograph · journal · diary · log · register · reportage
nostalgic
Longing for the past
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- throwbackReturn to ancestral type
retro · vintage · bygone · remembrance · yesteryear · sepia · memories · longing · sentimental · old-fashioned
ancestors
Those from whom one descends
- forefathersAncestral predecessors
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- explorersThose who venture unfamiliar lands
founders · revolutionaries · conquerors · emperors · pharaohs · kings · queens · statesmen · warriors · chroniclers
- film genreshorror, comedy, drama, action, romance
- -al adjectivescultural, emotional, environmental, federal, financial
- timesecond, minute, hour, day, seconds
- pastago, before, once, previously, prior
- genre adjectivescomic, tragic, dramatic, epic, gothic
- visual story genresaction, adventure, crime, fantasy, horror
historicalcontemporary
Of the present age
present · current · modern · present-day · future
historicalfictional
Not real, invented
fictitious · mythical · legendary · imaginary · invented
historicalundocumented
Not officially recorded
unrecorded · unverified · unsubstantiated · unsupportable · unauthentic
- historical romanceLove story set historically
- historic mansionSignificant old grand residence
- historic voyageMemorable journey of significance
- historical markersSigns denoting significant past sites
- historical toursGuided visits to landmarks
- historical figureRenowned person from history
historic, prehistoric, historical criticism, historical societies, historically, historical fiction, historicity, ahistorical, historicize