history

his|to|ry [ `hıst(ə)ri ] noun ***

1. ) uncount the whole of time before the present, and all things that happened in that time:

in recorded history: These temperatures are the highest in recorded history.

throughout history: Attitudes toward gender roles have changed throughout history.

recent history: Simpson is perhaps the most famous American in recent history to be charged with murder.

a ) singular or uncount used about the things that have happened in a particular place or to a particular group of people:

I'm writing a book on this area's history.

The university has a distinguished history.

a checkered history (=in which both good and bad things have happened): an unusual building with a checkered history

the history of Spain

U.S./world/Western history

b ) count or uncount all the things that a particular person has done or experienced:

I feel like a part of my history has been taken away.

medical history: It's important to consider a child's medical history.

c ) singular or uncount the way that a particular subject or object has developed or changed throughout its existence:

the history of economic thought

literary/archaeological history

a landmark in the history of something: This book was a landmark in the history of English fiction.

2. ) uncount the study of the events of the past:

He teaches history at the high school.

history books

3. ) count an account of the events that happened during a particular period of the past:

history of: a history of the Romans

The book provides a comprehensive history of World War Two.

4. ) count or uncount the length of time that something has existed: EXISTENCE:

For the first time in its 70-year history the club has admitted women members.

trace something's history (=follow or describe something's past, back to a particular time): The town can trace its history back to the Gold Rush.

be history

to no longer affect you or no longer exist

go down in history or take your place in history

to be remembered by many people for having done something:

He'll go down in history as one of our finest presidents.

have a history of something

1. ) to be well known for doing something because you have often done it in the past:

The country has a long history of political kidnappings.

He's got a history of cheating on his girlfriends.

2. ) if you have a history of a medical condition or other problem, you have had it before:

She has a history of skipping school.

have a family history of something (=a situation in which several members of a family have had the same problem or medical condition): They have a family history of heart disease.

history in the making

an event happening now that will be remembered in the future because it is very important

history is repeating itself

used for saying that the same thing is happening again

history will show/record/judge etc.

used for talking about the way someone or something will be remembered or considered in the future:

History will show that the government's reforms were misplaced.

make history

to do something that many people will remember or learn about because it is very important:

She made history by becoming the first woman to orbit the Earth.

the rest is history

used when explaining how something happened, to say that you have reached the part of the story that everyone knows:

He took her to see his publisher, and the rest is history.