historic, historical

historic, historical
   "The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted yesterday to create a historical district on a gilded stretch of Manhattans East Side" (New York Times). Generally speaking, something that makes history or is part of history, as in the example above, is historic. Something that is based on history or describes history is historical ("a historical novel"). A historic judicial ruling is one that makes history; a historical ruling is based on precedent. There are, however, some exceptions to the rule-notably in accountancy ("historic costs") and, curiously, in grammar ("historic tenses"). (See also A, AN.)

Dictionary of troublesome word. . 2013.

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  • historic - historical — ◊ historic You use historic to say that something was important in history, or that it will be regarded as important in the future. ...their historic struggle for emancipation. ...a historic decision. ◊ historical You use historical to …   Useful english dictionary

  • historic / historical —    Historic refers to something in history that was important: The summit was a historic meeting between the countries.    Historical refers to anything in general history: The whole class had to dress in historical costumes for the play …   Confused words

  • historic / historical —    Historic refers to something in history that was important: The summit was a historic meeting between the countries.    Historical refers to anything in general history: The whole class had to dress in historical costumes for the play …   Confused words

  • historic, historical —     The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted yesterday to create a historical district on a gilded stretch of Manhattans East Side (New York Times). Generally speaking, something that makes history or is part of history, as in the example… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • historic, historical — The senses of these words overlap, but historic should be used to refer to something that is renowned, influential, or history making (the historic meeting of Livingstone and Stanley). Historical means concerned with or contained in history (a… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • historic — historic, historical are sometimes distinguished in meaning. Historic is used when the idea of association with history in the sense of being celebrated, well known, or deserving to be well known is stressed {we shall visit many historic spots on …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • historical — historic, historical are sometimes distinguished in meaning. Historic is used when the idea of association with history in the sense of being celebrated, well known, or deserving to be well known is stressed {we shall visit many historic spots on …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • historical — historic, historical Both words are used to mean ‘of or concerning history, belonging to the past rather than the present’, but historical is the more objective word denoting something that happened in the past, whereas historic describes not… …   Modern English usage

  • historic — historic, historical Both words are used to mean ‘of or concerning history, belonging to the past rather than the present’, but historical is the more objective word denoting something that happened in the past, whereas historic describes not… …   Modern English usage

  • historic — adjective the historic first flight at Kitty Hawk Syn: significant, notable, important, momentous, consequential, memorable, newsworthy, unforgettable, remarkable; famous, famed, celebrated, renowned, legendary; landmark, sensational,… …   Thesaurus of popular words

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