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REFERENCE

historian

n.
US //hɪˈstɔɹiən// UK //hɪstˈɔːɹiən// his·to·ri·an
  1. 1 scholar of the past (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person who studies or writes about history, often working at a university or museum.

    an expert who researches and interprets historical events, typically through the examination of archival records and physical evidence.

    Example

    The historian spent months in the library looking at old letters from the war.

    Example

    The historian argued that the economic shifts of the nineteenth century were more influential than the political revolutions of the same period.

  2. 2 medical history reporter (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a person who explains their past health problems and medical background to a doctor.

    an individual who provides a detailed account of their own medical background or family health history during a clinical assessment.

    Example

    The doctor noted that the patient was a good historian who remembered every detail of his surgery.

    Example

    The physician found the patient to be a poor historian, as she struggled to provide a coherent timeline of her symptoms or previous medications.

    Usage

    Usually used in a clinical context to describe how well a patient can recall their symptoms.

Origin

From Middle English historian, historien, from Old French historien, from Latin historia (“story, history”), equivalent to history + -ian. More at history.

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