his‧to‧ry S2 W1 / hɪst ə ri / 名词 ( 复数形式 histories )
1 past events [不可数名词] all the things that happened in the past, especially the political, social, or economic development of a nation :
Throughout history the achievements of women have been largely ignored.
history of
the post-war history of Europe
No man in recent history has done more to rebuild the Democratic Party.
the early history of Scotland
Other meteor storms have occurred in recorded history .
a museum devoted to local history
one of the darkest episodes in American history
an interesting period in Egyptian history
a decision that changed the course of history
a college steeped in history
History shows that the usual response to violent protest is repression.
2 development of something [单数形式，不可数] the events that took place from the beginning and during the development of a particular place, activity, institution etc
history of
the worst disaster in the history of space travel
long/brief/75-year etc history
The 1970s were the most successful in the theater’s long history.
3 subject [不可数名词] the study of past events as a subject in school or university
European/art/economic etc history
a degree in European history
ancient/modern history
a history lesson
4 account [可数名词] an account of past events
history of
a history of World War II
a potted history (= very short ) of Gielgud’s life (BrE)
5 past life [可数和不可数名词] a record of something that has affected someone or been done by them in the past
medical/employment/career etc history
Your doctor will ask for your medical history.
history of
Is there any history of heart disease in your family?
The defendant had a history of violent assaults on women.
6 make history to do something important that will be recorded and remembered :
Lindbergh made history when he flew across the Atlantic.
7 something will go down in history used to say that something is important enough to be remembered and recorded :
This day will go down in history as the start of a new era in South Africa.
8 history repeats itself used to say that things often happen in the same way as they did before
9 the history books the record of past events :
Mozart’s genius earned him a place in the history books.
10 … and the rest is history informal used to say that everyone knows the rest of a story you have been telling
11 that’s (past/ancient) history spoken informal used to say that something is not important any more
→ natural history , case history
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
recent/modern/contemporary history The country’s recent history is powerfully told in this film.
early/ancient history He had studied ancient Roman history.
recorded history (= history since people have written things down ) These were the worst floods in recorded history.
local history (= the history of events in a particular local area ) The building is now a museum of local history.
American/Chinese/British etc history It was one of the worst peacetime disasters in American history.
human history (= the history of people rather than the world itself ) World War I was the most destructive war in human history up to that time.
political/social etc history the political history of Germany
oral history (= history that is told by speaking and that often consists of personal memories ) Smith recorded the conversation for oral history.
rich history (= an interesting and important history ) Greece has a very rich history.
long history The 1970s were the most successful in the theatre’s long history.
动词
history shows/tells (that) History shows that the usual response to violent protests is repression.
go down in history (= be remembered for many years ) She will go down in history as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
make history (= do something important that will be recorded and remembered ) Ordinary Berliners made history when they tore down the wall.
rewrite history (= change what we believe are the facts about the past ) They’re trying to rewrite history to exaggerate their role in the war.
trace the history of something (= find out what the history of something is ) James traces the history of modern cricket back to its beginnings in the late 1700s.
shape history (= influence events that are recorded ) He is one of the politicians who shaped 20th century history.
短语
a period of/in history a glorious period in English history
the first time in history (= the first time something has ever happened ) For the first time in history, an American president resigned his office.
change the course of history (= do something that has many important effects ) Roosevelt and Churchill helped to change the course of history.
be steeped in history (= be closely connected with important events in history ) Cambridge is steeped in history and tradition.
consign something to the dustbin of history (= to forget about something that existed in the past – used especially when saying that you will feel glad when people have got rid of something ) One day nuclear weapons will be consigned to the dustbin of history.