An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
   

2. The record and explanation of past events and times, especially in connection with a particular people, country, period, person, etc. See: → star formation history, → historical supernova.

Etymology (EN): History, from M.E. histoire, historie, from O.Fr. estoire, histoire, from L. historia “narrative, tale, story,” from Gk. historia “a learning or knowing by inquiry, record, account,” from historein “to inquire,” from histor “one who knows or sees, wise man, " from PIE *wid-tor-, from base *weid- “to know; to see;” cf. Pers. bin- “to see” (present stem of didan);
Mid.Pers. wyn-; O.Pers. vain- “to see;” Av. vaēn- “to see;”
Skt. veda “I know.” Related to Gk. idein “to see,” and to eidenai “to know,” → idea.

Etymology (PE): Târix, from Ar., itself, according to Abu Rayhân Biruni (973-1048, in Athar al-Baqqiya), loan from Mid.Pers. mâhrôz “date,” first Arabicized as murux, from which the infinitive taurix, and then târix.