historical sense

historic \his*tor"ic\ (h[i^]s*t[o^]r"[i^]k), historical
\his*tor"ic*al\ (h[i^]s*t[o^]r"[i^]*kal), a. [L. historicus, Gr.
   "istoriko`s: cf. F. historique. See {History}.]
   Of or pertaining to history, or the record of past events;
   as, an historical poem; the historic page. --
   {His*tor"ic*al*ness}, n. -- {His*to*ric"i*ty}, n.
   [1913 Webster]

         There warriors frowning in historic brass. --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]

   2. having once lived, existed, or taken place in the real
      world; -- contrasted with {legendary}; as, the historical
      Jesus; doubt that a historical Camelot every existed;
      actual historical events.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   3. Belonging to the past; as, historical (or historic) times;
      a historical character.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   4. Within the period of time recorded in written documents;
      as, within historic times. Opposite of {prehistoric}.

   Syn: diachronic.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   5. (Linguistics) Same as {diachronic}. {synchronic}
      [WordNet 1.5]

   {Historical painting}, that branch of painting which
      represents the events of history.

   {Historical sense}, that meaning of a passage which is
      deduced from the circumstances of time, place, etc., under
      which it was written.

   {The historic sense}, the capacity to conceive and represent
      the unity and significance of a past era or age.
      [1913 Webster]