'history' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'historia', where 'historia' meant 'inquiry, investigation' (from the verb 'historein', 'to inquire, to learn by inquiry').

'history' changed from Greek 'historia' into Latin 'historia', then into Old French 'estoire'/'histoire', passed into Middle English as 'historie', and eventually became the modern English word 'history'.

Initially it meant 'inquiry' or 'investigation', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an account or record of past events'.