protohistory

American  

[proh-toh-his-tuh-ree, -his-tree] / ˌproʊ toʊˈhɪs tə ri, -ˈhɪs tri /

noun

plural

protohistories

1. a branch of study concerned with the transition period between prehistory and the earliest recorded history.

2. the period in a culture immediately before its recorded history begins.

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protohistory British  

/ ˌprəʊtəʊhɪˈstɒrɪk, -ˈhɪstrɪ, ˌprəʊtəʊˈhɪstərɪ /

noun

1. the period or stage of human development or of a particular culture immediately prior to the emergence of writing

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Other Word Forms

• protohistorian noun
• protohistoric adjective
• protohistorical adjective

Etymology

Origin of protohistory

First recorded in 1915–20; proto- + history