protohistory

[ proh-toh-his-tuh-ree, -his-tree ]

noun

, plural pro·to·his·to·ries.

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.

protohistory

/ ˌprəʊtəʊhɪˈstɒrɪk; -ˈhɪstrɪ; ˌprəʊtəʊˈhɪstərɪ /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• protohistoric, adjective

Other Words From

• pro·to·his·to·ri·an [proh-toh-hi-, stawr, -ee-, uh, n, -, stohr, -], noun
• pro·to·his·tor·ic [proh-toh-hi-, stawr, -ik, -, stor, -], proto·his·tori·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of protohistory¹

First recorded in 1915–20; proto- + history