- document
- c.1450, "teaching, instruction," from M.Fr. document "lesson, written evidence," from L. documentum "example, proof, lesson," in M.L. "official written instrument," from docere "to show, teach" (see doctor). Meaning "something written that provides proof or evidence" is from 1727; the verb meaning "to support by documentary evidence" is from 1711. Documentary first used 1930 in sense of "film based on actual events," from Fr. film documentarie (1924). Docudrama is a 1961 coinage.