Main Entry: ¹doc·u·ment

Pronunciation: \ˈdä-kyə-mənt, -kyü-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, precept, teaching, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin documentum official paper, from Latin, lesson, proof, from docēre to teach — more at docile

Date: 15th century

1 a archaic : proof, evidence b : an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something c : something (as a photograph or a recording) that serves as evidence or proof
2 a : a writing conveying information b : a material substance (as a coin or stone) having on it a representation of thoughts by means of some conventional mark or symbol c : documentary
3 : a computer file containing information input by a computer user and usually created with an application (as a word processor)

— doc·u·men·tal \ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-t^əl, -kyü-\ adjective