Difference between historic and historical

[sophie]

I can't differentiate these words. For example, in this sentence:
It was in the red house that a ... meeting took place between the great leaders.
A. history
B. historic
C. historian
D. historical
Why do we choose C, not D?
Can you show me the difference between "historic" and "historical" and the use of each one?
Thanks a lot.
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[sophie]

Oh, I'm sorry. It's a mistake. I mean: why do we choose B, not D.

[Alan]

Hi Sophie,

'Historic' has the sense of being very important in the sense that it will be remembered in the future and 'go down in history'. 'Historical' relates directly to history and is the adjective formed from it. We can call novels/books 'historical' if they are set a long way back in the past.

Alan
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[Molly]

"Famous" is a good synonym for "historic", but not for a synonym at all for "historical". That helps tell the difference in meaning, I think.