document
Definitions
A piece of written, printed, or electronic material that provides information or evidence
文件；文档；公文
To record something in written or other form; to support with evidence
记录；用文件证明；记载
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin documentum (docēre 'teach' + -mentum 'means/result') = 'a lesson, an example that teaches or proves.' A document was originally something you could point to as proof. English kept the 'proof / record' half and dropped the 'lesson' half — a document now records and evidences something. The verb 'to document' = to put that proof on record.
Root doctor still carries 7 more wordsWhy It Means This
It helps to remember that documentum literally meant 'a teaching example, a proof.' That's why a document is more than just paper — its core job is to demonstrate or evidence something true. The same 'provide evidence' idea drives the verb: to document a problem is to gather proof of it.
Usage Guide
Watch the stress shift between the noun and verb. Noun: DOC-u-ment (/ˈdɒkjumənt/). Verb: DOC-u-MENT, with a fuller final vowel (/ˈdɒkjument/). The verb is common in formal/academic registers ('the study documents...'), where it means 'records with evidence,' not just 'writes down.'
Example Sentences
- 1.
Please bring all the required documents to the visa interview.
- 2.
The journalist carefully documented every step of the investigation.
- 3.
This historical document reveals how people lived two centuries ago.
- 4.
Researchers have documented a sharp rise in global temperatures.