a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.
2.
a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.
3.
the art, technique, or process of narrating: Somerset Maugham was a master of narrative.
–adjective
4.
consisting of or being a narrative: a narrative poem.
5.
of or pertaining to narration: narrative skill.
6.
Fine Arts. representing stories or events pictorially or sculpturally: narrative painting. Compare anecdotal(def. 2).
[Origin: 1555–65; < L narrātīvus suitable for narration. See narrate, -ive]
—Related forms
nar·ra·tive·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. chronicle, tale. Narrative,account,recital,history are terms for a story of an event or events. Narrative is the general term (for a story long or short; of past, present, or future; factual or imagined; told for any purpose; and with or without much detail). The other three terms apply primarily to factual stories of time already past. An account is usually told informally, often for entertainment, with emphasis on details of action, whether about an incident or a series of happenings. A recital is an extended narrative usually with an informative purpose, emphasizing accuracy and exhaustive details of facts and figures. A history, usually written and at some length, is characterized by a tracing of causes and effects, and by an attempt to estimate, evaluate, and interpret facts.
c.1450, from M.Fr. narratif, from L.L. narrativus "suited to narration," from L. narrare (see narration). The noun meaning "a tale, story" is first recorded 1561, from the adjective. Narrator first attested 1611; in sense of "a commentator in a radio program" it is from 1941.
consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story; "narrative poetry"
noun
1.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program; "his narrative was interesting"; "Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children"
Ac*count"\, n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF. acont, fr. aconter. See Account, v. t., Count, n., 1.]1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time. A beggarly account of empty boxes. --Shak. 2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank. 3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts. 4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle. "A laudable account of the city of London." --Howell. 5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon. Give an account of thy stewardship. --Luke xvi. 2. 6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand high in your account." --Shak. 7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of account." --Pope. "To turn to account." --Shak. Account current, a running or continued account between two or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such an account. In account with, in a relation requiring an account to be kept. On account of, for the sake of; by reason of; because of. On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf. To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon. [Obs.] This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it. --Milton. To make account of, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as, he makes small account of beauty. To take account of, or to take into account, to take into consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no account." --Milton . A writ of account (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called also an action of account. --Cowell. Syn: Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description; explanation; rehearsal. Usage: Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a series of events. Account turns attention not so much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more properly applies to the report of some single event, or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an account of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A narrative is a continuous story of connected incidents, such as one friend might tell to another; as, a narrative of the events of a siege, a narrative of one's life, etc. Narration is usually the same as narrative, but is sometimes used to describe the mode of relating events; as, his powers of narration are uncommonly great. Recital denotes a series of events drawn out into minute particulars, usually expressing something which peculiarly interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the recital of one's wrongs, disappointments, sufferings, etc.
Ac*count"\, n. [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF. acont, fr. aconter. See Account, v. t., Count, n., 1.]1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time. A beggarly account of empty boxes. --Shak. 2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank. 3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts. 4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle. "A laudable account of the city of London." --Howell. 5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon. Give an account of thy stewardship. --Luke xvi. 2. 6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand high in your account." --Shak. 7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of account." --Pope. "To turn to account." --Shak. Account current, a running or continued account between two or more parties, or a statement of the particulars of such an account. In account with, in a relation requiring an account to be kept. On account of, for the sake of; by reason of; because of. On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf. To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon. [Obs.] This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it. --Milton. To make account of, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as, he makes small account of beauty. To take account of, or to take into account, to take into consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no account." --Milton . A writ of account (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called also an action of account. --Cowell. Syn: Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description; explanation; rehearsal. Usage: Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These words are applied to different modes of rehearsing a series of events. Account turns attention not so much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more properly applies to the report of some single event, or a group of incidents taken as whole; as, an account of a battle, of a shipwreck, etc. A narrative is a continuous story of connected incidents, such as one friend might tell to another; as, a narrative of the events of a siege, a narrative of one's life, etc. Narration is usually the same as narrative, but is sometimes used to describe the mode of relating events; as, his powers of narration are uncommonly great. Recital denotes a series of events drawn out into minute particulars, usually expressing something which peculiarly interests the feelings of the speaker; as, the recital of one's wrongs, disappointments, sufferings, etc.
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