| 1. | a school of economists that arose in Germany in the 19th century in reaction to the principles of the classical economists, and that maintained that the factors making up an economy are variable and develop out of social institutions. |
| 2. | Law. the school of jurists who maintain that law is not to be regarded so much as resulting from commands of sovereigns as from historical and social circumstances. |
| historical school n. A school of theorists, as in law or economics, stressing the influence of historical conditions. |