A prehistoric discovery August 5, 2008

What does prehistoric mean? This question stems from a crossword clue in the Metro today. (By the way, the answer to 18-across is stegosaurus.)

Dictionary.com defines it as the following:

of or pertaining to the time or a period prior to recorded history:

But I disagree with that definition. So then, when does ‘historic’ history begin?

Yes, the counterargument is that ‘prehistoric’ is simply the term given to an era prior to recorded history. But it’s still historic history, is it not?

I suppose another argument could be based off the undying idiom: If a tree falls in a forest and no one’s around, does it make a sound?

Here’s one that has always interested me: If no one’s looking in a mirror, does it still give a reflection?

Anyway, I digress. The point being: I’m bored.