record
noun
Record — the accumulated sum of one's recognized accomplishments
Definition
The sum of recognized accomplishments; "the lawyer has a good record"; "the track record shows that he will be a good president"
In depth
A record, in this sense, is the total body of recognized accomplishments attributed to a person or institution, the documented history by which reputation and trustworthiness are judged. The word implies permanence and accountability, a history that, once established, cannot simply be wished away.
Origin
The word descends from Latin recordari, to remember or call to mind, formed from re- (again) and cor (heart) — etymologically, to record something is to bring it back to the heart, an old image suggesting that memory itself begins as much in feeling as in fact.
Usage examples
"The lawyer has a good record, the senior partner noted, and that mattered more than any single case."
"Her record in office, mixed at best, would follow her into every future campaign."
"He had spent years building a record he was now terrified a single mistake might unravel."
How to use it
Record is broadly useful across legal, professional, and personal writing, often invoked specifically to argue for trust or credibility based on demonstrated past performance. It pairs naturally with evaluative adjectives like 'good,' 'clean,' or 'troubled.'
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