document

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum.

noun

1. An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.
   Saint Luke […] collected them from such documents and testimonies as he […] judged to be authentic. 1794, William Paley, View of the Evidences of Christianity
2. Any material substance on which the information is represented by writing.
3. (computing) A file that contains text.
4. (information science) An object conveying information by whatever means, capable of being indexed alongside other similar objects.
   This study examines video game photography as a documentary practice. […] The three themes from this study's findings – that video game photographs act as (1) vehicles for storytelling, (2) creative trophies, and (3) aesthetic tokens – reveal how personally meaningful documents emerge from this medium. 15 July 2022, Alex Urban, “Mementos from digital worlds: Video game photography as documentation”, in Journal of Documentation, →DOI, →ISSN, Abstract
5. (obsolete) That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma.
   And particularly they should take care that the memory of the learner be not too much crowded with a tumultuous heap or overbearing multitude of documents or ideas at one time. 1741, Isaac Watts, The Improvement of the Mind
6. (obsolete) An example for instruction or warning.
   They were forthwith stoned to death, as a document to others. 1614, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Historie of the World

verb

1. To record in documents.
   He documented each step of the process as he did it, which was good when the investigation occurred.
2. To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts or give information.
   A ship should be documented according to the directions of law.