Reminiscences

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A series of memories or recollections that evoke past experiences or feelings
2. The act of recalling or reflecting on significant moments from one's history
3. A narrative or anecdote that shares memories, often with a sentimental or nostalgic tone

Etymology: "Reminiscences" is the plural of "reminiscence," and the singular carries the older, more interesting history. It came into English from Late Latin "reminiscentiae," meaning "remembrances," which was built on the Latin verb "reminisci," "to remember." That verb ultimately rests on the prefix "re-," "again," joined to a root for mind or memory, so the word is literally a matter of thinking back over something. The Latin verb also gave English the adjective "reminiscent," which is the word most people now use in the sense of "bringing something to mind." The noun "reminiscence" kept the narrower sense of recalling the past, and its plural became the usual name for a published memoir of personal recollections, often one written in later life. The plural form, rather than the singular, is the one readers encounter most, because a book of memories is nearly always a collection of many small recollections.

Synonyms: memories, recollections