Unremember

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To deliberately cease to recall or to forget something previously known
2. To cause oneself to no longer remember an event or information
3. To remove from one's memory by choice or some mental process

Etymology: The prefix "un-" in English often signals negation or reversal, and the base word here is "remember," which has roots in the Latin "rememorari," meaning "to recall to mind." Combining these elements, the term logically suggests the act of ceasing to remember or failing to recall something. Despite the straightforward construction, "unremember" is quite rare and not commonly found in standard dictionaries or frequent usage. Its formation follows a productive pattern in English where "un-" attaches to verbs to indicate undoing an action, much like "unfold" or "undo." However, the concept of deliberately "unremembering" something—actively erasing a memory—is more abstract and less commonly expressed than simply "forgetting," which has older and stronger usage. "Forget" itself comes from Old English "forgietan," with a long-established history, making it the preferred term for failing to recall. The introduction of "unremember" might be more recent and poetic or philosophical, capturing a nuanced idea of deliberately negating a memory rather than passively losing it. This subtle distinction could appeal to writers or thinkers exploring memory and consciousness. In sum, this term is formed through a clear morphological process but remains marginal in usage. It reflects English’s flexibility in creating new words by combining familiar elements, even when no strong tradition for the new form exists.

Synonyms: forget, disremember, fail to recall, overlook, neglect

Antonyms: remember, recall, recollect, memorize, retain