memento mori

American  

[muh-men-toh mawr-ahy, mohr-ahy, mawr-ee, mohr-ee, me-men-toh moh-ree] / məˈmɛn toʊ ˈmɔr aɪ, ˈmoʊr aɪ, ˈmɔr i, ˈmoʊr i, mɛˈmɛn toʊ ˈmoʊ ri /

noun

plural

memento mori

1. (italics) remember that you must die.

2. an object, as a skull, serving as a reminder of death or mortality.

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memento mori British  

/ ˈmɔːriː /

noun

1. an object, such as a skull, intended to remind people of the inevitability of death

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Usage

What does memento mori mean? Memento mori is a Latin phrase that translates to "remember you must die."A memento mori is something, historically a skull, that serves as a reminder of death and mortality.

Etymology

Origin of memento mori

First recorded in 1585–95, memento mori is from Latin mementō morī

Example Sentences

The message is consistent and irrefutable: Memento mori.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2024

Curator Kate Forde points out drily in her caption: "Memento mori are rare in commercial advertising, which perpetually defers the future in order to emphasise the idea that you are what you have now."

From The Guardian • Nov. 14, 2012

Skulls, tears, and fleurs-de-lys are thrown about in profusion; the motto, "Memento mori," looks out at you from among floreated ornaments; Jesus and Marie are placed on a level.

From Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs by Slater, J. Herbert (John Herbert)

—Oft to the grave this servant of the Lord, Was sent to preach the everlasting Word; To rouse the thoughtless from delusion's dream, Memento mori was his frequent theme.

From The Arm Chair by Unknown

His rule enjoined on the monks perpetual silence, only broken in public prayer and singing and in uttering the greeting as they met, Memento mori.

From Church History, Vol. 3 of 3 by Kurtz, J. H.

Related Words

• warning