desiderium

American  

[des-i-deer-ee-uhm] / ˌdɛs ɪˈdɪər i əm /

noun

desideria plural

1. an ardent longing, as for something lost.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• desideria
  plural

Etymology

Origin of desiderium

From Latin, dating back to 1705–15; see origin at desiderate, -ium

Explanation

In literary contexts, you might read that a character experiences desiderium, a heartfelt yearning for someone or something that is gone. The word desiderium carries a sense of sadness, nostalgia, and perhaps regret. Desiderium is a word borrowed from Latin. An example of desiderium is wishing for "the gold old days" of your early childhood. It could also be missing a bygone era, a past love, or a place from your past with which you have a strong connection. In addition to the feeling of longing itself, the word desiderium is occasionally used figuratively for that which is missed, especially an abstract concept like youth or a spirit of camaraderie among friends.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

desiderium desideria

He contemplates the past with no desiderium, no regretful longing, no sense of things admirable which are also lost and irrecoverable.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16 by Various

Doubtless it may serve a useful purpose, thought I, in reconciling Londoners to their wen; but, here, what does it spell for my delirious Cockney save only desiderium?

From Cinderella in the South Twenty-Five South African Tales by Cripps, Arthur Shearly

Ah, how this desiderium, as the Rabbi would have said, comes over one with the seasons as they come and go.

From Kate Carnegie and Those Ministers by Maclaren, Ian

The word desiderium here cannot be easily translated.

From History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry

In Latin, desidero and desiderium best convey the import of this word.

From Notes and Queries, Number 181, April 16, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

Unfortunately these hopes have not been realised, and are still remaining amongst the pia desideria.

From A Treatise on Relics by Calvin, John

I agree perfectly, of course, with your desideria fog the Musik- Verein, and hope next year to be able to contribute something towards their realisation.

From Letters of Franz Liszt -- Volume 2 from Rome to the End by Bache, Constance

I very much regret being only able to express a pia desideria for Y.R.H's. health.

From Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2 by Nohl, Ludwig

I am only astonished that the best men can hope and expect anything of the sort; for, when a Butler will come up, then Sewards and Hallecks easily may go down—but—pia desideria.

From Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 by De Gurowski, Adam G., count

Performances of your works in the French or Italian language must for the present be looked upon as pia desideria, or else as newspaper canards.

From Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 2 by Hueffer, Francis