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

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

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

However morbid his fancies might become, desiderium could never take any but beautiful forms.

From The Romance of Zion Chapel [3d ed.] by Le Gallienne, Richard

Quo enim longius iter eius rei gratia ingressi sunt, eò ardentius in eis hoc desiderium fuisse declararunt.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 03 by Hakluyt, Richard

And all this said of a youth of twenty—heu nimium brevis ævi decus et desiderium!

From Spare Hours by Brown, John

Tum coepit modestus Vibhândaci filius, regis commodis intentus, parare sacrum, quo eius desiderium expleret.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)