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

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Etymology

Origin of desiderium

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

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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

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

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

But the gnawing of grief till it becomes a physical pain, the fever fits of sorrow, the aching desiderium, bring back in many guises the old questions.

From Alfred Tennyson by Andrew Lang

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 George Bell

No, it was rather a kind of vague regret for the life which had so definitely ended, the feeling which the Romans called desiderium and the Greeks pathos.

From The Coming of Bill by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

The substantive desiderium has the special meaning of desire for something one has once possessed but lost, hence regret or grief.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various

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

From A Treatise on Relics by John Calvin

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 Ludwig Nohl

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 Francis Hueffer

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 Adam G. de Gurowski, Count

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 Constance Bache

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