nostalgia
[ no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh- ]
/ nɒˈstæl dʒə, -dʒi ə, nə- /
Save This Word!
noun
a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days.
something that elicits or displays nostalgia.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Origin of nostalgia
OTHER WORDS FROM nostalgia
nos·tal·gic, adjectiveWords nearby nostalgia
nosophobia, nosopoietic, Nosopsyllus, nosotaxy, no spring chicken, nostalgia, nostalgic, nostalgist, nostalgy, no-stick, nostoc
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for nostalgia
British Dictionary definitions for nostalgia
nostalgia
/ (nɒˈstældʒə, -dʒɪə) /
noun
a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events, etc
the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc
longing for home or family; homesickness
Word Origin for nostalgia
C18: New Latin (translation of German Heimweh homesickness), from Greek nostos a return home + -algia
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for nostalgia
nostalgia
[ nŏ-stăl′jə, nə- ]
n.
A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.
The condition of being homesick; homesickness.
Other words from nostalgia
nos•tal′gic (-jĭk) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.