nostalgia
[ no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh- ]
/ nɒˈstæl dʒə, -dʒi ə, nə- /
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
DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
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. 2020
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.