reminiscence

American  

[rem-uh-nis-uhns] / ˌrɛm əˈnɪs əns /

noun

1. the act or process of recalling past experiences, events, etc.

   Synonyms:

   recollection

2. a mental impression retained and revived.

   Synonyms:

   memory

3. Often reminiscences. a recollection narrated or told.

   reminiscences of an American soldier.

   Synonyms:

   memoir, tale, anecdote

4. something that recalls or suggests something else.

   Synonyms:

   reminder

5. (in Platonic philosophy) anamnesis.

---

reminiscence British  

/ ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsəns /

noun

1. the act of recalling or narrating past experiences

2. (often plural) some past experience, event, etc, that is recalled or narrated; anecdote

3. an event, phenomenon, or experience that reminds one of something else

4. (in the philosophy of Plato) the doctrine that perception and recognition of particulars is possible because the mind has seen the universal forms of all things in a previous disembodied existence

5. psychol the ability to perform a task better when tested some time after the task has been learnt than when tested immediately after learning it

---

Etymology

Origin of reminiscence

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French, from Late Latin reminiscentia, from reminiscent-, stem of reminiscēns “remembering” ( reminiscent ) + -ia -y ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The mood you were in at the time of reminiscence left emotional fingerprints on the memory, as neurons activated by your mental environment synced up with those activated by the recollection.

From Los Angeles Times

Letters, diaries, scripts, manuscripts, old photos, tape recordings and home movies, along with the reminiscences of Ben and his sister Amy, tell the tale.

From Los Angeles Times

But there is little time for remorse or reminiscence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Spotify says the age calculation is based on a psychological phenomenon known as a “reminiscence bump.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A little organ music, awkward reminiscences, and nothing accomplished.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anecdote
• recollection
• remembrance