reminiscent

American  

[rem-uh-nis-uhnt] / ˌrɛm əˈnɪs ənt /

adjective

1. awakening memories of something similar; suggestive (usually followed by of).

   His style of writing is reminiscent of Melville's.

2. characterized by or of the nature of reminiscence.

3. given to reminiscence.

   a reminiscent old sailor.

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reminiscent British  

/ ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsənt /

adjective

1. stimulating memories (of) or comparisons (with)

2. characterized by reminiscence

3. (of a person) given to reminiscing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unreminiscent
  adjective
• reminiscently
  adverb
• unreminiscently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of reminiscent

First recorded in 1755–65; from Latin reminiscent-, stem of reminiscēns “remembering,” present participle of reminiscī “to remember,” from re- re- + -miniscī (akin to mēns “mind”; mind )

Explanation

If your uncle tells you that your outfit is reminiscent of the way your mother dressed when she was young, it means your clothes remind him of your mother. Hopefully that doesn't mean your mother is still dressing you. Reminiscent traces back to the Latin for "remember." If a house is reminiscent of your childhood home, it makes you remember your childhood home. Reminiscent can have a good or bad implication. If you tell someone that her paintings are reminiscent of a chimp's finger paintings, obviously that's not so good. But if you tell her that they're reminiscent of Dali, well that might be better.

Related Words

• evocative
• redolent
• similar