memory

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛm.ə.ɹi/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun something that is remembered
  2. noun the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
  3. noun the power of retaining and recalling past experience

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman memorie, Old French memoire etc., from Latin memoria (“the faculty of remembering, remembrance, memory, a historical account”), from memor (“mindful, remembering”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- (to remember), related to Ancient Greek μνήμη (mnḗmē, “memory”) μέρμερος (mérmeros, “anxious”), μέριμνα (mérimna, “care, thought”), Old English ġemimor (“mindful, remembering”). More at mimmer. Doublet of memoir and memoria. Displaced native Old English myne (whence English min) and Old English ġemynd, which took on a different meaning as modern mind.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
representation
Narrower (hyponyms)
engram, confabulation, reminiscence, screen memory, recollection

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