Where does “memory” come from?
Memory derives from Old French memoire, from Latin memoria meaning "remembrance," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -h₂ through Latin -ia and Ancient Greek -ία.
memory (English): The ability of the brain to record information or...
Definitions
- The ability of the brain to record information or...
Ancestry of “memory”, step by step
memory traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French memoire
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | memoire | memory |
| 2 | Latin | memoria | memory; the ability to remember; a remembrance, a... |
| 3 | Latin | -ia | Used to form a feminine abstract noun, usually... |
| 4 | Latin | -ius | forming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | -jōs | Forms comparative adjectives |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -yós | Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems |
via Anglo-Norman memorie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | memorie | Alternative form of memoire |