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View synonyms for memento

memento

[ muh-men-toh ]

noun

, plural me·men·tos, me·men·toes.
  1. an object or item that serves to remind one of a person, past event, etc.; keepsake; souvenir.
  2. anything serving as a reminder or warning.
  3. (initial capital letter, italics) Roman Catholic Church. either of two prayers in the canon of the Mass, one for persons living and the other for persons dead.


memento

/ mɪˈmɛntəʊ /

noun

  1. something that reminds one of past events; souvenir
  2. RC Church either of two prayers occurring during the Mass


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Spelling Note

Memento is sometimes spelled momento, perhaps by association with moment. The word is actually related to remember. One of its earliest meanings was “something that serves to warn.” The meaning “souvenir” is a recent development: The stone animal carvings are mementos of our trip to Victoria. Momento is considered by many to be a misspelling, but it occurs so frequently in edited writing that some regard it as a variant spelling rather than an error.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of memento1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin mementō, imperative of meminisse to remember

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Word History and Origins

Origin of memento1

C15: from Latin, imperative of meminisse to remember

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Example Sentences

Now running her own lab at Calico, Sidrauski has a memento—a gift from the art studio of her mentor Walter, who’s an amateur sculptor.

A travel journal allows you to jot down the subtle details that resonate with you and store random mementos without weighing down your bag.

As he sorted through the household goods, stuffed animals and personal mementos, he remembers feeling sad — especially when he found documents belonging to the original owner.

Over the past 20 years, I have collected souvenirs around the world, from Sydney to Buenos Aires — tins, glasses, foreign-language books, mementos from restaurants and bars, mustard pots, corks, beermats, even checks from memorable meals.

The instinct to hold on to mementos of even the most awful and trying events is human.

He looks a bit like  B̶r̶a̶d̶ ̶P̶i̶t̶t̶ Guy Pearce in Memento at this stage.

I watched as each reached up to the press box, memento in hand.

She was now wearing an equally prized memento on the chest of her dress uniform.

Sandra McElwaine previews the loot, from a Cuban Missile Crisis memento to notes from the first lady.

They offered tea, a smoke, and an Egyptian flag as a memento.

Not only as 454 a memento of you, but as a perpetual encouragement to do better with his Lordship.

I could barely reach one little twig of pale, discolored leaves, to bring home as a memento.

It would be novel, economical, and moral; a kind of memento mori—a death's head at the feast!

Of this a very few instances, more by way of memento than of instruction, may suffice.

If he had been the General, he would have had the trees hewn down after the trial, and done away with every memento of the place.

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Memelmemento mori