nostalgia
noss-TAL-juh
nɒˈstældʒə
A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
Nostalgia is bittersweet; it involves both the pleasure of the memory and the pain of knowing it is gone.
The story behind the word. Coined by a Swiss medical student in 1688 to describe the 'disease' of homesickness among Swiss mercenaries. It literally means 'the pain of returning home.'
Word relationships
- wistfulness: Wistfulness is a general vague longing; nostalgia is specifically for the past.
- anticipation: Anticipation is looking forward to the future with excitement.
Commonly confused with
- homesickness: Homesickness is longing for a place; nostalgia is longing for a time.
Word family
- nostalgic (adjective): Feeling, evoking, or characterized by nostalgia.
Collocations
- wave of nostalgia
- pang of nostalgia
- feel nostalgia for
Example sentences
- "Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days." Cultural commentary
- "A wave of nostalgia hit him as he walked through the halls of his old high school." Personal feeling
Memory hook
Nostalgia = NO-STAL-GIA. 'No, stay!'—you want to stay in the past. Bittersweet longing.
When not to use
Don't use it for a simple, neutral memory. It must have an emotional, longing component.
Fun facts
- For centuries, nostalgia was considered a dangerous medical condition that could lead to death, especially in soldiers.
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