Amnesis
/æmˈniːsɪs/noun
A loss or absence of memory; a rare synonym of amnesia.
Did you know?Amnesis belongs to the same ancient word-family as mnemonic, the memory aid—so remembering and forgetting share the same linguistic ancestry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“To think, remember, or have the mind directed toward something”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mnḗmē
“Memory or remembrance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aḿnēsis
“Forgetfulness or the act of not remembering, formed with a- meaning “not””
Late Greek
Greek
amnēsía
“Forgetfulness; loss of memory”
17th Century
Latin
amnesia
“Medical forgetfulness or loss of memory”
19th Century
English
amnesis
“A rare English term for loss or absence of memory”