Memoir
/ˈmɛm.wɑːr/noun
A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources.
Did you know?The word 'memoir' stems from the Latin 'memoria', revealing its deep ties to memory, and how our recollections shape history itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“to think, to remember”
Latin
Latin
memoria
“the faculty of remembering, memory”
Old French
Old French
memoire
“a record, a memory”
14th Century
Middle English
memoir
“a written account of personal experiences”
Modern English
English
memoir
“a narrative composed from personal knowledge, often reflective in nature.”