nostalgia

[ no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh- ]

noun

1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time:

   a nostalgia for his college days.

2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.

nostalgia

/ -dʒɪə; nɒˈstældʒə /

noun

1. a yearning for the return of past circumstances, events, etc
2. the evocation of this emotion, as in a book, film, etc
3. longing for home or family; homesickness

Other Words From

• nos·talgic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from New Latin, from Greek nóst(os) “a return home” + -algia -algia

Word History and Origins

Origin of nostalgia¹

C18: New Latin (translation of German Heimweh homesickness), from Greek nostos a return home + -algia

Example Sentences

“His has been a campaign of grievance and loss and nostalgia,” argues Dr Jones, “and that includes nostalgia from a faith perspective.”

From BBC

We read far too much into body language and demeanour, can be swayed by a slap at a weigh-in or live in a fantasy land powered by nostalgia.

From BBC

"The biggest thing mainstream analysis refuses to comprehend is the continued power of a politics of racial grievance and religious nostalgia among white Christian Americans."

From Salon

Large groups - fuelled by Tyson nostalgia - gathered outside the Toyota Music Factory in Irving before fight-week festivities, wanting to get as close to him as they could as he got out of his car.

From BBC

“Between the nostalgia and multigenerational appeal in terms of their respective core fan group, we were reaching as wide of an audience as possible,” Riegg said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• longing
• remorse
• sentimentality
• wistfulness
• yearning