Added 28 September 2026
nostalgia
/nɒˈstæl.dʒə/ noun
Latin root: nostalgia Coined: 1688, by Johannes Hofer Wiktionary
noun Definition written for WordofTheDay.US. More about nostalgia at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
The smell of the old bookshop filled him with nostalgia for his university days.
Origin
From New Latin nostalgia, coined by Johannes Hofer in 1688 from Ancient Greek νόστος (nóstos, “returning home”) + ἄλγος (álgos, “pain”), calquing German Heimweh. Ancient Greek *νοσταλγία (*nostalgía) is unattested. Transferred sense probably influenced by French nostalgie, especially in literature. Compare Italian nostalgia, Spanish nostalgia, Portuguese nostalgia and French nostalgie.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)