What does reminiscence mean?
Word: Reminiscence
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Reminiscence means a story or account of something remembered from long ago, or the pleasant act of recalling the past.
Word origin: From Latin reminiscentia, from a verb meaning to remember, through French; in English since about the late 1500s.
How do you spell reminiscence?
Syllables: rem - i - nis - cence
Tricky part: After nis comes sc, and students often drop the c (reminisence); the ending is ence, not ance.
Watch out for: reminisence, reminiscance, reminiscense
Memory tip: Science and reminiscence share the same sc followed by ence: if you can spell science, you have the hard end of this word.
Reminiscence in a sentence
Example 1: Nani's reminiscences of growing up beside the Hooghly kept us listening for hours.
Example 2: The school magazine printed a short reminiscence by a former student about the first annual day.
Example 3: Looking through the old photo album led to an evening of happy reminiscence.
Fun Fact
Reminiscence therapy, in which older people talk through old photographs, music and objects, is used in many care homes to lift mood and help recall.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Which word takes the same letter in both blanks?
a) d_c_ration
b) b_c_use
c) p_rt_cle
d) rem_n_scence
Show answer
d) rem_n_scence. Reminiscence is completed by i twice; decoration needs e and o, particle a and i, and because e and a.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with words of similar meaning:
1. reminiscence 2. jubilation 3. lethargy a. recollection b. tiredness c. joy
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. A reminiscence is a recollection, jubilation is great joy, and lethargy is a heavy tiredness.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
scnmenrceeii
a) a spoken or written memory of earlier days
b) a sudden clear understanding of a problem
c) a feeling that something unpleasant is going to happen
d) the habit of keeping on in spite of difficulties
Show answer
a) a spoken or written memory of earlier days. Unscrambled, the letters give reminiscence, a memory shared with others; foreboding, perseverance and insight are the other three meanings.
Word Tally
Give 2 marks for each misspelt word. How many marks in all?
reminiscence, nostalgia, memmory, anniversery, souvenir
a) 8
b) 4
c) 2
d) 6
Show answer
b) 4. Memory has a single m in the middle and anniversary ends in ary, so two words are wrong: 2 x 2 = 4 marks.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would count as a reminiscence?
a) Dadaji fixing the kitchen tap this morning
b) Dadaji planning his trip for next spring
c) Dadaji reading out today's cricket scores
d) Dadaji describing the fair he loved as a boy
Show answer
d) Dadaji describing the fair he loved as a boy
2. At which event would people most naturally share reminiscences?
a) a queue at a railway ticket counter
b) the first meeting of a new club
c) a school reunion after twenty years
d) a timed mathematics test
Show answer
c) a school reunion after twenty years
