REMINISCENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does reminiscence mean? 

• REMINISCENCE (noun)
  The noun REMINISCENCE has 2 senses:

1. a mental impression retained and recalled from the past

2. the process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort)

  Familiarity information: REMINISCENCE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REMINISCENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mental impression retained and recalled from the past

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("reminiscence" is a kind of...):

memory (something that is remembered)

Derivation:

reminisce (recall the past)

reminiscent (serving to bring to mind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

recall; recollection; reminiscence

Context example:

he has total recall of the episode

Hypernyms ("reminiscence" is a kind of...):

memory; remembering (the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reminiscence"):

mind (recall or remembrance)

reconstruction; reconstructive memory (recall that is hypothesized to work by storing abstract features which are then used to construct the memory during recall)

reproduction; reproductive memory (recall that is hypothesized to work by storing the original stimulus input and reproducing it during recall)

regurgitation (recall after rote memorization)

Derivation:

reminisce (recall the past)

reminiscent (serving to bring to mind)

 Context examples 

The evening arrival at the great town of—scattered these thoughts; night gave them quite another turn: laid down on my traveller's bed, I left reminiscence for anticipation.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The pious Alleyne was deeply shocked by this reminiscence.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was a red begonia just the same color as one that is kept in a pot in the window of a certain villa in Streatham—but I am drifting into private reminiscence.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“You shall make us a glass of your own punch, Mr. Micawber,” said I, “and forget whatever you have on your mind, in pleasanter reminiscences.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The lobster was instantly surrounded by a halo of pleasing reminiscences, and curiosity about 'the charming young ladies' diverted his mind from the comical mishap.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The talk wandered from Mrs. Humphry Ward's new book to Shaw's latest play, through the future of the drama to reminiscences of Mansfield.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Such were the views of these experienced officers, fortified by many reminiscences and examples of French gallantry, such as the way in which the crew of the L’Orient had fought her quarter-deck guns when the main-deck was in a blaze beneath them, and when they must have known that they were standing over an exploding magazine.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her mind seemed wholly taken up with reminiscences of past gaiety, and aspirations after dissipations to come.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

In the evening I used to go back to the prison, and walk up and down the parade with Mr. Micawber; or play casino with Mrs. Micawber, and hear reminiscences of her papa and mama.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have a place to repair to, which will be a secure sanctuary from hateful reminiscences, from unwelcome intrusion—even from falsehood and slander.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)