remember
UK[rɪˈmembə(r)]US[rɪˈmembər]
v
To have or keep an image or idea in your mind of someone or something from the past.
v
To bring a fact, event, or piece of information back into your mind, or to not forget to do something.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
member
re
again
member
to recall
Etymology
The word "remember" entered English in the 14th century from the Old French remembrer, which itself originated from the Latin rememorari, meaning "to recall to mind" or "be mindful of again". This Latin verb is a compound of the intensive prefix re- ("again") and the root memor ("mindful"), which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root (s)mer-, meaning "to remember". The core logic of the word has remained remarkably consistent: it literally means "to be mindful again", perfectly capturing the act of bringing a past thought or experience back into one's present consciousness. This etymological journey from a PIE concept of memory, through Latin's formal construction, to its adoption into French and then English, illustrates a direct and stable semantic evolution.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + member (to recall)
- re: A Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back". It indicates repetition or a return to a previous state.
- member: Derived from Latin memor meaning "mindful" or "remembering". In this construction, it functions as the core root conveying the sense of mental recall.
Examples
I can still remember my first day at school.
Did you remember to lock the door when you left?
He is remembered as a great leader and innovator.