Memento comes from the imperative form of meminisse, a Latin verb that literally means "to remember." (The term memento mori, meaning "a reminder of mortality," translates as "remember that you must die.") The history of memento makes it clear where its spelling came from, but because a memento often helps one remember a particular moment, people occasionally spell the term momento. This is usually considered a misspelling, but it appears often enough in edited prose to have been entered in most dictionaries as an acceptable variant spelling.
a collection of photographs and mementos It was a memento of our trip.
Recent Examples on the WebMoments earlier, the San Francisco Giants officially retired his No. 22, unveiling his circular memento on the façade near the left-field foul pole. Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 July 2022 For a sweet memento that doubles as a pantry staple, look no further than these custom honey jars. Samantha Lawyer, Woman's Day, 11 July 2022 The memento is a reminder of another link her father shared with Doty. John Blake, CNN, 11 June 2022 Gomes marveled at the memento, but then recognized what such a first meant to Story. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022 The morbid memento will be sold by European coin auction house Numismatica Ars Classica at the end of May in Zurich, reports Bloomberg Businessweek. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2022 The ball was retrieved and kept for Greene as a memento.Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2022 Kim, who rarely wears the long nails her sisters are famous for, clearly wanted to bring along a memento of her man.ELLE, 24 May 2022 The package includes a gift card to use for online purchases, an Aurora memento and a personalized letter from Mayor Richard Irvin. Beacon-news Staff, chicagotribune.com, 15 Nov. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin, remember, imperative of meminisse to remember; akin to Latin ment-, mens mind — more at mind