noun
memento
muh-MEN-toh/məˈmentəʊ/
An object kept as a reminder of a person or event.
The carefully preserved seashell serves as a memento of a seaside visit.
Etymology
Memento was literally a command to “remember.” It became a name for something that prompts memory, then for a keepsake that recalls a person or experience.
In context
wanted to take them home for a token and memento of that unexampled adventure.
More examples
- The ticket stub is a memento of our first concert.
- He displays a few mementos from his years in Alaska.
- Each guest receives a small memento of the wedding.
Forms
memento · mementos · mementoes
Similar words
- keepsake
- Often emphasizes personal affection or a connection with someone.
- souvenir
- Usually recalls a trip, place, or special public event.