mnemonic meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

mnemonic

adj

AU, UK /nɪˈmɒnɪk/ · US /nəˈmɑnɪk/

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin mnemonicus or its etymon Ancient Greek μνημονῐκός (mnēmonĭkós, “pertaining to memory or remembrance, memorial”) + English -ic (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). Mνημονῐκός (Mnēmonĭkós) is derived from μνήμων (mnḗmōn, “mindful, remembering”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives); while μνήμων (mnḗmōn) is from μνάομαι (mnáomai, “to be mindful, remember”) (from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to mind; to think”)) + -μων (-mōn, suffix forming adjectives and agent nouns). Cognates * French mnémonique (adjective) * German mnemonisch * Italian mnemonico * Portuguese mnemónica

Especially of a series of ideas, letters, words, etc.: intended to help in remembering.

Of or relating to mnemonics (“the study of techniques for remembering anything more easily”).

Of or relating to memory.

Derived terms: anamonic, antimnemonic, metamnemonic, mnemonician, mnemonist, mnemonize, non-mnemonic, nonmnemonic, promnemonic
Related terms: anamnestic, mneme, mnemenic, mnemic, mnemon, mnemonical, mnemonicalist, mnemonically, mnemonicon, Mnemosyne, mnemotechnic, mnemotechnical, mnemotechnically, mnemotechnist, mnemotechny, mnestic

mnemonic

noun

Etymology Noun sense 1 (“something used to help in remembering a thing”) is borrowed from Latin mnēmonicum (“something used to help in remembering a thing”), from Ancient Greek μνημονικόν (mnēmonikón, “something used to help in remembering a thing”), a noun use of the neuter form of μνημονῐκός (mnēmonĭkós, adjective): see etymology 1. Noun sense 3 (“synonym of mnemonics”) is borrowed from Late Latin mnemonica, a noun use of the feminine form of mnemonicus: see etymology 1. Cognates * French mnémonique (noun) * German Mnemonik * Italian mnemonica * Portuguese mnemónico

Something (especially a series of ideas, letters, words, etc.) used to help in remembering a thing; a memory aid.

Mr Avery was a great believer in mnemonics; he had one for every possible aspect of flying – which was as good a way as any for student pilots to familiarise themselves with their new environment, but unless used on a daily basis could also be dangerous, for there were so many of them.2003, Alex Kimbell, chapter 3, in The Unbridgeable Divide: A Love Story, Market Harborough, Leicestershire: Matador, →ISBN, section I, page 54:

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences The human-readable, textual form of an assembly language instruction, not including operands.

Obsolete Synonym of mnemonics (“the study of techniques for remembering anything more easily”).

Derived terms: mnemonics, neuromnemonic
Related terms: crib
Hyponyms: anamonic, memory palace, mimetic