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desiderium

/ˌdɛzɪˈdɪriəm/
IPA guide

Other forms: desideria

In literary contexts, you might read that a character experiences desiderium, a heartfelt yearning for someone or something that is gone. The word desiderium carries a sense of sadness, nostalgia, and perhaps regret.

Desiderium is a word borrowed from Latin. An example of desiderium is wishing for "the gold old days" of your early childhood. It could also be missing a bygone era, a past love, or a place from your past with which you have a strong connection. In addition to the feeling of longing itself, the word desiderium is occasionally used figuratively for that which is missed, especially an abstract concept like youth or a spirit of camaraderie among friends.

Definitions of desiderium
  1. noun
    something or someone that has been lost and is sorely missed
  2. noun
    a deep longing for something or someone that has been lost
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