Word of the Day : May 4, 2019

hypermnesia \hye-perm-NEE-zhee-uh\ noun

Definition

: abnormally vivid or complete memory or recall of the past

Did You Know?

Perhaps the most famous individual to exhibit hypermnesia was a Russian man known as "S," whose amazing photographic memory was studied for 30 years by a psychologist in the early part of the 20th century. Hypermnesia sometimes refers to cases like that of "S," but it can also refer to specific instances of heightened memory (such as those brought on by trauma or hypnosis) experienced by people whose memory abilities are unremarkable under ordinary circumstances. The word hypermnesia, which has been with us since about the mid-19th century, was created in New Latin as the combination of hyper- (meaning "beyond" or "super") and -mnesia (patterned after amnesia). It ultimately derives from the Greek word mnasthai, meaning "to remember."

Aired May 4, 2019

All Merriam-Webster content is available at www.merriam-webster.com