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nostalgia

The origin and history of nostalgia.

Etymology

Coined in 1688 by the Swiss physician Johannes Hofer, combining Greek nostos ("homecoming") and algos ("pain"), originally to describe a medical condition of severe homesickness.

Origin: Greek · First attested 1688

Class of 1688

nostalgia first entered the language around 1688.

See the full Class of 1688 →
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Etymology: FreeDict original editorial.