memento mori
3 synonyms for memento mori, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An object or image kept as a reminder that death comes to everyone, such as a skull, an hourglass or a wilting flower in a painting.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use memento mori
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a memento mori
memento mori symbolism
memento mori tattoo
Literary and artistic; common in art history, tattoo culture and Stoic writing.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'remember that you must die', from memento 'remember' and mori 'to die'.
Full origin of memento mori →Frequently asked questions
What does memento mori mean literally?
It is Latin for 'remember that you must die'. It was used as a moral reminder that worldly success and pleasure are temporary.
What is the difference between memento mori and carpe diem?
Memento mori tells you to remember death, usually to encourage humility and moral seriousness. Carpe diem, 'seize the day', draws the opposite conclusion from the same fact and urges you to enjoy life now.
What is the plural of memento mori?
The phrase is used unchanged for both singular and plural: one memento mori, several memento mori.
