Difference between revisions of "Memory"

<p> A faculty of the mind, which presents to us ideas or notions of things that are past, accompanied with a persuasion that the things themselves were formerly real and present. When we remember with little or no effort it is called remembrance simply, or memory, and sometimes passive memory. When we endeavour to remember what does not immediately and of itself occur, it is called active memory, or recollection. </p> <p> A good memory has these several qualifications: </p> <p> 1. It is ready to receive and admit with great ease the various ideas, both of words and things, which are learned or taught. </p> <p> 2. It is large and copious to treasure up these ideas in great number and variety. </p> <p> 3. It is strong and durable to retain, for a considerable time, those words or thoughts which are committed to it. </p> <p> 4. It is faithful and active to suggest and recollect, upon every proper occasion, and those words or thoughts which it hath treasured up. </p> <p> As this faculty may be injured by neglect and slothfulness we will here subjoin a few of the best rules which have been given for the improvement of it. </p> <p> 1. We should form a clear and distinct apprehension of the things which we commit to memory. </p> <p> 2. [[Beware]] of every sort of intemperance, for that greatly impairs the faculties. </p> <p> 3. If it be weak, we must not overload it, but charge it only with the most useful and solid notions. </p> <p> 4. We should take every opportunity of uttering our best thoughts in conversation, as this will deeply imprint them. </p> <p> 5. We should join to the idea we wish to remember, some other idea that is more familiar to us, which bears some similitude to it, either in its nature, or in the sound of the word. </p> <p> 6. We should think of it before we go to sleep at night, and the first thing in the morning, when the faculties are fresh. </p> <p> 7. Method and regularity in the things we commit to the memory are necessary. </p> <p> 8. Often thinking, writing, or talking, on the subjects we wish to remember. </p> <p> 9. [[Fervent]] and frequent prayer. </p> <p> See Watts on the Mind, chap. 17; Grey's Memoria Technica; Rogers' Pleasures of Memory; Reid's Intell. [[Powers]] of Man, 303, 318, 338, 356. </p>

<p> MEM'ORY, n. L. memoria Gr. to remember, from mind, or the same root. See Mind. </p> 1. The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of past events, or ideas which are past. A distinction is made between memory and recollection. [[Memory]] retains past ideas without any, or with little effort recollection implies an effort to recall ideas that are past. <p> Memory is the purveyor of reason. </p> 2. A retaining of past ideas in the mind remembrance. Events that excite little attention are apt to escape from memory. 3. Exemption from oblivion. <p> That ever-living man of memory, </p> <p> Henry the fifth. </p> 4. The time within which past events can be remembered or recollected, or the time within which a person may have knowledge of what is past. The revolution in [[England]] was before my memory the revolution in [[America]] was within the author's memory. 5. [[Memorial]] monumental record that which calls to remembrance. A monument in London was erected in memory of the conflagration in 1666. 6. Reflection attention. <p> MEM'ORY, To lay up in the mind or memory. Not used. </p>

<p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' n.) The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' n.) The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands. </p> <p> '''(3):''' ''' (''' n.) The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong. </p> <p> '''(4):''' ''' (''' n.) Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory. </p> <p> '''(5):''' ''' (''' n.) The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events. </p> <p> '''(6):''' ''' (''' n.) A memorial. </p>