Is there a word or phrase for nostalgia for an era in which one didn't live?












2















I am thinking that if such a word or phrase existed, that the French, or Germans, or Japanese would have one.



But is there one in English? Is it even appropriate to say one is nostalgic for an era in which they didn't live?










share|improve this question























  • english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

    – jxh
    Mar 21 at 0:39











  • What is the French word for this?

    – Flux
    16 hours ago
















2















I am thinking that if such a word or phrase existed, that the French, or Germans, or Japanese would have one.



But is there one in English? Is it even appropriate to say one is nostalgic for an era in which they didn't live?










share|improve this question























  • english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

    – jxh
    Mar 21 at 0:39











  • What is the French word for this?

    – Flux
    16 hours ago














2












2








2








I am thinking that if such a word or phrase existed, that the French, or Germans, or Japanese would have one.



But is there one in English? Is it even appropriate to say one is nostalgic for an era in which they didn't live?










share|improve this question














I am thinking that if such a word or phrase existed, that the French, or Germans, or Japanese would have one.



But is there one in English? Is it even appropriate to say one is nostalgic for an era in which they didn't live?







single-word-requests phrase-requests idiom-requests






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Mar 20 at 21:32









Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger

292112




292112













  • english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

    – jxh
    Mar 21 at 0:39











  • What is the French word for this?

    – Flux
    16 hours ago



















  • english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

    – jxh
    Mar 21 at 0:39











  • What is the French word for this?

    – Flux
    16 hours ago

















english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

– jxh
Mar 21 at 0:39





english.stackexchange.com/q/359526/87426

– jxh
Mar 21 at 0:39













What is the French word for this?

– Flux
16 hours ago





What is the French word for this?

– Flux
16 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















1














There is nothing in the specific definition of nostalgia that says it must be about something you have experienced yourself.




[Merriam-Webster]



2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition




However, it would be strange to hear somebody say that they are nostalgic for the Victorian era, for instance—simply because they never lived at that time.





A different word that would fit for something you have no direct experience or knowledge of is pine:




[Merriam-Webster]



: to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable

// they still pined for their lost wealth




In your case:




I am pining to live in the Victorian era.




Or, by extension, you could say:




I am pining for the nostalgia of the Victorian era.




That would mean that while you don't know exactly what it's like to feel nostalgic about it (since you don't have any direct experience of it)—you wish you did.






share|improve this answer
























  • It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 0:00













  • @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:39













  • @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:40











  • We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 2:47





















0














As we know, 'nostalgia' was coined to mean something like homesickness, though enthralment by fond memories of the past is now an accepted meaning. But what if that past is not remembered, but is only read about and imagined? Although 'nostalgia' may be the best word for this, I'd feel a little uneasy about stretching it this far. I want to qualify it. 'Vicarious nostalgia' is not far off being right but is neither pleasing to the ear nor self-explanatory. Perhaps we need a term as weird as the experience itself, like 'nostalgia of the unremembered'.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    active

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    active

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    1














    There is nothing in the specific definition of nostalgia that says it must be about something you have experienced yourself.




    [Merriam-Webster]



    2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition




    However, it would be strange to hear somebody say that they are nostalgic for the Victorian era, for instance—simply because they never lived at that time.





    A different word that would fit for something you have no direct experience or knowledge of is pine:




    [Merriam-Webster]



    : to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable

    // they still pined for their lost wealth




    In your case:




    I am pining to live in the Victorian era.




    Or, by extension, you could say:




    I am pining for the nostalgia of the Victorian era.




    That would mean that while you don't know exactly what it's like to feel nostalgic about it (since you don't have any direct experience of it)—you wish you did.






    share|improve this answer
























    • It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 0:00













    • @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:39













    • @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:40











    • We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 2:47


















    1














    There is nothing in the specific definition of nostalgia that says it must be about something you have experienced yourself.




    [Merriam-Webster]



    2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition




    However, it would be strange to hear somebody say that they are nostalgic for the Victorian era, for instance—simply because they never lived at that time.





    A different word that would fit for something you have no direct experience or knowledge of is pine:




    [Merriam-Webster]



    : to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable

    // they still pined for their lost wealth




    In your case:




    I am pining to live in the Victorian era.




    Or, by extension, you could say:




    I am pining for the nostalgia of the Victorian era.




    That would mean that while you don't know exactly what it's like to feel nostalgic about it (since you don't have any direct experience of it)—you wish you did.






    share|improve this answer
























    • It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 0:00













    • @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:39













    • @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:40











    • We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 2:47
















    1












    1








    1







    There is nothing in the specific definition of nostalgia that says it must be about something you have experienced yourself.




    [Merriam-Webster]



    2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition




    However, it would be strange to hear somebody say that they are nostalgic for the Victorian era, for instance—simply because they never lived at that time.





    A different word that would fit for something you have no direct experience or knowledge of is pine:




    [Merriam-Webster]



    : to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable

    // they still pined for their lost wealth




    In your case:




    I am pining to live in the Victorian era.




    Or, by extension, you could say:




    I am pining for the nostalgia of the Victorian era.




    That would mean that while you don't know exactly what it's like to feel nostalgic about it (since you don't have any direct experience of it)—you wish you did.






    share|improve this answer













    There is nothing in the specific definition of nostalgia that says it must be about something you have experienced yourself.




    [Merriam-Webster]



    2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition




    However, it would be strange to hear somebody say that they are nostalgic for the Victorian era, for instance—simply because they never lived at that time.





    A different word that would fit for something you have no direct experience or knowledge of is pine:




    [Merriam-Webster]



    : to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable

    // they still pined for their lost wealth




    In your case:




    I am pining to live in the Victorian era.




    Or, by extension, you could say:




    I am pining for the nostalgia of the Victorian era.




    That would mean that while you don't know exactly what it's like to feel nostalgic about it (since you don't have any direct experience of it)—you wish you did.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Mar 20 at 23:36









    Jason BassfordJason Bassford

    19.1k32245




    19.1k32245













    • It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 0:00













    • @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:39













    • @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:40











    • We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 2:47





















    • It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 0:00













    • @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:39













    • @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

      – Jason Bassford
      Mar 21 at 2:40











    • We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

      – ab2
      Mar 21 at 2:47



















    It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 0:00







    It would make more sense if someone said that they were "nostalgic for the [name some aspect] of the Victorian era." rather than saying they were nostalgic for the VE. And, I don't see how one can pine for nostalgia. One can pine for some lost aspect of the Victoria Era or of the Roman Republic or even of the Upper Paleolithic era. One doesn't have to have direct experience of any lost era to know what one pines for or feels nostalgic about, as long as one has read enough. I'm going to say +1, but this answer can be improved.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 0:00















    @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:39







    @ab2 A man might say, I wish I knew what it felt like to be pregnant. So, it's certainly possible to say that you wish you felt something—even though you don't have direct knowledge of what that feeling is. With nostalgia, you could wish that you were able to miss something because you had experienced it. I know what it feels like to be nostalgic about things I have experienced, so I don't see why I couldn't want to feel nostalgic about things I haven't experienced—even though I know I actually can't, because I haven't experienced them . . .

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:39















    @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:40





    @ab2 And if people can be nostalgic about the '80s—why not be nostalgic about (or want to be nostalgic about) the Victorian era? Both are just periods in time.

    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 21 at 2:40













    We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 2:47







    We agree that one can be nostalgic about an era that one hasn't experienced; I just think it is better to say one is nostalgic about a feature or feature of such an era. For example, I might be nostalgic about the pure environment, the uncrowdedness of the Paleolithic, and the closeness to animals, but not about the bathing and excreting arrangements. And I cannot see pining for nostalgia. It is like being nostalgic for having stopped feeling nostalgic.

    – ab2
    Mar 21 at 2:47















    0














    As we know, 'nostalgia' was coined to mean something like homesickness, though enthralment by fond memories of the past is now an accepted meaning. But what if that past is not remembered, but is only read about and imagined? Although 'nostalgia' may be the best word for this, I'd feel a little uneasy about stretching it this far. I want to qualify it. 'Vicarious nostalgia' is not far off being right but is neither pleasing to the ear nor self-explanatory. Perhaps we need a term as weird as the experience itself, like 'nostalgia of the unremembered'.






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.

























      0














      As we know, 'nostalgia' was coined to mean something like homesickness, though enthralment by fond memories of the past is now an accepted meaning. But what if that past is not remembered, but is only read about and imagined? Although 'nostalgia' may be the best word for this, I'd feel a little uneasy about stretching it this far. I want to qualify it. 'Vicarious nostalgia' is not far off being right but is neither pleasing to the ear nor self-explanatory. Perhaps we need a term as weird as the experience itself, like 'nostalgia of the unremembered'.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.























        0












        0








        0







        As we know, 'nostalgia' was coined to mean something like homesickness, though enthralment by fond memories of the past is now an accepted meaning. But what if that past is not remembered, but is only read about and imagined? Although 'nostalgia' may be the best word for this, I'd feel a little uneasy about stretching it this far. I want to qualify it. 'Vicarious nostalgia' is not far off being right but is neither pleasing to the ear nor self-explanatory. Perhaps we need a term as weird as the experience itself, like 'nostalgia of the unremembered'.






        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.










        As we know, 'nostalgia' was coined to mean something like homesickness, though enthralment by fond memories of the past is now an accepted meaning. But what if that past is not remembered, but is only read about and imagined? Although 'nostalgia' may be the best word for this, I'd feel a little uneasy about stretching it this far. I want to qualify it. 'Vicarious nostalgia' is not far off being right but is neither pleasing to the ear nor self-explanatory. Perhaps we need a term as weird as the experience itself, like 'nostalgia of the unremembered'.







        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Mar 21 at 19:06





















        New contributor




        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered Mar 20 at 23:33









        Philip WoodPhilip Wood

        1353




        1353




        New contributor




        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.





        New contributor





        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        Philip Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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