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recollection

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˌɹɛkəˈɫɛkʃən// UK //ɹɪkəlˈɛkʃən// rec·ol·lec·tion Archaic

n. the act of remembering something or a specific memory you have of the past.

n. the action or faculty of remembering; a specific memory of a past event or experience.


SIMPLE

I have no recollection of meeting him before.

CONTEXTUAL

To the best of my recollection, the contract was signed on a Tuesday afternoon in early March.

COMPLEX

The witness's vivid recollection of the suspect's attire provided the prosecution with the crucial evidence needed to secure a conviction.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Via French récollection or the verb recollect, both from Latin recollectus, the past participle of recolligere (“to collect again”), itself from re- + colligere (“to gather”).

Etymology 2

From re- + collection.

Usage

Often used in the singular with the definite article ('the') or a possessive pronoun ('my').

Pitfall

I don't have any recollections about thatI have no recollection of thatIn the sense of 'remembering', the word is typically uncountable and paired with 'of' rather than 'about'.

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