forgotten
UK: /fəˈɡɒt.n/ | US: /fərˈɡɑː.tən/
adj. no longer remembered or kept in mind
v. (past participle of "forget") to fail to remember something
The word "forgotten" originates from the Old English "forgietan," meaning "to lose hold of mentally." The prefix "for-" intensifies the sense of negation or loss (as in "forbid," "forsake"), while "gietan" relates to "grasp" or "hold." Over time, "forget" evolved in Middle English, and the suffix "-en" was added to form the past participle, aligning with patterns like "broken" or "spoken." The word reflects a vivid metaphor: memory slipping from one's mental grasp.
The ancient ruins lay forgotten in the dense jungle.
She had forgotten her keys at home again.
His contributions were sadly forgotten by later generations.
The recipe was nearly forgotten until rediscovered in an old diary.
Forgotten memories resurfaced during the reunion.