n. 1 a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. 2 (in pl.) an autobiography or a written account of one's memory of certain events or people. 3 a an essay on a learned subject specially studied by the writer. b (in pl.) the proceedings or transactions of a learned society (Memoirs of the American Mathematical Society). memoirist n.
[ F mémoire (masc.), special use of mémoire (fem.) MEMORY ]