memorandum, n.
(mɛməˈrændəm)
(Also 7 -dome.) Pl. memoranda (-ˈændə), memorandums (-ˈændəmz).
[L., neut. sing. of memorandus, gerundive of memorāre (see memorate v.).]
1. ‘(It is) to be remembered’: placed (like ‘Nota bene’) at the head of a note of something that is to be remembered or a record (for future reference) of something that has been done. Now only legal.
| 1433 Rolls of Parlt. V. 423/1 Memorand', yat ye xxiiii day of Novembr', ye Communys [etc.]. 1465 Paston Lett. II. 175 Memorandum to Thomas More that because ye myzt foryete myne erand to Maister Bernay, I pray you rede hym my bille. 1506 Guylforde's Pilgr. (Camden) 15 Memorandum, that vpon Tewysday..we come to Jaffe. 1567 in 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 643/2 Memorandum deliuerit to the lard of Drumlenrik thir pieces off siluer work efter following. 1655 in Z. Boyd's Zion's Flowers (1855) App. 29/2 Memorandum, that the whol is to repay to the Colledge, the half of the above mentioned 66 lib. 03 sh. 4d. 1763 Sterne Let. 12 June, Memorandum! I am not to forget how honest a man I have for a banker at Paris. 1820 Gifford Compl. Eng. Lawyer (ed. 5) 664 An Agreement for letting a First and Second Floor, Garret, and Kitchen, unfurnished. Memorandum, That it is hereby declared and agreed by and between [etc.]. |
2. a. ‘A note to help the memory’ (J.); by extension, a record of events, or of observations made on a particular subject,
esp. when intended for the writer's future consideration or use.
| 1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 16 §1 Diuers summes..as in the rolles, & Memorandum of the..Escheker more plainly it may appere. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. iii. 179 If there were any thing in thy Pocket but Tauerne Recknings, Memorandums of Bawdie-houses. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII 212 And ouer against this Memorandum (of the Kings owne hand) Otherwise satisfied. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. vi, Taking Notes of what I spoke, and Memorandums of what Questions he intended to ask me. 1813 Aubrey's Lett. I. Advt., The Lives..were originally designed as memoranda for the use of Anthony a Wood, when composing his Athenæ Oxonienses. 1854 J. Martineau Ess. (1869) II. 307 The few lines and points that are jotted down may serve, perhaps, as indicative memoranda to those who know the ground. 1903 19th Cent. June 961 He awoke and made a memorandum of the day and the hour and the smell. |
b. spec. A record of a pecuniary transaction.
| [1607 Lingua iii. i, Memorandum that I owe; that he owes.] 1607 Middleton Michaelm. Term v. i, Ile heartilye set my hand to a Memorandum. 1664 Pepys Diary 30 Sept., I had not fulfilled all my memorandums and paid all my petty debts. 1711 M. Henry Forgiveness of Sin Wks. 1853 II. 326/1 The memorandum of a debt is blotted out when it is paid. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. iv, I suppose a memorandum between us of two or three lines, and a payment down, will bind the bargain. |
c. Law. The writing or document in which the terms of a transaction or contract are embodied. In
Marine Insurance, a clause in a policy enumerating the articles in respect of which underwriters have no liability.
memorandum of agreement, the heading of certain forms of agreement.
memorandum of association, a document required, under the Companies Acts, for the registration of a joint stock company, containing the name of the company, its object, capital, etc.
memorandum in error, ‘a document alleging error in fact, accompanied by an affidavit of such matter of fact’ (Wharton); abolished 1875.
| 1591 Greene Art Conny Catch. ii. (1592) 23 A Memorandum drawen in some legall forme. 1677 Act 29 Chas. II c. 3 §4 Unlesse the Agreement..or some Memorandum or Note thereof shall be in Writeing. 1771 Burrow K. B. Rep. III. 1551 This Clause, or Memorandum was introduced, He said, to deliver the Insurers from small Averages. 1802 S. Marshall Insur. I. 139 In the common policies, used in London by private underwriters, the memorandum runs thus: N B. Corn, fish, salt, fruit, flour and seed, are warranted free from average, unless general, or the ship be stranded [etc.]. 1820 Gifford Compl. Eng. Lawyer (ed. 5) 661 Agreement to grant a Lease of a House. Memorandum made this day of 1819, between A.B. of of the one part, and C.D. of of the other part, as follows. 1836 R. Thomson Bills of Exch. etc. (ed. 2) 12 Conditions of payment..contained in a separate memorandum on the bill or note. 1852 Act 15 & 16 Vict. c. 76 §158 Either Party alleging Error in Fact may deliver to One of the Masters of the Court a Memorandum in Writing, in the Form [etc.]. 1862 Act 25 & 26 Vict. c. 89 §6 Subscribing their Names to a Memorandum of Association. |
d. ‘In diplomacy, a summary of the state of a question, or a justification of a decision adopted’ (Ogilvie 1882).
| 1658 Mercurius Polit. 7–14 Oct. 908 To whom cause and Reason was shewed about the non-satisfactory proffer made lately by the Portugal Ambassador, who intends to put in another Memorandum. 1853 Malmesbury Mem. Ex-Minister (1884) I. 402 Sir Robert Peel.., the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Aberdeen..drew up and signed a memorandum, the spirit and scope of which was to support Russia in her legitimate protectorship of the Greek religion and the Holy Shrines. 1885 Lowe Bismarck II. 77 Their deliberations..resulted in the preparation of the so-called Berlin Memorandum. |
† 3. An injunction to remember something.
Obs.| 1586 B. Young Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iv. 191 A certaine memorandum, that he gaue mee, which was, That..I should haue an especiall care, not to incurre at anie time the daunger of water. 1610 Day Festivals iii. (1615) 70 Remember saith the Apostle St. Paul among his many Memorandums unto Timothy [etc.]. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. §45, I have therefore enlarged that common Memento mori, into a more Christian memorandum, Memento quatuor Novissima. |
† 4. a. A reminder; also, a memento, souvenir.
Obs.| a 1591 H. Smith Serm. (1624) 18 Some sentence which you haue heard, shall gnaw you at the heart with a memorandum of hell. a 1618 W. Bradshaw Medit. Mans Mort. (1621) 34 [Every day] bringing with it some judgement and Memorandum or other of Gods anger for sin. 1659 Stokes Explic. Min. Proph. 577 They shall walk about like living carcases, ugly, noisome spectacles of misery, and memorandums of divine vengeance. 1679 Exec. Bury 4 He was found Guilty of Manslaughter, and carries a Memorandum in his Hand, to make him and others more wary for the future. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 91 Ye precious relics, ye delicious memorandums. 1808 Pike Sources Mississ. i. App. 3 Some other trifling things, as a memorandum of my good will. 1847 De Quincey Sp. Mil. Nun §8 That pocket-handkerchief which he had left at St. Sebastian's fifteen years ago,..and which..was the one sole memorandum of papa ever heard of at St. Sebastian's. |
† b. A mark or sign serving to identify.
Obs.| 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1792) II. 129 Had you any particular memorandum or mark whereby you would know him to be your child? |
5. Comm. An informal epistolary communication, without signature or formulæ of address or subscription, usually written on paper with a printed heading bearing the word ‘Memorandum’ and the name and address of the sender.
6. attrib., as
memorandum book,
memorandum paper,
† memorandum ring,
memorandum tablet; also
memoranda rolls;
memorandum articles, the articles enumerated in a marine insurance memorandum (
Cent. Dict.);
memorandum check, ‘a brief informal note of a debt of the nature of a due bill’ (Ogilvie 1882);
memorandum head,
† (
a) a head clever at making mental memoranda (?
nonce-use); (
b)
Comm. the printed heading of a ‘memorandum’ (see 5).
| 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xlii. 301 On which she observes in her *memorandum-book as follows. 1753 Scots Mag. XV. 36/2 She was..entering some particulars in her memorandum-book. 1843 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 223 Having bethought me of a pretty memorandum-book in my reticule. |
| 1830–57 Paige Rep. II. 612 (Bartlett) *Memorandum check. |
| 1732 Lady B. Germain Let. 23 Feb. Swift's Wks. (1841) II. 667, I wish I had my dame Wadgar's, or Mr. Ferris's *memorandum head, that I might know whether it was ‘at the time of gooseberries’. |
| 1710 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 3 Nov., I have put MD's commissions in a *memorandum paper. |
| 1794–6 E. Darwin Zoon. (1801) I. 179 As we talk of *memorandum-rings, and tie a knot on our handkerchiefs to bring something into our minds. |
| 1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 312/2 [An] important class of documents belonging to the Court of Exchequer..is the *memorandum rolls. Ibid., The ‘brevia regia’ endorsed on the memoranda rolls. |
| 1774 Westm. Mag. II. 560, I dropt my ivory *Memorandum-tablet in the Bedford Coffee-house. |
Hence
memoˈrandum v. trans., to make a memorandum of;
memoˈrandumer nonce-wd., one who makes memoranda.
| 1787 F. Burney Diary 26 Feb., I feel sorry to be named..by that biographical, anecdotical memorandummer [Mr. Boswell]. 1805 T. Holcroft Bryan Perdue III. 94 The moneybills..were addressed to me, that I might memorandum their amount. 1816 Scott Antiq. xli, Which business will in future be carried on under the firm of Greenhorn and Grinderson, (which I memorandum for the sake of accuracy in addressing your future letters). 1817 Fosbrooke Brit. Monarchism 348 The Scribes also memorandumed their interlineations. |