Expertlatin
- What is the explanation of homesickness?
- Does nostalgia mean home sickness?
- Where did the word homesick originate?
What is the explanation of homesickness?
Homesickness is the distress caused by being away from home. Its cognitive hallmark is preoccupying thoughts of home and attachment objects. Sufferers typically report a combination of depressive and anxious symptoms, withdrawn behavior and difficulty focusing on topics unrelated to home.
Does nostalgia mean home sickness?
It comes from the Greek nostos, meaning homecoming and algos, meaning pain. Nostalgia, to my surprise, originally meant homesickness. Here's another thing I didn't expect: the word wasn't used to describe an emotion. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, nostalgia was seen by doctors as a serious medical condition.
Where did the word homesick originate?
homesickness (n.) 1756, translating German Heimweh, from Heim "home" (see home (n.)) + Weh "woe, pain;" the compound is from Swiss dialect, expressing a longing for the mountains, and was introduced to other European languages 17c. by Swiss mercenaries.
