The past, especially a time that seems distant or nostalgic, usually referring to the recent past or a romanticized earlier period.
Compound of 'yester-' (from Old English 'geostran' meaning yesterday) and 'year.' The prefix 'yester-' is archaic English for 'previous' or 'former.'
"Yesteryear" is one of those delightfully archaic words that became trendy again—originally just meaning 'last year,' it now romantically evokes entire eras. Artists and marketers deliberately use it to create nostalgia, which is why you'll see 'yesteryear' in vintage shops way more than in actual old documents!
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