yesteryear

yesteryear — noun

1. an earlier period in history, typically thought of as being distant from the pre

1.名詞C1
釋義

an earlier period in history, typically thought of as being distant from the present in its customs, attitudes, or way of life, and often recalled with a sense of nostalgia.

例句

Mira's grandmother often told stories about the fashion and music of yesteryear.

of yesteryear — post-nominal modifier

The old photographs showed a city of yesteryear, with horse-drawn carriages on every street.

同義詞
  • olden days

    more conversational and informal; often used in set phrases like 'in the olden days'

  • bygone era

    similar literary register; emphasizes that the time has passed completely

  • days of old

    more archaic and poetic; mostly found in folk songs, proverbs, and historical fiction

  • the past

    broader, neutral register; covers any time before the present, not just distant eras

反義詞
  • the present

    direct opposite in temporal scope; neutral register

  • modern times

    emphasises contemporary customs and technology as opposed to those of the past

文法句型

of yesteryear

yesteryear's + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the post-nominal pattern 'of yesteryear' (e.g., 'the heroes of yesteryear') or the possessive form 'yesteryear's + noun' (e.g., 'yesteryear's fashions'). Strongly literary, poetic, or rhetorical; rarely used in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌Last year's festival was better than this year's — the yesteryear one was more fun.
✅Last year's festival was better than this year's
💡last year's was more fun.' — 'yesteryear' does not mean 'last year'; it refers to a distant, often nostalgic past.