Etymology: < memorandum n. Compare earlier memoranduming n. and memorandumer n.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin memorandum (from 13th cent. in British sources as an introduction to a note, short for memorandum est ‘it is to be remembered’, especially in formula memorandum quod ; from late 13th cent. in British sources in sense ‘a note to help the memory’, although already from late 12th cent. denoting Exchequer Memoranda Rolls), specific uses of neuter singular of classical Latin memorandus, gerundive of memorāre (see memorate v.). Compare Anglo-Norman memorandum (1390–1412); also Old Occitan memorandum (1399), French mémorandum (1777), both in sense B. 1d. See also memorand adj. and n. (and see note at that entry on difficulty of distinguishing between that word and written abbreviations of memorandum with a mark of suspension, as in quot. 1433 at sense A.).The plural memoranda is first attested in late Middle English, while memorandums is frequent from the 16th cent. onwards. Many 20th-cent. British style guides prefer memoranda, which is more frequent than memorandums in current British written usage. U.S. style guides frequently recommend memorandums, and of U.S. usage Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dict. (1983) notes s.v.: ‘as plurals memoranda and memorandums are about equally frequent.’ Singular memoranda and plural memorandas, memorandum are all rare in print; of spoken usage Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dict. further comments: ‘we have a little evidence of the confusion of forms, including use of memorandum as a plural, in speech (as at congressional hearings)’.