Late Middle English; earliest use found in Reginald Pecock (c1392–?1459), bishop of Chichester and religious author. From Middle French rememoratif (French remémoratif) serving as a reminder or its probable model post-classical Latin rememorativus commemorative from rememorat-, past participial stem of rememorari + classical Latin -īvus. Compare Spanish rememorativo, Italian †rememorativo.