Definition of memento mori
- remember that you must die
Usage examples of memento mori
The skull carved on the old desk served as a memento mori, reminding its owner that life is temporary.
For the monk, the cemetery was a daily memento mori that encouraged humility and serious reflection.
The surgeon kept a tiny hourglass on her desk as a memento mori, a sober check against arrogance after every successful operation.