from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Memoir \Mem"oir\, or pl. Memoirs \Mem"oirs\, n. [F. m['e]moire,
m., memorandum, fr. m['e]moire, f., memory, L. memoria. See
{Memory}.]
1. A memorial account; a history composed from personal
experience and memory; an account of transactions or
events (usually written in familiar style) as they are
remembered by the writer. See {History}, 2.
[1913 Webster]
2. A memorial of any individual; a biography; often, a
biography written without special regard to method and
completeness.
[1913 Webster]
3. An account of something deemed noteworthy; an essay; a
record of investigations of any subject; the journals and
proceedings of a society.
[1913 Webster]