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Retrospect vs Flashback - What's the difference?

retrospect | flashback |

As nouns the difference between retrospect and flashback

is that retrospect is consideration of past times while flashback is a dramatic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative.

As a verb retrospect

is to look or refer back to; to reflect on.

retrospect

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • consideration of past times
  • * 1853 , , "Villette":
  • My mind, calmer and stronger now than last night, made for itself some imperious rules, prohibiting under deadly penalties all weak retrospect of happiness past; commanding a patient journeying through the wilderness of the present...
  • * 1976 , edition, ISBN 0820311286, page 298:
  • Whether, like Colin, in retrospect Willie Lee and Baptist would feel that what has vanished was greater than what was achieved, is not something we can predict.

    Antonyms

    * prospect

    Derived terms

    * in retrospect

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To look or refer back to; to reflect on
  • * 1804: Alexander Hamilton, Letter to John Adams (Bartlett) - To give a correct idea of the circumstances.., it may be useful to retrospect to an early period.
  • flashback

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a dramatic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative
  • (psychology) a vivid mental image of a past trauma, especially one that recurs
  • a similar recurrence of the effects of a hallucinogenic drug
  • the condition of the flame propagating down the hose of an oxy-fuel welding system
  • Synonyms

    * (dramatic device) analepsis

    Coordinate terms

    * (act of remembering) reminiscence

    Derived terms

    * (flame) flashback arrestor

    Descendants

    * German: (l)

    See also

    * flashforward

    Anagrams

    * ----