bygones
Water under bridge
Bygones are things from the past, especially past grievances or conflicts.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase let bygones be bygones—agreeing to forget past offenses and move forward without resentment.
Occasionally used as an adjective meaning former or past: bygone era, bygone days.
Time already gone
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
- eraDistinct historical period
- epochDistinct historical period
- ancestryFamily line of descent
heritage · legacy · relics · artifacts · ruins · archives · chronicles · annals
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- healingRestoration of health
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
renewal · accord · compromise · mediation · detente · olive-branch · harmony · mending
Recalling past experiences
- yesteryearTime not long past
- memoriesStored past experiences
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- longingIntense, persistent desire
retrospection · melancholy · reverie · recollection · hiraeth · sentimentality · yearning · flashbacks
Persistent resentment toward someone
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- slightMinor or thin
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
dispute · wrongdoing · injury · hurt · feud · falling-out · bitterness · animosity
past
Time already gone
ancestry · heritage · legacy · relics · artifacts · ruins · archives · chronicles · annals · yore
forgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- healingRestoration of health
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
peace · renewal · accord · compromise · mediation · detente · olive-branch · harmony · mending · apology
reminiscence
Recalling past experiences
- yesteryearTime not long past
- memoriesStored past experiences
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
longing · retrospection · melancholy · reverie · recollection · hiraeth · sentimentality · yearning · flashbacks · homesickness
grudge
Persistent resentment toward someone
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- slightMinor or thin
- offenseViolation or umbrage
quarrel · dispute · wrongdoing · injury · hurt · feud · falling-out · bitterness · animosity · scores
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- refusalsno, decline, no thanks, refuse, nope
- fresh startfresh start, new beginning, clean slate, starting over, do-over
- Moving Onlet go, move on, closure, acceptance, fresh start
- reassurancesyou're safe, no sweat, no biggie, don't worry, it's alright
bygonescurrent affairs
Ongoing public events
contemporary issues · the here and now · unfinished business · current events · immediacies
bygonesgrudges
Persistent ill will
grievances · resentments · open wounds · bad blood · bones of contention
- let bygones be bygonesRelease past resentments mutually
- letting bygones be bygonesPardoning previous conflicts
- bygone eraPeriod no longer current