ephemeral
e·phem·er·al (
-f
m
r-l)
adj.
1. Lasting for a markedly brief time: “There remain some truths too ephemeral to be captured in the cold pages of a court transcript” Irving R. Kaufman.
2. Living or lasting only for a day, as certain plants or insects do.
n.
A markedly short-lived thing.
[From Greek eph
meros : ep-, epi-, epi- + hmer
, day.]
e·phem
er·ali·ty, e·phemer·al·ness n.
e·phemer·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Noun | 1. | ephemeral – anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
insect – small air-breathing arthropod
|
| Adj. | 1. | ephemeral – lasting a very short time; “the ephemeral joys of childhood”; “a passing fancy”; “youth’s transient beauty”; “love is transitory but it is eternal”; “fugacious blossoms”
impermanent, temporary – not permanent; not lasting; “politics is an impermanent factor of life”- James Thurber; “impermanent palm cottages”; “a temperary arrangement”; “temporary housing”
|
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
