| 单词 | ephemeral |
| 释义 | ephemeral (once / 3585 pages) nadj Something that is fleeting or short-lived is ephemeral, like a fly that lives for one day or text messages flitting from cellphone to cellphone. Ephemeral (ə-FEM-ər-əl) was originally a medical term with the specific meaning "lasting only one day," as a fever or sickness (Hemera means "day" in Greek.) The word became more general, coming to mean "lasting a short time," covering the life spans of plants or insects and then eventually anything that is fleeting or transitory. A related word is the plural noun ephemera, meaning "things that are meant to last for only a short time." Posters for a rock concert are often ephemera, unless the band is so famous that they get saved and sold on eBay. WORD FAMILYephemeral: ephemerality, ephemerally, ephemeralness, ephemerals+/ephemera: ephemerae, ephemeral, ephemeras/ephemerality: ephemeralities USAGE EXAMPLESIt’s ephemeral, spiritual, the way they talk, the way their eyes change when they laugh. The Guardian(Dec 28, 2016) “But this is a topic in which reality proves to be particularly ephemeral.” The New Yorker(Dec 20, 2016) These delicate hues – what she and others are calling an “ephemeral” trend – evoke airiness and light. Washington Times(Dec 20, 2016) 1n anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form Syn|Hyper ephemeron insect small air-breathing arthropod 2adj lasting a very short time the ephemeral joys of childhood Syn fugacious, passing, short-lived, transient, transitory impermanent, temporary not permanent; not lasting |
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