A Word A Day : Evanescent




Tuesday, 8th January 2008 : Today's Word is ...

Evanescent



( Adjective )


Pronunciation : èvve-néss'-nt


1. disappearing after only a short time and soon forgotten

2. tending to become imperceptible, scarcely perceptible

3. of short duration, passing away quickly

4. vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor

Etymology:


Middle English vanish - meaning disappear


Synonyms:


brief, disappearing, fading, tenuous, vanishing, ephemeral, fleet, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, momentary, passing, short-lived, temporal, temporary, transient, transitory

NOTE :

1. Elusive is used when what is being avoided is physical capture or apprehension, whereas evasive is used when what is being avoided is direct or relevant response to a verbal challenge

2. Illusory means based on or having the nature of an illusion. Elusive means difficult to describe or skillful at eluding capture

Antonyms:


enduring, eternal, everlasting, lasting, long-lived, permanent


Contextual Examples:


• Noncooks think it's silly to invest two hours' work in two minutes' enjoyment. But if cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet. — Julia Child.

• In times of strong emotion mankind disdain all base considerations. But such times are evanescent.

• It is rather an alteration of perspective, a shifting of our sense of proportion, a vivid realization that we are insignificant and evanescent creatures, existing on sufferance and at the mercy of the first chill wind from the unknown.


Related Words:


evanescently: Adverb

evanescence: Noun

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