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Ephemeral Short Life Lasting Adjective Ih Fem Uh Rul Mayfly Order

Word ephemeral
Date May 6, 2019
Type adjective
Syllables ih-FEM-uh-rul
Etymology The mayfly (order Ephemeroptera) typically hatches, matures, mates, and dies within the span of a few short hours (though the longest-lived may survive a record two days); poets sometimes use this insect to symbolize life's ephemeral nature. When ephemeral (from the Greek word ephēmeros, meaning "lasting a day") first appeared in print in English in the late 16th century, it was a scientific term applied to short-term fevers, and later, to organisms (such as insects and flowers) with very short life spans. Soon after that, it acquired an extended sense referring to anything fleeting and short-lived, as in "ephemeral pleasures."
Examples The young YouTube star's fame was ephemeral but surprisingly lucrative while it lasted.

"After winter, the garden comes to life with the planting of spring-blooming ephemeral bulbs such as naturalizing daffodils, crocus, tulips, snowdrops and hyacinths that appear before the tree canopy 'leafs out' and perennials burst forth…." — The Parry Sound (Ontario) North Star, 6 Mar. 2019
Definition 1 : lasting a very short time
2 : lasting one day only

Tags: wordoftheday::adjective

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