First Known Use: 1717
Dictionary
evanescent
adjective ev·a·nes·cent \-sənt\
: lasting a very short time
Full Definition of EVANESCENT
: tending to vanish like vapor
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Origin of EVANESCENT
Latin evanescent-, evanescens, present participle of evanescere
Related to EVANESCENT
- Synonyms
- brief, deciduous, ephemeral, momentary, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory
Synonym Discussion of EVANESCENT
transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time. transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay <a hotel catering primarily to transient guests>. transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end <fame in the movies is transitory>. ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration <many slang words are ephemeral>. momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state <my feelings of guilt were only momentary>. fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult <let a fugitive smile flit across his face> <fleeting moments of joy>. evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality <the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation>.
Rhymes with EVANESCENT
Medical Dictionary
evanescent
adjective ev·a·nes·cent \ˌev-ə-ˈnes-ənt\
Medical Definition of EVANESCENT
: tending to disappear quickly : of relatively short duration <an evanescent rash>
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