ephemerality
/ɪˌfem.əˈræl.ə.ti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˌfem.ɚˈæl.ə.t̬i/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˌfe-mə-ˈra-lə-tē -ˌfē-/ (ame, mw)
ephemerality — noun
- ephemeralitysingular
- ephemeralitiesplural
1. the condition of existing, remaining important, or being visible briefly before
the condition of existing, remaining important, or being visible briefly before it soon passes
The ephemerality of cherry blossoms makes the park feel different every week.
the ephemerality of + [thing]
Hari photographed beach art to show the ephemerality of patterns left by the tide.
show the ephemerality of + [thing]
Teachers used soap bubbles in class to explain the ephemerality of a moment of joy.
At the night market, Apinya noticed the ephemerality of paper lanterns in the rain.
- transience
a close formal synonym that stresses passing quickly
- impermanence
often focuses on the lack of lasting stability
- fleetingness
more literary and often more emotional in tone
- permanence
stresses continuing or remaining unchanged
- durability
focuses on lasting physically or practically for a long time
文法句型
the ephemerality of + [thing/process]
write about the ephemerality of + [thing]
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' and a noun naming the thing that passes quickly. It is more formal than everyday words like 'briefness' and often appears in writing about art, nature, memory, or human life.
2. short-lived items, records, or objects that people use, notice, or keep for only
short-lived items, records, or objects that people use, notice, or keep for only a brief time
The museum keeps tickets, posters, and other ephemeralities from old town fairs.
tickets, posters, and other ephemeralities
Paloma packed the trip's small ephemeralities, like maps and wristbands, into one box.
small ephemeralities, like maps and wristbands
Library staff now scan wedding menus as ephemeralities worth saving for local history.
After the concert, Omar picked up paper ephemeralities, like tickets and flyers, near the stage.
- ephemera
the more usual term for short-lived printed or everyday items kept as records
- memorabilia
often suggests items kept because of personal or historical value
文法句型
ephemeralities from + event/place
small/paper ephemeralities
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in formal writing about objects or records that were made for brief use. It is often plural, and unlike sense 1 it names the short-lived things themselves rather than the quality of not lasting.