ephemeron
(ɪˈfɛmərən)
Pl. 7–9 ephemera, 9 ephemerons.
[a. Gr. (ζῷον) ἐϕήµερον (Aristotle H.A. i. v.), neut. of ἐϕήµερος: see ephemera2.]
1. An insect, which, in its winged state, lives but for a day. Cf. ephemera2.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva (1677) §697 There are certain Flies that are called Ephemera that live but a day. 1710 Hearne Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) III. 30 The Ephemeron, a Fly that lives but five Hours. 1845 R. Chambers Vest. Creat., Hypoth. Devel., An ephemeron, hovering over a pool for its one April day of life. 1884 G. F. Braithwaite Salmonidæ Westmorld. vi. 26 The most beautiful species of our ephemera, the green and grey drakes, must not be forgotten. |
2. fig. A short-lived person, institution, or production.
| 1771 Bachelor (1773) I. No. 38. 254 Unnotic'd, dull invective lyes, A mere Ephemeron it dyes, Or but provokes a jest. 1787 Beckford Italy (1834) II. 78 All the human ephemera of Lisbon. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 371 This political ephemeron [constitution formed by the National Assembly in 1791]. 1837 H. Martineau Soc. Amer. III. 208 Every ephemeron of a tale-writer, a dramatist, etc. 1859 Fairholt Tobacco (1876) 61 Samuel Rowlands, a prolific writer of ephemera. 1878 Morley Carlyle 173 A cloud of sedulous ephemera still suck a little spiritual moisture. |
‖ 3. A plant described by ancient writers. Obs.
Some ancient authors distinguish two plants called ephemeron: one so named because springing up and dying in one day, the other as being a poison that causes death within a day.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xlv. 204 If it be Ephemeron as it seemeth to be, then it is good for the teeth. 1616 Hayward Sanct. Troub. Soul ii. (1620) To Rdr. ¶9 Many writings are like the plant Ephemeron; which springeth, flourisheth, and fadeth in one day. 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. 35 It [goat's milk] helps against the ephemeron or cantharides [mistranslates contra cantharidas et contra ephemeri potum Plin. N.H. xxviii. xlv]. |
4. attrib.
| a 1735 Derham (J.), Swammerdam observes of the ephemeron-worms, that their food is clay. 1751 Chambers Cycl. Travellers into Arabia tell us of several ephemeron-trees. a 1791 Wesley Serm. Wks. 1811 IX. 115 An Ephemeron Fly lives six hours. 1796 D'Israeli Lit. Recreat. 115 Several singular coincidencies alone gave the ephemeron critic his temporary existence. 1802 Paley Nat. Theol. xxiii. (1826) 345 An ephemeron fly [produces] a cod-bait maggot. |
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Add: [2.] b. pl. ephemera. Printed matter of no lasting value except to collectors, as tickets, posters, greetings cards, etc.
| 1938 Proc. Special Libraries Assoc. I. 55 (heading) Pamphlets and ephemera. 1943 Gloss. Libr. Terms (Amer. Libr. Assoc.) 53 Ephemera. 1. Current material, usually pamphlets and clippings, of temporary interest and value. 2. Similar material of the past which has acquired literary or historical significance. 1956 Library Sept. 8 (Advt.), Catalogues offering rare and interesting books, pamphlets and ephemera post free. 1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 126 Faddy ephemera covered its walls: posters of Jimi Hendrix, Auden and Isherwood, Rasputin. 1981 Times 2 Nov. 10/7 The Ephemera Society's 1981 award of the Samuel Pepys medal for an outstanding contribution to ephemera studies has been made to Mr John Lewis, the graphic designer and typographer. |
Hence eˈphemerist n.2, a collector of ephemera (sense 2 b above).
| 1976 Southern Even. Echo (Southampton) 2 Nov. 3/7 The hoarders, or ephemerists as they prefer to be known, are people who collect the printed oddments of everyday life. 1990 Sunday Tel. 27 May (Review) p. iv/5 Almost all the material that ephemerists collect is intrinsically worthless. |