ephemera means plural of ephemeron; Manmade objects that are short-lived (under usual conditions), usually because their design intent is to be inexpensively made and thus affordably bought, a goal that often is an engineering trade-off versus durability.; Especially, such objects that are collectibles, such as (originally) cheap publications (e.g., pamphlets, brochures), single-use packaging from packaged goods, and giveaway or throwaway trinkets. It carries an Arena rating of 1818, earned across 164 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, ephemera ranks #762 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #1,743 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,076 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #3,435 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words.
ephemera is pronounced /ɪˈfɛməɹə/.
Why “ephemera” is a great word
EPHEMERA — [Noun] Man-made objects, especially printed or written items, designed to be short-lived or used only briefly, often becoming collectibles through accidental preservation. From Ancient Greek ἐφήμερος (ephēmeros, "lasting a day, short-lived"), via its neuter plural form ἐφήμερα (ephēmera), taken as a singular noun; first used in English in the late 14th century as a medical term. Unlike an "artifact"—a durable object of cultural significance, purposefully preserved—or a "keepsake"—a personally cherished memento—ephemera are typically mass-produced, utilitarian items whose survival is secondary to their intended, fleeting use. It is the creased theater ticket stub found in a coat pocket years later, the cheerful vulgarity of a century-old advertising trade card, and the ghost of a shopping list in a secondhand book—fragile testaments to the sheer volume of ordinary life that history, by its nature, is designed to forget.
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἐφήμερᾰ (ephḗmeră), neuter plural form of ἐφήμερος (ephḗmeros).
noun
- plural of ephemeron; Manmade objects that are short-lived (under usual conditions), usually because their design intent is to be inexpensively made and thus affordably bought, a goal that often is an engineering trade-off versus durability.; Especially, such objects that are collectibles, such as (originally) cheap publications (e.g., pamphlets, brochures), single-use packaging from packaged goods, and giveaway or throwaway trinkets.e.g.“vintage ephemera”
- plural of ephemeron; Manmade objects that are short-lived (under usual conditions), usually because their design intent is to be inexpensively made and thus affordably bought, a goal that often is an engineering trade-off versus durability.; Published single-sheet or single-page documents which are meant to be thrown away after one use.
- plural of ephemeron; Manmade objects that are short-lived (under usual conditions), usually because their design intent is to be inexpensively made and thus affordably bought, a goal that often is an engineering trade-off versus durability.; Transitory audiovisual matter not intended to be retained or preserved.e.g.“video ephemera”
- A mayfly (genus Ephemera).
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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