evanescente

evanescent

adjective eh-vah-neh-SHEN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin evanescere (to vanish), from e- + vanescere (to fade).

Also means

fleeting

Usage Note

Evanescente describes something that fades or disappears quickly, like a scent or a memory. The same form serves for masculine and feminine (il sogno evanescente / la luce evanescente); the plural is evanescenti for both genders. It is a literary adjective with an elevated register.

Examples

"La sua presenza aveva un fascino evanescente."

Natural Translation

Her presence had an evanescent charm.

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