ephemeral
lasting a very short time
Roots
Other words with the hemer root
- ephemera: things meant to last only briefly
- ephemerality: briefness that is already passing
Epi plus hemer gives the one-day image: here briefly, then gone.
The applause was ephemeral, but the lesson stayed.
Ephemeral is not just short. It carries a fragile image: something alive for only a day. That makes the word feel delicate instead of abstract.