Duration & Permanence Vocabulary

lasting for a very short time

“Fame on social media is often ephemeral—here today, gone tomorrow.”

Origin: Greek ephēmeros `lasting only a day` (epi `upon` + hēmera `day`)

lasting only for a short time; impermanent

“The transient nature of youth makes it all the more precious.”

Origin: Latin transire `to go across` (trans `across` + ire `to go`)

lasting for a very short time; passing swiftly

“She caught only a fleeting glimpse of the rare bird.”

Origin: Old English flēotan `to float, drift, flow`

lasting for a very short time; brief

“His momentary hesitation cost him the race.”

Origin: Latin momentum `movement, moment` (from movere `to move`)

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence

“The evanescent morning mist dissolved as the sun rose.”

Origin: Latin evanescere `to vanish` (e- `out` + vanescere `to vanish`)

not permanent; temporary

“All earthly pleasures are transitory.”

Origin: Latin transitorius `passing` (from transire `to go across`)

lasting for an indefinite time; enduring

“The perennial debate over nature versus nurture continues.”

Origin: Latin perennis `lasting through the year` (per `through` + annus `year`)

never ending or changing; occurring repeatedly

“They lived in perpetual fear of discovery.”

Origin: Latin perpetuus `continuous` (per `through` + petere `to go toward`)

eternal and unchanging; everlasting

“The philosopher spoke of sempiternal truths that transcend time.”

Origin: Latin sempiternus `everlasting` (semper `always` + aeternus `eternal`)

unchanging over time; permanent

“The laws of physics are immutable.”

Origin: Latin immutabilis `unchangeable` (in- `not` + mutare `to change`)

making marks that cannot be removed; unforgettable

“The war left an indelible impression on an entire generation.”

Origin: Latin indelibilis `indestructible` (in- `not` + delere `to delete, destroy`)

lasting over a period of time; durable

“Their enduring friendship survived decades of separation.”

Origin: Latin indurare `to make hard` (in- `in` + durus `hard`)