Wednesday, October 13, 2010

EVANESCENCE

evanescence:

- a gradual disappearance
- the state of becoming imperceptible

Example: But this was an evanescence, and quickly repented of, as it were, by an immitigable look, pinching and shriveling the visage into the momentary semblance of a wrinkled walnut. [Reference: Herman Melville, Billy Budd, sailor]