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ephemera definition

ephem·era (e fem′ər ə, i-)

noun pl. ephemeras -·eras or ephemerae -·erae′ (-ē′)

  1. mayfly
    1. an ephemeral thing
    2. ephemeral things collectively
  3. printed matter (as theater programs, posters, guidebooks) meant to be of use for only a short time but preserved by collectors

Etymology: ModL < Gr ephēmeron: see ephemeron

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments (1) Add Your Comment

The #3 definition implies that the definition of ephemera is related to or dependent upon the material being, "preserved by collectors". There is no connection between the definition and what happens to the material. The definition I use is: Ephemera is printed material meant for short-term use and then discarded. (Ephemera does not have to be printed on paper. It can be printed on anything so long as the spirit of use is temporary, short-term, or transitory. Examples: all print advertising; catalogs; letter & billheads; tickets & invitations; newspapers & magazines; post cards; labels; telephone books.

Posted by Kit Barry / Kit Barry Ephemera / kbarry@surfglobal.net 76 days ago.

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