Path. Obs. Forms: 4–7 effimera, 6 ephimera, 7–9 ephemera; pl. 7 ephemeraes, 8–9 -æ, -as. Also in adapted forms 6–7 effimere, 6 ephimer. [a. med.L. ephēmera (sc. febris), fem. of ephēmerus, a. Gr. ἐφήμερος lasting only for a day, f. ἐπί (see EPI-) + ἡμέρα day. The adapted forms are perh. through OF. effimere.]
A. adj. Of a fever: Lasting only for a day; ‘ephemeral.’ B. sb. An ephemeral fever.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. xxxiv. (1495), 248. Effimera, one dayes feuer is as it were the heete of one daye.
1528. Paynel, Salerne Regim., C. A feuer effimere is engendred of vapours and smudge fumes.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, cxxxvi. 50. In Englyshe it is named the Ephimer fever…. The fever doth dye that daye in the which he doth infest any man.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, R iij. Of the Agew callyd ephimera which endureth but one daye.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., II. ix. 112. That Feauer which we call Ephemera, not exceeding foure and twentie houres.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 115. Ephemeras oft end in Hectics, or Intermittents, because the Pulse is a-like frequent in all of them.
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 105. The ephemera from cold may be regarded as an idiopathic fever.
