[f. EVANESCENT a.: see -ENCE.]
1. The process or fact of vanishing away.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 156, ¶ 2. The great principles of truth … fade at last in total evanescence. Ibid., No. 163, ¶ 5. The sudden evanescence of his reward.
1789. Priestley, in Phil. Trans., LXXIX. 149. The almost total evanescence of both of them [nitrous and dephlogisticated air], when they are very pure, and mixed in due proportions.
1833. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ii. 29. The circumstances under which these evanescences would take place.
1849. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sc., xxi. 201. Varying through all degrees of brightness down to total, or almost total evanescence.
1878. Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., II. ix. 522. A great variety of causes had led to the gradual evanescence of dogmatic teaching.
2. The quality of being evanescent; tendency to vanish away.
18[?]. Smith, Addr. Mummy, Poet. Wks. (1846), 15. Statue of flesh! Immortal of the dead! Imperishable type of evanescence.
1830. Blackw. Mag., XXVIII. 731. The shadowy and fleeting evanescence … of the regal office and functions.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Ser. II. ii. (1876), 46. This evanescence and lubricity of all objects … lets them slip through our fingers.
3. concr. An evanescent thing. rare.
1830. Blackw. Mag., XXVII. 848. That most celestial Evanescence—a Lunar Rainbow.
