zephyr

== English == === Alternative forms === zephir (archaic) === Etymology === From Latin zephyrus (“west wind”), from Ancient Greek Ζέφυρος (Zéphuros). Doublet of zefir, zéphire, Zephyr, and Zephyrus. The confectionery sense is a semantic loan from Russian зефи́р (zefír). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈzɛfə(ɹ)/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈzɛfɚ/ Rhymes: -ɛfə(ɹ) === Noun === zephyr (plural zephyrs) A light wind from the west. Synonym: westerly Any light refreshing wind; a gentle breeze. Anything of fine, soft, or light quality, especially fabric. A type of soft confectionery made by whipping fruit and berry purée (mostly apple purée) with sugar and egg whites with subsequent addition of a gelling agent like pectin, carrageenan, agar, or gelatine. Alternative form: zefir ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === zephyr (third-person singular simple present zephyrs, present participle zephyring, simple past and past participle zephyred) (intransitive, poetic) To blow or move like a zephyr, or light breeze. (transitive, poetic) To blow or blow on gently like a zephyr; to cool or refresh with a gentle breeze. 1849, letter from Leonidas Lent Hamline dated 15 December, 1849, in Walter Clark Palmer, Life and Letters of Leonidas L. Hamline, D.D., New York: Carlton & Porter, 1866, Chapter 15, p. 361,[4] He was a fragrant poison, a zephyred pestilence spread through all the city. 1914, Leonard Lanson Cline, untitled sonnet in Poems, Boston: The Poet Lore Company, p. 76,[5] Ah, but the skies are joyous in the spring, From dawn to dusk exuberantly blue; White-tufted oftentimes with clouds that do But wanton in heaven’s zephyred merrying! 1914, Juliane Paulsen (pseudonym of Juliane Grace Hansen), “Poppy Fantasy” in And Then Came Spring, Boston: The Gorham Press, p. 49,[6] Oh, graciously she led my soul within Where ever and forever went a wind In zephyred streams of poppies coursing sweet About the place, and waves of poppy heat About us there. === Further reading === Zefir (food) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia