evanesce
- To fade from sight gradually; to vanish like vapor.
In a sentence
- The morning mist began to evanesce as the sun climbed higher above the valley.
- Her confidence seemed to evanesce the moment she stepped onto the stage and faced the silent audience.
Usage note. 'Evanesce' is the verb form; 'evanescent' is the more commonly encountered adjective—use the verb when you want to emphasize the active process of disappearing.
Where it comes from
English evanesce — “to fade, vanish” · entered English 19th c.
From Latin 'evanescere', meaning 'to vanish' or 'to pass away', composed of the prefix 'e-' (out, away) and 'vanescere' (to become empty or vain), from 'vanus' meaning 'empty'. The word entered English in the early 19th century, primarily in literary and poetic usage. It is closely related to 'evanescent'.