zephyrian, adj.

zephyrian
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zephyrian_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zephyrianadjective

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zephyrian mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective zephyrian. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the adjective zephyrian come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1600s

The earliest known use of the adjective zephyrian is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zephyrian is from 1661, in the writing of Samuel Pordage, poet and translator.

### Nearby entries

1. Zephiran, n. 1935–
2. Zéphirine Drouhin, n. 1901–
3. zephyr, n. Old English–
4. zephyr, v. 1829–
5. zephyranth, n. 1845–
6. zephyranthes, n. 1821–
7. zephyrean, adj. 1793–
8. zephyret, n. 1777–1881
9. zephyr flower, n.?1829–
10. zephyr-gale, n. 1596–1901
11. zephyrian, adj.1661–
12. zephyrine, adj. & n. 1819–
13. zephyring, adj. 1821–
14. zephyrless, adj. a1821–
15. zephyr-like, adv. & adj. 1765–
16. zephyr lily, n.?1877–
17. zephyrous, adj. a1750–
18. zephyry, adj. 1791–
19. Zepp, n. 1914–
20. Zepp, v. 1914–
21. Zeppelin, n. 1896–

## Meaning & use

Now rare.

1. 1661–
   Of, relating to, or reminiscent of, a zephyr or light breeze; cf. zephyrean adj.
   Stressed as zeˈphyrian.
   1. 1661

      > Cover'd with grass sprung from Zephyrian showers.

      S. Pordage, Mundorum Explicatio 14
   2. 1734

      > And from the West with a Zephyrian Breath, Plants seeming dead he re-revives from Death.

      Poor Robin A 7
   3. 1922

      > A softness in new foliage ripening from bud to mature leaf in the spring, advent of which under a Zephyrian influence he is describing.

      Modern Language Notes vol. 37 88
   weather
   1. light a1398–
      Of wind, a breeze, etc.: gentle, not strong in force. Cf. moderate, adj. A.1b, strong, adj. 13a.
   2. plain a1425–35
      figurative. Of the wind: calm, gentle. Obsolete.
   3. small 1542–
      Of a wind: light, slight, gentle.
   4. soft-footed 1603–
      Having a soft or light tread. poetic. Used figuratively of the passage of time or the movement of incorporeal or ethereal things.
   5. supple 1648–
      literary. Of a wind: blowing gently, light and soft.
   6. favonian 1656–
      Of or pertaining to the west wind; hence, favourable, gentle, propitious.
   7. zephyrian 1661–
      Of, relating to, or reminiscent of, a zephyr or light breeze; cf. zephyrean, adj.
   8. slack 1670–
      Of wind, or tide: Blowing, or running, with very little strength or speed.
   9. zephyrous a1750–
      Of, relating to, or reminiscent of, a zephyr or light breeze; cf. zephyrean, adj., zephyrian, adj.
   10. zephyry 1791–
       Of the nature of a zephyr or light breeze; characterized by or affected by zephyrs.
   11. zephyrean 1793–
       Of the nature of, or reminiscent of, a zephyr or light breeze; cf. zephyrian, adj.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zephyr, n.

zephyr, n. was revised in June 2018.