zephyr

[ zef-er ]

noun

1. a gentle, mild breeze.
2. (initial capital letter) Literary. the west wind.
3. any of various things of fine, light quality, as fabric, yarn, etc.

zephyr

/ ˈzɛfə /

noun

1. a soft or gentle breeze
2. any of several delicate soft yarns, fabrics, or garments, usually of wool

Zephyr

1. The Greek and Roman god of the west wind, considered the most pleasant of the winds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zephyr¹

First recorded before 1000 zephyr fordef 2; Middle English, from Latin zephyrus, from Greek zéphyros “the west wind”; replacing Middle English zeferus, zephirus, Old English zefferus, from Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of zephyr¹

C16: from Latin zephyrus, from Greek zephuros the west wind; probably related to Greek zophos darkness, west

Synonym Study

See wind ¹.

Example Sentences

Scholar-activists Larry Lessig and Zephyr Teachout have recently been working to revive it.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, in a closely watched contest in New York, Andrew Cuomo easily defeated liberal law professor Zephyr Teachout.

From The Daily Beast

Zephyr Teachout clocked the governor Tuesday in big, progressive stretches of New York, taking 35 percent of the primary vote.

From The Daily Beast

And Zephyr Teachout is going to be a big part of it, as well.

From The Daily Beast

Zephyr Teachout lives in a fifth-floor walkup in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

From The Daily Beast

Not a zephyr ruffled the leaf of a rose, and a soft breathing fragrance bathed his reposing senses.

From Project Gutenberg

And his speech, softer than the softest breath of a zephyr wafted in a wood, sweet and mysterious, reached my ear.

From Project Gutenberg

Though your house trembles in all its timbers and shakes upon its keel, you think yourself a sailor cradled by a zephyr.

From Project Gutenberg

So we see Psyche borne aloft by Zephyr through the twilight to the nuptial abode of Eros.

From Project Gutenberg

Or again, he paints Zephyr swinging roguishly by the side of a stream.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• air
• blast
• breeze
• cyclone
• gale
• gust