Lexic.us

Definition of Gossamer

1. Adjective. Characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy. "Gossamer shading through his playing"

2. Noun. A gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture.

3. Adjective. So thin as to transmit light. "Vaporous silks"

4. Noun. Filaments from a web that was spun by a spider.

Definition of Gossamer

1. n. A fine, filmy substance, like cobwebs, floating in the air, in calm, clear weather, especially in autumn. It is seen in stubble fields and on furze or low bushes, and is formed by small spiders.

Definition of Gossamer

1. Noun. A fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes etc. ¹

2. Noun. A soft, sheer fabric. ¹

3. Noun. Anything delicate, light and flimsy. ¹

4. Adjective. Tenuous, light, filmy or delicate. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gossamer

1. a fine film of cobwebs [n -S]

Medical Definition of Gossamer

1. 1. A fine, filmy substance, like cobwebs, floating in the air, in calm, clear weather, especially in autumn. It is seen in stubble fields and on furze or low bushes, and is formed by small spiders. 2. Any very thin gauzelike fabric; also, a thin waterproof stuff. 3. An outer garment, made of waterproof gossamer. Gossamer spider, any small or young spider which spins webs by which to sail in the air. See Ballooning spider. Origin: OE. Gossomer, gossummer, gosesomer, perh. For goose summer, from its downy appearance, or perh. For God's summer, cf. G. Mariengarr gossamer, properly Mary's yarn, in allusion to the Virgin Mary. Perhaps the E. Word alluded to a legend that the gossamer was the remnant of the Virgin Mary's winding sheet, which dropped from her when she was taken up to heaven. For the use of summer in the sense of film or threads, cf. G. Madchensommer, Altweibersommer, fliegender Sommer, all meaning, gossamer. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gossamer

gospelers gospelesque gospelize gospell gospelled gospeller gospellers gospelly gospelmonger gospelmongers

gospodar gospodars gosport gosports goss gossamer (current term) gossamerlike gossamers gossamery gossan

gossaniferous gossans gossat gosse gossed gosses gossib gossibs gossing gossip

Literary usage of Gossamer

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science from an Easy Chair by Edwin Ray Lankester (1911)
"XXXI gossamer FINE as gossamer! Town-bred folks never see it, and do not believe in its existence; ... gossamer is a very real and a most beautiful thing. ..."

2. The Dictionary of National Biography by Sidney Lee (1909)
"When Robert William Elliston [qv] in 1804 quitted Bath, he was replaced by Wrench, who made his appearance on б Jan. 1806 as gossamer in ' Laugh when you ..."

3. Essays and Essay-writing: Based on Atlantic Monthly Models by William Maddux Tanner (1918)
"gossamer LAST autumn I made the discovery that, in addition to the Indian summer, we were favored with a gossamer summer. During this season, which includes ..."

4. Journal of Researches Into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries by Charles Darwin (1846)
"... supposition that the gossamer owes its origin indifferently to the young of several genera of spiders; although, as we have seen, the young of other ..."

5. How to Know the Butterflies: A Manual of the Butterflies of the Eastern by John Henry Comstock, Anna Botsford Comstock (1904)
"They are distinguished from the gossamer- winged butterflies by the presence of a humeral vein in the hind wings, and from them and all other butterflies by ..."

6. Songs and Ballads by Samuel Lover (1858)
"THE CHILD AND THE gossamer. A SUNBEAM was playing thro' flow'rs that hung ... But the sunbeam was cross'd by an angry cloud, And the gossamer died in the ..."

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