transient

Definitions

1. 1.Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape.
2. 2.Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a transient guest; transient boarders. [Colloq. U.S.] Transient represents a thing as brief at the best; transitory, as liable at any moment to pass away. Fleeting goes further, and represents it as in the act of taking its flight. Life is transient; its joys are transitory; its hours are fleeting. What is loose love A transient gust. Pope If [we love] transitory things, which soon decay, Age must be loveliest at the latest day. Donne. O fleeting joys Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes. Milton. -- Tran"sient*ly, adv. -- Tran"sient*ness, n.
3. 3.That which remains but for a brief time. Glanvill.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "transient" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is transient.

• What is hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape called?
• What is that which remains but for a brief time. Glanvill called?