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transient

3 entries found.


Main Entry:
1tran·sient 
          Listen to the pronunciation of 1transient 
          Listen to the pronunciation of 1transient
Pronunciation:
\-sh(ē-)ənt, -zē-ənt, -sē-; -zhənt, -jənt\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Latin transeunt-, transiens, present participle of transire to cross, pass by, from trans- + ire to go — more at issue
Date:
1599
1 a: passing especially quickly into and out of existence : transitory <transient beauty> b: passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn <transient visitors>2: affecting something or producing results beyond itself
tran·sient·ly adverb
synonyms transient , transitory , ephemeral , momentary , fugitive , fleeting , evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time. transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay <a hotel catering primarily to transient guests>. transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end <fame in the movies is transitory>. ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration <many slang words are ephemeral>. momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state <my feelings of guilt were only momentary>. fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult <let a fugitive smile flit across his face> <fleeting moments of joy>. evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality <the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation>.


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