2. Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view
of a landscape.
3. Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a
transient guest; transient boarders. [Colloq. U. S.]
Syn: {Transient}, {Transitory}, {Fleeting}.
Usage: 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.