n.
Pronunciation: -sh( ē -) ə nt, -z ē - ə nt, -s ē -; -zh ə nt, -j ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin transeunt-, transiens, present participle of transire to cross, passive 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>.