[tran.si.to.ry] adj [ME transitorie, fr. MF transitoire, fr. LL transitorius, fr. L, of or allowing passage, fr. transire] (14c) 1: tending to pass away: not persistent
2: of brief duration: temporary "the ~ nature of earthly joy" syn see transient -- tran.si.to.ri.ly adv -- tran.si.to.ri.ness n