tran·sient / ˈtranshənt; -zhənt; -zēənt/ • adj. lasting only for a short time; impermanent: a transient cold spell. ∎  staying or working in a place for only a short time: the transient nature of the labor force in catering.• n. 1. a person who is staying or working in a place for only a short time.2. a momentary variation in current, voltage, or frequency.DERIVATIVES: tran·sience n.tran·sien·cy n.tran·sient·ly adv.ORIGIN: late 16th cent.: from Latin transient- ‘going across,’ from the verb transire, from trans- ‘across’ + ire ‘go.’

transient XVII. — L. transiēns, transeunt-, prp. of transīre pass over, f. TRANS- + īre go.
So transit XV. — L. transitus. transition XVI. — (O)F. or L. transitive (gram.) taking a direct object; passing into another condition. XVI. — late L. transitīvus. transitory XIV. — AN. transitorie, (O)F. transitoire — ChrL. transitōrius; see -ORY2.