momentary

  • 1Momentary — Mo men*ta*ry, a. [L. momentarius. See {Moment}.] Done in a moment; continuing only a moment; lasting a very short time; as, a momentary pang. [1913 Webster] This momentary joy breeds months of pain. Shak. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2momentary — index brief, ephemeral, immediate (imminent), pending (imminent), temporary, transient, transitory …

    Law dictionary

  • 3momentary — (adj.) lasting a moment, mid 15c., from L. momentarius of brief duration, from momentum (see MOMENT (Cf. moment)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4momentary — *transient, transitory, passing, ephemeral, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent, short lived Antonyms: agelong …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5momentary — [adj] brief, fleeting cursory, dreamlike, ephemeral, evanescent, flashing, flitting*, flying, fugacious, fugitive, gone in flash*, hasty, impermanent, impulsive, instantaneous, in wink of an eye*, like lightning, passing, quick, shifting, short,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6momentary — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ very brief or short lived …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7momentary — [mō′mən ter΄ē] adj. [L momentarius] 1. lasting for only a moment; passing; transitory 2. recurring every moment; constant 3. likely to occur at any moment SYN. TRANSIENT momentariness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8momentary — [[t]mo͟ʊməntəri, AM teri[/t]] ADJ Something that is momentary lasts for a very short period of time, for example for a few seconds or less. ...a momentary lapse of concentration... His hesitation was only momentary. Syn: brief …

    English dictionary

  • 9momentary — momentariness, n. /moh meuhn ter ee/, adj. 1. lasting but a moment; very brief; fleeting: a momentary glimpse. 2. that might occur at any moment; ever impending: to live in fear of momentary annihilation. 3. effective or recurring at every… …

    Universalium

  • 10momentary — /ˈmoʊməntri / (say mohmuhntree), Originally US / tɛri/ (say teree) adjective 1. lasting but a moment; very brief: a momentary glimpse. 2. occurring at any moment: to live in fear of momentary exposure. 3. constant; occurring at every moment.… …