adj [usually before noun][
Date: 1600-1700;
Origin: fleet
'to go quickly' (16-19 centuries), from
Old English fleotan
'to float']
lasting for only a short time
=
brief a fleeting smile For one fleeting moment , Paula allowed herself to forget her troubles. I caught a fleeting glimpse of them as they drove past. Carol was paying a fleeting visit to Paris.>fleetinglyadv