It was by dint of passing strength, / That he moved the massy stone at length.
1847, Robert Holmes, The Case of Ireland Stated:
That parliament was destined, in one short hour of convulsive strength, in one short hour of passing glory, to humble the pride and alarm the fears of England.
2011, Stewart J Lawrence, The Guardian, 14 Jun 2011:
Ardent pro-lifer Rick Santorum made one passing reference to "authenticity" as a litmus test for a conservative candidate, but if he was obliquely referring to Romney (and he was), you could be excused for missing the dig.
One, pale as yonder waning moon, / With lips of lurid blue; / The other, rosy as the morn / When throned on ocean's wave, / It blushes o'er the world: / Yet both so passing wonderful!
2010, Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, 30 Oct 2010:
‘I find it passing strange that convicts understand honest folk, but honest folk don't understand convicts.’