(sometimes spelt itara) adjective

1. passing, changeable, short, temporary, brief unstable MN.i.318 (opp. dīgharattaṃ); AN.ii.187; Ja.i.393 Ja.iii.83 (˚dassana = khaṇika˚ C.), Ja.iv.112 (˚vāsa temporary abode); Pv.i.11#11 (= na cira-kāla-ṭṭhāyin anicca vipariṇāma-dhamma Pv-a.60); DN-a.i.195; Pv-a.60 (= paritta khaṇika).
2. small, inferior, poor, unreliable, mean MN.ii.47 (˚jacca of inferior birth); AN.ii.34; Snp.757 (= paritta paccupaṭṭhāna Snp-a.509); Mil.93, Mil.114 (˚pañña of small wisdom). This meaning (2) also in BSk. itvaṛa, e.g. Divy.317 (dāna).

Vedic itvara in meaning “going”, going along, hence developed meaning “passing” fr. i