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temporize

verb
/ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/UK/ˈtɛmpəˌɹaɪz/US

Etymology

From Middle French temporiser (“to wait one's time, temporize”) + English -ize (suffix forming verbs). Temporiser is derived from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin temporāre (“to delay, put off”) + -izāre (suffix forming the present active infinitive of verbs). Temporāre is derived from tempor-, the inflected stem of tempus (“age, time, period; season of the year; due, opportune, or proper time”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temp-, *ten- (“to extend, stretch (in the sense of a stretch of time)”), or *temh₁- (“to cut (in the sense of a section of time)”)) + -āre. Compare temporalize.

  1. derived from *temp-✻
  2. derived from temporāre — “to delay, put off”
  3. derived from temporizāre
  4. derived from temporiser — “to wait one's time, temporize”

Definitions

  1. To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a…

    To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to stall for time.

    • “There are more answers to that than you may think,” Chih temporized, because there were, but they could see that there was only one answer that really mattered to tigers.

  2. To discuss, to negotiate

    To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise.

    • The Dolphin is too wilfull oppoſite, / And will not temporize with my intreaties: / He flatly ſaies, heell not lay downe his Armes.
    • I ought to have temporized with this singular being, learned the motives of its interference, and availed myself of its succor, [...]

  3. To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed.

    • This is especially true when we're faced with temporizing a patient who will ultimately receive veneer restorations.
  4. ›+ 3 more definitions

    1. To comply with the occasion or time

      To comply with the occasion or time; to humour, or yield to, current circumstances or opinion; also, to trim (“fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each”).

      • Yet ſeeking at the firſt to temporize, / She tries if that ſome ſhort impriſonment / would calme their heat; when that would not ſuffize, / Then to exile him ſhee muſt needes conſent: [...]
      • Happy he, in that he is freed from the tumults of the world, hee ſeekes no honours, gapes after no preferment, flatters not, envies not, temporizeth not, but liues priuately, and well contented with his eſtate, [...]
      • Though that her heart were fired, and swollen with anger, she temporiseth so, 'twas undiscovered: [...]

    2. To delay, especially until a more favourable time

      To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate.

      • Pedro. Nay, if Cupid haue not ſpent all his quiuer in Venice, thou wilt quake for this ſhortly. / Bened[ick]. I looke for an earthquake too then. / Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the howres, [...]

    3. To take temporary measures or actions to manage a situation without providing a…

      To take temporary measures or actions to manage a situation without providing a definitive or permanent solution.

The neighborhood

Derived

temporization, temporized, temporizer

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for temporize. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA