tem·po·rize

[tem-puh-rahyz]
verb (used without object), tem·po·rized, tem·po·riz·ing.
1.
to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting.
2.
to comply with the time or occasion; yield temporarily or ostensibly to prevailing opinion or circumstances.
3.
to treat or parley so as to gain time (usually followed by with ).
4.
to come to terms (usually followed by with ).
5.
to effect a compromise (usually followed by between ).
Also, especially British, tem·po·rise.


Origin:
1570–80; < Medieval Latin temporizāre to hang back, delay, equivalent to Latin tempor- (stem of tempus) time + Medieval Latin -izāre -ize

tem·po·ri·za·tion, noun
tem·po·riz·er, noun
tem·po·riz·ing·ly, adverb
non·tem·po·riz·ing, adjective
non·tem·po·riz·ing·ly, adverb

temporalize, temporize.


1. hedge, stall, equivocate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To temporize
00:10
Temporize is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
temporize or temporise (ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to delay, act evasively, or protract a discussion, negotiation, etc, esp in order to gain time or effect a compromise
2.  to adapt oneself to the circumstances or occasion, as by temporary or apparent agreement
 
[C16: from French temporiser, from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin tempus time]
 
temporise or temporise
 
vb
 
[C16: from French temporiser, from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin tempus time]
 
tempori'zation or temporise
 
n
 
tempori'sation or temporise
 
n
 
'temporizer or temporise
 
n
 
'temporiser or temporise
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

temporize
1555 (implied in temporizer), from M.Fr. temporiser "to pass one's time, wait one's time" (14c.), from M.L. temporizare "pass time," perhaps via V.L. *temporare "to delay," from L. tempus (gen. temporis) "time."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The government has felt that it could not temporize with the difficulty any further.
Presidents temporize while for-profit and a few independent colleges grab millions in revenue from under their noses.
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