temporize
/ˈtɛmpəˌɹaɪz/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.18 in modern English
Meaning
verb
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.
American usage; Intransitive verb
verb
To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed.
American usage; Transitive verb
verb
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”).
American usage; Archaic; Intransitive verb
verb
To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate.
American usage; Intransitive verb; Obsolete
Example Sentences
- "“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."
- "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, [...]"
- "This is especially true when we're faced with temporizing a patient who will ultimately receive veneer restorations."
- "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, [...]"
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *ten-, temporiser, temporizāre, temporāre, *temp-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈtɛmpəˌɹaɪz/
- British English: /ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/
Usage
- American usage
- Intransitive verb
- Transitive verb
- Archaic
- Obsolete