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definitions

temporal

1
[tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l]
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adjective

noun Usually temporals.

a temporal possession, estate, or the like; temporality.
something that is temporal; a temporal matter or affair.

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RELATED WORDS

materialistic, sensual, earthly, physical, transitory, secular, lay, mortal, ephemeral, passing, transient, temporary, fugitive, carnal, civil, earthy, fleshly, mundane, profane, terrestrial

Nearby words

  1. temple, william,
  2. templet,
  3. tempo,
  4. tempolabile,
  5. tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis,
  6. temporal arteritis,
  7. temporal artery,
  8. temporal bone,
  9. temporal fossa,
  10. temporal gyrus

Origin of temporal

1
1300–50; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ālis -al1
Related formstem·po·ral·ly, adverbtem·po·ral·ness, noun

temporal

2
[tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l]Anatomy, Zoology

adjective

of, relating to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.

noun

any of several parts in the temporal region, especially the temporal bone.

Origin of temporal

2
1535–45; < Late Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) temple2 + -ālis -al1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for temporal

British Dictionary definitions for temporal

temporal

1

adjective

of or relating to time
of or relating to secular as opposed to spiritual or religious affairsthe lords spiritual and temporal
lasting for a relatively short time
grammar of or relating to tense or the linguistic expression of time in generala temporal adverb
Derived Formstemporally, adverbtemporalness, noun

Word Origin for temporal

C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time

adjective

anatomy of, relating to, or near the temple or temples

Word Origin for temporal

C16: from Late Latin temporālis belonging to the temples; see temple ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for temporal

temporal

adj.

mid-14c., "worldly, secular," later "of time, terrestrial, earthly" (late 14c.), "temporary, lasting only for a time" (late 14c.), from Old French temporal, from Latin temporalis "of time, temporary," from tempus (genitive temporis) "time, season, proper time or season," of unknown origin. Related: Temporality.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for temporal

temporal

[tĕm′pər-əl, tĕm′prəl]

adj.

Of, relating to, or near the temples of the skull.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for temporal

temporal

[tĕm′pər-əl]

Relating to or near the bones that form the sides and part of the base of the skull.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.