temporal1
[tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l]
- of or relating to time.
- pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly: temporal joys.
- enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory (opposed to eternal).
- Grammar.
- of, relating to, or expressing time: a temporal adjective, such as recent, or a temporal adverb, such as recently.
- of or relating to the tenses of a verb.
- secular, lay, or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical.
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- a temporal possession, estate, or the like; temporality.
- something that is temporal; a temporal matter or affair.
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Origin of temporal1
1300–50; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ālis -al1
temporal2
[tem-per-uh l, tem-pruh l]Anatomy, Zoology
- of, relating to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.
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- any of several parts in the temporal region, especially the temporal bone.
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Origin of temporal2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for temporal
Contemporary Examples
Naturalism tells us that mystics had temporal lobe epilepsy.
Re-reading your own work, especially at some temporal distance, is a dangerous business.
Compulsive writing, or hypergraphia, is a well-known, if uncommon, symptom of temporal lobe epilepsy.
But a drug like lamotrigine is not selective, and so it also affects the behavior of the rest of the temporal lobe.
The temporal judgment regarding the bothers was guilty, and both were sentenced to death.
How the North Carolina GOP Made a Wrongfully Convicted Man a Death Row ScapegoatMichael Daly
September 4, 2014
Historical Examples
The Pharisees had need to keep alliance with the temporal powers.
Understanding the ScripturesFrancis McConnell
The love of temporal dominion was ruining the Church of Rome.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward IICharlotte Mary Yonge
Their temporal sorrows have awakened their spiritual energies.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
It seemed a long time to Amelia before she awoke again to temporal things.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
And observe how this bears on the question of the temporal power.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
temporal1
- 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
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time
temporal2
- anatomy of, relating to, or near the temple or temples
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
temporal
(tĕm′pər-əl, tĕm′prəl)- Of, relating to, or near the temples of the skull.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
temporal
[tĕm′pər-əl]
- Relating to or near the bones that form the sides and part of the base of the skull.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.