temporal
1[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]
/ ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /
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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“I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Origin of temporal
11300–50; Middle English (adj. and noun) <Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ālis-al1
OTHER WORDS FROM temporal
tem·po·ral·ly, adverbtem·po·ral·ness, nounWords nearby temporal
Definition for temporal (2 of 2)
temporal2
[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]
/ ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for temporal
British Dictionary definitions for temporal (1 of 2)
temporal1
/ (ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl) /
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 forms of temporal
temporally, adverbtemporalness, nounWord Origin for temporal
C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time
British Dictionary definitions for temporal (2 of 2)
temporal2
/ (ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl) /
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
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Medical 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.
Scientific 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.