temporize
[ tem-puh-rahyz ]
/ ˈtɛm pəˌraɪz /
verb (used without object), tem·po·rized, tem·po·riz·ing.
to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting.
to comply with the time or occasion; yield temporarily or ostensibly to prevailing opinion or circumstances.
to treat or parley so as to gain time (usually followed by with).
to come to terms (usually followed by with).
to effect a compromise (usually followed by between).
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
Also especially British, tem·po·rise.
Origin of temporize
1570–80; < Medieval Latin temporizāre to hang back, delay, equivalent to Latin tempor- (stem of tempus) time + Medieval Latin -izāre -ize
Related forms
Can be confusedtemporalize temporize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for temporize
British Dictionary definitions for temporize
temporize
temporise
/ (ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz) /
verb (intr)
to delay, act evasively, or protract a discussion, negotiation, etc, esp in order to gain time or effect a compromise
to adapt oneself to the circumstances or occasion, as by temporary or apparent agreement
Derived Formstemporization or temporisation, nountemporizer or temporiser, noun
Word Origin for temporize
C16: from French temporiser, from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin tempus time
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 temporize
temporize
1550s (implied in temporizer), from Middle French temporiser "to pass one's time, wait one's time" (14c.), from Medieval Latin temporizare "pass time," perhaps via Vulgar Latin *temporare "to delay," from Latin tempus (genitive temporis) "time" (see temporal). Related: Temporized; temporizing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper