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 confused
temporalize temporizeDictionary.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 Forms
temporization or temporisation, nountemporizer or temporiser, nounWord Origin for temporize
C16: from French temporiser, from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin tempus time
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