temporize
[ tem-puh-rahyz ]
/ ˈtɛm pəˌraɪz /
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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).
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Also especially British, tem·po·rise .
Origin of temporize
First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French temporiser “to wait one's time,” from Medieval Latin temporizāre “to put off the time, hang back, delay,” equivalent to Latin tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + Late Latin -izāre -ize
OTHER WORDS FROM temporize
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH temporize
temporalize, temporizeWords nearby temporize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences 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 of temporize
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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