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Webster 1913 Edition


Temporize

Tem′po-rize

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Temporized
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Temporizing
.]
[F.
temporiser
. See
Temporal
of time.]
1.
To comply with the time or occasion; to humor, or yield to, the current of opinion or circumstances; also, to trim, as between two parties.
They might their grievance inwardly complain,
But outwardly they needs must
temporize
.
Daniel.
2.
To delay; to procrastinate.
[R.]
Bacon.
3.
To comply; to agree.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Temporize

TEM'PORIZE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. tempus, time.]
1.
To comply with the time or occasion; to humor or yield to the current of opinion or to circumstances; a conduct that often indicates obsequiousness.
They might their grievance inwardly complain,
But outwardly they needs must temporize.
2.
To delay; to procrastinate.
Well, you till temporize with the hours. [Little used.]
3.
To comply. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024


temporize

temporize

English

Verb

temporize (third-person singular simple present temporizes, present participle temporizing, simple past and past participle temporized)

  1. To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes in order to reach a compromise or simply to make a conversation more temperate.
  2. (obsolete) To comply with the time or occasion; to humor, or yield to, the current of opinion or circumstances; also, to trim, as between two parties.
    • Daniel
      They might their grievance inwardly complain, But outwardly they needs must temporize.
  3. (obsolete) To delay; to procrastinate.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  4. (obsolete) To comply; to agree.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Derived terms

Translations