temporize

verb

tem·po·rize ˈtem-pə-ˌrīz How to pronounce temporize (audio)

temporized; temporizing

intransitive verb

: to act to suit the time or occasion : yield to current or dominant opinion

: to draw out discussions or negotiations so as to gain time

you'd have to temporize until you found out how she wanted to be advised

Mary Austin

temporization

ˌtem-pə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce temporize (audio)

noun

temporizer noun

Did you know?

Is it Time to temporize?

Temporize comes from the Medieval Latin verb temporizare ("to pass the time"), which itself comes from the Latin noun tempus, meaning "time." Tempus is also the root of such words as tempo, contemporary, and temporal. If you need to buy some time, you might resort to temporizing—but you probably won't win admiration for doing so. Temporize can have a somewhat negative connotation. For instance, a political leader faced with a difficult issue might temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point of such temporizing is to avoid taking definite—and possibly unpopular—action, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away. But the effect is often just to make matters worse.

Example Sentences

Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressmen temporized.

Recent Examples on the Web Accompanying these principles must be a rejection of the impulse to temporize about the dangers that confront us and a rejection of the bizarre deprecation of our nation and civilization.

Peter J. Travers, National Review, 29 Mar. 2022 Even groups long noted for opposing nuclear power, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, seem quietly ready to temporize on practical matters, such as allowing existing plants to continue as transitional energy sources.

Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 4 Jan. 2022 But in the aftermath of the Georgia victories, which gave their party control of the Senate, congressional Democrats were in no mood to temporize.

Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2021 Otherwise, the overriding temptation will be to delay, to temporize.

Noam Cohen, WIRED, 18 July 2019 Successive political generations of leaders of nuclear powers have temporized impotently or even mischievously assisted these elements, as Pakistan has assisted Iran and North Korea, who have assisted each other.

Conrad Black, National Review, 21 Sep. 2017 This is a president who, when Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his people, did not temporize.

Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 5 July 2017 See More

单词	temporizer
释义	temporize verb tem·po·rize ˈtem-pə-ˌrīz temporized; temporizing intransitive verb 1 : to act to suit the time or occasion : yield to current or dominant opinion 2 : to draw out discussions or negotiations so as to gain time you'd have to temporize until you found out how she wanted to be advised Mary Austin temporization ˌtem-pə-rə-ˈzā-shən noun temporizer noun Did you know? Is it Time to temporize? Temporize comes from the Medieval Latin verb temporizare ("to pass the time"), which itself comes from the Latin noun tempus, meaning "time." Tempus is also the root of such words as tempo, contemporary, and temporal. If you need to buy some time, you might resort to temporizing—but you probably won't win admiration for doing so. Temporize can have a somewhat negative connotation. For instance, a political leader faced with a difficult issue might temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point of such temporizing is to avoid taking definite—and possibly unpopular—action, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away. But the effect is often just to make matters worse. Example Sentences Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressmen temporized. Recent Examples on the Web Accompanying these principles must be a rejection of the impulse to temporize about the dangers that confront us and a rejection of the bizarre deprecation of our nation and civilization. Peter J. Travers, National Review, 29 Mar. 2022 Even groups long noted for opposing nuclear power, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, seem quietly ready to temporize on practical matters, such as allowing existing plants to continue as transitional energy sources. Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 4 Jan. 2022 But in the aftermath of the Georgia victories, which gave their party control of the Senate, congressional Democrats were in no mood to temporize. Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2021 Otherwise, the overriding temptation will be to delay, to temporize. Noam Cohen, WIRED, 18 July 2019 Successive political generations of leaders of nuclear powers have temporized impotently or even mischievously assisted these elements, as Pakistan has assisted Iran and North Korea, who have assisted each other. Conrad Black, National Review, 21 Sep. 2017 This is a president who, when Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his people, did not temporize. Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 5 July 2017 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Middle French temporiser, temporisier "to last, pass one's life, postpone, gain time," probably borrowed from Medieval Latin temporizāre "to delay," from Latin tempor-, tempus "time, period of time" + Medieval Latin -izāre -ize — more at tempo First Known Use 1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1 temporizer noun 1 as in chameleon a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions the kind of temporizer who determines his position on a political issue by taking a look at the polls Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance chameleon machinator weathercock timeserver trimmer acrobat opportunist egotist egoist plotter self-seeker chancer schemer conniver 2 as in machinator one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong a lifelong temporizer, he was for the war as long as it was popular and against it the minute the tide of public opinion went the other way Synonyms & Similar Words machinator opportunist self-seeker shark bottom-feeder egocentric chancer egotist egoist plotter barracuda schemer leech conniver hanger-on Antonyms & Near Antonyms altruist
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temporize

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

noun