Crossword clues for temporize
temporize
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Temporize \Tem"po*rize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Temporized; p. pr. & vb. n. Temporizing.] [F. temporiser. See Temporal of time.]
-
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. To delay; to procrastinate. [R.]
--Bacon.To comply; to agree. [Obs.]
--Shak.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"to comply with the times; to yield ostensibly to the current of opinion or circumstances," 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.
Wiktionary
vb. 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 (context obsolete English) 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. 3 (context obsolete English) To delay; to procrastinate. 4 (context obsolete English) To comply; to agree.
WordNet
v. draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; "The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote" [syn: temporise]
Usage examples of "temporize".
Where most of the tribesmen chose instinctively the path to which honor or loyalty or friendship bade them, Pandan would hesitate and temporize, to see which course held the least peril or the most personal advantage for himself.
With only his slow, forbearing smile by way of comment, Victor heard her out, but when she paused to reassort her thoughts, lifted a temporizing hand.
But the government believed it wisest to adopt a conciliatory and, in many respects, a temporizing policy, and to rely more on weakening the secessionists in their respective States than on strengthening the hands and hearts of its own staunch and uncompromising supporters.
Yet, a principle was involved, and her own integrity, and Celia had decided long ago she would never temporize on that, What was that line from Hamlet she had teamed at school?
That doesnt sound good, she temporized, reading Brills face as much as his words.
It was, of course, that sort of evasive temporizing that armchair psychologists call 'displacement activity'.
How could I tell her that I had news of Paul if I havered and temporized and would neither bring her child to her or take her to him?
I say temporize with them, tell them any tale, assure them that we will bathe them in the fountain of youth-gain time, so that when these two naturally antagonistic races join battle, as they inevitably must, the victory will be ours!
His agents had told him this, before he had seen it with his own eyes, and he had temporized for more than a week, fed into the rumor mill the promise of some vague Armageddon on the impending Pain Day, but knowing all the while that if Pain Day was to be a victory instead of a disaster, he would have to go into the city, focus the ominous rumors he was spreading into a carefully timed moment of calculated mass action.