• Temporize

    Origin

    Clipping of temperate + -ize.

    Full definition of temporize

    Verb

    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.
      • DanielThey might their grievance inwardly complain, But outwardly they needs must temporize.
    3. (obsolete) To delay; to procrastinate.
    4. (obsolete) To comply; to agree.

    Derived terms

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