temporize

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: tem=po=rize

CIDE DICTIONARY

temporize, v. t. [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.  [1913 Webster]

  "They might their grievance inwardly complain,
  But outwardly they needs must temporize."  [1913 Webster]
•  To delay; to procrastinate.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]
•  To comply; to agree.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

temporize, v.intr. (also -ise)
1 avoid committing oneself so as to gain time; employ delaying tactics.
2 comply temporarily with the requirements of the occasion, adopt a time-serving policy.

Derivative

temporization n. temporizer n.

Etymology

F temporiser bide one's time f. med. L temporizare delay f. tempus -oris time

THESAURUS

temporize

be a timeserver, be dilatory, continue, dawdle, drag out, draw out, dwell on, extend, filibuster, gain time, hang, hang back, hang fire, hesitate, hold off, lengthen, lengthen out, linger on, make time, play for time, procrastinate, prolong, protract, put off, spin out, stall, stall for time, stall off, stooge around, stretch out, talk against time, trim

ROGET THESAURUS

temporize

Cunning

VB be cunning, have cut one's eyeteeth, contrive, live by one's wits, maneuver, intrigue, gerrymander, finesse, double, temporize, stoop to conquer, reculer pour mieux sauter, circumvent, steal a march upon, overreach, throw off one's guard, surprise, snatch a verdict, waylay, undermine, introduce the thin end of the wedge, play a deep game, play tricks with, ambiguas in vulgum spargere voces, flatter, make things pleasant, have an ax to grind, dodge, sidestep, bob and weave.

Diuturnity

VB last, endure, stand, remain, abide, continue, brave a thousand years, tarry, drag on, drag its slow length along, drag a lengthening chain, protract, prolong, spin out, eke out, draw out, lengthen out, temporize, gain time, make time, talk against time, outlast, outlive, survive, live to fight again.

Lateness

VB be late, tarry, wait, stay, bide, take time, dawdle, linger, loiter, bide one's time, take one's time, gain time, hang fire, stand over, lie over, put off, defer, delay, lay over, suspend, table, shift off, stave off, waive, retard, remand, postpone, adjourn, procrastinate, dally, prolong, protract, spin out, draw out, lengthen out, stretch out, prorogue, keep back, tide over, push to the last, drive to the last, let the matter stand over, reserve, temporize, consult one's pillow, sleep on it, lose an opportunity, be kept waiting, dance attendance, kick one's heels, cool one's heels, faire antichambre, wait impatiently, await, sit up, sit up at night.