Tēm'po-rīze, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. TEMPORIZED; p. pr. & vb. n. TEMPORIZING.] [Fr. temporiser, Sp. temporizar, It. temporeggiare, from Lat. tempus, temporis, time.]

Sense 1. To comply with the time or occasion; to humor or yield to the current of opinion or to circumstances.

They might their grievance inwardly complain, But outwardly they needs must temporize. Daniel.

Sense 2. To delay; to procrastinate. [Rare.]

Well, you will temporize with the hours. Shak.

Sense 3. To comply. [Obs.] Shak.