temporize with
1temporize, extemporize — Temporize means to compromise, to act evasively so as to gain time or advantage, to postpone action or a decision : We need relief; don t temporize any longer. Many a public official has found that he must temporize if he wishes to hold his… …
2Temporize — Tem po*rize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Temporized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Temporizing}.] [F. temporiser. See {Temporal} of time.] 1. To comply with the time or occasion; to humor, or yield to, the current of opinion or circumstances; also, to trim, as… …
3temporize — [tem′pə rīz΄] vi. temporized, temporizing [Fr temporiser < ML temporizare < L tempus, time: see TEMPER] 1. to suit one s actions to the time, occasion, or circumstances, without reference to principle 2. a) to give temporary compliance or… …
4temporize — temporization, n. temporizer, n. temporizingly, adv. /tem peuh ruyz /, v.i., temporized, temporizing. 1. to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting. 2. to comply with the time or occasion; yield temporarily or ostensibly to… …
5temporize — v 1. procrastinate, delay, pause, hang back; wait, play a waiting game, hesitate, Inf. drag one s feet, Inf. footdrag, put off, gain time, play for time, sleep on it; hold off, hold [s.t.] up, lay [s.t.] over, refrain from further action, let the …
6temporize — v. n. Trim, comply with occasions, yield to circumstances, fall in with current opinion, act the time server, be on the fence, wait to see which way the cat will jump …
7temporize — tem•po•rize [[t]ˈtɛm pəˌraɪz[/t]] v. i. rized, riz•ing 1) to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting 2) to comply with the time or occasion 3) to treat or parley so as to gain time (usu. fol. by with) • Etymology: 1570–80; < ML… …
8temporize — [[t]te̱mpəraɪz[/t]] temporizes, temporizing, temporized VERB If you say that someone is temporizing, you mean that they keep doing unimportant things in order to delay something important such as making a decision or stating their real opinion.… …
9temporize — v.i. procrastinate; delay; comply with circumstances …
10temporize — 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. Derivatives: temporization n. temporizer n. Etymology: F… …