temporize Definition

temporize
temporise
verb, intr temporized, temporizing

1. To avoid taking a decision or committing oneself to some course of action, in order to gain time and perhaps win a compromise.

Thesaurus: pause, delay, stall, hem and haw, procrastinate, play for time, hang back.
2. To adapt oneself to circumstances or to what the occasion requires.

Derivative: temporization
noun

Derivative: temporizer
noun

Etymology: 16c: from Latin tempus time.