Wiktionary:Word of the day/2020/December 27

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temporize v (American spelling, Oxford British English)

(intransitive) To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to stall for time. (intransitive, by extension) To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise. (transitive, dentistry) To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed. (intransitive, archaic) To comply with the occasion or time; to humour, or yield to, current circumstances or opinion; also, to trim (“fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each”). (intransitive, obsolete) To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate.

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