Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TEM'PO-RIZE, v.i. [Fr. temporiser; from L. tempus, time.]

1. To comply with the time or occasion; to humor or yield to the current of opinion or to circumstances; a conduct that often indicates obsequiousness. They might their grievance inwardly complain, / But outwardly they needs must temporize. Daniel.
2. To delay; to procrastinate. Well, you will temporize with the hours. Shak. [Little used.]
3. To comply. [Not in use.] Shak.