Etymology
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temporal (adj.1)

late 14c., "worldly, secular, of or pertaining to the present life;" also "terrestrial, earthly;" also "temporary, lasting only for a time;" from Old French temporal "earthly," and directly from Latin temporalis "of time, denoting time; but for a time, temporary," from tempus (genitive temporis) "time, season, moment; proper time or season," from Proto-Italic *tempos- "stretch, measure," which according to de Vaan is from PIE *temp-os "stretched," from root *ten- "to stretch," the notion being "stretch of time."

Limited in time, but less fleeting than what is temporary. As "of or pertaining to time, expressing relations of time," by 1877. Related: Temporally. As a noun, late 14c., "that which is worldly; the secular, secular concerns." Temporalty "the laity" is by late 14c. Temporalism "secularism, absorption in mundane matters" (opposed to the spirit of religion) is by 1872.

also from late 14c.

temporal (adj.2)

"of or pertaining to the temples of the head; postorbital," 1590s, from Medieval Latin temporalis, from Latin tempora; see temple (n.2).

also from 1590s

Entries linking to temporal

temple (n.2)

[flattened area on either side of the forehead], early 14c., from Old French temple "side of the forehead" (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *tempula (plural taken as fem. singular), from Latin tempora, plural of tempus (genitive temporis) "side of the forehead," generally accepted as having originally meant "the thin stretch of skin at the side of the forehead" and being from PIE *temp- "to stretch," an extension of root *ten- "to stretch." The sense development would be from "stretchings" to "stretched skin" [de Vaan].

A similar notion seems to be at work in Old English ðunwange, Old Norse þunn-vangi, Old High German dunwangi "temple," literally "thin cheek." The less-likely guess associates the Latin word with tempus span "timely space" (for a mortal blow with a sword).

temporary (adj.)

"not permanent, lasting for a time only," 1540s, from Latin temporarius "of seasonal character, lasting a short time," from tempus (genitive temporis) "time, season" (see temporal (adj.1), which was the earlier word for "lasting but for a time"). The noun meaning "person employed only for a time" is recorded from 1848; compare temp. Related: Temporarily; temporariness.

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Trends of temporal

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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updated on February 06, 2024

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Dictionary entries near temporal

tempestuous

Templar

template

temple

tempo

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temporality

temporaneous

temporary

temporicide

temporize