Question

temporize The legislature was accused of temporizing while the budget deficit continued to worsen. ˈtɛmpərˌaɪz

Accepted Answer

(1) To act in a way that fits the time or occasion; to give way to current opinion. (2) To draw out discussions to gain time. The Latin word that temporize comes from meant simply “to pass the time”; the meaning of the English word is different but obviously related. People aren't usually admired for temporizing. A political leader faced with a difficult issue may temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point is to avoid taking an action that lots of people aren't going to like, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away, but the effect is often just to make matters worse

word	temporize
definition	(1) To act in a way that fits the time or occasion; to give way to current opinion. (2) To draw out discussions to gain time.
eg_sentence	The legislature was accused of temporizing while the budget deficit continued to worsen.
explanation	The Latin word that temporize comes from meant simply “to pass the time”; the meaning of the English word is different but obviously related. People aren't usually admired for temporizing. A political leader faced with a difficult issue may temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point is to avoid taking an action that lots of people aren't going to like, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away, but the effect is often just to make matters worse
IPA	ˈtɛmpərˌaɪz

Temporize Word People Act Fits Time Occasion Give