temporize

verb temporizes · temporizing · temporized · temporize

1. British, English, Oxford, US, 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. “There are more answers to that than you may think,” Chih temporized, because there were, but they could see that there was only one answer that really mattered to tigers.
2. British, English, Oxford, US, broadly, intransitive To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise. The Dolphin is too wilfull oppoſite, / And will not temporize with my intreaties: / He flatly ſaies, heell not lay downe his Armes.
3. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed. This is especially true when we're faced with temporizing a patient who will ultimately receive veneer restorations.
4. British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, intransitive 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”). Yet ſeeking at the firſt to temporize, / She tries if that ſome ſhort impriſonment / would calme their heat; when that would not ſuffize, / Then to exile him ſhee muſt needes conſent: [...]
5. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive, obsolete To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid haue not ſpent all his quiuer in Venice, thou wilt quake for this ſhortly. / Bened[ick]. I looke for an earthquake too then. / Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the howres, [...]
6. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive To take temporary measures or actions to manage a situation without providing a definitive or permanent solution.