temporal

¹

[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to time.
2. pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly:

   temporal joys.

3. enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory ( eternal ).
4. Grammar.
   1. of, relating to, or expressing time:

      a temporal adjective, such as recent, or a temporal adverb, such as recently.

   2. of or relating to the tenses of a verb.
5. secular, lay, or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical.

noun

1. a temporal possession, estate, or the like; temporality.
2. something that is temporal; a temporal matter or affair.

temporal

²

[ tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.

noun

1. any of several parts in the temporal region, especially the temporal bone.

temporal

¹

/ ˈtɛmpərəl; ˈtɛmprəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of, relating to, or near the temple or temples

temporal

²

/ ˈtɛmpərəl; ˈtɛmprəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to time
2. of or relating to secular as opposed to spiritual or religious affairs

   the lords spiritual and temporal

3. lasting for a relatively short time
4. grammar of or relating to tense or the linguistic expression of time in general

   a temporal adverb

temporal

/ tĕm′pər-əl /

1. Relating to or near the bones that form the sides and part of the base of the skull.

Derived Forms

• ˈtemporalness, noun
• ˈtemporally, adverb

Other Words From

• tem·po·ral·ly adverb
• tem·po·ral·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of temporal¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (adjective and noun) from Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + -ālis adjective suffix; -al ¹

Origin of temporal²

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) temple ² + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of temporal¹

C16: from Late Latin temporālis belonging to the temples; see temple ²

Origin of temporal²

C14: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time

Example Sentences

This spatial and temporal regulation of functions based on a change in the folded structure could be a reason that metamorphic proteins might evolve.

From Quanta Magazine

They found that all increased after “temporal landmarks,” like the beginning of a new year, quarter, month, or even week.

From Outside Online

The fMRI studies, he argues, seem to indicate that the human medial temporal lobe performs pattern separation because fMRI imaging doesn’t have the resolution to capture the activity of individual neurons.

From Nautilus

The mystery is that all the known laws of nature except one do not distinguish a temporal direction.

From Nautilus

If humanity’s evolving time perception does mirror that of a child like my daughter, then our temporal maturity as a species could be yet to come.

From MIT Technology Review

Naturalism tells us that mystics had temporal lobe epilepsy.

From The Daily Beast

Re-reading your own work, especially at some temporal distance, is a dangerous business.

From The Daily Beast

Compulsive writing, or hypergraphia, is a well-known, if uncommon, symptom of temporal lobe epilepsy.

From The Daily Beast

The connection between temporal lobe epilepsy and creativity is well known.

From The Daily Beast

But a drug like lamotrigine is not selective, and so it also affects the behavior of the rest of the temporal lobe.

From The Daily Beast

As that is not one of their vows, and they do not have charge of temporal matters, the sick have suffered greatly.

From Project Gutenberg

But here it is arranged in temporal sequence, thus giving us a concrete view of the man and his relation to this society.

From Project Gutenberg

They receive temporal good themselves indirectly from a covenant on which they will not take hold.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not postpone the settlement of your affairs, spiritual and temporal, until the last uncertain hours.

From Project Gutenberg

A very characteristic set of symptoms develops sometimes after injuries in the temporal region or just above it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• earthly
• materialistic
• physical
• sensual