I. ˈtem-p(ə-)rəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French temporel, from Latin temporalis, from tempor-, tempus time
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : of or relating to time as opposed to eternity
b. : of or relating to earthly life
c. : lay or secular rather than clerical or sacred : civil
lords temporal
2. : of or relating to grammatical tense or a distinction of time
3.
a. : of or relating to time as distinguished from space
b. : of or relating to the sequence of time or to a particular time : chronological
• tem·po·ral·ly adverb
II. noun
Etymology: Middle French, from temporal, adjective
Date: 1541
: a temporal part (as a bone or muscle)
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle French, from Late Latin temporalis, from Latin tempora temples
Date: 1597
: of or relating to the temples or the sides of the skull behind the orbits