Temporal

Quick meaning: Temporal is an adjective meaning (relational) Of or relating to the material world, as opposed to sacred or clerical.

Meaning

(relational) Of or relating to the material world, as opposed to sacred or clerical.

More Meanings

1. (relational) Relating to time:
2. (anatomy, relational) Of or situated in the temples of the head or the sides of the skull behind the orbits.
3. (anatomy) Ellipsis of temporal bone.
4. (zootomy) Any of a reptile's scales on the side of the head between the parietal and supralabial scales, and behind the postocular scales.
5. (chiefly in the plural) Anything temporal or secular; a temporality.

Example Sentences

temporal power, temporal courts

for God's people love always to be dealing as well in temporals as spirituals

He assigns supremacy to the pope in spirituals, and to the emperor in temporals.

The [papal] train was in use until 1871, when the Pope [Pius IX] lost his temporal power.

Word Forms

• temporals

Synonyms for temporal

Depending on context, synonyms include secular, lay, civil, worldly, areligious, earthly.

Antonyms for temporal

Common opposites include spiritual, ecclesiastical.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include worldly, temporary, impermanent, profane, earthly, chronological.

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