Temporal

/ˈtem.pər.əl/ adjective

Definition

Temporal usually means related to time, especially to things that exist or change over time. It can also mean worldly or non-spiritual, in contrast to eternal or spiritual matters.

Etymology

It comes from Latin 'temporalis' meaning 'of time', from 'tempus' meaning 'time'. The sense of 'worldly' developed from the idea of things that last only for a limited time.

Kelly Says

Your 'temporal lobe' in the brain is named after the temples on your head, which are themselves linked to 'time' because that’s where people noticed hair turning gray with age. So 'temporal' quietly ties together time, the brain, and the fading of youth.

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