Temporary describes something that only lasts for a limited time and is not meant to be permanent. It can refer to jobs, solutions, feelings, or physical objects.
It comes from Latin 'temporarius' meaning 'for a time or seasonal', from 'tempus' meaning 'time'. The word has always carried the idea of something tied to a particular period, not forever.
Calling something 'temporary' can make it feel easier to accept—like a difficult job or a long wait—because your brain relaxes when it knows there’s an end point. Many 'temporary' fixes in cities and software quietly become permanent when people get used to them.
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