Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Timeserving?

\Time"serv`ing\, a. Obsequiously complying with the spirit of the times, or the humors of those in power.
\Time"serv`ing\, n. An obsequious compliance with the spirit of the times, or the humors of those in power, which implies a surrender of one's independence, and sometimes of one's integrity. Syn: Temporizing. Usage: {Timeserving}, {Temporizing}. Both these words are applied to the conduct of one who adapts himself servilely to times and seasons. A timeserver is rather active, and a temporizer, passive. One whose policy is timeserving comes forward to act upon principles or opinions which may promote his advancement; one who is temporizing yields to the current of public sentiment or prejudice, and shrinks from a course of action which might injure him with others. The former is dishonest; the latter is weak; and both are contemptible. Trimming and timeserving, which are but two words for the same thing, . . . produce confusion. --South. [I] pronounce thee . . . a hovering temporizer, that Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil, Inclining to them both. --Shak.