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timeserving |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Timeserving \Time"serv`ing\, a. Obsequiously complying with the spirit of the times, or the humors of those in power. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Timeserving \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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: timeserving adj : taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit [syn: {opportunist}, {opportunistic}]
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