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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Temporalité, n. Also: -ee, -ie, -y, temperalité, temporaltie. [ME and e.m.E. temperaltie (Wyclif), temporalite (Piers Plowman), OF temporalite, late L. temporālitās.]

1. Earthly life; transient affairs; (the impermanence of) the things of this world. a1500 Henr. Orph. 604.
This warldis vane plesance, And bissines of temporalite a1550 Lang Rosair 305.
That I may … be takin fra the croce of temporalite … and be put in possessioun of eternall consolacioun

2. The temporal or secular estate; secular society. Also personified. c1450-2 Howlat 657 (A).
Thus assemblit thir segis, syris senȝeourable All that war fowlis of reif … For the temporalite tretit in table 1456 Hay I 24/24.
The emperour … lord and juge … of the temporalitee 1456 Hay II 22/24.
Lordis of the temporalitee c1475 Wall. x 1002.
The byschoprykis inclynyt till his croune, Bathe temperalite and all the religioune 1490 Irland Mir. I 13/28.
Considere to the gouernaunce of the temporalite of thi realme 1490 Irland Mir. III 108/13.
To lyff to giddir in pece and sufficience owthir in temporalite or in spiritualite 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1904 (B).
All membris of parliament, Baith sprituall stait and temporalitie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4501.
Popis ryngis, … abufe all kyngis, Als weill in temporalitie As in to spiritualitie c1590 Fowler II 92/1.
Quhy the kirk in the temporaltie [note in these estates that caled I temporell estates … ] hes … becummed sa pouerfull quhils as before … the least barron … maid na accont of theme in things temporallpersonified 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1268 (Ch.).
Gud-day my Lord Temporalitie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2447 (B).
And als ȝe se Temporalitie hes neid of correctioun

3. Earthly or material possessions. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1356.
Heir mak I the reward … As tuiching the temporalite, in toure and in toune, In firth [etc.]

b. specif. Lands, rights and other possessions gifted by the king, as the temporal power, to the church; a benefice held in this way. Cf. Temporal(l n. 3 c. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 47.
Lettres vndir the priue sele for the recognicione of the Bischop of Sanctandros temporalite 1497 Treas. Acc. I 314.
Resauit fra Maister Johne Fresel, elect of Ros, for the compositioun of his admissioune to the temporalitee of Ros 1500–1 Reg. Privy S. I 93/1.
A precept of admission made to Jane Forman, Prioress of Eklis, to the temporalite of al landis, rentis, and possessionis of the sammyn 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 268/1.
The kingis hienes has admittit … George Dundas, knycht of the Rodis, to the temporalite of the preceptory of Torphichin 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 414/1.
The gift maid be the quenis grace to him of the temporalite of the bischoprik of Abirdene 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 173.
Prelatis … requirit … to defend the realm, undir the pane of recognicioun of thar temporalitie that thai hald of the king 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 58.
To arrest the malez of the temporalitie of Sanctjohnis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4440.
Temporalite 1557 Reg. Privy S. V i 29/2.
All and haill the temporalitie and temporall landis of the bischoprik of Breichin 1606 Chart. Coupar A. II 218.
The temporalitie … of Couper … being in his maiesteis handis be ressoun of the generall annexatioun of the kirklandis of … Scotland 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. I 513.
The … fewes … of the lands of the temporalities of benefices 1666 Dumbarton B. Rec. 84.
Earl of Eglinton, as lord of the erection of the temporalities 1681 Stair Inst. ii viii § 8.
Church-lands might be set feu; these being accounted but the temporality and the teinds the spirituality 1681 Stair Inst. ii viii § 35.
He always being an actual minister of the kirk who being elected hath sufficient right to the spirituality of his benefice but not to the temporality till he have a charter from the king and do homage