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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Temporal(l, -ale, adj. Also: -el(l, temperal(l)e, -all. [ME and e.m.E. temporal, temperal (both Wyclif), temporel(le (both c1400), temporall (c1440), L. temporālis.]

A. adj. 1. Transient, passing.There may be some ambiguity with sense 2. a1400 Leg. S. l 699.
For Jhesu Crist thu sall cume till … & for schort pane haf lestand mede. Dout thar-for na payne temporale, To cume to blis that ma nocht fale c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 300.
It is bettir to dissir … the joy of hevyne, na the thing thow seis in this warld, for the tan is bot temporale and corruptabile and the tothir is perpetuall c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 534.
Al the gret jugment … sal al thys warld temporall take end 1490 Irland Mir. III 48/10.
Be wertu of it [sc. Christ's Passion] … is remittit all syn and payn eternal that we war oblist to bot the persoune sen he synnis of his awne consent … is oblist to suffer part of pane temporale a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1278 (Asl.).
Quhen for this glydand glorye temporale … We mon … thole torment eternale c1490 Irland Asl. MS 13/17.
Pane temporale of purgatore c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 21.
This that is sawne on the stany land, this it is that … has nocht rute in him self, bot is temporale 1562-3 Winȝet I 124/22 h. of ch.
Gif ony temporall pane remanis to a penitent resauit to mercy [etc.] 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xl 361.
Let not the lufe of this lyfe temporall … Stay ȝow to cois with lyfe celestiall 1587-99 Hume 149/159.
In this world wee see that nothing is everlasting, but all temporal & momentine 1622-6 Bisset I 179/26.
And thairfoir is called also ane exceptioun temporall because it stayis and stopis the intensioun of the persewer for ane certane space of tyme

2. Of or relating to earthly human life or affairs; material. a1400 Leg. S. v 504.
For temporale thing lestis nocht ay c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 201.
The Deuil tempis oft-tymis mony men sa in thar temporall gudis 1456 Hay I 11/31.
Urban … was the first that ever tuke rentis and possessiouns temporale in the name of haly kirk 1456 Hay I 33/29.
Tynsale of the body and of the temporal life a1500 Henr. Fab. 1918.
Temporall 1490 Irland Mir. I 45/12.
All gud that we haue spirituall and temporall cummys be the gift … of God a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 371 (Asl.).
Quha euer ȝit had coniunit in a persoun [sc. King David] … Sic temporall truble with hartlie devocioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 120/37 (STS).
The temporall stait to gryp and gather, The sone disheris wald the father 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 221.
Temporal ioy endis wyth wo and pane 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 182.
Sen all this dyd he for a temporall ryng, Pres ws to wyn the kynryk ay lestyng 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/20.
Princis has vendicat dispositioun of benefices, disponand thame to vnqualifeit men as temporale revarde 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 368.
To satisfie thair corporal hungre and entretenie thair temporal lyfe 1641 Answer to His Holinesse Remonstrance (1641) 2.
The pale horse of a civill and temporall death a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 401.
This coming out of tribulation looketh to temporall affliction as well as delivery from eternall wrath. And indeed if the misknowing of Jesus Christ by a people that hear the Gospel, be the great cause of their temporall ruine

3. Of or pertaining to secular life and affairs; lay; belonging to or with reference to the laity. Also ellipt. and as quasi-noun. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 40.
Caus of det may be put til arbutry & other temporall cause c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 48.
Ilk temporall man suld trow as haly wryt sais and … that his curat techis hyme 1490 Irland Mir. III 107/33.
Temporale iurisdiccioun is a iurisdiccioun that ordanis a persoune in his temporal lyffing conformand to the law of natur c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 114 marg.
Heir dois our Saluior conferme the temporal sueird 1523–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 191.
That the justice generale sit in this toun of Edinburgh continualy for ministratioun of justice tharintill, and failȝeing of him ane uthir temporale man c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4310.
Thare gryntaris and thare chamberlanis, With thare temporall courtissianis 1552 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. in Fife Sheriff Ct. 394.
Ane just roll of taxatione of … temporall and spirituale menis landis 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 107.
The prentissis … nocht regarding the pvnisment thretnit in Goddis word … nor having feir of the temporale pvnischment content in our souerane actis vpoun the vsurparris of sic vane pastymes c1592 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 31.
The only band-temporal that holds up the commonwealth … it stands upon that prince 1596 Dalr. II 107/13.
His hart was sa inclynet to serue God … that quhen he [sc. James IV] mycht vake fra temporal effayres his exercise was ay in spiritual 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Feodvm.
Landes perteining to laicks and temporall men 1615 Crim. Trials III 332.
Certen temporall questions wer objected unto him, as naymlie, geve the king wes heid of the Kirk 1639 Spalding I 214.
We humelie offer all ciuill and temporall obedienss to your Majestieellipt. c1450-2 Howlat 860 (A).
Thir riallis … Baith spirituale and temperale 1532 Acts II 335/2.
To institute ane college [etc.] … and tharfor thinkis to be chosin certane persouns … to the nowmer of xiiij persouns half spirituale half temporall with ane president c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5433.
Spirituall stait and temporell c1590 Fowler II 92/5 n. (see Temporalité n. 2).ellipt. as quasi-noun 1664 Pitcairne Spiritual Sacrifice 205.
That we should seek first spirituall things … is required not only as a condition for our finding of them but also for the obtaining of temporalls

b. specif. Having authority or jurisdiction in secular matters. Also ellipt.Also temporal lord, see Lord n. 9 a. 1429–30 Acts II 19/1.
Temperalle 1456 Hay I 109/5.
The emperour is the hyest of temporale princis 1479 Acta Conc. I 32/2.
The said accioune may & suld be tretit before the temporale juge 1490 Irland Mir. III 107/32 (see 3 above).
Temporale 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 257/1.
Exemand hir … fra the jurisdictioun … of ony temporall jugis … excepand the kingis hienes, his lordis of counsale, his justice generale 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 108.
That scho vill persew hir of in spirituall law and temporall lawe 1535 Reg. Privy S. II 254/1.
Courtis of lieutenandry, wardanery, admarall courtis, chalmerlane courtis, schiref courtis, baillie courtis, burrow courtis, or ony uthir temporale courtis 1540–1 Hamilton P. I 68.
As to religious men … quhare thai … committis ony falt … we mell ws nocht nouthir be oure self nor temporale officiaris … in handilling of thair personis bot be thaire jugis ordinaris, archibischoppis [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4495, 4497.
Christ wald nocht be ane temporall kyng … Bot fled temporall auctorite 1565–6 St. A. Kirk S. 260.
Wyth incalling of the assistance of civil magistratis and autorite temporall 1593 Brunton & Haig 199.
The spiritual syd of the saidis lordis nominat Alexander lord Urquhart ane of the temporal number 1598 James VI Minor Prose 73/33.
Some are but inferiour, subaltern, and temporall magistrates 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim ii 128.
The bishops temporal and civil authorityellipt. 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 24.
Without ony proces of judge spretuall or temporel

Of lands and possessions: c. Belonging to a member of the laity. d. Belonging to a benefice by way of gift. Cf. Temporalité n. 3 b. Also ellipt. and absol.Cf. Hay I 11/31 in 2 above.See Lordschip n. 4 c for a further example.c., d. c1475 Wall. viii 739.
Till all kyrk man thai did no thing bot gud; The temporall land thai spoulȝeit ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
The gleibe of the kyrk or temporale landis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2685 (Ch.).
My Lord Spiritualitie … I will that ȝe Set into few ȝour temporall lands c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4480.
Christ … Tyll his disciplis gaif command … To teche … He did nocht bid thame … gett lordschipis of temporall landis 1562 Reg. Cupar A. I 356.
The temporall landis of Couper 1578 Acts III 111/2.
The temperall landis pertening to the bischoprik of Dumblane 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 481.
The estate of all prebendaries … quhilks are foundit vpon the teinds of the paroch kirks, and quhilks are temporall lands 1587 Acts III 432/1.
All lordschippis, baroneis, tennendries and vtheris temporall landis quhilk pertenit to ony prelacie or vther benefice 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 437.
To resigne renunce simpliciter discharge ourgive and demitt frae ws … the landis lordschippis [etc.] … pertening … to the said abbay [sc. of Deer] … in your maiesties handis … for errectioun of the same in ane temporall lordschip a1651 Calderwood VI 178.
If all the great benefices sall be dissolved and the prelate to have the principall kirk of the prelacie, with the temporall lands therofellipt. 1471–2 Liber Melros II 591.
Our abbay of Melros … thare kirkis takkis [etc.] … and gudis movabill and vnmovabill spirituale and temporale quharesumeuer thai be 1491 Acts II 224/2.
Landis … spirituale or temporale or landis gevin in coniunctfeftment or lifrentabsol. 1534 St. P. Henry VIII IV 667.
That he swld ger tham set all thar the temporall that the kyrk hau to few, and to hayff for it bot the ald mayll syklyk as the ald rentalys berys

4. Describing the part of the breviary and missal containing the daily offices according to the ecclesiastical year. Cf. Proper adj. 2 e. c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 158.
Tua legends ane temporall and ane propyr

B. absol. as noun. The temporal estate. Cf. 3 above. c1450-2 Howlat 277 (A).
Sen it nechit natur, thar alleris mastris, Thai couth nocht trete but entent of the temperale. Tharfor thai counsall the Pape to writ … To the … empriour [etc.]