Timeserving

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Timeserving \Time"serv`ing\, a.
     Obsequiously complying with the spirit of the times, or the
     humors of those in power.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Trimming and timeserving, which are but two
                  words for the same thing, . . . produce
                  confusion.                        --South.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  [I] pronounce thee . . . a hovering temporizer,
                  that
                  Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
                  Inclining to them both.           --Shak.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  timeserving
       adj : taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any
             circumstance of possible benefit [syn: {opportunist}, {opportunistic}]