temporised

Another, smitten by the fair Shehrazade's bulky charms, had proposed matrimony, and offered as dowry a milch camel: she "temporised," not daring to return a positive refusal, and the suitor betrayed a certain

First Footsteps in East Africa Richard Francis Burton 1855

Thus the latter temporised & the political middle ground always moved their way.

The Great Global Warming Inconvenient Truth 2007

Great Britain, it seemed, in an access of meanness, temporised and wrangled with the imperial spirited Butteridge and his extraordinary invention.

The War in the Air Herbert George 2006

Should he confess? — give his savings to the woman to whom he was bound, and beg his release? — there was time yet — he temporised.

The History of Pendennis 2006

Barnes, the arch-traitor, temporised and told him falsehoods, and hesitated about throwing him off until the Marquis had declared himself?

The Newcomes 2006

Bush temporised: I think the most important statement that you heard, and I heard, was the President's statement, when he declared his absolute support for democracy in Russia, and they're not turning back.

Key word: democracy Richard 2005

We have been mealy-mouthed and weak-handed; we have trifled and temporised and the Food has grown and grown.

The Food of the Gods and how it came to Earth Herbert George 2004

'Not so much that it is refused,' Usamah temporised.

The Falcons of Montabard Chadwick, Elizabeth 2004

Revolution, the Cameronians continued a sect strong in numbers and vehement in their political opinions, whom Government wished to discourage, while they prudently temporised with them.

Old Mortality 2004

The general temporised with him till they came to the fringe of tropic trees by the bridge; and there by the singing river and the sunlit palms

The Complete Father Brown 2003