bitemporal
|bi-tem-po-ral|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪˈtɛmpərəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪˈtɛmp(ə)rəl/
pertaining to two times / both temporal regions
Etymology
'bitemporal' originates from the Latin prefix 'bi-' (from 'bis') meaning 'twice' combined with 'temporal', from Latin 'temporalis' meaning 'of time' or 'relating to time'.
'temporal' comes from Latin 'temporalis' (from 'tempus' meaning 'time'), passed into Old French and Middle English; 'bitemporal' is a modern English formation by prefixing Latin-derived 'bi-' to 'temporal'.
Initially 'temporal' primarily meant 'of time'; over time the adjective gained anatomical senses ('of the temple/temporal lobe') and compound 'bitemporal' has come to be used both for 'two time dimensions' (technical/databasing sense) and 'affecting both temporal lobes' (medical sense).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having or relating to two temporal dimensions or two points in time; (often in computing/temporal databases) modelling both valid time and transaction time.
The archival system uses a bitemporal model to record both when events occurred and when they were entered.
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Adjective 2
relating to or affecting both temporal regions (both temples) or both temporal lobes (anatomical/medical usage).
The patient exhibited bitemporal seizures originating in both temporal lobes.
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Last updated: 2025/09/15 18:25