Temp
/tɛmp/noun
A short form of temporary, especially in employment or housing.
Did you know?Temp is a clipped modern form of temporary, ultimately from Latin tempus, meaning “time” or “season,” the same ancient root behind words like temporal and contemporary.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*temp-
“to stretch, extend in time”
Latin
Latin
tempus
“time, season, period”
Late Latin
Latin
temporarius
“of time, lasting a short time”
Middle English
English
temporary
“lasting for a limited time”
20th Century
English
temp
“a temporary worker or arrangement”
Explore more surprising origins