pro tem

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   temporarily; for the time being

   The committee accepted the provisional arrangement pro tem while it gathered more evidence.

2. 2
   adj

   serving, appointed, or existing temporarily

   The council elected a chair pro tem to preside over the meeting.

A shortening of Latin pro tempore, 'for the time,' formed from pro, 'for,' and tempore, the ablative singular of tempus, 'time.' English has used the abbreviated phrase since the late eighteenth century, both adverbially and after a title or office to mark a temporary holder.

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