temporal

In a technical or scientific context, it describes the dimension of time. It is often used as a counterpoint to "spatial," creating a framework for analyzing how things change over duration rather than across distance. When applied to power or society, it carries a sense of transience and earthliness. It distinguishes the physical, political, and mundane world from the eternal or divine. In this sense, it is often paired with "spiritual" to highlight a divide between church and state. In anatomy, it is a precise clinical term referring specifically to the sides of the forehead. Unlike casual terms like "side of the head," it signals a medical or biological perspective.