time-serving

Alternative forms

• timeserving

Noun

time-serving (uncountable)

1. Opportunism.
2. (computing) The functionality of a timeserver. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Adjective

time-serving (comparative more time-serving, superlative most time-serving)

1. Opportunistic; conforming to the status quo in order to serve one's own interests.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 85:

     And the man who had just been engaged in the most time-serving neglect of former, and a most cringing anticipation of new patrons, became forthwith the kind and hospitable host of strangers who had no claim upon him beyond their own isolated situation.

   • 2016 November, Jonathan Meades, “Inside Job”, in Literary Review:

     Harding brought with him a timeserving pal from The Times called Keith Blackmore, who was equally a stranger to broadcasting.

Anagrams

• serving time