tempia

temple (side of the head)

noun TEM-pyah Rare

Origin: From Latin tempora, plural of tempus, 'temple of the head'.

Usage Note

Tempia is always feminine; its plural is tempie. It refers specifically to the flat area on the side of the skull between forehead and ear — do not confuse it with tempio (masculine), which means 'temple' as in a religious building. The two words are entirely unrelated in everyday use.

Examples

"Il medico gli ha premuto sulla tempia."

Natural Translation

The doctor pressed on his temple.

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