``Temporal'' is already being used in the sense defined here. In
addition, some researchers have used in a more specific sense (i.e.,
supports both transaction time and valid time). This practice was
awkward: Using ``temporal'' with the general definition in the
beginning of a paper and then adopting the more specific meaning later
in the paper created confusion. It also lead to the use of
``time-oriented'' instead of temporal in the generic sense.
Realizing that the use of the generic meaning of ``temporal'' cannot
be changed prompted the adoption of ``bitemporal' for the specific
meaning.
Being only the name of a generic concept, ``temporal'' may now be used
instead of the more cumbersome ``time-oriented.'' It may be applied
generically as a modifier for ``database,'' ``algebra,'' ``query
language,'' ``data model,'' and ``DBMS.''