TEMPERAMENT

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin ~um, from temperare to mix, temper Date: 15th century 1. obsolete constitution of a substance, body, or organism with respect to the mixture or balance of its elements, qualities, or parts ; makeup , complexion 1, 2. obsolete climate , temperature 2, 3. the peculiar or distinguishing mental or physical character determined by the relative proportions of the humors according to medieval physiology, characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional response , extremely high sensibility, 4. the act or process of tempering or modifying ; adjustment , compromise , middle course ; mean , the slight modification of acoustically pure intervals in tuning a musical instrument, see: disposition