n.
Pronunciation: ' tem-p( ə -)r ə -m ə nt, -p ə r-m ə nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin temperamentum, from temperare to mix, temper
Date: 15th century
1 obsolete a : constitution of a substance, body, or organism with respect to the mixture or balance of its elements, qualities, or parts : MAKEUP b : COMPLEXION 1
2 obsolete a : CLIMATE b : TEMPERATURE 2
3 a : the peculiar or distinguishing mental or physical character determined by the relative proportions of the humors according to medieval physiology b : characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional response <a nervous temperament > c : extremely high sensibility especially : excessive sensitiveness or irritability
4 a : the act or process of tempering or modifying : ADJUSTMENT , COMPROMISE b : middle course : MEAN
5 : the slight modification of acoustically pure intervals in tuning a musical instrument especially : modification that produces a set of 12 equally spaced tones to the octave
synonyms see DISPOSITION