[dis.tem.per] vt [ME distempren, fr. LL distemperare to temper badly, fr. L dis- + temperare to temper] (14c) 1: to throw out of order
2. archaic: derange, unsettle
[2]distemper n (ca. 1555) 1: bad humor or temper
2: a disordered or abnormal bodily state esp. of quadruped mammals: as a: a highly contagious virus disease esp. of dogs marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms b: strangles c: panleukopenia
3: ailment, disorder "political ~" "intellectual ~s" -- dis.tem.per.ate adj [3]distemper n [obs. distemper, v., to dilute, mix to produce distemper, fr. ME, fr. MF destemprer, fr. L dis- + temperare] (1632) 1: a process of painting in which the pigments are mixed with an emulsion of egg yolk, with size, or with white of egg as a vehicle and which is used for painting scenery and murals
2. a: the paint or the prepared ground used in the distemper process b: a painting done in distemper
3: any of various water-based paints [4]distemper vt (ca. 1873): to paint in or with distemper