I. ˈtempə(r) verb
( tempered ; tempered ; tempering -p(ə)riŋ ; tempers )
Etymology: Middle English tempren, temperen, from Old English & Old French; Old English temprian & Old French temprer, from Latin temperare to mix, blend, regulate, restrain oneself, abstain, probably from tempor-, tempus period of time, fitting time, season, time (in general) — more at temporal
transitive verb
1.
a. : to dilute, qualify, or soften (as something strong, harsh, or excessive) by the addition or influence of something else : make temperate : moderate , season
temper wine with water
temper justice with mercy
enthusiasm tempered with a touch of skepticism
tempers the wind … to the shorn lamb — Laurence Sterne
the breeze … tempered the August sun — Arnold Bennett
his firmness must always be tempered with tact and shrewdness — R.M.Dawson
b. : to make suitable for : adapt to : adjust , modify — usually used with to
officers … temper their actions to outside political whimsy — T.H.White b.1915
stick to these few principles and temper them to suit your taste — Betty Fisk
c. archaic : to mix (ingredients) in suitable proportions : prepare by combining : compound , blend
a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together — Exod 30:35 (Authorized Version)
importuned me to temper poisons for her — Shakespeare
2. archaic
a. : to exercise control over : govern , restrain
Jove tempers the fates of human race above — Alexander Pope
b. : to cause to be well disposed : mollify
tempered and reconciled them both — Richard Steele
3. : to bring (a substance or material) to a suitable state (as of consistency or workability) by mixing in or adding a usually liquid ingredient: as
a.
(1) : to mix (clay) with water and knead to a uniform texture
(2) : to add an aplastic material (as grog or sand) to (clay)
b. : to mix oil with (colors) in making paint ready for use
c. : to moisten (as sand for molding) to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly
d. : to dampen or remove moisture from (grain) to secure the best grinding
e. : to make (leather) uniformly moist and soft for further processing
4.
a.
(1) : to soften (hardened steel or cast iron) by reheating at a temperature well below that from which previous quenching for hardening was done
(2) : to harden and reheat (steel or cast iron) or to harden alone especially in oil — not used technically
b. : to anneal or toughen (glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling
5. : to make stronger and more resilient through hardship : toughen
the hammerblows of fate seemed not to weaken but to temper her strength — John Buchan
6.
a. : to put in tune with : attune
to which the birds tempered their matin lay — P.B.Shelley
our ears are tempered to harsh sounds — Ronald Bottrall
b. : to adjust the pitch of (a note, chord, instrument) to a temperament
intransitive verb
: to produce satisfactory temper — used of metallic alloys which can be treated to give the desired physical properties
Synonyms: see moderate
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tempre, from tempren, v.
1.
a. archaic : the state of any compound substance resulting from the mixture of ingredients ; especially : a suitable proportion or balance of qualities : a middle state between extremes : mean , medium
virtue is … a just temper between propensities any one of which, if indulged to excess, becomes vice — T.B.Macaulay
b. archaic : a particular mixture of elements or characteristics : character , quality
the temper of the land you design to sow — John Mortimer
a man of such a feeble temper — Shakespeare
c. : characteristic tone : trend , tendency
the temper of the times
the general temper of his view — Alan Gewirth
literary circles which foster certain modes and tempers of form and emotion — W.S.B.Braithwaite
the temper of English literature at the turn of the century — Times Literary Supplement
d. : high quality of mind or spirit : courage , mettle
no trumpet calls … to keep our temper at its keenest — R.W.Livingstone
not of the temper of which martyrs are made — Ellen Glasgow
2. : the state of a substance with respect to certain desired qualities (as hardness, elasticity, or workability): as
a.
(1) : the degree of hardness or resiliency given steel by tempering
(2) : the color of steel after tempering : temper color
b. : the condition of relative dryness (as of grain) proper for treatment in processing
c. : the feel and relative solidity of leather
3. : a substance added to or mixed with something else to modify the properties of the latter: as
a. : any of various mixtures of metals added to another metal in making an alloy
b. : the carbon content of steel that affects its hardening properties
c. : the moisture content of foundry sand
d. : aplastic material (as grog or sand) added to clay to reduce shrinkage upon drying and firing
4.
a. obsolete : atmospheric conditions : climate
the changeful temper of the skies — John Dryden
b. archaic : temperature
5.
a. : a characteristic or habitual cast of mind or state of feeling : disposition
a calm temper
a sunny temper
an occupation that suited his temper
the man of mercurial temper — William McDougall
that reverence towards fact which constitutes … the scientific temper — Bertrand Russell
b. : calmness of mind : composure , equanimity
keep me in temper ; I would not be mad — Shakespeare
— used especially in the expressions keep one's temper, lose one's temper, and out of temper
kept his temper despite the provocation
failed to get the witness to lose her temper
are you out of temper because you let those men put something over on you — Ellen Glasgow
c. : state of feeling or frame of mind at a particular time : humor , mood
had they been in a temper to judge fairly — T.B.Macaulay
kept the populace … in good temper — R.M.French
she was … in a gay, frolicsome temper — W.H.Hudson †1922
d. : heat of mind or emotion : proneness to anger : passion
a man with a temper to beware of
a display of temper
as the strike dragged on, tempers flared on all sides — Mary K. Hammond
threw down the cloth in a temper — Irish Digest
Synonyms: see disposition , mood