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temper

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
tem·per  (tmpr)
v. tem·pered, tem·per·ing, tem·pers
v.tr.
1. To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate: "temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom" (Robert H. Jackson). See Synonyms at moderate.
2. To bring to a desired consistency, texture, hardness, or other physical condition by or as if by blending, admixing, or kneading: temper clay; paints that had been tempered with oil.
3. To harden or strengthen (metal or glass) by application of heat or by heating and cooling.
4. To strengthen through experience or hardship; toughen: soldiers who had been tempered by combat.
5. To adjust finely; attune: a portfolio that is tempered to the investor's needs.
6. Music To adjust (the pitch of an instrument) to a temperament.
v.intr.
To be or become tempered.
n.
1. A state of mind or emotions; disposition: an even temper. See Synonyms at mood1.
2. Calmness of mind or emotions; composure: lose one's temper.
3.
a. A tendency to become easily angry or irritable: a quick temper.
b. An outburst of rage: a fit of temper.
4. A characteristic general quality; tone: heroes who exemplified the medieval temper; the politicized temper of the 1930s.
5.
a. The condition of being tempered.
b. The degree of hardness and elasticity of a metal, chiefly steel, achieved by tempering.
6. A modifying substance or agent added to something else.
7. Archaic A middle course between extremes; a mean.

[Middle English temperen, from Old English temprian, from Latin temperre, probably from variant of tempus, tempor-, time, season.]

temper·a·bili·ty n.
temper·a·ble adj.
temper·er n.

temper [ˈtɛmpə]
n
1. a frame of mind; mood or humour a good temper
2. a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum
3. a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability
4. a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper)
5. (Engineering / Metallurgy) the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object
vb (tr)
1. to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate he tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy
2. (Engineering / Metallurgy) to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching
3. (Music, other) Music
a.  to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys
b.  to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)
4. a rare word for adapt
5. an archaic word for mix
[Old English temprian to mingle, (influenced by Old French temprer), from Latin temperāre to mix, probably from tempus time]
temperable  adj
temperability  n
temperer  n

temper


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Marilla Cuthbert, you don't mean to say that you are upholding her in such a terrible display of temper as we've just seen?
And please to bear in mind that I have a temper which feels even the smallest slights and injuries very keenly.
For two hours more Ned Land's temper increased; he cried, he shouted, but in vain.
 
 
 
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