temper

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.

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

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temper·a·bili·ty n.

temper·a·ble adj.

temper·er n.

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temper

Noun

1. a sudden outburst of anger: she stormed out in a temper

2. a tendency to have sudden outbursts of anger: you've got a temper all right

3. a mental condition of moderation and calm: he lost his temper

4. a person's frame of mind: he was in a bad temper

Verb

1. to modify so as to make less extreme or more acceptable: past militancy has been tempered with compassion and caring

2. to reduce the brittleness of (a hardened metal) by reheating it and allowing it to cool

3. Music to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) [Latin temperare to mix]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	temper - a sudden outburst of anger; "his temper sparked like damp firewood" irritation, pique vexation, annoyance, chafe - anger produced by some annoying irritation
	2.	temper - a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling; "whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time"; "he was in a bad humor" humour, mood, humor feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" peeve - an annoyed or irritated mood sulk, sulkiness - a mood or display of sullen aloofness or withdrawal; "stayed home in a sulk" amiability, good humor, good humour, good temper - a cheerful and agreeable mood ill humor, ill humour, distemper - an angry and disagreeable mood
	3.	temper - a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; "his temper was well known to all his employees" pettishness, snappishness, surliness, biliousness, peevishness, irritability ill nature - a disagreeable, irritable, or malevolent disposition querulousness - the quality of being given to complaining
	4.	temper - the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking toughness elasticity, snap - the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed; "the waistband had lost its snap"
Verb	1.	temper - bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling; "temper glass" anneal, normalize harden, indurate - make hard or harder; "The cold hardened the butter"
	2.	temper - harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel" harden modify - make less severe or harsh or extreme; "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage"
	3.	temper - adjust the pitch (of pianos) adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels"
	4.	temper - make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate; "she tempered her criticism" mollify, season weaken - lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body"
	5.	temper - restrain chasten, moderate alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

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temper

noun 1. irritability, anger, irascibility, passion, resentment, irritation, annoyance, petulance, surliness, ill humour, peevishness, hot-headedness << OPPOSITE good humour

noun 2. frame of mind, character, nature, attitude, mind, mood, constitution, humour, vein, temperament, tenor, disposition

noun 3. rage, fury, bad mood, passion, paddy Brit. (informal) wax (informal), chiefly Brit. tantrum, bate Brit. (slang) fit of pique, foulie Austral. (slang) hissy fit (informal)

noun 4. self-control, composure, cool (slang) calm, good humour, tranquillity, coolness, calmness, equanimity << OPPOSITE anger

verb 5. moderate, restrain, tone down, calm, soften, soothe, lessen, allay, mitigate, abate, assuage, mollify, soft-pedal (informal) palliate, admix << OPPOSITE intensify

verb 6. strengthen, harden, toughen, anneal << OPPOSITE soften

Translations

temper [ˈtɛmpəʳ] n (= mood) → humor m (= bad temper); (mal) genio (= fit of anger); ira;

(of child) → rabieta

vt (= moderate) → moderar;

to be in a temper → estar furioso;

to lose one's temper → enfadarse, enojarse (LAM);

to keep one's temper → contenerse, no alterarse

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temper [ˈtɛmpəʳ] n (= nature) → caractère m (= mood); humeur f (= fit of anger); colère f

vt (= moderate) → tempérer, adoucir;

to be in a temper → être en colère;

to lose one's temper → se mettre en colère;

to keep one's temper → rester calme

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temper [ˈtɛmpəʳ] n (nature) → Naturell nt;

(mood) → Laune f

vt (= moderate) → mildern;

a (fit of) temper → ein Wutanfall m;

to be in a temper → gereizt sein;

to lose one's temper → die Beherrschung verlieren

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temper [ˈtɛmpəʳ] n (= nature) → carattere m (= mood); umore m (= fit of anger); collera

vt (= moderate) → temperare, moderare;

to be in a temper → essere in collera;

to keep one's temper → restare calmo;

to lose one's temper → andare in collera