temper

[ tem-per ]

/ ˈtɛm pər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR temper ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a particular state of mind or feelings.

habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition: an even temper.

heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.

calm disposition or state of mind: to be out of temper.

a substance added to something to modify its properties or qualities.

Metallurgy.

the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal, as by quenching, heat treatment, or cold working.
the percentage of carbon in tool steel.
the operation of tempering.

Archaic. a middle course; compromise.

Obsolete. the constitution or character of a substance.

verb (used with object)

to moderate or mitigate: to temper justice with mercy.

to soften or tone down.

to bring to a proper, suitable, or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture.

to moisten, mix, and work up into proper consistency, as clay or mortar.

Metallurgy. to impart strength or toughness to (steel or cast iron) by heating and cooling.

to produce internal stresses in (glass) by sudden cooling from low red heat; toughen.

to tune (a keyboard instrument, as a piano, organ, or harpsichord) so as to make the tones available in different keys or tonalities.

to modify (color) by mixing with a medium.

Archaic. to combine or blend in due proportions.

Archaic. to pacify.

verb (used without object)

to be or become tempered.

Origin of temper

before 1000; (v.) Middle English tempren, Old English temprian < Latin temperāre to divide or proportion duly, temper; (noun) Middle English: proportion, derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR temper

1 nature, condition.

2 humor.

3 irritation.

4 equanimity, coolness, composure.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR temper ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for temper

1. See disposition. 10. See modify.

OTHER WORDS FROM temper

tem·per·a·ble, adjective tem·per·a·bil·i·ty, noun tem·per·er, noun non·tem·per·a·ble, adjective

re·tem·per, verb (used with object) un·tem·per·a·ble, adjective un·tem·per·ing, adjective

Words nearby temper

temp, temp., tempe, tempeh, tempelhof, temper, temper color, temper tantrum, tempera, temperament, temperamental

Example sentences from the Web for temper

“When I was a kid I used to have temper tantrums on the basketball court,” he says.

Dean Baquet, the NYT’s Executive Editor, on Jill Abramson, Race, Surviving Cancer—and TMZ Envy |Lloyd Grove |September 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He is said to have received a warning from the overall al Qaeda organization to temper his videos.

From ISIS Videos to JLaw Nudes, When Is Looking Abetting Evil? |Michael Daly |September 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Again, the Israeli temper is hot and quick, sometimes reason becomes blinded and emotions take control.

The Israeli Way of Death |Miranda Frum |July 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She placidly tells people she is dreaming until her frantic father finds her again and loses his temper.

Diagnosing Jane, Louis C.K.’s Troubled Daughter on ‘Louie’ Who Can’t Separate Dreams From Reality |Russell Saunders |May 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

He killed his own son and heir by whacking him over the head with the monarchal staff in a tsar-ish fit of temper.

Russian History Is on Our Side: Putin Will Surely Screw Himself |P. J. O’Rourke |May 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Perhaps I was wrong to lose my temper and threaten him, but I am half mad.

An American Suffragette |Isaac N. Stevens
And the burning wood hissed in the eye, just as the red-hot iron hisses in the water when a man seeks to temper steel for a sword.

Myths and Legends of All Nations |Various
I've kept my temper as long as I could; but, dash it all, if you force me to speak out, I will!

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, February 25, 1893 |Various
He was maddeningly sure of himself, and while he sometimes gave back thrust for thrust, he never lost his temper.

The Land of Promise |D. Torbett
His temper was well known; Monsieur Popinot, who had examined him, had not been able to get anything out of him.

Scenes from a Courtesan's Life |Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for temper

temper

/ (ˈtɛmpə) /

noun

a frame of mind; mood or humour a good temper

a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum

a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability

a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper)

the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object

verb (tr)

to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate he tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy

to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching

music

to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys
to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)

a rare word for adapt

an archaic word for mix

Derived forms of temper

temperable, adjective temperability, noun temperer, noun

Word Origin for temper

Old English temprian to mingle, (influenced by Old French temprer), from Latin temperāre to mix, probably from tempus time

Medical definitions for temper

temper

[ tĕm′pər ]

n.

A state of mind or emotions; mood.

A tendency to become easily angry or irritable.

An outburst of rage.

Idioms and Phrases with temper

temper

see hold one's temper; lose one's temper.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

temper

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of temper

SYNONYMS FOR temper

synonym study for temper

OTHER WORDS FROM temper

Words nearby temper

Example sentences from the Web for temper

British Dictionary definitions for temper

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of temper

Word Origin for temper

Medical definitions for temper

n.

Idioms and Phrases with temper

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

temper

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of temper

SYNONYMS FOR temper

synonym study for temper

OTHER WORDS FROM temper

Words nearby temper

Words related to temper

Example sentences from the Web for temper

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for temper

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of temper

Word Origin for temper

Medical definitions for temper

n.

Idioms and Phrases with temper

British Dictionary definitions for temper