temperament
[ tem-per-uh-muhnt, -pruh-muhnt, -per-muhnt ]
/ ˈtɛm pər ə mənt, -prə mənt, -pər mənt /
noun
the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person; natural predisposition.
unusual personal attitude or nature as manifested by peculiarities of feeling, temper, action, etc., often with a disinclination to submit to conventional rules or restraints.
(old physiology) the combination of the four cardinal humors, the relative proportions of which were supposed to determine physical and mental constitution.
Music.
- the tuning of a keyboard instrument, as the piano, organ, or harpsichord, so that the instrument may be played in all keys without further tuning.
- a particular system of doing this.
Archaic.
an act of tempering or moderating.
Archaic.
climate.
Origin of temperament
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin
temperāmentum due mixture, equivalent to
temperā(re) to mix properly +
-mentum
-ment
synonym study for temperament
1. See
disposition.
Words nearby temperament
tempelhof,
temper,
temper color,
temper tantrum,
tempera,
temperament,
temperamental,
temperance,
temperate,
temperate bacteriophage,
temperate zone
Example sentences from the Web for temperament
British Dictionary definitions for temperament
temperament
/ (ˈtɛmpərəmənt, -prəmənt) /
noun
Word Origin for temperament
C15: from Latin
temperāmentum a mixing in proportion, from
temperāre to
temper
Medical definitions for temperament
temperament
[ tĕm′prə-mənt, tĕm′pər-ə- ]
n.
The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person.
Disposition; temper.