From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Temper \Tem"per\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tempered; p. pr. & vb.
n. Tempering.] [AS. temprian or OF. temper, F. temp['e]rer,
and (in sense 3) temper, L. temperare, akin to tempus time.
Cf. Temporal, Distemper, Tamper.]
1. To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to
modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by
an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage;
to soothe; to calm.
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Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch
indifference, that mercy itself could not have
dictated a milder system. --Bancroft.
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Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee
To temper man: we had been brutes without you.
--Otway.
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But thy fire
Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher.
--Byron.
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She [the Goddess of Justice] threw darkness and
clouds about her, that tempered the light into a
thousand beautiful shades and colors. --Addison.
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2. To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate.
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Thy sustenance . . . serving to the appetite of the
eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.
--Wisdom xvi.
21.
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3. (Metal.) To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to
temper iron or steel.
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The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound.
--Dryden.
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4. To govern; to manage. [A Latinism & Obs.]
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With which the damned ghosts he governeth,
And furies rules, and Tartare tempereth. --Spenser.
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5. To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as
clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.
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6. (Mus.) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual
scale, or to that in actual use.
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Syn: To soften; mollify; assuage; soothe; calm.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Temper \Tem"per\, n.
1. The state of any compound substance which results from the
mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different
qualities; just combination; as, the temper of mortar.
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2. Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the
mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood,
choler, phlegm, and melancholy.
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The exquisiteness of his [Christ's] bodily temper
increased the exquisiteness of his torment.
--Fuller.
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3. Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind,
particularly with regard to the passions and affections;
as, a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper.
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Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heared and judged.
--Milton.
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The consequents of a certain ethical temper. --J. H.
Newman.
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4. Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as,
to keep one's temper.
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To fall with dignity, with temper rise. --Pope.
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Restore yourselves to your tempers, fathers. --B.
Jonson.
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5. Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger;
-- in a reproachful sense. [Colloq.]
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6. The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to
its hardness, produced by some process of heating or
cooling; as, the temper of iron or steel.
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7. Middle state or course; mean; medium. [R.]
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The perfect lawgiver is a just temper between the
mere man of theory, who can see nothing but general
principles, and the mere man of business, who can
see nothing but particular circumstances.
--Macaulay.
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8. (Sugar Works) Milk of lime, or other substance, employed
in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.
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Temper screw, in deep well boring, an adjusting screw
connecting the working beam with the rope carrying the
tools, for lowering the tools as the drilling progresses.
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Syn: Disposition; temperament; frame; humor; mood. See
Disposition.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Temper \Tem"per\, v. i.
1. To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity.
[Obs.] --Shak.
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2. To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to
grow soft and pliable.
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I have him already tempering between my finger and
my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him. --Shak.
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