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temper
[ tem-per ]
noun
- a particular state of mind or feelings.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
- habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition:
an even temper.
Synonyms: , , , , , ,
- heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.
Synonyms: , , , , ,
- calm disposition or state of mind:
to be out of temper.
Synonyms: ,
- 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.
temper
/ ˈɛə /
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
- 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
- ˌٱˈٲ, noun
- ˈٱ, noun
- ˈٱ, adjective
Other Word Forms
- ٱp·· adjective
- ٱp··i·ٲ noun
- ٱp· noun
- non·ٱp·· adjective
- ·ٱp verb (used with object)
- un·ٱp·· adjective
- ܲ·ٱp·Բ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of temper1
Word History and Origins
Origin of temper1
Idioms and Phrases
see hold one's temper ; lose one's temper .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
And it's true that their dramatic reaction has had some success in tempering some of his worst impulses.
Henry, who has psychokinetic powers and an unpredictable temper, apparently blinded a neighbor kid in a fit of pique, forcing the Creels to skedaddle to Indiana.
As Iran and the United States prepare to hold a second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome, hopes for de-escalation are being tempered by mounting military threats and mixed messages.
But it’s also about art and imagination and how powerful they can be in tempering the waters when we’ve spent so long drowning in the roiling seas of uninspired uniformity.
"Budget is a thing, but when you have those first initial discussions, you shouldn't be tempered by anything," he says.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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