temper

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: piqueirritationmoodhumorhumourbiliousnessirritabilitypeevishnesspettishnesssnappishnesssurlinesstoughness

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a sudden outburst of anger“his temper sparked like damp firewood”Synonyms: piqueirritation
  2. 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”Synonyms: moodhumorhumour
  3. a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger“his temper was well known to all his employees”Synonyms: biliousnessirritabilitypeevishnesspettishnesssnappishnesssurliness
  4. the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before crackingSynonyms: toughness

Verb (5)

  1. bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling“temper glass”Synonyms: annealnormalize
  2. harden by reheating and cooling in oil“temper steel”Synonyms: harden
  3. adjust the pitch (of pianos)
  4. make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate“she tempered her criticism”Synonyms: seasonmollify
  5. restrainSynonyms: chastenmoderate
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy itself could not have dictated a milder system.— Bancroft.[1913 Webster]
Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes without you.— Otway.[1913 Webster]
But thy fire Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher.— Byron.[1913 Webster]
She [the Goddess of Justice] threw darkness and clouds about her, that tempered the light into a thousand beautiful shades and colors.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

2.To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate. [1913 Webster]

Thy sustenance . . . serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.— Wisdom xvi. 21.[1913 Webster]

3.(Metal.) To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel. [1913 Webster]

The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

4.To govern; to manage. [A Latinism & Obs.] [1913 Webster]

With which the damned ghosts he governeth, And furies rules, and Tartare tempereth.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

5.To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc. [1913 Webster]

6.(Mus.) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To soften; mollify; assuage; soothe; calm. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

2.Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy. [1913 Webster]

The exquisiteness of his [Christ's] bodily temper increased the exquisiteness of his torment.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heared and judged.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
The consequents of a certain ethical temper.— J. H. Newman.[1913 Webster]

4.Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper. [1913 Webster]

To fall with dignity, with temper rise.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
Restore yourselves to your tempers, fathers.— B. Jonson.[1913 Webster]

5.Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; -- in a reproachful sense. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

7.Middle state or course; mean; medium. [R.] [1913 Webster]

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.[1913 Webster]

8.(Sugar Works) Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Disposition; temperament; frame; humor; mood. See Disposition. [1913 Webster]

Temper \Tem"per\, v. i.

1.To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2.To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable. [1913 Webster]

I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
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