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 ]

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 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tempered p. pr. & vb. n. Tempering. ] [ AS. temprian or OF. temper, F. tempérer, 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 ]

‖n. [ It. ] (Paint.) A mode or process of painting; distemper. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term is applied especially to early Italian painting, common vehicles of which were yolk of egg, yolk and white of egg mixed together, the white juice of the fig tree, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being tempered. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fusible, hard, and temperable texture of metals. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. temperamentum a mixing in due proportion, proper measure, temperament: cf. F. tempérament. See Temper, v. t. ] 1. Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The common law . . . has reduced the kingdom to its just state and temperament. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Due mixture of qualities; a condition brought about by mutual compromises or concessions. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

However, I forejudge not any probable expedient, any temperament that can be found in things of this nature, so disputable on their side. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of tempering or modifying; adjustment, as of clashing rules, interests, passions, or the like; also, the means by which such adjustment is effected. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wholesome temperaments of the rashness of popular assemblies. Sir J. Mackintosh. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Condition with regard to heat or cold; temperature. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Bodies are denominated “hot” and “cold” in proportion to the present temperament of that part of our body to which they are applied. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) A system of compromises in the tuning of organs, pianofortes, and the like, whereby the tones generated with the vibrations of a ground tone are mutually modified and in part canceled, until their number reduced to the actual practicable scale of twelve tones to the octave. This scale, although in so far artificial, is yet closely suggestive of its origin in nature, and this system of tuning, although not mathematically true, yet satisfies the ear, while it has the convenience that the same twelve fixed tones answer for every key or scale, C♯ becoming identical with D♭, and so on. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Physiol.) The peculiar physical and mental character of an individual, in olden times erroneously supposed to be due to individual variation in the relations and proportions of the constituent parts of the body, especially of the fluids, as the bile, blood, lymph, etc. Hence the phrases, bilious or choleric temperament, sanguine temperament, etc., implying a predominance of one of these fluids and a corresponding influence on the temperament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Equal temperament (Mus.), that in which the variations from mathematically true pitch are distributed among all the keys alike. --
Unequal temperament (Mus.), that in which the variations are thrown into the keys least used. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to temperament; constitutional. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. temperantia: cf. F. tempérance. See Temper, v. t. ] 1. Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; moderation; as, temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth; specifically, moderation, and sometimes abstinence, in respect to using intoxicating liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderation of passion; patience; calmness; sedateness. [ R. ] “A gentleman of all temperance.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He calmed his wrath with goodly temperance. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. State with regard to heat or cold; temperature. [ Obs. ] “Tender and delicate temperance.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Temperance society, an association formed for the purpose of diminishing or stopping the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Temperance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. temperatus, p. p. of temperare. See Temper, v. t. ] 1. Moderate; not excessive; as, temperate heat; a temperate climate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not marked with passion; not violent; cool; calm; as, temperate language. [ 1913 Webster ]

She is not hot, but temperate as the morn. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

That sober freedom out of which there springs
Our loyal passion for our temperate kings. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions; as, temperate in eating and drinking. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Proceeding from temperance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The temperate sleeps, and spirits light as air. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Temperate zone (Geog.), that part of the earth which lies between either tropic and the corresponding polar circle; -- so called because the heat is less than in the torrid zone, and the cold less than in the frigid zones. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Abstemious; sober; calm; cool; sedate. [ 1913 Webster ]