temper
pronunciation
How to pronounce temper in British English:
UK [ˈtempə(r)]
How to pronounce temper in American English:
US [ˈtempər]
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- Noun:
- a sudden outburst of anger
- a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
- a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger
- the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking
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- Verb:
- toughen (steel or glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling
- harden by reheating and cooling in oil
- adjust the pitch (of pianos)
- make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
- restrain or temper
Word Origin
- temper
- temper: [OE] The verb temper was borrowed into Old English from Latin temperāre ‘mix, blend’. This seems originally to have meant ‘mix in due proportion’, and so may have been derived from Latin tempus ‘time, due time’ (source of English temporary). The noun temper was derived from the verb in the 14th century in the sense ‘mixture of elements’, and this led on in the 17th century to ‘set of mental traits’ (a meaning that has now largely passed to the derivative temperament [15]).The modern sense ‘ill humour’ emerged from this in the 19th century. Another meaning of Latin temperāre was ‘restrain oneself’, which has come through into the derivatives temperance [14] and temperate [14]. Other relatives include distemper and temperature. Tamper probably originated as an alteration of temper.=> distemper, tamper, tempera, temperature
- temper (v.)
- late Old English temprian "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits," from Latin temperare "observe proper measure, be moderate, restrain oneself," also transitive, "mix correctly, mix in due proportion; regulate, rule, govern, manage," usually described as from tempus "time, season" (see temporal), with a sense of "proper time or season." Meaning "to make (steel) hard and elastic" is from late 14c. Sense of "to tune the pitch of a musical instrument" is recorded from c. 1300. Related: Tempered; tempering.
- temper (n.)
- late 14c., "due proportion of elements or qualities," from temper (v.). The sense of "characteristic state of mind, inclination, disposition" is first recorded 1590s; that of "calm state of mind, tranquility" in c. 1600; and that of "angry state of mind" (for bad temper) in 1828. Meaning "degree of hardness and resiliency in steel" is from late 15c.
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. I lose my temper 50 times a night .
- 2. She treated me nice when I was under temper tantrums .
- 3. You are a grown-up person , can 't you just command your temper ?
- 4. Despite his academic successes , ben carson still had a raging temper that translated into violent behavior .
- 5. Beijing is wise to temper this borrowing and lending splurge .