Temperament

Temperament
Temperament Tem"per*a*ment, n. [L. temperamentum a mixing in due proportion, proper measure, temperament: cf. F. temp['e]rament. 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[sharp] becoming identical with D[flat], 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • tempérament — [ tɑ̃peramɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1478; h. XIIIe; lat. imp. temperamentum « juste proportion », d où « action de tempérer », de temperare « adoucir » I ♦ 1 ♦ (1583) Vx ou littér. Équilibre d un mélange, d une composition. « Ce tempérament de mes tendances » …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • temperament — Temperament. s. m. Complexion, meslange des quatre humeurs dans le corps de l Animal. Il ne se dit guere qu en parlant de l homme. Bon temperament. mauvais temperament. je connois son temperament. cela altere le temperament. estre d un… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • temperament — TEMPERAMÉNT, temperamente, s.n. Ansamblul trăsăturilor fiziologice şi nervoase ale unei persoane, care determină diferenţieri psihice şi de comportament între indivizi; fire. ♦ Energie vitală, avânt, elan, impetuozitate; vioiciune. – Din fr.… …   Dicționar Român

  • temperament — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. temperamentncie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 20}} {{/stl 20}}{{stl 12}}1. {{/stl 12}}{{stl 7}} zespół cech psychicznych człowieka, wyrażających się w jakości, szybkości i trwałości reakcji uczuciowych na bodźce;… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Temperament — Sn std. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. temperāmentum n. richtige Mischung , Abstraktum zu l. temperāre mischen (temperieren). Im 16. Jh. wird das Wort auf die richtige Mischung der Körpersäfte angewandt (im Sinne der Säftelehre: s.… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • temperament — temperàment (temperamȅnt) m <G mn nātā> DEFINICIJA psih. način, brzina i jačina umnog i osjećajnog reagiranja, način ponašanja svojstven pojedincu, skup psiholoških značajki; ćud, narav [hladan temperament; miran temperament; razdražljiv… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • temperament — [tem′pər ə mənt, tem′prə mənt] n. [ME < L temperamentum, proper mixing < temperare: see TEMPER] 1. Obs. the act or an instance of tempering; proportionate mixture or balance of ingredients 2. in medieval physiology, any of the four… …   English World dictionary

  • Temperament — »Wesens , Gemütsart; Lebhaftigkeit, Schwung, Feuer«: Das Fremdwort wurde im 16. Jh. aus lat. temperamentum »das richtige Verhältnis gemischter Dinge, die gehörige Mischung; das rechte Maß« (wie auch entsprechend engl. temperament, frz.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Temperament — нем. [тэмпэрамэ/нт], англ. [тэ/мпэрэмэнт] tempérament фр. [танпэрама/н] temperamento ит. [тэмпэрамэ/нто] 1) темперамент 2) темперация …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

  • tempérament — Temperament нем. [тэмпэрамэ/нт], англ. [тэ/мпэрэмэнт] tempérament фр. [танпэрама/н] temperamento ит. [тэмпэрамэ/нто] 1) темперамент 2) темперация …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

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