Tempered

Tempered
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Tempered — Tem pered, a. Brought to a proper temper; as, tempered steel; having (such) a temper; chiefly used in composition; as, a good tempered or bad tempered man; a well tempered sword. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tempered — [tem′pərd] adj. 1. having been given the desired temper, consistency, hardness, etc. [tempered steel] 2. modified by addition of or mixture with other qualities, ingredients, etc. [the mercy in a tempered justice] 3. having a (specified kind of)… …   English World dictionary

  • tempered — I adjective adapted, adjusted, altered, changed, corrected, indurate, indurated, moderated, modified, recast, reconstructed, remolded, reshaped, revised, transformed, treated II index reasonable (fair) Burton s Legal Thesaurus …   Law dictionary

  • tempered — /tem peuhrd/, adj. 1. having a temper or disposition of a specified character (usually used in combination): a good tempered child. 2. Music. tuned in accordance with some other temperament than just or pure temperament, esp. tuned in equal… …   Universalium

  • tempered — adjective a) Of ones disposition. The Pyncheon Elm, throughout its great circumference, was all alive, and full of the morning sun and a sweet tempered little breeze, which lingered within this verdant sphere, and set a thousand leafy tongues a… …   Wiktionary

  • tempered — adjective 1. made hard or flexible or resilient especially by heat treatment a sword of tempered steel tempered glass • Syn: ↑treated, ↑hardened, ↑toughened • Ant: ↑untempered …   Useful english dictionary

  • -tempered — comb. form having a specified temper or disposition (bad tempered; hot tempered). Derivatives: temperedly adv. temperedness n. * * * comb. form having a specified temper or disposition ill tempered …   Useful english dictionary

  • tempered — adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. having the elements mixed in satisfying proportions ; temperate b. qualified, lessened, or diluted by the mixture or influence of an additional ingredient ; moderated < a pale gleam of tempered sunlight fell… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tempered — tem•pered [[t]ˈtɛm pərd[/t]] adj. 1) having a temper or disposition as specified (usu. used in combination): a good tempered child[/ex] 2) mad mus tuned in accordance with some temperament, esp. equal temperament 3) made less intense or violent,… …   From formal English to slang

  • -tempered — combining form having a specified temper or disposition: ill tempered. Derivatives temperedly combining form. temperedness combining form …   English new terms dictionary

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