- Tempering
- 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.
