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   temper

   /ˈtɛmpə/

   noun

   • 1. a person's state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm: "he rushed out in a very bad temper" Similar temperamentdispositionnaturecharacterpersonalitymake-upconstitutionmindspiritstampmettlemouldmoodframe of mindcast of mindhabit of mindattitudearchaic:humourgrain
   • ▪ a tendency to become angry easily: "I know my temper gets the better of me at times" Similar angerfuryrageannoyancevexationcrossnessirascibilityirritationirritabilityill humourill temperdyspepsiaspleenpiquepetulancepeevishnesspettishnesstestinesstetchinesssnappishnesscrabbinessresentmentsurlinesschurlishnessair rageinformal:stroppinessliterary:irecholerOpposite good humour
   • ▪ an angry state of mind: "Drew had walked out in a temper" Similar fit of rageragefuryfit of bad/ill temperbad tempertantrumpassionparoxysmfit of piquebad moodmoodpetsulkmardinformal:grumphuffsnitstroppaddyinformal, dated:batewaxskidinformal:blowouthissy fitarchaic:paddywhackmiff
   • 2. the degree of hardness and elasticity in steel or other metal: "the blade rapidly heats up and the metal loses its temper"

   verb

   • 1. improve the hardness and elasticity of (steel or other metal) by reheating and then cooling it: "the way a smith would temper a sword"
   • ▪ improve the consistency or resiliency of (a substance) by means of a process involving heat or chemicals: "the display is a single sheet of glass, tempered for strength" Similar hardenstrengthentoughenfortifytechnical:anneal
   • 2. act as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to (something): "their idealism is tempered with realism" Similar moderatemodifymodulatetone downmitigatepalliatealleviateallayassuagelessenreduceweakenlightensoftencushionqualify
   • 3. tune (a piano or other instrument) so as to adjust the note intervals correctly.

   Word Origin Old Englishtemprian ‘bring something into the required condition by mixing it with something else’, from Latin temperare ‘mingle, restrain’. Sense development was probably influenced by Old French temprer ‘to temper, moderate’. The noun originally denoted a proportionate mixture of elements or qualities, also the combination of the four bodily humours, believed in medieval times to be the basis of temperament, hence temper (sense 1 of the noun) (late Middle English). Compare with temperament.

   Derivatives

   • 1. temperer noun
   • 2. temperative adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

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   • E

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   • M

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   • P

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