KJV Dictionary Definition: temper

temper

TEM'PER, v.t. L. tempero, to mix or moderate

1. To mix so that one part qualifies the other; to bring to a moderate state; as, to temper justice with mercy.

2. To compound; to form by mixture; to qualify, as by an ingredient; or in general, to mix, unite or combine two or more things so as to reduce the excess of the qualities of either, and bring the whole to the desired consistence or state.

Thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy. Ex.30.

3. To unite in due proportion; to render symmetrical; to adjust, as parts to each other.

God hath tempered the body together. 1 Cor.12.

4. To accommodate; to modify.

Thy sustenance serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.

5. To soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm; to reduce any violence or excess.

Solon--labored to temper the warlike courages of the Athenians with sweet delights of learning.

Woman! nature made thee

To temper man; we had been brutes without you.

6. To form to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.

The temper'd metals clash, and yield a silver sound.

7. To govern; a Latinism. Not in use.

8. In music, to modify or amend a false or imperfect concord by transferring to it a part of the beauty of a perfect one, that is, by dividing the tones.

TEM'PER, n. Due mixture of different qualities; or the state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; as the temper of mortar.

1. Constitution of body. In this sense we more generally use temperament.

2. Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind, particularly with regard to the passions and affections; as a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper. This is applicable to beasts as well as to man.

Remember with what mild

And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd.

3. Calmness of mind; moderation.

Restore yourselves unto your tempers, fathers.

To fall with dignity, with temper rise.

4. Heat of mind or passion; irritation. The boy showed a great deal of temper when I reproved him.

So we say, a man of violent temper, when we speak of his irritability. This use of the word is common, though a deviation from its original and genuine meaning.

5. The state of a metal, particularly as to its hardness; as the temper of iron or steel.

6. Middle course; mean or medium.

7. In sugar works, white lime or other substance stirred into a clarifier filled with cane-juice, to neutralize the super abundant acid.

temperance

TEM'PERANCE, n. L. temperantia, from tempero.

1. Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.

2. Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.

He calm'd his wrath with goodly temperance. Unusual.

temperate

TEM'PERATE, a. L. temperatus. Moderate; not excessive; as temperate heat; a temperate climate; temperate air.

1. Moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions; as temperate in eating and drinking; temperate in pleasures; temperate in speech.

Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy.

2. Cool; calm; not marked with passion; not violent; as a temperate discourse or address; temperate language.

3. Proceeding from temperance; as temperate sleep.

4. Free from ardent passion.

She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.

Temperate zone, the space on the earth between the tropics and the polar circles, where the heat is less than in the tropics, and the cold less than in the polar circles.

temperately

TEM'PERATELY, adv. Moderately; without excess or extravagance.

1. Calmly; without violence of passion; as, to reprove one temperately.

2. With moderate force.

Winds that temperately blow.

temperateness

TEM'PERATENESS, n. Moderation; freedom from excess; as the temperateness of the weather or of a climate.

1. Calmness; coolness of mind.

temperative

TEM'PERATIVE, a. Having the power or quality of tempering.

tempered

TEM'PERED, pp. Duly mixed or modified; reduced to a proper state; softened; allayed; hardened.

1. Adjusted by musical temperament.

2. a. Disposed; as a well tempered, good tempered, or bad tempered man.

tempering

TEM'PERING, ppr. Mixing and qualifying; qualifying by mixture; softening; mollifying; reducing to a state of moderation; hardening.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
Previous word: tell. Next word: tempest.