'Temper' definitions:

Definition of 'temper'

(from WordNet)
noun
A sudden outburst of anger; "his temper sparked like damp firewood" [syn: pique, temper, irritation]
noun
A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling; "whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time"; "he was in a bad humor" [syn: temper, mood, humor, humour]
noun
A disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; "his temper was well known to all his employees" [syn: temper, biliousness, irritability, peevishness, pettishness, snappishness, surliness]
noun
The elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking [syn: temper, toughness]
verb
Bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling; "temper glass" [syn: anneal, temper, normalize]
verb
Harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel" [syn: temper, harden]
verb
Adjust the pitch (of pianos)
verb
Make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate; "she tempered her criticism" [syn: temper, season, mollify]
verb
Restrain [syn: chasten, moderate, temper]

Definition of 'Temper'

From: GCIDE
  • Temper \Tem"per\, n.
  • 1. The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities; just combination; as, the temper of mortar. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy. [1913 Webster]
  • The exquisiteness of his [Christ's] bodily temper increased the exquisiteness of his torment. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heared and judged. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • The consequents of a certain ethical temper. --J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper. [1913 Webster]
  • To fall with dignity, with temper rise. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • Restore yourselves to your tempers, fathers. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; -- in a reproachful sense. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling; as, the temper of iron or steel. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Middle state or course; mean; medium. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • The perfect lawgiver is a just temper between the mere man of theory, who can see nothing but general principles, and the mere man of business, who can see nothing but particular circumstances. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Sugar Works) Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar. [1913 Webster]
  • Temper screw, in deep well boring, an adjusting screw connecting the working beam with the rope carrying the tools, for lowering the tools as the drilling progresses. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Disposition; temperament; frame; humor; mood. See Disposition. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Temper'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Definition of 'Temper'

From: GCIDE
  • Temper \Tem"per\, v. i.
  • 1. To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable. [1913 Webster]
  • I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'temper'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Temper'