Definition of: temper

(tem′pər) noun
1. Heat of mind or passion; disposition to become angry; also, a fit of anger.
2. Quality of mind with reference to the passions, emotions, or affections; disposition.
3. Composure of mind; equanimity; self-command; calmness: used only in the phrases to keep, or to lose, one's temper.
4. Metall. The condition of a metal as regards hardness and brittleness, especially when due to heating and sudden cooling.
5. Consistency due to mixture, as of mortar, etc.
6. Lime or an equivalent used in clarifying sugar.
7. An alloy, as that added to tin to make pewter.
8. Obs. Constitutional condition, resulting, according to the ancients, from the proportion in which the four humors were mixed.
9. Archaic A mean; medium. [<v.]
—v.t.
1. To bring to a state of moderation or suitability, as by addition of another quality; free from excess; moderate; mitigate: to temper justice with mercy.
2. To bring to the proper consistency, texture, etc., by moistening and working: to temper clay.
3. To bring (metal) to a required hardness and elasticity by heating and suddenly cooling.
4. Music To adjust the tones of (an instrument) by temperament; tune.
5. Obs. To adjust.
—v.i.
6. To be or become tempered. [Fusion of OE temprian mingle, regulate and OF temprer, tremper soak, temper (steel), both <L temperare combine in due proportion. For sense development of noun defs. l, 2, and 3, see def. 8.]
—tem′per·a·bil′i·ty noun
—tem′per·a·ble adjective
—tem′per·er noun Synonyms (noun): constitution, disposition, frame, grain, humor, mood, nature, organization, temperament. See ANGER, CHARACTER. Synonyms (verb): accommodate, adapt, adjust, appease, assuage, attemper, calm, fit, moderate, modify, mollify, pacify, qualify, restrain, soften, soothe.