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distemper

Distemper means to upset the balance or change the order, or to mix paint with a binding agent. (verb)

An example of distemper is to throw someone completely off schedule.
An example of distemper is to mix paint with water and glue.

Distemper means a mental or physical disease, particularly in animals . Distemper means a method of painting done with paint and a binding agent or such a painting. (noun)

An example of a distemper is schizophrenia.
An example of a distemper is a painting made with paint mixed with glue.

See distemper in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

Obsolete to make bad-tempered; disturb; ruffle
to upset or unbalance the functions of; derange; disorder

noun

a mental or physical derangement or disorder; disease
any of several infectious diseases of animals, characterized by rhinitis, fever, etc.; specif.,
1. an infectious viral disease of young dogs
2. strangles, a disease of horses
civil disorder or turmoil

transitive verb

to mix (colors or pigments) with water and glue, size, or some other binding medium
to paint with such a mixture

noun

a method of painting using distempered pigment, as for wall decoration
a painting done in this way
distempered paint
any of various water-based paints, as whitewash, calcimine, etc.

See distemper in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(dĭs-tĕmˈpər)

noun

a. An infectious viral disease occurring in dogs, characterized by loss of appetite, a catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting, fever, lethargy, partial paralysis caused by destruction of myelinated nerve tissue, and sometimes death. Also called canine distemper.
b. A similar viral disease of cats characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea leading to dehydration, and sometimes death. Also called feline distemper, panleukopenia.
c. Any of various similar mammalian diseases.
An illness or disease; an ailment: “He died . . . of a broken heart, a distemper which kills many more than is generally imagined” (Henry Fielding).
Ill humor; testiness.
Disorder or disturbance, especially of a social or political nature.

transitive verb dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers

To put out of order.
Archaic To unsettle; derange.

(dĭs-tĕmˈpər)

noun

a. A process of painting in which pigments are mixed with water and a glue-size or casein binder, used for flat wall decoration or scenic and poster painting.
b. The paint used in this process.
A painting made by this process.

transitive verb dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers

To mix (powdered pigments or colors) with water and size.
To paint (a work) in distemper.

Learn more about distemper

» distemper medical definition

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