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temperable

Variant of temper

transitive verb

  1. to make suitable, desirable, or free from excess by mingling with something else; reduce in intensity, esp. by the admixture of some other quality; moderate; assuage; mollify: to temper criticism with reason
    1. to bring to the proper texture, consistency, hardness, etc. by mixing with something or treating in some way: to temper paints with oil, to temper steel by heating and sudden cooling, to temper clay by moistening and kneading
    2. to toughen, as by rigors or trying experiences
  2. Rare to fit; adapt
  3. Archaic to mix in proper proportions
  4. Music to adjust the pitch of (a note) or tune (an instrument) according to some temperament

intransitive verb

to be or become tempered

noun

  1. the state of being tempered; specif.,
    1. Archaic a properly proportioned mixture
    2. the state of a metal with regard to the degree of hardness and resilience
  2. frame of mind; disposition; mood: in a bad temper
  3. calmness of mind; composure: now only in the phrases and
  4. a tendency to become angry readily: to have a temper
  5. anger; rage: to go into a temper
  6. something used to temper a mixture, etc.
  7. the trend in thought and feeling (of an era, period, etc.); character: the temper of the times, the modern temper
  8. Archaic a middle course; mean
  9. Obsolete character; quality

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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