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.
Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heared and judged.
Milton.
The consequents of a certain ethical temper.
J. H. Newman. 4. Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper.
To fall with dignity, with temper rise.
Pope.
Restore yourselves to your tempers, fathers.
B. Jonson. 5. Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; — in a reproachful sense. [Colloq.]
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.
7. Middle state or course; mean; medium. [R.]
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. 8. (Sugar Works) Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify
sugar.
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.
Syn. — Disposition; temperament; frame; humor; mood. See Disposition.
Temper
(Tem"per), v. i.
1. To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.
I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him.
Shak. Tempera
(||Tem"pe*ra) n. [It.] (Paint.) A mode or process of painting; distemper.
The term is applied especially to early Italian painting, common vehicles of which were yolk of egg, yolk
and white of egg mixed together, the white juice of the fig tree, and the like.
Temperable
(Tem"per*a*ble) a. Capable of being tempered.
The fusible, hard, and temperable texture of metals.
Emerson. Temperament
(Tem"per*a*ment) n. [L. temperamentum a mixing in due proportion, proper measure,
temperament: cf. F. tempérament. See Temper, v. t.]
1. Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent
parts.
The common law . . . has reduced the kingdom to its just state and temperament.
Sir M. Hale.
