| 释义 |
conˈtemper, v. Obs. or arch.
[ad. L. contemper-āre to temper by mixing, f. con- with + temperāre to temper. Cf. F. contempérer. (16th c.)]
1. trans. To mingle or blend together (elements of different character).
1579Fulke Heskins' Parl. 105 Wee must know to contemper the perfect manhoode and the perfecte Godhood. 1670Walton Life Donne 80 The melancholy and pleasant humor were in him so contempered, that each gave advantage to the other. 1681–6J. Scott Chr. Life ii. 500 That which by it self might prove very pernicious, may by being contempered with others..become exceeding beneficial.
2. To temper by mixture with something of different character; to moderate, qualify.
1605Timme Quersit. i. iv. 18 Sulphur..doth contemper the sharpness or sowerness of mercurie. 1624Wotton Archit. (1672) 66 A Stove..to contemper the Air in Winter. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. iv. 120 Acids..contempered with a volatile Salt. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 150 ⁋3 The antidotes with which philosophy has medicated the cup of life..have at least allayed its bitterness, and contempered its malignity. 1868Bushnell Serm. Living Subj. 307 Our assemblies are all contempered by the heat of God's living sacrifice for transgressors.
3. To adapt or adjust (to) by tempering.
1600Abp. Abbot Exp. Jonah 232 He contempereth his phrases to our capacitie, and speaketh to us in our own tongue. 1696Whiston Th. Earth iv. (1722) 294 He..previously adjusted and contemper'd the Moral and Natural World to one another. 1819Coleridge in Lett., Convers., etc. I. iv. 12 Contempered to a life of ease.
Hence conˈtempering vbl. n.
1633Prynne Histrio-Mastix i. 97 (R.) The contempering of some inferior virtues with more transcendent vices in our stage playes. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. viii. 308 For the contempering..of lixivial Salts. |