attemperv.
/əˈtɛmpə/, U.S. /əˈtɛmpər/ 1. To qualify by admixture; to modify or moderate by blending with something of different or opposite quality; to temper.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] > by tempering or mixing
temperc1000
attemper1393
temperatea1540
attemperate1561
contemper1585
contemperate1590
mitigate1601
season1604
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > add as ingredient to a mixture > qualify by admixture
tempera1000
entemperc1290
attemper1393
powdera1425
grade1889
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 201 Which [justice], for to escheue cruelte, He mote attempre with pite.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 44/2 The love attempered the sorow.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. L iiij b A lyttell pellitorie and persly, to attempre the coldenes of the forsayde thynges.
1666 J. Smith Γηροκομία Βασιλικὴ (ed. 2) 20 There is scarce any condition so evil, that is not attempered with some good.
1780 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 2) IV. vii. 151 The most perfect taste in architecture, where grace softens dignity, and lightness attempers magnificence.
1851 R. C. Trench Poems 27 If sweet with bitter, pleasure with annoy, Were not attempered still.
2. To modify the temperature of; to make (air, etc.) warmer or colder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > modify the temperature of [verb (transitive)]
attemperc1374
attemperate1605
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. i. i. 8 What attempriþ þe lusty houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun.
1658 J. Evelyn tr. N. de Bonnefons French Gardiner 87 You may give them a gentle Stove, and attemper the Air with a fire of Charcoal.
1717 A. Pope Eloisa to Abelard in Wks. 420 Those smiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray.
1846 N. Hawthorne Mosses i. i. 3 The shadow of the willow tree..attempered the cheery western sunshine.
3. To moderate, mitigate, assuage (passion or harshness); to soothe, mollify, appease (the excited person).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)]
softa1225
stilla1325
coolc1330
accoya1375
appeasec1374
attemperc1386
lullc1386
quieta1398
peasea1400
amesec1400
assuagec1400
mesec1400
soberc1430
modify?a1439
establish1477
establish1477
pacify1484
pacify1515
unbrace?1526
settle1530
steady1530
allay1550
calm1559
compromitc1574
restore1582
recollect1587
serenize1598
smooth1604
compose1607
recompose1611
becalm1613
besoothe1614
unprovokea1616
halcyon1616
unstrain1616
leniate1622
tranquillize1623
unperplexa1631
belull1631
sedate1646
unmaze1647
assopiatea1649
serenate1654
serene1654
tranquillify1683
soothe1697
unalarm1722
reserene1755
quietize1791
peacify1845
quieten1853
conjure1856
peace1864
disfever1880
patise1891
de-tension1961
mellow1974
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > make moderate (behaviour) [verb (transitive)]
tempera1050
methea1200
measure1340
refrainc1384
attemperc1386
obtempera1492
temperatea1568
obtemperate1575
soberize1707
c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ⁋548 The angry man maketh noyses, and the pacient man attempereth and stilleth him.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 206/4 Cezar, amende thy maners and attempre thy commaundementis.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clxxxii. f. cvi He somwhat attempred his fury & crueltie.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) lvii. 325 How the..Habit, To be Angry, may be attempred, and calmed.
1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives I. 189 The genius of Numa..softening and attempering the fiery dispositions of his people.
1882 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant (new ed.) II. lxxvi. 3 The wild passions and deeds of men are so attempered and adjusted.
4. To restrain, control, govern. Also reflexive ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > hold in check
bridleOE
tempera1050
chastec1230
to hold inc1300
straina1340
stintc1366
attemperc1380
restraina1387
rulea1391
ward1390
coarctc1400
obtemper?a1425
to hold or keep (a person) shortc1425
compesce1430
stent1488
coactc1520
repressa1525
compress1526
control1548
snaffle1555
temperatea1568
brank1574
halter1577
curb1588
shortena1599
to bear (a rein) upon1603
check1629
coerceate1657
bit1825
throttle1862
hold1901
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > exercise moderation or restraint [verb (reflexive)]
hold971
withholdc1200
containc1290
keep1340
restraina1387
refrainc1450
retaina1500
attemper1548
retract1548
temper1560
reserve1586
check1833
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 164 Entempre þou beter þy tonge.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 333 Attempre thy corage Fro wrath.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 20v Attempre you from couetise.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Mark iv. f. 24 Always attempering thy self as much as thou canst.
5. To regulate, control, order, arrange. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)]
wieldeOE
redeOE
temperc1000
wisc1000
yemec1000
aweldc1175
guy13..
rule1340
attemperc1374
stightlea1375
justifya1393
governa1400
moder1414
control1495
moderate1534
rein1557
manage1560
sway1587
to bear (a rein) upon1603
bridle1615
ephorize1647
puppet1840
coact1855
boss1856
run1869
swing1873
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. i. 111 Þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges þe ceptre of his myȝt and attempereþ þe gouernementes of þis worlde.
1540 T. Cranmer Prol. or Pref. in Bible (Great) sig. ✠v The holye ghost hath so ordered and attempered the scriptures.
1662 H. More Antidote Atheism (1712) ii. ii. 43 Its Motion and Posture would be so directed and attemper'd, as we..would have it to be.
1787 ‘A. Pasquin’ Children of Thespis ii. 18 She moves and attempers the springs of the mind.
6.
a. To make fit or suitable to; to accommodate or adapt in quality to. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] > adapt or adjust to
attemper1393
temper1530
sort1561
accommodate1579
square1583
commodate1611
contemperate1656
gear1900
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 87 There may no welth ne pouerte Attempren hem to the deserte Of buxomnesse.
1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (v.) f. 65v They wolde attemper and drawe Gods worship and religion vnto their own profits.
1656 J. Trapp Comm. Matt. xi. 17 Attempering their discourses to the hearers' capacities.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 128 God often attempers Himself and His oracles to the condition of men.
b. intransitive (for reflexive). To adapt oneself to. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > adaptability to circumstances > adapt to circumstances [verb (intransitive)]
temporize1555
accommodate1597
localizea1631
to piece in1636
attemper1807
trim1888
adapt1910
reorient1916
adjust1924
to trim one's sails to the wind1928
to roll with the punches1956
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad ii. 65 The tribes..attempering to the clime, Still vary downward with the years of time.
7. To attune, bring into harmony. Const. to.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > tuning or intonation > tune [verb (transitive)] > bring into harmony
temperc1374
accord1485
attemper1579
attune1590
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June 8 Byrds of euery kynde To the waters fall their tunes attemper right.
1633 P. Fletcher Poeticall Misc. 87 in Purple Island All in course their voice attempering.
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 24 High airs, attemper'd to the vocal strings.
1879 H. N. Hudson Shaks. 36 Horatio hits the key-note of the part, and attempers us to its influences.
8. To temper (metal).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > harden, temper, or anneal
temperc1381
allay1409
neal1558
harden1560
anneal1662
season1731
reanneal1850
attemper1869
1869 Eng. Mech. 20 Aug. 488/3 The process of hardening steel is called tempering or attempering.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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