temperateadj.
/ˈtɛmpərət/ 1. Of persons, their conduct, practices, etc.: Keeping due measure, self-restrained, moderate.
a.
(a) in earlier use esp. = Latin modestus, Greek ἐπιεικής, Not swayed by passion, gentle, mild, forbearing; in later use esp. not extreme, violent, or strongly partisan; moderate, dispassionate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > meekness or mildness > [adjective]
stillc825
tamec888
mildeOE
lithea1000
daftc1000
meekc1325
lambishc1374
meeklyc1375
benign1377
temperatec1380
quieta1382
gall-lessa1398
mansuetea1425
meeta1425
unwrathful1542
rageless1578
lamb-like?1592
mildya1603
milky1602
pigeon-livered1604
placid1614
spleenless?1615
passive1616
unprovokable1646
milken1648
uncaptious1661
stomachless1727
unindignant1789
pianoa1817
ireless1829
unquarrelsome1830
quiet-goinga1835
uncholeric1834
unoffendable1839
baby-milda1845
quiet-tempered1846
turtlish1855
pathic1857
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > [adjective]
methelyeOE
i-meteOE
methefulOE
attempre1297
measurablec1330
temprea1340
temperatec1380
temperantc1384
attemperatec1386
attemperelc1386
chastea1400
mannered1435
measureda1450
moderatea1450
well-measuredc1450
attempered1474
modest1548
sober1552
measurely1570
temperable1619
contemperate1647
submissive1753
managed1770
self-contained1838
inexplosive1867
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 305 Clene religioun..is chast, pesible, temperat, tretable.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Tim. iii. 3 Not ȝouun moche to wyn, not smyter, but temperaunt [v.r. and a1425 L.V. temperat].
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Titus iii. 2 Amoneste hem..for to be not litygious but temperaunt [gloss or pacient; v.r. and a1425 L.V. temperat] schewinge al myldenesse to alle men.
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Moderatus, moderate, temperate. Modestus, temperate, well aduised.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. v. sig. I Without any temprate protestacyon, Thus he began.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclxxviij He waxed hote..and rayled moste bitterly on them both, being a Germain,..both the Spaniardes and Italians, were a great deale more temperate.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 195 Peace Lady, pause, or be more temperate . View more context for this quotation
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. vi. 178 Their conduct was more temperate.
1840 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. (1875) I. 407 This is a temperate statement.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 490 He belonged to the mildest and most temperate section of the Puritan body.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. lxxxv. 133 A majority is tyrannical when it..suppresses fair and temperate criticism.
(b) Of a horse: Not over-excitable or impetuous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > steady or controlled
well-controlled1581
steady1735
collected1879
temperate1890
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I. xiv. 243 Waratah, which was the filly's name, proving after trial high-couraged and temperate.
b. Moderate and self-controlled as regards the indulgence of appetites or desires; abstemious, sober; continent; in late use spec. moderate or abstemious in the use of alcoholic drinks.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > moderation in sensuous gratification > [adjective]
temperatec1430
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > moderation in drinking > [adjective]
sobera1382
temperatec1430
teetotalish1838
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 66 Temperat dyete, temperat travaile.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xix. sig. ev He that is temperate fleeth pleasures voluptuous, & with the absence of them is nat discontented.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie T 96 A moderate and temperate supper.
1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man v. 487 A temperate man that is contented with a litle.
1678 N. Ferrar tr. L. Lessius (title) The temperate man, or the right way of preserving life and health.
1799 H. Lee Canterbury Tales (ed. 2) I. 367 [His] temperate habits made him look on luxury with disgust.
1836 J. Hume Speech House of Commons 24 Mar. I would wish to bring the people round to temperate habits by giving them cheaper wines.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 76 The temperate life has gentle pains and pleasures.
1890 W. Besant Demoniac ii That a young man of strictly temperate habits should thus suddenly become a drunkard.
2. Of things, actions, qualities, conditions, etc.: Tempered, not excessive in degree; moderate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]
evenlya1200
methefully?c1225
renable?1305
reasonablea1325
measurablec1330
skillwisea1340
moderatea1398
temperate1398
meetlya1400
measurablyc1450
rationablec1475
competent1535
midway1573
modest1582
sober1619
medious1657
slack1662
meeverly1819
low key1941
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) (1495) v. xxiii He makeþ þe voice smeþe & euen & temperatte.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) x. viii. 379 By temperate blaste of wynde sparkles ben kyndlyd, and quenchyd by stronge blaste.
1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy v. xviii, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 152 Make thy fyre so temperat.
1551 W. Turner New Herball sig. F ij Thys herbe semeth to be of a temporate warmnes.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 689 Yorkeshire..is thought to bee in a temperate measure fruitfull.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 202 Let not the Gouernment..depend vpon too many Counsellours,..but vpon a temperate Number.
1652 Ripley's Compend of Alchemy in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum 181 Of thy Medcyn..trew graduacyon; Tyll hyt be brought to a quynaryte temperat [MS brought vnto aquaritie temperate; 1591 brought to a gueneritie temperate].
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 144 They put their Eggs in Ovens, which they heat with so temperate a warmth,..that chickens are..hatched in them.
1845 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 I. viii. 561 With respect to extending Christianity..it must proceed from temperate and gradual proceedings.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. iv. 124 At the temperate hour of nine, the bridal festivities closed.
3. spec.
a. Of the weather, season, climate, etc.: Moderate in respect of warmth: neither too hot nor too cold; of mild and equable temperature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [adjective] > temperate (of weather or climate)
attemperatec1300
temprea1340
attemprec1400
temperablec1400
attemperedc1430
temperantc1440
temperate?a1475
well-tempered1496
the world > matter > gas > air > [adjective] > specific qualities of (the) air > equable
mildOE
attemperedc1430
well-attempereda1460
moderate1590
temperate1698
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 239 That tyme was as the temperate tyme of yer.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. viii This yere shalle be the most temperate and the moost fertyle..that euer thou sawest.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Albanacte xliv So cleare the ayre, so temperate the clime.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated ii. ii. 22 Who findes not by experience one Countrey hot, another cold, a third temperate?
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 186 It enjoys a Temperater Air than would be allowed by the Poet under the Fifth Zone.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall (1869) I. xvii. 437 The climate was healthy and temperate.
1830 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 107 Mild winters and less temperate summers.
b. temperate zone: Each of the two zones or belts of the earth's surface lying between the torrid and frigid zones; i.e. the north temperate zone between the tropic of Cancer and the arctic circle, and the south temperate zone between the tropic of Capricorn and the antarctic circle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > region of the earth > zone or belt > [noun] > in relation to climate or weather conditions > specific
temperate zone1556
horse latitudes1777
sunland1827
iceland1842
pole of cold1850
storm-area1853
cloud-belt1860
cloud-ring1860
snow-belt1874
taiga1888
storm-zone1889
storm-belt1891
cold pole1909
icebox1909
1556 R. Record Castle of Knowl. 64 Betweene those Frozen zones, and the Burning zone, they appointed two Temperat zones.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated i. ix. 206 The Temperate Zone is the space contained betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar circle.
1880 S. Haughton Six Lect. Physical Geogr. iii. 125 The temperate zones owe very little of their heat to the latent heat of vapour formed in the torrid zone.
c. Of food: produced in, or suitable for production in, a moderate climate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food otherwise characterized > [adjective] > for or from temperate climate
temperate1960
1960 Economist 8 Oct. 125/3 The New Zealanders..have recognised that reconciling their highly competitive exports of temperate farm products with a common European agricultural policy will be an extremely difficult task.
1962 Listener 27 Sept. 462/1 The so-called temperate foodstuffs—that's to say corn and meat and dairy produce.
1980 Nature 7 Feb. 514/3 In many parts of the Third World people eat temperate vegetables: cauliflower, onions, carrots, potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes.
4. Of monarchy or sovereignty, hence also of the sovereign: Restricted in extent of authority; not absolute; limited; constitutional. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > a or the system of government > monarchical government > [adjective] > types of monarchical government
temperate1560
constitutional1801
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccvij Themperour hath done herein the duty of a temperate Prince.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies vii. x. 525 These Barbarians, of temperate Kings became tyrants.
a1640 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (1651) ii. iii. iii. 325 Whether Monarchies should be mixt, temperate, or absolute.
1852 Ld. Tennyson Ode Wellington vii That sober freedom out of which there springs Our loyal passion for our temperate Kings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > [adjective] > mixed soils
temperate1574
1574 T. Hill Bk. Art of Planting (rev. ed.) 85 in Profitable Arte of Gardening (rev. ed.) Close it with good temperate earth about the graffe.
6. Music. = tempered adj. 1e.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > tuning or intonation > [adjective] > specific system of tuning
tempered1728
well-tempered1820
isotonic1828
mesotonic1864
commatic1875
schistic1875
tertian1875
temperate1876
1876 tr. P. Blaserna Theory Sound vii. 137 The fruit of these manifold attempts..is the temperate scale, which reached its full development in the middle of the last century, especially by means of the works of Sebastian Bach.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [adjective] > become or made less violent or severe
temperate1398
alleviate1531
mitigated1546
mollified1581
swageda1603
well-tempered1602
castigate1642
tempered1654
slackened1725
castigated1728
temperated1737
subsided1753
moderated1773
chastised1790
softened1794
mildeneda1802
modulateda1806
relaxed1825
chastened1844
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) iii. xix. d vj b/1 By the drawynge of the ayre the brayne is temperat & comforted.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xx. xiv. 61 [Nep] mixed with a third part of bread, and so temperat [1601 tempered] and incorporat with vinegre to the form of a liniment.
8. Microbiology. Of a phage: not necessarily causing lysis of the host cell, but able to exist as a prophage for a number of generations; giving rise to lysogenic bacteria. [translating French tempéré (F. Jacob et al. 1953, in Ann. de l'Inst. Pasteur LXXXIV. 223).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > organism > micro-organism > virus > phage > [adjective] > types of
temperate1953
virulent1953
lambdoid1958
lambda1995
1953 Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quantitative Biol. XVIII. 65/1 It has been proposed..to call temperate (as opposed to virulent) those phages which are able to establish the lysogenic condition in their host cells.
1961 M. Hynes Med. Bacteriol. (ed. 7) xxvi. 401 The virulent phages are often termed lytic, since they disrupt the bacteria they infect; the symbiotic phages are usually termed temperate. Cultures infected with a temperate phage are confusingly termed lysogenic.
1979 K. Arms & P. S. Camp Biol. xvi. 244 A virulent, lytic bacteriophage..can only replicate and cause cell lysis. Other phages, known as temperate phages, may either replicate and lyse the cell they invade, or may instead enter a dormant phase in which the phage DNA is joined to that of the host cell..and replicated with it over many cell generations.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† temperatev.
Obsolete.
= temper v.
1. transitive. To mix suitably; to moderate, qualify, mitigate, allay; = temper v. 1, 2; to bring into a proper state or condition; = temper v. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > make less violent or severe [verb (transitive)]
temperc1000
keelc1175
slakea1300
abate?c1335
settle1338
swagea1340
modifyc1385
rebatea1398
bate1398
moder1414
releasea1425
remiss?a1425
moderate1435
alethe?1440
delaya1450
appal1470
addulce1477
mollify1496
mean?a1513
relent1535
qualify1536
temperatea1540
aplake1578
slack1589
relaxate1598
milden1603
mitigate1611
relax1612
alleniate1615
allay1628
alloy1634
castigate1653
smoothen1655
tendera1656
mitify1656
meeken1662
remitigate1671
obviscate1684
slacken1685
chastise1704
dulcify1744
absorb1791
demulceate1817
chasten1856
modulate1974
mediate1987
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)] > tone down
temperc1000
modifyc1385
softenc1410
tame?a1500
qualify1536
temperatea1540
extenuate1561
supple1609
dilute1665
palliate1665
weaken1683
subdue1723
lower1780
modulate1783
to shade away1817
to water down1832
to water down1836
sober1838
veil1843
to tone down1847
to break down1859
soothe1860
tone1884
to key down1891
soft-pedal1912
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > modify, qualify [verb (transitive)]
qualify1533
temperatea1540
take1542
season1604
disbend1607
condition1629
tinge1673
temper1711
shade1817
colour1882
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
a1540 R. Barnes Wks. (1573) 217/1 For mollifying, and temperatyng of those thinges, that seemed to bee somewhat hardly spoken.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 42 The verteous heyt of it [the sun], temperatis al the sternis of the firmament.
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. *iv I endevoured to temperate the rigoure of the first Chyrurgians.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 555 The same..doth temperate and confirme the brains of any man.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 228 A clime..exceeding hote;..yet sometimes temperated by the comfortable winds.
1698 J. Crowne Caligula iv. 38 If I were wise I'd temp'rate Love with art.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 17. ⁋10 Nor is fear..less to be temperated by this universal medicine of the mind.
2. To rule; to curb, restrain; = temper v. 7, 8.
ΘΚΠ
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
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
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 43v This fulnes as it is not to be misliked in a yong man, so in farder aige..it is to be temperated, or else discretion and iudgement shall seeme to be wanting in him.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. F6v She temperates Her starrie orb, makes her bright forms to wend Even as she list.
1684 J. Strype tr. J. Lightfoot Horæ Hebraicæ in Wks. II. 572 Let him..learn from you to temperate his passions.
Derivatives
ˈtemperated adj. tempered, moderated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [adjective] > become or made less violent or severe
temperate1398
alleviate1531
mitigated1546
mollified1581
swageda1603
well-tempered1602
castigate1642
tempered1654
slackened1725
castigated1728
temperated1737
subsided1753
moderated1773
chastised1790
softened1794
mildeneda1802
modulateda1806
relaxed1825
chastened1844
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > [adjective] > adjusting by tempering or mixing > tempered
tempereda1450
attempered1481
contemperatec1484
temperated1737
1737 Boyse Olive xviii Hence the mild Sweets of temperated Sway.
1790 Ann. Reg. 1788 Misc. Ess. 134/2 The moon was darting her temperated rays through the shade.
ˈtemperating n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [noun] > making less violent, vigorous, or severe
softinga1400
slakingc1400
mollifying?a1425
softening?a1425
temperament1475
moderationa1500
temperatinga1540
releasing?1543
amollishment1612
mollificationa1631
quietationa1639
castigationa1676
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > analgesic > [adjective] > soothing
sedativec1425
lenitive1543
lenifying1617
demulcing1619
lenient1652
levative1657
levigating1710
demulcent1732
temperating1753
demulcetive1756
soothing1899
a1540Temperatyng [see sense 1].
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. App. 77 Placing the power in such sort in the King, that the temperating of it should be in the middle Iudge.
1753 N. Torriano tr. J. B. L. Chomel Hist. Diss. Gangrenous Sore Throat 22 Broths mixt with Juice of aperitive and temperating Herbs.
1829 J. Togno & E. Durand tr. H. Milne-Edwards & P. Vavasseur Man. Materia Medica i. 21 Acids when weak or diluted, act..as refrigerants and temperating medicines.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.c1380
v.a1540