| 释义 |
tem·per
I. \ˈtempə(r)\ verb
(tempered ; tempered ; tempering \-p(ə)riŋ\ ; tempers)
Etymology: Middle English tempren, temperen, from Old English & Old French; Old English temprian & Old French temprer, from Latin temperare to mix, blend, regulate, restrain oneself, abstain, probably from tempor-, tempus period of time, fitting time, season, time (in general) — more at temporal
transitive verb
1.
a. : to dilute, qualify, or soften (as something strong, harsh, or excessive) by the addition or influence of something else : make temperate : moderate, season
< temper wine with water >
< temper justice with mercy >
< enthusiasm tempered with a touch of skepticism >
< tempers the wind … to the shorn lamb — Laurence Sterne >
< the breeze … tempered the August sun — Arnold Bennett >
< his firmness must always be tempered with tact and shrewdness — R.M.Dawson >
b. : to make suitable for : adapt to : adjust, modify — usually used with to
< officers … temper their actions to outside political whimsy — T.H.White b.1915 >
< stick to these few principles and temper them to suit your taste — Betty Fisk >
c. archaic : to mix (ingredients) in suitable proportions : prepare by combining : compound, blend
< a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together — Exod 30:35 (Authorized Version) >
< importuned me to temper poisons for her — Shakespeare >
2. archaic
a. : to exercise control over : govern, restrain
< Jove tempers the fates of human race above — Alexander Pope >
b. : to cause to be well disposed : mollify
< tempered and reconciled them both — Richard Steele >
3. : to bring (a substance or material) to a suitable state (as of consistency or workability) by mixing in or adding a usually liquid ingredient: as
a.
(1) : to mix (clay) with water and knead to a uniform texture
(2) : to add an aplastic material (as grog or sand) to (clay)
b. : to mix oil with (colors) in making paint ready for use
c. : to moisten (as sand for molding) to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly
d. : to dampen or remove moisture from (grain) to secure the best grinding
e. : to make (leather) uniformly moist and soft for further processing
4.
a.
(1) : to soften (hardened steel or cast iron) by reheating at a temperature well below that from which previous quenching for hardening was done
(2) : to harden and reheat (steel or cast iron) or to harden alone especially in oil — not used technically
b. : to anneal or toughen (glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling
5. : to make stronger and more resilient through hardship : toughen
< the hammerblows of fate seemed not to weaken but to temper her strength — John Buchan >
6.
a. : to put in tune with : attune
< to which the birds tempered their matin lay — P.B.Shelley >
< our ears are tempered to harsh sounds — Ronald Bottrall >
b. : to adjust the pitch of (a note, chord, instrument) to a temperament
intransitive verb
: to produce satisfactory temper — used of metallic alloys which can be treated to give the desired physical properties
Synonyms: see moderate
II. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English tempre, from tempren, v.
1.
a. archaic : the state of any compound substance resulting from the mixture of ingredients; especially : a suitable proportion or balance of qualities : a middle state between extremes : mean, medium
< virtue is … a just temper between propensities any one of which, if indulged to excess, becomes vice — T.B.Macaulay >
b. archaic : a particular mixture of elements or characteristics : character, quality
< the temper of the land you design to sow — John Mortimer >
< a man of such a feeble temper — Shakespeare >
c. : characteristic tone : trend, tendency
< the temper of the times >
< the general temper of his view — Alan Gewirth >
< literary circles which foster certain modes and tempers of form and emotion — W.S.B.Braithwaite >
< the temper of English literature at the turn of the century — Times Literary Supplement >
d. : high quality of mind or spirit : courage, mettle
< no trumpet calls … to keep our temper at its keenest — R.W.Livingstone >
< not of the temper of which martyrs are made — Ellen Glasgow >
2. : the state of a substance with respect to certain desired qualities (as hardness, elasticity, or workability): as
a.
(1) : the degree of hardness or resiliency given steel by tempering
(2) : the color of steel after tempering : temper color
b. : the condition of relative dryness (as of grain) proper for treatment in processing
c. : the feel and relative solidity of leather
3. : a substance added to or mixed with something else to modify the properties of the latter: as
a. : any of various mixtures of metals added to another metal in making an alloy
b. : the carbon content of steel that affects its hardening properties
c. : the moisture content of foundry sand
d. : aplastic material (as grog or sand) added to clay to reduce shrinkage upon drying and firing
4.
a. obsolete : atmospheric conditions : climate
< the changeful temper of the skies — John Dryden >
b. archaic : temperature
5.
a. : a characteristic or habitual cast of mind or state of feeling : disposition
< a calm temper >
< a sunny temper >
< an occupation that suited his temper >
< the man of mercurial temper — William McDougall >
< that reverence towards fact which constitutes … the scientific temper — Bertrand Russell >
b. : calmness of mind : composure, equanimity
< keep me in temper; I would not be mad — Shakespeare >
— used especially in the expressions keep one's temper, lose one's temper, and out of temper
< kept his temper despite the provocation >
< failed to get the witness to lose her temper >
< are you out of temper because you let those men put something over on you — Ellen Glasgow >
c. : state of feeling or frame of mind at a particular time : humor, mood
< had they been in a temper to judge fairly — T.B.Macaulay >
< kept the populace … in good temper — R.M.French >
< she was … in a gay, frolicsome temper — W.H.Hudson †1922 >
d. : heat of mind or emotion : proneness to anger : passion
< a man with a temper to beware of >
< a display of temper >
< as the strike dragged on, tempers flared on all sides — Mary K. Hammond >
< threw down the cloth in a temper — Irish Digest >
Synonyms: see disposition, mood |