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contemper. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
contemper, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
contemper in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
contemper you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin contemperō, from con- + temperō (“to temper”). Compare contemperate.
Pronunciation
Verb
contemper (third-person singular simple present contempers, present participle contempering, simple past and past participle contempered)
- (obsolete, transitive) To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate or soften.
1658, Thomas Browne, “Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall. . Chapter I”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, Together with The Garden of Cyrus, , London: Hen Brome , →OCLC, page 1:Though earth hath engroſſed the name yet water hath proved the ſmarteſt grave; which in forty dayes ſwallowed almoſt mankinde, and the living creation ; Fiſhes not wholly eſcaping, except the Salt Ocean were handſomely contempered by a mixture of the freſh Element.
1751 September 4 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 150. Saturday, August 24. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VI, Edinburgh: Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, , published 1751, →OCLC, page 140:The antidotes […] have at leaſt allayed its bitterneſs, and contempered its malignity.