Tempe

See also: tempe, tempé, and temꝑe

English

Etymology

Named for the Vale of Tempe in northern Thessaly, Greece

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɛmˈpiː/

Proper noun

Tempe

1. A city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States.
2. A suburb in Inner West council area, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
3. The Vale of Tempe; (by extension) a beautiful valley; any delightful rural spot.
   • 1594, Thomas Nashe, “The Terrors of the Night. Or A Discourse of Apparitions.”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Complete Works of Thomas Nashe. […] (The Huth Library […]), volumes III ([…]), […], published 1883–84, pages 263–264:

     Farre vnworhie am I to ſpend the leaſt breath of commendation in the extolling ſo delightfull and pleaſant a Tempe, or once to conſecrate my inke with the excellent mention of the thrice noble and illuſtrious Chieftaine vnder whom it is flouriſhingly gouerned.

   • 1606, Richard Surflet, “To the Courteous Reader”, in Charles Steuens [i.e., Charles Estienne], John Liebault [i.e., Jean Liébault], translated by Richard Surflet, Maison Rustique, or The Countrey Farme: […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield for Iohn Norton and Iohn Bill, →OCLC, book I:

     And finally, ſeeing that the whole earth was once a Tempe, an Eden (that is, a place of all pleaſures and delights) and the aſsigned poſſeſsion and naturall inheritance of man and woman to labour and liue in with exceeding great ioy and felicity; […]

   • 1612, Michael Drayton, “To the Generall Reader”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Mathew Lownes; I. Browne; I. Helme; I. Busbie, published 1613, →OCLC, signature A, recto:

     […] refuſing to walke forth into the Tempe and Feelds of the Muſes, […]

   • 1770 July 7, Horace Walpole, “Letter CCLVIII”, in Letters from the Hon. Horace Walpole, to George Montagu, Esq. from the Year 1736, to the Year 1770. […] (The Works of Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford; VI), London: […] Rodwell and Martin, […], and Henry Colburn, […], published 1818, page 442:

     I am rejoiced to be once more in the gay solitude of my own little Tempe.

Derived terms

• Tempean

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Tempe”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes IX, Part 2 (Su–Th), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 159, column 1.

Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Τέμπη (Témpē).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈtem.peː/, [ˈt̪ɛmpeː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈtem.pe/, [ˈt̪ɛmpe]

Proper noun

Tempē n (indeclinable)

1. A valley in Thessaly, modern Greece, through which ran the river Peneus

References

• “Tempe”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Tempe in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• “Tempe”, in William Smith, editor (1854, 1857), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly