contemper

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin contemperō, from con- + temperō (“to temper”). Compare contemperate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ɛmpə(ɹ)

Verb

contemper (third-person singular simple present contempers, present participle contempering, simple past and past participle contempered)

1. (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[ry] 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, Samuel Johnson, “No. 150. Saturday, August 24. 1751 [Julian calendar].”, 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.

Related terms

• contemperation
• contemperature
• temper