Temper (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tempered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tempering.] [AS. temprian or OF. temper, F. tempérer, and (in sense 3) temper, L. temperare, akin to tempus time. Cf. Temporal, Distemper, Tamper.] 1. To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm.
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Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy itself could not have dictated a milder system. Bancroft.
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Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee
To temper man: we had been brutes without you. Otway.
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But thy fire
Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher. Byron.
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She [the Goddess of Justice] threw darkness and clouds about her, that tempered the light into a thousand beautiful shades and colors. Addison.
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2. To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate.
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Thy sustenance . . . serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking. Wisdom xvi. 21.
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3. (Metal.) To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.
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The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound. Dryden.
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4. To govern; to manage. [A Latinism & Obs.]
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With which the damned ghosts he governeth,
And furies rules, and Tartare tempereth. Spenser.
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5. To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.
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6. (Mus.) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.
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Syn. -- To soften; mollify; assuage; soothe; calm.
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Temper, v. i. 1. To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.
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I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him. Shak.
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