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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Temper \Tem"per\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tempered}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Tempering}.] [AS. temprian or OF. temper, F. temp['e]rer,
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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Tempered \Tem"pered\, a.
Brought to a proper temper; as, tempered steel; having (such)
a temper; -- chiefly used in composition; as, a good-tempered
or bad-tempered man; a well-tempered sword.
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