Etymologically
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temperans

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈtɛm.pɛ.rãːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈtɛm.pe.rans][1]

Forms

temperāns (genitive temperantis, comparative temperantior, superlative temperantissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of temperō (“to moderate, restrain”), used as an adjective.[2][3][1] De Vaan derives the verb from tempus (“time”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *tempos- (“stretch, measure”) and Proto-Indo-European *temp-os (“stretch”); the sense to restrain shows the shift from stretching to measuring.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Terence,[5] who has famae temperans, careful of one's reputation.[6][7]

Semantic evolution

It means observing moderation, restrained or self-controlled.[2][6] Cicero calls a man moderate in every part of life and most temperate, and Livy has leading men more restrained in their desire for power.[6][7] Döderlein contrasts moderation that springs from reflection, as reason conquers the passions, with temperance, which pervades the whole person.[8]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence of being careful of one's reputation.[6][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of a temperate man.[6][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of restraint in the desire for power.[6][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Observing moderation, restrained, self-controlled, temperate; with a genitive or a and the ablative, refraining from.[2][6][7][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T. (1890), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: American Book Company
  7. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper