temperatio

Forms

temperātiō f (genitive temperātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin temperō (“to mix in due proportion, moderate”) + -tiō.^[2][1] De Vaan derives ⟨temperō⟩ from tempus, an ⟨s⟩-stem ⟨*temp-os⟩ “stretch”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are Cicero.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the mixing of things in due proportion, a blend, composition, constitution; the balanced organization of a state or system, and what organizes it; and moderation, tempering of conditions, all in Cicero.^[2][5][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for mixing, as of slaking lime and preparing metal.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Due mixture, blend, composition.^[2][5]
2. Balanced constitution, organization.^[2]
3. Moderation.^[2]

Related words

• temperō
• temperantia
• tempus
• temperātūra

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press