tempero

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtɛm.pɛ.roː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtɛm.pe.ro]^[1]

Forms

temperō (present infinitive temperāre, perfect active temperāvī, supine temperātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is a denominative verb from the oblique stem of an older Proto-Italic *tempos, *tempes-, whence tempus “time, due measure”.^[1][2][3] Etymonline notes that this link has been questioned, since the root sense of tempus seems to be “stretch”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus and Ennius, of restraining oneself.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Intransitively it meant to show restraint, behave with moderation, as in Plautus, to be moderate towards someone, and to refrain from something.^[2] Transitively it meant to moderate, temper, as in Cicero, to restrain persons or forces, as Virgil's ruling of the winds, and to adjust or regulate, also in temperature.^[2] It meant to bring substances to a proper strength by mixing or diluting, as in Cato, to blend, compound, to combine qualities, to steer or control, as in Horace, and to regulate institutions, as in Cicero.^[2] Plautus has the old subjunctive temperint.^[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to be temperate, control, rule, mingle, regulate, govern.^[6] It survives in Italian temprare and French tremper.^[1] Old English borrowed it as temprian, the source of English temper, and English temperature comes from temperātūra.^[4]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of refraining.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of moderation.^[2][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of mixing and adjusting.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of moderating and regulating.^[2][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. (intransitive) To show restraint; to be moderate.^[2]
2. To refrain (from).^[2]
3. To moderate, temper; to restrain.^[2]
4. To adjust, regulate.^[2]
5. To mix in due proportion; to blend.^[2]
6. To steer, control; to govern.^[2]

Word family

• attemperō
• contemperō
• obtemperō
• temperāmentum
• temperāns
• temperantia
• temperātē
• temperātiō
• temperātīvus
• temperātor
• temperātūra
• temperātus

Related words

• tempus
• English temper
• English temperature

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson