Etymologically
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tempero

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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

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