“Don’t loose your temper!â€Â
Don't loose your temper! (word origins)
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Don't loose your temper! (word origins)
Temper Temper!
“Don’t loose your temper!â€Â
“Don’t loose your temper!â€Â
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earnest carruthers
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Destichado
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Baron Alejandro
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Justus, my friend, for you I looked this up in the OED. Definitions and their first recorded usages:
I. {dag}1. The due or proportionate mixture or combination of elements or qualities; the condition or state resulting from such combination; proper or fit condition; in temper, out of temper, in, out of proper condition, etc. Now rare or Obs.
1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 75 {Th}ere is hel{th}e, for {th}e aier is in tempre, no{th}er to hote no{th}er to colde.
2. Proportionate arrangement of parts; regulation, adjustment; hence, mean or medium, a middle course; a compromise; a settlement. arch.
1523 FITZHERB. Husb. § 4 Their most speciall temper is at the bolster, where as the plough beame lyeth. [Cf. TEMPER v. 17.]
3. Mental balance or composure, esp. under provocation of any kind; moderation in or command over the emotions, esp. anger; calmness, equanimity: now usually in the phrases to keep or lose (one's) temper, to be out of temper.
1603 SHAKES. Meas. for M. II. ii. 185 Neuer could the Strumpet..Once stir my temper.
II. {dag}4. a. The constitution, character, or quality of a substance or body (orig. supposed to depend upon the ‘temper’ or combination of the elements); = TEMPERAMENT 3. Obs.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurgie 332 Coold mater..ne schal not be putt awei wi{th} repercussiuis, but wi{th} medicyns {th}at ben hoot and drie in tempere.
{dag}b. Of things immaterial: Character, quality.
1598 B. YOUNG tr. Montemayor's Diana 109 His strength and courage was not of such a temper, that mortall wounds could daunt his minde.
5. The particular degree of hardness and elasticity or resiliency imparted to steel by tempering: see TEMPER v. 14.
c1470 HENRY Wallace II. 189 O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew.
{dag}6. The condition of the atmosphere with regard to heat and cold, dryness and humidity; the prevailing condition of the weather at a place; = CLIMATE n. 3, TEMPERAMENT 4. Obs.
1483 Cath. Angl. 379/2 A Tempyr,..temperies Aeris est.
{dag}7. The relative condition of a body in respect of warmth or coldness; = TEMPERATURE 7. Obs.
1562 TURNER Baths 16 Let therefore your both meat and drinke be in such temper, that they be not cold but warme.
{dag}8. Bodily habit, constitution, or condition. Obs.
Sometimes attributed to the various proportions in which the four humours are combined; sometimes to the combination of physical qualities: see TEMPERAMENT 3, 6.
1599 B. JONSON Cynthia's Rev. II. i, A creature of a most perfect and divine temper: one, in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met..he is neither too..melancholy, too..phlegmatic [etc.].
9. Mental constitution; habitual disposition; = TEMPERAMENT 7.
1595 SHAKES. John V. ii. 40 A noble temper dost thou shew in this.
10. a. Actual state or attitude of the mind or feelings; frame of mind; inclination, humour.
a1628 PRESTON New Covt. (1634) 118 If thy heart continue in that temper, it is impossible.
b. In good-temper, ill-temper, bad temper (the latter leading to sense 11).
1768 [implied in GOOD-TEMPERED].
11. = ill-temper: Heat of mind or passion, showing itself by outbursts of irritation or anger upon slight provocation; explosive ill-humour.
1828 WEBSTER, Temper..5. Heat of mind or passion; irritation. The boy showed a great deal of temper when I reproved him. So we say, a man of violent temper, when we speak of his irritability. (This use of the word is common, though a deviation from its original and genuine meaning.)
For TEMPER the verb:
I. 1. trans. To bring (anything) to a proper or suitable condition, state, or quality, by mingling with something else; to qualify, alloy, or dilute by such mixture or combination. Also fig. arch.
a1000 Blickl. Glosses Ps. ci. 10 Potum meum cum fletu temperabam, glossed ic temprede.
2. a. To modify (some unsuitable or excessive state or quality, or some thing or person in respect of such), esp. by admixture of some other quality, etc.; to reduce to the suitable or desirable (middle) degree or condition free from excess in either direction; to moderate, mitigate, assuage, tone down.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. II. 46 And eft {asg}etemprie seo bile~witnys {th}æt fyr, {th}æt hit to re{edh}e ne sy.
3. To mix, mingle, blend (ingredients) together, or (one ingredient) with another, in proper proportions. Also fig. arch.
c1386 CHAUCER Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 348 Er {th}at the pot be on the fir ydo Of metals with a certeyn quantitee My lord hem tempreth and no man but he.
4. To prepare by mingling; to make by due mixture or combination; to concoct, compound, compose, make up, devise. lit. and fig. Obs. or arch.
1390 GOWER Conf. III. 10 In cold I brenne and frese in hete: And thanne I drinke a biter swete With dreie lippe and yhen wete. Lo, thus I tempre mi diete.
{dag}5. To restore the proper ‘temper’ or ‘temperament’ to; to bring into a good or desirable state of body or health; to cure, heal, refresh.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. I. 474 Se {edh}e wile mid so{edh}um læce~cræfte his lichaman {asg}etemprian, swa swa dyde se wite{asg}a Isaias.
6. To bring into a suitable or desirable frame of mind; to dispose favourably, to persuade; also, to appease, mollify, pacify. Obs. or arch.
1525 LD. BERNERS Froiss. II. xci. [lxxxvii.] 271 If he be nat reasonable, the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne wyll so temper hym, that ye shal be frendes and cosyn to the kynge.
II. 7. To keep, conduct, or manage in just measure; to regulate; to control, direct, guide, rule, govern, overrule. Obs. exc. dial.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 250 Ac heo [seo sunne] tempra{edh} {edh}a eor{edh}lican wæstmas æ{asg}{edh}er {asg}e on wæstme {asg}e on ripunge.
8. a. To restrain within due limits, or within the bounds of moderation; in later use often simply, to restrain, check, curb.
a1050 Liber Scintill. xxviii. (1889) 107 For{th}i hi na tempredon [L. non temperauerunt] {asg}efernysse hætan.
{dag}b. refl. To control or restrain oneself. Obs.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. I. 360 An is, {th}æt {asg}ehwa hine sylfne {asg}etempri{asg}e mid {asg}emete on æte and on wæte.
9. To regulate suitably to need or requirement; to fit, adapt, conform, accommodate, make suitable. Const. to. Now rare or Obs.
1450-1530 Myrr. our Ladye 86 The sufferaunce of god, whyche temperyth all thynges to hys seruauntes, as they may bere to theyr mooste profyt.
down a bit...
14. a. To bring (steel) to a suitable degree of hardness and elasticity or resiliency by heating it to the required temperature and immersing it, while hot, in some liquid, usually cold water; applied also to the hardening of copper, etc. Also fig.
c1381 CHAUCER Parl. Foules 214, I say Cupide..hise arwis forge & file..And wel his doughtyr temperede al this whyle The heuedis in the welle.
There you go. Don't say I never gave you anything.
Olivier
I. {dag}1. The due or proportionate mixture or combination of elements or qualities; the condition or state resulting from such combination; proper or fit condition; in temper, out of temper, in, out of proper condition, etc. Now rare or Obs.
1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) I. 75 {Th}ere is hel{th}e, for {th}e aier is in tempre, no{th}er to hote no{th}er to colde.
2. Proportionate arrangement of parts; regulation, adjustment; hence, mean or medium, a middle course; a compromise; a settlement. arch.
1523 FITZHERB. Husb. § 4 Their most speciall temper is at the bolster, where as the plough beame lyeth. [Cf. TEMPER v. 17.]
3. Mental balance or composure, esp. under provocation of any kind; moderation in or command over the emotions, esp. anger; calmness, equanimity: now usually in the phrases to keep or lose (one's) temper, to be out of temper.
1603 SHAKES. Meas. for M. II. ii. 185 Neuer could the Strumpet..Once stir my temper.
II. {dag}4. a. The constitution, character, or quality of a substance or body (orig. supposed to depend upon the ‘temper’ or combination of the elements); = TEMPERAMENT 3. Obs.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurgie 332 Coold mater..ne schal not be putt awei wi{th} repercussiuis, but wi{th} medicyns {th}at ben hoot and drie in tempere.
{dag}b. Of things immaterial: Character, quality.
1598 B. YOUNG tr. Montemayor's Diana 109 His strength and courage was not of such a temper, that mortall wounds could daunt his minde.
5. The particular degree of hardness and elasticity or resiliency imparted to steel by tempering: see TEMPER v. 14.
c1470 HENRY Wallace II. 189 O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew.
{dag}6. The condition of the atmosphere with regard to heat and cold, dryness and humidity; the prevailing condition of the weather at a place; = CLIMATE n. 3, TEMPERAMENT 4. Obs.
1483 Cath. Angl. 379/2 A Tempyr,..temperies Aeris est.
{dag}7. The relative condition of a body in respect of warmth or coldness; = TEMPERATURE 7. Obs.
1562 TURNER Baths 16 Let therefore your both meat and drinke be in such temper, that they be not cold but warme.
{dag}8. Bodily habit, constitution, or condition. Obs.
Sometimes attributed to the various proportions in which the four humours are combined; sometimes to the combination of physical qualities: see TEMPERAMENT 3, 6.
1599 B. JONSON Cynthia's Rev. II. i, A creature of a most perfect and divine temper: one, in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met..he is neither too..melancholy, too..phlegmatic [etc.].
9. Mental constitution; habitual disposition; = TEMPERAMENT 7.
1595 SHAKES. John V. ii. 40 A noble temper dost thou shew in this.
10. a. Actual state or attitude of the mind or feelings; frame of mind; inclination, humour.
a1628 PRESTON New Covt. (1634) 118 If thy heart continue in that temper, it is impossible.
b. In good-temper, ill-temper, bad temper (the latter leading to sense 11).
1768 [implied in GOOD-TEMPERED].
11. = ill-temper: Heat of mind or passion, showing itself by outbursts of irritation or anger upon slight provocation; explosive ill-humour.
1828 WEBSTER, Temper..5. Heat of mind or passion; irritation. The boy showed a great deal of temper when I reproved him. So we say, a man of violent temper, when we speak of his irritability. (This use of the word is common, though a deviation from its original and genuine meaning.)
For TEMPER the verb:
I. 1. trans. To bring (anything) to a proper or suitable condition, state, or quality, by mingling with something else; to qualify, alloy, or dilute by such mixture or combination. Also fig. arch.
a1000 Blickl. Glosses Ps. ci. 10 Potum meum cum fletu temperabam, glossed ic temprede.
2. a. To modify (some unsuitable or excessive state or quality, or some thing or person in respect of such), esp. by admixture of some other quality, etc.; to reduce to the suitable or desirable (middle) degree or condition free from excess in either direction; to moderate, mitigate, assuage, tone down.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. II. 46 And eft {asg}etemprie seo bile~witnys {th}æt fyr, {th}æt hit to re{edh}e ne sy.
3. To mix, mingle, blend (ingredients) together, or (one ingredient) with another, in proper proportions. Also fig. arch.
c1386 CHAUCER Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 348 Er {th}at the pot be on the fir ydo Of metals with a certeyn quantitee My lord hem tempreth and no man but he.
4. To prepare by mingling; to make by due mixture or combination; to concoct, compound, compose, make up, devise. lit. and fig. Obs. or arch.
1390 GOWER Conf. III. 10 In cold I brenne and frese in hete: And thanne I drinke a biter swete With dreie lippe and yhen wete. Lo, thus I tempre mi diete.
{dag}5. To restore the proper ‘temper’ or ‘temperament’ to; to bring into a good or desirable state of body or health; to cure, heal, refresh.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. I. 474 Se {edh}e wile mid so{edh}um læce~cræfte his lichaman {asg}etemprian, swa swa dyde se wite{asg}a Isaias.
6. To bring into a suitable or desirable frame of mind; to dispose favourably, to persuade; also, to appease, mollify, pacify. Obs. or arch.
1525 LD. BERNERS Froiss. II. xci. [lxxxvii.] 271 If he be nat reasonable, the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne wyll so temper hym, that ye shal be frendes and cosyn to the kynge.
II. 7. To keep, conduct, or manage in just measure; to regulate; to control, direct, guide, rule, govern, overrule. Obs. exc. dial.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 250 Ac heo [seo sunne] tempra{edh} {edh}a eor{edh}lican wæstmas æ{asg}{edh}er {asg}e on wæstme {asg}e on ripunge.
8. a. To restrain within due limits, or within the bounds of moderation; in later use often simply, to restrain, check, curb.
a1050 Liber Scintill. xxviii. (1889) 107 For{th}i hi na tempredon [L. non temperauerunt] {asg}efernysse hætan.
{dag}b. refl. To control or restrain oneself. Obs.
c1000 ÆLFRIC Hom. I. 360 An is, {th}æt {asg}ehwa hine sylfne {asg}etempri{asg}e mid {asg}emete on æte and on wæte.
9. To regulate suitably to need or requirement; to fit, adapt, conform, accommodate, make suitable. Const. to. Now rare or Obs.
1450-1530 Myrr. our Ladye 86 The sufferaunce of god, whyche temperyth all thynges to hys seruauntes, as they may bere to theyr mooste profyt.
down a bit...
14. a. To bring (steel) to a suitable degree of hardness and elasticity or resiliency by heating it to the required temperature and immersing it, while hot, in some liquid, usually cold water; applied also to the hardening of copper, etc. Also fig.
c1381 CHAUCER Parl. Foules 214, I say Cupide..hise arwis forge & file..And wel his doughtyr temperede al this whyle The heuedis in the welle.
There you go. Don't say I never gave you anything.
Olivier
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adamstjohn
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It's from the old English temprian meaning to bring something to the required condition by mixing it with something else. That in turn comes presumably from the latin temperare meaning mingle or restrain oneself. The meaning is probably also modified by the old French tempre meaning to moderate.
The link to "losing your temper" seems to be from "losing the mixture", as in getting your four bodily humours out of synch.
(I love Apple Widgets)
The link to "losing your temper" seems to be from "losing the mixture", as in getting your four bodily humours out of synch.
(I love Apple Widgets)
/adam lawrence /athestan of wortham /sca drachenwald /thebusinesscomedian.com
"REGINA NOS VIDET"
"What we do is not a sporting event, but a celebration of prowess, art, and culture": after Jehan de Pelham
"REGINA NOS VIDET"
"What we do is not a sporting event, but a celebration of prowess, art, and culture": after Jehan de Pelham
Olsk!
Why thank you, I do hope you were able to cut and paste that, and that I did not cause you to fail your exams this week.
Baron Alejandro, a pox on your shiny pate for mentioning a film of such base insipidness and for bringing such ignominy into what was such a fine correspondence.
I display my tongue at you.
-Justus
Why thank you, I do hope you were able to cut and paste that, and that I did not cause you to fail your exams this week.
Baron Alejandro, a pox on your shiny pate for mentioning a film of such base insipidness and for bringing such ignominy into what was such a fine correspondence.
I display my tongue at you.
-Justus
