verb
Freq #1271780
Meanings
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1
verb
archaic: to moderate, soften, or adjust something by blending it with another quality
The judge tried to attemper strict justice with compassion.
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2
verb
archaic: to bring into a suitable balance or harmony; adapt
The regimen was meant to attemper the body to the demands of the mind.
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3
verb
to adjust the temperature of something
The ventilation system can attemper incoming air before it reaches the room.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Word family
Forms
attempers
Derived forms
attemperedattemperingattemperation
Etymology
From Middle English attempren, through Old French atemprer from Latin attemperare, 'adjust or accommodate,' formed from ad- ('to') + temperare ('temper, regulate').