Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 900-1000
Language: Latin
Origin: temperare 'to divide up properly, mix, keep within proper limits, temper'

temper

2 verb
     
Related topics: Industry
temper2 [transitive]
1 formal to make something less severe or extreme
temper something with/by something
The heat in this coastal town is tempered by cool sea breezes.
2HCETI to make metal as hard as is needed by heating it and then putting it in cold water:
tempered steel
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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