temperable

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tem•per /ˈtɛmpɚ/   n. 

1. a state of mind or feelings;
   habit of mind;
   disposition:
   [countable] in a bad temper; has a sweet temper.
2. [uncountable] heat of passion, shown in anger, resentment, etc.
3. calm disposition;
   composure:
   [uncountable] to lose one's temper.
4. Metallurgy [uncountable] the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal.

v. [~ + object]

5. to moderate;
   soften or tone down:
   to temper justice with mercy.
6. Metallurgy to give strength or toughness to (iron) by heating and cooling:
   to temper steel.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tem•per  (tem′pər), n. 

1. a particular state of mind or feelings.
2. habit of mind, esp. with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like;
   disposition:
   an even temper.
3. heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.
4. calm disposition or state of mind:
   to be out of temper.
5. a substance added to something to modify its properties or qualities.
6. Metallurgy
   • the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal, as by quenching, heat treatment, or cold working.
   • the percentage of carbon in tool steel.
   • the operation of tempering.
7. [Archaic.] a middle course;
   compromise.
8. [Obs.] the constitution or character of a substance.

v.t. 

9. to moderate or mitigate:
   to temper justice with mercy.
10. to soften or tone down.
11. to bring to a proper, suitable, or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture.
12. to moisten, mix, and work up into proper consistency, as clay or mortar.
13. Metallurgy to impart strength or toughness to (steel or cast iron) by heating and cooling.
14. Ceramics to produce internal stresses in (glass) by sudden cooling from low red heat;
    toughen.
15. Music and Dance to tune (a keyboard instrument, as a piano, organ, or harpsichord) so as to make the tones available in different keys or tonalities.
16. Fine Art to modify (color) by mixing with a medium.
17. [Archaic.] to combine or blend in due proportions.
18. [Archaic.] to pacify.

v.i. 

19. to be or become tempered.

• Latin temperāre to divide or proportion duly, temper; (noun, nominal) Middle English: proportion, derivative of the verb, verbal
• (verb, verbal) Middle English tempren, Old English temprian bef. 1000

tem′per•a•ble, adj. 
tem′per•a•bil′i•ty, n. 
tem′per•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. nature, condition.
• 2. humor. See disposition. 
• 3. irritation.
• 4. equanimity, coolness, composure.
• 10. See modify.