▪ I. diˈstemperate, a. Obs. or arch.
[ad. med.L. distemperāt-us not properly proportioned, mingled, regulated, or ordered, immoderate, excessive (said of the weather, the bodily humours, etc.), f. dis- 4 + L. temperātus tempered, proportioned, regulated, temperate, pa. pple. of temperāre to temper.]
† 1. Of the air or elements: Not temperate, not so tempered or regulated as to be conducive to health and comfort; excessive in some respect; inclement, stormy, unwholesome. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth De P.R. v. lxii. (1495) 179 Flesshe moost defendyth the rydge fro dystemperat ayre. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xv. (1596) 264 Any temperat or distemperat region. 1647 Fuller Good Th. in Worse T. (1841) 90, I have endeavoured in these distemperate times to hold up my spirits, and to steer them steadily..Now, alas! the storm grows too sturdy for the pilot. |
† 2. Of the bodily ‘humours’: Not properly tempered; disordered through excess or deficiency of some constituent; hence, of bodily or mental condition, etc., disordered, out of order; diseased, out of health; ill-conditioned. Obs.
| 1548 Recorde Urin. Physick viii. 35 There remaineth yet somewhat of that distemperate trouble in the blood. 1604 J. Burges in W. Covell Briefe Answ. (1606) 13 The Conscience soyled, is like a distemperate Locke, that no Key will open. 1614 Jackson Creed iii. xxiv. §4. 238 When they could not answere his reasons..though most offensiue to their distemperate humor. 1623 J. Wodroephe Marrow Fr. Tongue 295 (T.) Thou hast thy brain distemperate, and out of rule. 1658 Whole Duty Man xvi. §17. 133 Is it possible there can be (even to the most distemperate palate) any such sweetness in it. |
3. Passing the bounds of moderation; immoderate, excessive; inordinate, intemperate; = distempered 5. Obs. or arch.
| 1557 Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 230 When I amid mine ease did fall to such distemperate fits. 1587 Harrison England ii. vi. (1877) i. 142 In over much and distemperate gormandize. 1598–9 E. Forde Parismus i. (1661) 118 How can this distemperate sorrow procure your lost Friend? 1614 Raleigh Hist. World i. (1634) 38 Against it Thomas Aquinas objecteth the distemperate heat. 1634 T. Johnson Parey's Chirurg. xxii. iv. (1678) 492 Humors putrefie either from fulness..or by distemperate excess. 1847 Bushnell Chr. Nurt. ii. iii. (1861) 276 A distempered or distemperate life. |
▪ II. † diˈstemperate, v. Obs. rare.
[f. ppl. stem of med.L. distemperāre: see distemper v.1]
trans. To affect with distemper; to disorder, disease.
| 1547 Boorde Brev. Health lxxiii. 25 b, It doth signifye that the lunges be out of order, and dystemperated. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 440 An extream..inflammation and burning through all the parts of the body, which doth greatly distemperate and vex the same. |