attemper, v.
(əˈtɛmpə(r))
Also 4–6 attempre, (4 entempre).
[a. OF. atempre-r, atremper (mod. attremper):—L. attemperāre, f. at- = ad- to + temperāre to temper, qualify, arrange, regulate.]
1. To qualify by admixture; to modify or moderate by blending with something of different or opposite quality; to temper.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 201 Which [justice], for to escheue cruelte, He mote attempre with pite. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 44/2 The love attempered the sorow. 1528 Paynell Salerne Regim. L iiij b, A lyttell pellitorie and persly, to attempre the coldenes of the forsayde thynges. 1666 J. Smith Old Age (ed. 2) 20 There is scarce any condition so evil, that is not attempered with some good. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 315 The most perfect taste in architecture, where grace softens dignity, and lightness attempers magnificence. 1851 Trench Poems 27 If sweet with bitter, pleasure with annoy, Were not attempered still. |
2. To modify the temperature of; to make (air, etc.) warmer or colder.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. i. 8 What attempriþ þe lusty houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 87 You may give them a gentle stove, and attemper the air with a fire of charcoal. 1717 Pope Eloisa to Abel. 63 Those smiling eyes attempering every ray. 1846 Hawthorne Mosses i. i. 3 The shadow of the willow tree..attempered the cheery western sunshine. |
3. To moderate, mitigate, assuage (passion or harshness); to soothe, mollify, appease (the excited person).
| c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶548 The angry man maketh noyses, and the pacient man attempereth and stilleth him. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 206/4 Cezar, amende thy maners and attempre thy commaundementis. 1494 Fabyan vi. clxxxii. 180 He somwhat attempred his fury and crueltie. 1625 Bacon Anger, Ess. (Arb.) 565 How the..Habit, To be Angry, may be attempred, and calmed. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 87/1 The genius of Numa..softening and attempering the fiery dispositions of his people. 1882 Shorthouse J. Inglesant lxxvi. II. 3 The wild passions and deeds of men are so attempered and adjusted. |
4. To restrain, control, govern. Also refl. ? Obs.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 164 Entempre þou beter þy tonge. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 333 Attempre thy corage Fro wrath. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 40 Attemper you from covetise. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark iv. 24 Always attempering thy self as much as thou canst. |
5. To regulate, control, order, arrange. arch.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. i. 111 Þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges þe ceptre of his myȝt and attempereþ þe gouernementes of þis worlde. 1539 Cranmer in Strype Cranmer (1694) App. 244 The Holy Ghost hath so ordered and attempered the Scriptures. 1662 More Antid. Ath. ii. ii. (1712) 43 Its Motion and Posture would be so directed and attemper'd, as we..would have it to be. 1792 Childr. Thespis 115 She moves and attempers the springs of the Mind. |
6. To make fit or suitable to; to accommodate or adapt in quality to. Also refl.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 87 There may no welth ne pouerte Attempren hem to the deserte Of buxomnesse. 1545 Joye On Daniel v. H viij b, They wolde attemper and drawe Gods worship and religyon unto their own profites. 1656 Trapp Comm. Matt. xi. 17 Attempering their discourses to the hearers' capacities. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 128 God often attempers Himself and His oracles to the conditon of men. |
b. intr. (for refl.) To adapt oneself to. rare.
| 1809 J. Barlow Columb. ii. 85 The tribes..attempering to the clime, Still vary downward with the years of time. |
7. To attune, bring into harmony. Const. to.
| 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. June 8 Byrds of euery kynde To the waters fall their tunes attemper right. 1633 P. Fletcher Poet. Misc. 55 All in course their voice attempering. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 24 High airs, attemper'd to the vocal strings. 1879 H. N. Hudson Shaks. 36 Horatio hits the key-note of the part, and attempers us to its influences. |
8. To temper (metal).
| 1869 Eng. Mech. 20 Aug. 488/3 The process of hardening steel is called tempering or attempering. |