† aˈttemperance Obs.
Also 4–6 -peraunce, 6 -praunce, atemperance.
[a. OF. atemprance, f. atemprer: see attemper and -ance.]
1. Temperance, moderation.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶759 Attemperaunce, that holdith the mene in alle thinges. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 131 Of so noble attemperaunce, that she kepte her husbonde..oute of wrathe. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 60 a, These people handled the matter with more attempraunce. |
2. = attemperament.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. vi. 144 Þis attemperaunce noryssiþ and brynggeþ furþe al þinge þat brediþ lyfe in þis worlde. 1555 Fardle Facions i. ii. 33 Through the attemperaunce of that moysture and heate. |
3. The blending or attuning of sounds, harmony.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. xii. 37 Of this science of musyque cometh alle attemperaunce. |
4. Temperament, natural constitution.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. vi. 138 As men were wont to demen or speken of complexiouns and attemperaunces of bodies. Ibid. Þe leche þat knoweþ þe manere and þe attemperaunce of heele and of maladie. |