The temper root keeps its basic meaning—"to mix" or "to keep within limits"—in the English word temper. When you temper something, you mix it with some balancing quality or substance so as to avoid anything extreme. Thus, it's often said that a judge must temper justice with mercy. Young people only gradually learn to temper their natural enthusiasms with caution. And in dealing with others, we all try to temper our honesty with sensitivity.
disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.
a cheerful disposition
temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.
an artistic temperament
temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.
a resilient temper
character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.
strength of character
personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.
a somber personality
Examples of temper in a Sentence
Noun
She has a bad temper.
That boy has quite a temper.
He needs to learn to control his temper.
She hit him in a fit of temper.
He slammed the door and left in a temper.
It's often difficult for parents not to lose their tempers.
He is in a pleasant temper. Verb
The steel must be properly tempered.
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Noun
He is also known for his temper.—👁 Image Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026 What came first, Ben’s poor management style or Ellie’s ungovernable temper?—👁 Image Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Hurley tempered his act this season, after his wife, Andrea, and confidants Billy Donovan, Geno Auriemma and Seth Greenberg jumped him last year.—👁 Image Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 Cheng was elected as party chairwoman late last year following a campaign that emphasized the need to temper the island’s provocations against the Communist regime.—👁 Image Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for temper
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English tempure, tempyr, temper "moderation, mixture of things in proper proportion, mental state," probably noun derivative of tempren, temperen "to mix with, soften, moderate" — more at temper entry 2
Verb
Middle English tempren, temperen "to be mixed with, mix with, soften, moderate, regulate, tune," in part going back to Old English temprian "to mix with, moderate," borrowed from Latin temperāre "to exercise moderation, restrain oneself, moderate, bring to a proper strength or consistency by mixing, maintain in a state of balance," perhaps derivative of temper-, variant stem of tempor-, tempus "period of time"; in part borrowed from Anglo-French temprer, tremper, going back to Latin temperāre — more at tempo
Note:
The derivation of temperāre from temper- and hence tempus is based on the hypothesis that the original meaning of the noun was "extent, measure"; however, it is not entirely certain that the meanings "to restrain" or "to bring to a suitable state by mixing" (whichever might be the original meaning of temperāre) are consonant with the idea of measuring.
