| 释义 |
distemperature Now rare and arch.|dɪsˈtɛmpərətjʊə(r)|
[f. med.L. type *distemperātūra (= OF. destempreure): cf. distemperate and temperature.]
Distemperate or distempered condition.
1. A condition of the air or elements not properly tempered for human health and comfort; evil, deranged, or extreme ‘temperature’ (in the earlier sense of this word, including all atmospheric states); inclemency, unwholesomeness.
1531Elyot Gov. iii. xxvi, The temperature or distemperature of the regions. 1584Peele Arraignm. Paris v, Woods Where neither storm nor suns distemperature Have power to hurt by cruel heat or cold. 1638Rawley tr. Bacon's Life & Death (1650) 11 Surely their cloathing is excellent good against the distemperatures of the weather. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 43 This distemperature by storms of Wind and Rain turns Summer into Winter. 1677Hale Prim. Orig. Man. ii. ix. 214 The same distemperature of the Air that occasioned the Plague, occasioned also the infertility or noxiousness of the Soil. 1860Trench Serm. Westm. Abb. v. 49 Henceforth..exposed to the sharp and wintry blasts and all those distemperatures of the air.
2. Disordered or distempered condition of the ‘humours’, or of the body; disorder, ailment.
1533Elyot Cast. Helthe i. ii. (1541) 3 To knowe the distemperature these sygnes folowyng wold be consydered. 1582J. Hester Secr. Phiorav. i. i. 1 Sicknesse or infirmitie is no other thyng then a distemperature of humours in the bodies of Creatures. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 82 At her heeles a huge infectious troope Of pale distemperatures. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. v. iii, This adventitious melancholy..is caused by a hot and dry distemperature. 1685J. Scott Chr. Life (1699) V. 458 A distemperature of the brain, and blood and spirits. 1753Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v., Suckers are another Distemperature of trees arising from the tree itself. 1863Ld. Lytton Ring Amasis II. 14 The effects of watching and the distemperature of an over-laboured brain.
3. Disturbance of mind or temper.
1571Golding Calvin on Ps. To Rdr. 9, I wote not what distemperature had kindled up a sorte of leawd loyterers ageinst mee. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 40 Thou art vprous'd with some distemprature. 1633Marmion Fine Companion iv. vi, Spr. I hear she is run mad. Aur. Is, and the cause of her distemperature Is the reproach you put upon her honour. 1741Warburton Div. Legat. II. 548 What I uttered through the distemperature of my passion. 1823Scott Quentin D. xxxvii, Durward..found the latter in a state of choleric distemperature. 1850Browning Easter Day xxxiii. 8 A mere dream and distemperature.
4. transf. and fig. Derangement, disturbance, disorder (of society, the state, etc.). arch. or Obs.
1593Drayton Eclog. viii. 103 Since the Worlds distemp'rature is such. 1613–18Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626) 154 The distemprature of the time was such, as no sword could cure it. 1615J. Stephens Satyr. Ess. 147 A curious clocke; which by the distemperature of one wheele, growes distempered in every one. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. v. iii. (1737) III. 321 In the present Distemperatures..Partys are no good Registers of the Actions of the adverse Side.
5. Immoderateness, excess (esp. of heat or cold; cf. 1); excess in drinking or other indulgence, intemperateness, intemperance.
1572J. Jones Bathes Buckstone 3 b, Nothing..better..Taketh away distemperature of heate..then a dulce or pleasunt Bathe. 1605Bloudy Bk. C, It shamed him not (after his distemperatures abroade) to bring queanes home with him. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 195 Princes..following ill counsell and youthfull distemperature. 1875Lowell Old Elm Poet. Wks. 1890 IV. 82 The track it left seems less of fire than light, Cold but to such as love distemperature. |