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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.
1393Gower Conf. III. 201 Which [justice], for to escheue cruelte, He mote attempre with pite. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 44/2 The love attempered the sorow. 1528Paynell Salerne Regim. L iiij b, A lyttell pellitorie and persly, to attempre the coldenes of the forsayde thynges. 1666J. Smith Old Age (ed. 2) 20 There is scarce any condition so evil, that is not attempered with some good. 1762H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 315 The most perfect taste in architecture, where grace softens dignity, and lightness attempers magnificence. 1851Trench 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.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. i. i. 8 What attempriþ þe lusty houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun. 1658Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 87 You may give them a gentle stove, and attemper the air with a fire of charcoal. 1717Pope Eloisa to Abel. 63 Those smiling eyes attempering every ray. 1846Hawthorne 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).
c1386Chaucer Melib. ⁋548 The angry man maketh noyses, and the pacient man attempereth and stilleth him. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 206/4 Cezar, amende thy maners and attempre thy commaundementis. 1494Fabyan vi. clxxxii. 180 He somwhat attempred his fury and crueltie. 1625Bacon Anger, Ess. (Arb.) 565 How the..Habit, To be Angry, may be attempred, and calmed. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 87/1 The genius of Numa..softening and attempering the fiery dispositions of his people. 1882Shorthouse 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.
c1380Sir Ferumb. 164 Entempre þou beter þy tonge. 1393Gower Conf. I. 333 Attempre thy corage Fro wrath. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 40 Attemper you from covetise. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark iv. 24 Always attempering thy self as much as thou canst.
5. To regulate, control, order, arrange. arch.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. i. 111 Þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges þe ceptre of his myȝt and attempereþ þe gouernementes of þis worlde. 1539Cranmer in Strype Cranmer (1694) App. 244 The Holy Ghost hath so ordered and attempered the Scriptures. 1662More Antid. Ath. ii. ii. (1712) 43 Its Motion and Posture would be so directed and attemper'd, as we..would have it to be. 1792Childr. 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.
1393Gower Conf. I. 87 There may no welth ne pouerte Attempren hem to the deserte Of buxomnesse. 1545Joye On Daniel v. H viij b, They wolde attemper and drawe Gods worship and religyon unto their own profites. 1656Trapp Comm. Matt. xi. 17 Attempering their discourses to the hearers' capacities. 1860Pusey Min. Proph. 128 God often attempers Himself and His oracles to the conditon of men.
b. intr. (for refl.) To adapt oneself to. rare.
1809J. 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.
1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. June 8 Byrds of euery kynde To the waters fall their tunes attemper right. 1633P. Fletcher Poet. Misc. 55 All in course their voice attempering. 1725Pope Odyss. iv. 24 High airs, attemper'd to the vocal strings. 1879H. N. Hudson Shaks. 36 Horatio hits the key-note of the part, and attempers us to its influences.
8. To temper (metal).
1869Eng. Mech. 20 Aug. 488/3 The process of hardening steel is called tempering or attempering. |