†1. ‘A disproportionate mixture of parts; want of a due temper of ingredients’; ‘want of due balance between contraries’ (Johnson); distempered or disordered condition. Obsolete.

†2. A disordered or distempered condition of the air, climate, weather, etc.; inclemency. Obsolete.

3. Derangement or disturbance of the ‘humour’ or ‘temper’ (according to medieval physiology regarded as due to disturbance in the bodily ‘humours’; cf. temper n., temperament n.); a being out of humour; ill humour, ill temper; uneasiness; disaffection. (Now usually associated with sense 4; in quot. 1850 with allusion to metallic ‘temper’.)

5. transferred and figurative. Derangement, disturbance, or disorder (esp. in a state or body politic). (Now always with allusion to sense 4.)

1. A method of painting, in which the colours are mixed with some glutinous substance soluble in water, as yolk of egg mixed with water, etc., executed usually upon a ground of chalk or plaster mixed with gum ( distemper-ground): mostly used in scene-painting, and in the internal decoration of walls. Chiefly in such phrases as ‘painting’ or ‘to paint in distemper’ (Italian pingere a tempera).

2. Also applied to the pigment prepared for this process, and to the ground on which it is executed. In House-painting, whiting mixed with size and water, with which ‘ceilings are generally done; plastered walls, when not painted or papered, are also so covered’ (Gwilt).

†1. transitive. To temper improperly by undue mixture of elements; to disturb or derange the due proportion of (elements, humours, etc.).

†2. To disturb or derange the condition of the air, elements, weather, climate, etc. (chiefly in passive).

3. From the notion that attributed the ‘humour’ or ‘temper’ to the preponderance of one or other of the bodily humours: To disturb or disorder the humour, temper, or feelings of; to put out of humour or temper; to render ill-humoured or ill at ease; to trouble, vex, ‘upset’. reflexive and in passive. To be or become disturbed in mind; to ‘put oneself out’. (Now rare or Obsolete, except as figurative from 4.)

5. transferred and figurative. To disorder or mar the condition of; to derange, confuse, put out of joint.

†6. To deprive (a metal) of ‘temper’. Obsolete. rare. [modern French détremper (1694 in Dict. Acad.).]

diˈstempering n. and adj.

†1. transitive. To treat with water or some other liquid; to mix with a liquid, so as to dissolve wholly or partly; to dilute, infuse; to soak, steep.

2. transferred and figurative. To dilute; to mix with something so as to weaken or impair; to allay. Obsolete or archaic. (Often run together with distemper v.¹ 4, 5: see quot. 1598.)

3. Painting. To paint or colour in distemper. See distemper n.²