Distemper is a dangerous and infectious disease that can be caught by animals, especially dogs.
2. uncountable noun
Distemper is a kind of paint sometimes used for painting walls.
distemper in British English1
(dɪsˈtɛmpə)
noun
1.
any of various infectious diseases of animals, esp canine distemper, a highly contagious viral disease of dogs, characterized initially by high fever and a discharge from the nose and eyes
See also hard pad, strangles
2. archaic
a.
a disease or disorder
b.
disturbance
c.
discontent
verb
3. (transitive) archaic
to disturb
Word origin
C14: from Late Latin distemperāre to derange the health of, from Latin dis-1 + temperāre to mix in correct proportions
distemper in British English2
(dɪsˈtɛmpə)
noun
1.
a technique of painting in which the pigments are mixed with water, glue, size, etc, used for poster, mural, and scene painting
2.
the paint used in this technique or any of various water-based paints, including, in Britain, whitewash
verb
3. (transitive)
to mix (pigments) with water and size
4.
to paint (something) with distemper
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin distemperāre to soak, from Latin dis-1 + temperāre to mingle
distemper in American English1
(dɪsˈtɛmpər)
verb transitive
1. Obsolete
to make bad-tempered; disturb; ruffle
2.
to upset or unbalance the functions of; derange; disorder
noun
3.
a mental or physical derangement or disorder; disease
4.
any of several infectious diseases of animals, characterized by rhinitis, fever,etc.
; specif.,
a.
an infectious viral disease of young dogs
b.
strangles, a disease of horses
5.
civil disorder or turmoil
Word origin
ME distemperen < OFr destemprer or ML distemperare, to disorder (esp. the “tempers,” or four humors) < L dis-, apart + temperare, to mix in proportion: see temper
distemper in American English2
(dɪsˈtɛmpər)
verb transitive
1.
to mix (colors or pigments) with water and glue, size, or some other binding medium
2.
to paint with such a mixture
noun
3.
a method of painting using distempered pigment, as for wall decoration
4.
a painting done in this way
5.
distempered paint
6.
any of various water-based paints, as whitewash, calcimine, etc.
Word origin
OFr destemprer < ML distemperare, to mix, dilute < L dis-, intens. + temperare: see distemper1
Examples of 'distemper' in a sentence
distemper
And they were at the source of the general social distemper.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2002)
And Hans was a dachshund who hadn't been properly inoculated for distemper and he caught it and died.
Ferrars, Elizabeth THE OTHER DEVIL'S NAME (2002)
The portrait showed a stern face and, yes, a righteous stance, but there was no hint of cruelty, no sign of distemper.