Your temperament is your basic nature, especially as it is shown in the way that you react to situations or to other people.
His impulsive temperament regularly got him into difficulties.
She was furtive and vicious by temperament.
Synonyms: nature, character, personality, quality More Synonyms of temperament
2. uncountable noun
Temperament is the tendency to behave in an uncontrolled, bad-tempered, or unreasonable way.
Mark does have a habit of allowing his temperament to get the better of him.
Some of the models were given to fits of temperament.
Synonyms: moods, anger, volatility, impatience More Synonyms of temperament
temperament in British English
(ˈtɛmpərəmənt, -prəmənt)
noun
1.
an individual's character, disposition, and tendencies as revealed in his or her reactions
2.
excitability, moodiness, or anger, esp when displayed openly
an actor with temperament
3.
the characteristic way an individual behaves, esp towards other people
See also character, personality
4.
a.
an adjustment made to the frequency differences between notes on a keyboard instrument to allow modulation to other keys
b.
any of several systems of such adjustment, such as just temperament, a system not practically possible on keyboard instruments, mean-tone temperament, a system giving an approximation to natural tuning, and equal temperament, the system commonly used in keyboard instruments, giving a scale based on an octave divided into twelve exactly equal semitones
See also just intonation
5. obsolete
the characteristic way an individual behaves, viewed as the result of the influence of the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile)
6. archaic
compromise or adjustment
7. an obsolete word for temperature
Word origin
C15: from Latin temperāmentum a mixing in proportion, from temperāre to temper
temperament in American English
(ˈtɛmpərəmənt; ˈtɛmprəmənt)
noun
1. Obsolete
the act or an instance of tempering; proportionate mixture or balance of ingredients
2.
in medieval physiology, any of the four conditions of body and mind, the sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric (or bilious), and melancholic temperaments, attributed to an excess of one of the four corresponding humors
see also humor
3.
one's customary frame of mind or natural disposition; nature
a man of even temperament
4.
a nature that is excitable, moody, capricious, volatile, etc.
the temperament of a prima donna
5. Obsolete
a.
climate
b.
temperature
6. Music
a system of adjustment of the intervals between the tones of an instrument of fixed intonation: it may be pure temperament, in which the intervals are set exactly according to theory, or equal temperament, as in a piano, in which the pitch of the tones is slightly adjusted to make them suitable for all keys
SIMILAR WORDS: ˌdispoˈsition
Word origin
ME < L temperamentum, proper mixing < temperare: see temper
Examples of 'temperament' in a sentence
temperament
His mother simply took Alistair for granted, sensing a temperament like her own.
Meek, M R D A WORM OF DOUBT (2004)
His temperament was to question, to provoke antithesis in an argument.
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR (2004)
Such an existence would be insupportable to the healthy human temperament.
Julian May IRONCROWN MOON: PART TWO OF THE BOREAL MOON TALE (2004)
In other languages
temperament
British English: temperament NOUN
Your temperament is your basic nature, especially as it is shown in the way that you react to situations or to other people.
His impulsive temperament regularly got him into difficulties.
American English: temperament
Brazilian Portuguese: temperamento
Chinese: 性格
European Spanish: temperamento
French: tempérament
German: Temperament
Italian: temperamento
Japanese: 気質
Korean: 기질
European Portuguese: temperamento
Latin American Spanish: temperamento
Chinese translation of 'temperament'
temperament
(ˈtɛmprəmənt)
n(c/u)
性情 (xìngqíng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person's character or disposition
His impulsive temperament regularly got him into difficulties.
Synonyms
nature
She trusted people. That was her nature.
character
There is a side to his character which you haven't seen yet.
personality
She has such a kind, friendly personality.
quality
The pretentious quality of the poetry.
spirit
They approached the talks in a conciliatory spirit.
make-up
He became convinced that there was some fatal flaw in his make-up.
soul
constitution
a small research team looking into the chemical constitution of coal
bent
stamp
humour
Could that have been the source of his good humour?
tendencies
tendency
temper
He's known for his placid temper.
outlook
complexion
The political complexion of the government has changed.
disposition
his friendly and cheerful disposition
frame of mind
She was not in the right frame of mind to continue.
mettle
He is of a different mettle from the others.
cast of mind
2 (noun)
Teenagers can be given to fits of temperament.
Synonyms
moods
anger
volatility
impatience
petulance
excitability
She has always been inclined to excitability and impatience.
moodiness
explosiveness
hot-headedness
mercurialness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of character
Definition
the combination of qualities distinguishing an individual person, group of people, or place
There is a side to his character which you haven't seen yet.
Synonyms
personality,
nature,
make-up,
cast,
constitution,
bent,
attributes,
temper,
kidney,
temperament,
complexion,
disposition,
individuality,
marked traits
in the sense of complexion
Definition
character or nature
The political complexion of the government has changed.
Synonyms
nature,
character,
make-up,
cast,
stamp,
disposition
in the sense of constitution
Definition
the make-up or structure of something
a small research team looking into the chemical constitution of coal
Synonyms
structure,
form,
nature,
make-up,
organization,
establishment,
formation,
composition,
character,
temper,
temperament,
disposition
Synonyms of 'temperament'
temperament
Explore 'temperament' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disposition
Definition
a person's usual temperament
his friendly and cheerful disposition
Synonyms
character,
nature,
spirit,
make-up,
constitution,
temper,
temperament
in the sense of excitability
She has always been inclined to excitability and impatience.
Synonyms
nervousness,
stress,
tension,
volatility,
high spirits,
restlessness,
restiveness,
hot-headedness
in the sense of frame of mind
Definition
a state of mind
She was not in the right frame of mind to continue.
Synonyms
mood,
state,
spirit,
attitude,
humour,
temper,
outlook,
disposition,
mind-set,
fettle
in the sense of humour
Definition
a state of mind
Could that have been the source of his good humour?
Synonyms
mood,
spirits,
temper,
disposition,
frame of mind
in the sense of make-up
Definition
mental or physical constitution
He became convinced that there was some fatal flaw in his make-up.
Synonyms
nature,
character,
constitution,
temperament,
make,
build,
figure,
stamp,
temper,
disposition,
frame of mind,
cast of mind
in the sense of mettle
Definition
character or abilities
He is of a different mettle from the others.
Synonyms
character,
quality,
nature,
make-up,
stamp,
temper,
kidney,
temperament,
calibre,
disposition
in the sense of personality
Definition
the distinctive characteristics which make an individual unique
She has such a kind, friendly personality.
Synonyms
nature,
character,
make-up,
identity,
temper,
traits,
temperament,
psyche,
disposition,
individuality
in the sense of quality
Definition
the basic character or nature of something
The pretentious quality of the poetry.
Synonyms
nature,
character,
constitution,
make,
sort,
kind,
worth,
description,
essence
in the sense of spirit
Definition
a person's character or temperament
They approached the talks in a conciliatory spirit.