temperate
/ˈtɛmp(ə)rət
/adjective
1Relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures: sage can be grown outdoors in cool, temperate climates Chile has one of the largest temperate forests in the southern hemisphere...
- The temperate climate has mild to warm summers and cool winters.
- Belarus has a temperate continental climate, with a mild and humid winter, a warm summer, and a wet autumn.
- The climate is temperate and is more mild and humid along the western marine coast.
Synonyms
mild, clement, pleasant, agreeable, benign;
gentle, balmy, fair
2Showing moderation or self-restraint: Charles was temperate in his consumption of both food and drink...
- Ever since that day, she had been extremely temperate in her consumption of alcohol.
- As a result, British masculinity was constructed as a controlled, temperate ideal type.
- A man of a singularly disinterested and modest disposition, he was temperate in speech and act, but zealous for the social and political reforms which were the aims of the radicals in his day.
Synonyms
self-restrained, restrained, moderate, self-controlled, controlled, disciplined;
abstemious, self-denying, austere, ascetic;
teetotal, abstinent
Derivatives
temperately
- In a tiny lane contrived alongside that terrible scene his wife, more temperately than he deserves, alerts him to his insane action.
- Once we have these moral virtues, not only are we disposed to act in accordance with them - to act temperately, liberally, courageously, justly - but we also desire to do so and take pleasure in doing so.
- The collocation of the phrase ‘for the purposes of identification only’ with the words ‘more particularly delineated on the plan drawn hereon’ may be said to be unfortunate; and in that I think I speak temperately.
temperateness
- Is the educated, temperate public right to wonder about the temperateness of many educators?
- The choice we make for ourselves must be made with a moderation of counsel and a temperateness for judgement befitting our character and our motives as a nation.
- After I had drunk half a dozen glasses, my policy of temperateness in mind, I decided that I had had enough for that time.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'not affected by passion or emotion'): from Latin temperatus 'mingled, restrained', from the verb temperare.