1. (v. t.) To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm.

2. (v. t.) To fit together; to adjust; to accommodate.

3. (v. t.) To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.

4. (v. t.) To govern; to manage.

5. (v. t.) To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.

6. (v. t.) To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.

7. (n.) The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities; just combination; as, the temper of mortar.

8. (n.) Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy.

9. (n.) Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind, particularly with regard to the passions and affections; as, a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper.

10. (n.) Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper.

11. (n.) Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; -- in a reproachful sense.

12. (n.) The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling; as, the temper of iron or steel.

13. (n.) Middle state or course; mean; medium.

14. (n.) Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.

15. (v. i.) To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity.

16. (v. i.) To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.

Irish abate adjust adjust to allay alleviate alter anger animus anneal appease aptitude assuage atmosphere attain majority attemper attribute aura bad temper balance bank the fire be tough beef up bent besprinkle bias bloom blunt body-build box in brace brace up brand breathe brew buttress calcify callous calmness case harden cast character characteristic characteristics chasten chisel temper churlishness circumscribe climate color come of age come to maturity complexion composition composure condition confirm conniption constituents constitution constrain control cool coolness cornify crasis cue curb cushion damp dampen dander de-emphasize deaden decoct develop dharma diathesis die temper dilute diminish disposition downplay dredge drift dull dye ease eccentricity endure entincture equanimity ethos extenuate fiber fierce temper fiery temper firm firmness fit flavor fledge flower fortify fossilize frame frame of mind fury genius gird grain grow grow up habit hang tough harden hardness hardness scale heart heat treating hedge hedge about hot blood hot temper hotheadedness hue huffishness humor humors idiosyncrasy ilk ill humor ill temper imbrue imbue impregnate inclination indenter individualism individuality indurate infiltrate infuse instill invigorate irascibility ire irritability irritable temper keep within bounds kidney kind lapidify lay leaning leave the nest leaven lenify lessen lighten limit lithify make makeup mature mellow mental set mettle mind mind-set mitigate moderate modify modulate mold mollify mood morale narrow nature nerve note obtund orientation ossify outburst outlook pacify paddy palliate passion peculiarity peevishness penetrate permeate personality pervade petrify petulance physique play down posture precipitation hardening predilection predisposition preference proclivity prop propensity property qualify quality rage razor temper reach manhood reach twenty-one reach voting age reduce reduce the temperature refresh regulate by reinforce reinvigorate relax restrain restrengthen restrict ripen sang-froid saturate saw file temper season self-control self-possession set set conditions set limits set temper settle down shore up short temper slacken slant slow down smother sober sober down soften solidity somatotype soothe sort soundness spindle temper