temper
UK: ˈtɛmpə | US: ˈtɛmpər
n. 1. A person's state of mind or emotions, especially regarding calmness or anger.
n. 2. The degree of hardness or elasticity in a material (e.g., steel).
vt. 1. To moderate or soften the effects of something.
vt. 2. To strengthen or toughen a material through heat treatment.
temper = temp<time/balance> + er<noun/verb suffix>
- temp (from Latin temperare, meaning "to mix, regulate, or balance").
- er (a suffix forming nouns or verbs, indicating agency or repeated action).
Etymology Origin:
The word "temper" traces back to Latin temperare, which originally meant "to mix or regulate proportions." This evolved into the idea of balancing emotions (e.g., "keeping one's temper") and later extended to metallurgy, where "tempering" involves carefully heating and cooling to achieve desired properties. The dual meanings reflect the core idea of controlled adjustment—whether for emotions or materials.
She struggled to control her temper during the argument.
The blacksmith tempered the steel to make it more durable.
His cheerful temper made him popular among colleagues.
Glass can be tempered to increase its resistance to breaking.
A good leader must temper criticism with encouragement.