• n. 脾氣；（鋼等）回火；性情；傾向
• vt. 使回火；鍛煉；調(diào)和；使緩和
• vi. 回火；調(diào)和

來自 temper,調(diào)和。在中世紀醫(yī)學(xué)理論特指人體內(nèi)的四種體液的組合或融合，即血液，黏液， 膽汁液，黑膽汁，這四種體液的組合決定了人的脾性和性情，因而引申諸相關(guān)詞義。詞義火 氣縮寫自 bad temper.更多參照 humor 詞源。

來自拉丁語 temperare,調(diào)節(jié)，管控，掌握火候，把控時間，來自 tempus,時間，詞源同 temporal. 比喻用法，即掌握好時間。

temper

temper: [OE] The verb temper was borrowed into Old English from Latin temperāre ‘mix, blend’. This seems originally to have meant ‘mix in due proportion’, and so may have been derived from Latin tempus ‘time, due time’ (source of English temporary). The noun temper was derived from the verb in the 14th century in the sense ‘mixture of elements’, and this led on in the 17th century to ‘set of mental traits’ (a meaning that has now largely passed to the derivative temperament [15]).

The modern sense ‘ill humour’ emerged from this in the 19th century. Another meaning of Latin temperāre was ‘restrain oneself’, which has come through into the derivatives temperance [14] and temperate [14]. Other relatives include distemper and temperature. Tamper probably originated as an alteration of temper.
=> distemper, tamper, tempera, temperature

temper (v.)

late Old English temprian "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits," from Latin temperare "observe proper measure, be moderate, restrain oneself," also transitive, "mix correctly, mix in due proportion; regulate, rule, govern, manage," usually described as from tempus "time, season" (see temporal), with a sense of "proper time or season." Meaning "to make (steel) hard and elastic" is from late 14c. Sense of "to tune the pitch of a musical instrument" is recorded from c. 1300. Related: Tempered; tempering.

temper (n.)

late 14c., "due proportion of elements or qualities," from temper (v.). The sense of "characteristic state of mind, inclination, disposition" is first recorded 1590s; that of "calm state of mind, tranquility" in c. 1600; and that of "angry state of mind" (for bad temper) in 1828. Meaning "degree of hardness and resiliency in steel" is from late 15c.

1. She was still in a temper when Colin arrived.

科林到的時候，她氣還沒有消。

來自柯林斯例句

2. I've never seen him get cross or lose his temper.

我從未見過他生氣或者發(fā)火。

來自柯林斯例句

3. Though he had a temper and could be nasty, it never lasted.

雖然他愛發(fā)脾氣，而且有時還很討厭，但向來都只是一陣兒。

來自柯林斯例句

4. Mick was stubborn and domineering with a very bad temper.

米克既固執(zhí)又專橫，脾氣還很壞。

來自柯林斯例句

5. He had a terrible temper, and sometimes he would completely lose control.

他的脾氣很壞，有時會完全失控。

來自柯林斯例句