contemper

verb /kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/

1. To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate or soften.

   obsolete, transitive

   Though earth hath engroſſed the name yet water hath proved the ſmarteſt grave; which in forty dayes ſwallowed almoſt mankinde, and the living creation ; Fiſhes not wholly eſcaping, except the Salt Ocean were handſomely contempered by a mixture of the freſh Element.

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Latin contemperō, from con- + temperō (“to temper”). Compare contemperate.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry contemper (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← consuetudinarycontorniate →

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