[a. L. Tempē, a. Gr. Τέμπη.] The proper name of a charming valley in Thessaly, watered by the Peneus, between Mounts Olympus and Ossa; used (already by the Roman writers) as a general name for a beautiful valley; hence for any delightful rural spot.
1594. Nashe, Terrors of Night, Wks. (Grosart), III. 264. Farre vnworthie am I to spend the least breath of commendation in the extolling so delightfull and pleasant a Tempe.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., To Rdr. Refusing to walke forth into the Tempe and Feelds of the Muses.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, To Rdr. Seeing that the whole earth was once a Tempe, an Eden (that is, a place of all pleasures and delights).
1770. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 17 July. The gay solitude of my own little Tempe.
Hence Tempean a., of or pertaining to Tempe; resembling Tempe in natural beauty.
1855. C. G. Mackenzie, Revolt of Tartarus, IV., in Temperance Rhymes, 43.
| Seated, or else reclined on flowery lawns, | |
| Or walking in their more than Tempean vales, | |
| Majestic forms, surpassing human. |
1864. in Webster; hence in mod. Dicts.
