Obs. [f. ppl. stem of L. temperāre to TEMPER. (Occurs earlier as pa. pple. = L. temperātus: see prec. 7: cf. -ATE3 3–5.)] = TEMPER v.
1. trans. To mix suitably; to moderate, qualify, mitigate, allay; = TEMPER v. 1, 2; to bring into a proper state or condition; TEMPER v. 5.
a. 1540. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 217/1. For mollifying, and temperatyng of those thinges, that seemed to bee somewhat hardly spoken.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 53. The verteous heyt of it [the sun] temperatis al the sternis of the firmament.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., *iv. I endevoured to temperate the rigoure of the first Chyrurgians.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 431. The same … doth temperate and confirm the brains of any man.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 228. A clime … exceeding hote;..yet sometimes temperated by the comfortable winds.
1698. Crowne, Caligula, IV. Dram. Wks. 1874, IV. 407. If I were wise I’d temp’rate love with art.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, 17, ¶ 10. Nor is fear … less to be temperated by this universal medicine of the mind.
1917. Elizabeth A. Hayes, Thoughts on Many Themes, 62–3. In seeking quality of voice we should remember that the cavities of the nose are formed so as to ‘temperate the air,’ that it may not ‘strike cold’ into the vocal organs.
2. To rule; to curb, restrain; = TEMPER v. 7, 8.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), 112. This fulnes as it is not to be misliked in a yong man, so in farder aige … it is to be temperated, or else discretion and iudgement shall seeme to be wanting in him.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. i. II. xliii. She temperates Her starrie orb, makes her bright forms to wend Even as she list.
1648. Lightfoot, Horæ Hebraicæ (1684), II. 572. Let him … learn from you to temperate his passions.
Hence Temperated ppl. a., tempered, moderated; Temperating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
a. 1540. Temperatyng [see sense 1].
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 77. Placing the power in such sort in the King, that the temperating of it should be in the middle Iudge.
1737. Boyse, The Olive, xviii. Hence the mild Sweets of temperated Sway.
1753. N. Torriano, Gangr. Sore Throat, 22. Broths mixt with Juice of aperitive and temperating Herbs.
1788. Misc., in Ann. Reg., 134/2. The moon was darting her temperated rays through the shade.
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 5. Acids, when weak or diluted, act … as refrigerant and temperating medicines.
