adjective
- having a temper or disposition of a specified character (usually used in combination): a good-tempered child.
- Music. tuned in accordance with some other temperament than just or pure temperament, especially tuned in equal temperament.
- made less intense or violent, especially by the influence of something good or benign: justice tempered with mercy.
- properly moistened or mixed, as clay.
- Metallurgy. of or relating to steel or cast iron that has been tempered.
adjective
- music
- (of a scale) having the frequency differences between notes adjusted in accordance with the system of equal temperamentSee temperament
- (of an interval) expanded or contracted from the state of being pure
- (in combination) having a temper or temperament as specifiedill-tempered
adj.1570s, from un- (1) “not” + past participle of temper (v.). Cf. Middle Dutch ongetempert, Middle High German ungetempert.