ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tempered

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtɛmpɝd// UK //tˈɛmpəd// tem·pered

adj. not too extreme; showing calm control of strong feelings. You use this to describe someone who stays steady under pressure.

adj. characterized by moderation, restraint, or a lack of extreme emotion. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'remain' or 'stay'.


SIMPLE

She remained tempered despite the loud noise.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager kept a tempered tone during the heated staff meeting.

COMPLEX

His tempered response to the crisis revealed a leader who valued stability over dramatic gestures.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English tempred, itempered, ytempred, ytemprid, from Old English ġetemprod (“tempered, moderate, goverened, cured”), past participle of Old English ġetemprian (“to temper, moderate, govern, cure”), equivalent to temper + -ed.

Etymology 2

Partly from Middle English temperd, temprede, from Old English temprode, first and third person singular preterit of Old English temprian; and partly from Middle English tempred, i-tempred, from Old English ġetemprod. Equivalent to temper + -ed.

Usage

Often modified by 'evenly' or 'highly'.

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