tempered
adj.-
1 personality or mood (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatehaving a specific type of mood or personality; usually used with another word like 'sweet' or 'bad'.
having a specified disposition or temper; almost exclusively used in hyphenated compounds.
ExampleHe is a very even-tempered person who never gets angry at work.
ExampleDespite the high-pressure environment of the emergency room, she remained remarkably even-tempered throughout her twelve-hour shift.
UsageUsually appears as the second part of a compound adjective, such as 'bad-tempered' or 'sweet-tempered'.
- natured
- dispositioned
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2 moderated or balanced (adj.) C1 Advanced Formalmade less extreme or softer by adding something else.
moderated, qualified, or balanced by the presence of other considerations or qualities.
ExampleHis excitement about the new job was tempered by the long commute.
ExampleThe minister's optimism regarding the economic forecast was tempered by a cautious warning about rising inflation rates.
UsageOften used with the preposition 'by'.
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3 strengthened glass or metal (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Sciencetreated with heat or chemicals to make it much stronger.
referring to glass or metal that has been subjected to a process of heating and cooling to increase toughness and reduce brittleness.
ExampleThe glass in the car window is tempered so it doesn't break into sharp pieces.
ExampleThe structural integrity of the skyscraper relied on the use of tempered steel beams capable of withstanding extreme thermal expansion.
- toughened
- hardened
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4 musical tuning (adj.) C2 Proficiency Technical Musictuned in a way that allows music to be played in any key.
relating to a system of tuning, such as equal temperament, where intervals are adjusted to allow playing in all keys.
ExampleThe piano was tuned to a tempered scale so the performer could play every piece.
ExampleBach's famous collection of preludes and fugues demonstrated the expressive possibilities of the well-tempered keyboard.
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.
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.