temper

n. temperament, disposition; mood

v. moderate, soften, tone down; toughen, harden

Temperare (to mix correctly) is the Latin origin of words like "temperature" and "tempering"; it and "tempo" come, in turn, from tempus (time or season). Thus, the word "temper" can refer (at least informally) to any time- and temperature-sensitive process (as for chocolate tempering or tempered glass), a material's thermo-mechanical history (including cold work and cryogenic hardening), or even its composition.
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Noun
1. a sudden outburst of anger; "his temper sparked like damp firewood"
(synonym) pique, irritation
(hypernym) annoyance, chafe, vexation
(derivation) chasten, moderate
2. a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling; "whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time"; "he was in a bad humor"
(synonym) mood, humor, humour
(hypernym) feeling
(hyponym) sulk, sulkiness
3. a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; "his temper was well known to all his employees"
(synonym) biliousness, irritability, peevishness, pettishness, snappishness, surliness
(hypernym) ill nature
(hyponym) querulousness
(derivation) chasten, moderate
4. the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking
(synonym) toughness
(hypernym) elasticity, snap
(derivation) harden
Verb
1. toughen (steel or glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling; "temper glass"
(synonym) anneal, normalize
(hypernym) toughen
(derivation) toughness
2. harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel"
(synonym) harden
(hypernym) modify
(derivation) toughness
3. adjust the pitch (of pianos)
(hypernym) adjust, set, correct
4. make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate; "she tempered her criticism"
(synonym) season, mollify
(hypernym) weaken
5. restrain or temper
(synonym) chasten, moderate
(hypernym) change, alter, modify
(derivation) pique, irritation

v. temper, subdue, soften, damp, attemper, deaden, tone down, tame, shade, blend, mingle, mix, anneal, chill, harden, alloy

(v. t.)
To moisten to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly, as clay for making brick, loam for molding, etc.
  

(v. t.)
To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm.
  

(v. t.)
To govern; to manage.
  

(v. t.)
To fit together; to adjust; to accomodate.
  

(v. t.)
To bring to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.
  

(v. t.)
To adjust, as the mathematical scale to the actual scale, or to that in actual use.
  

(v. i.)
To have or get a proper or desired state or quality; to grow soft and pliable.
  

(v. i.)
To accord; to agree; to act and think in conformity.
  

(n.)
The state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; due mixture of different qualities; just combination; as, the temper of mortar.
  

(n.)
The state of a metal or other substance, especially as to its hardness, produced by some process of heating or cooling; as, the temper of iron or steel.
  

(n.)
Milk of lime, or other substance, employed in the process formerly used to clarify sugar.
  

(n.)
Middle state or course; mean; medium.
  

(n.)
Heat of mind or passion; irritation; proneness to anger; -- in a reproachful sense.
  

(n.)
Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind, particularly with regard to the passions and affections; as, a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper.
  

(n.)
Constitution of body; temperament; in old writers, the mixture or relative proportion of the four humors, blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy.
  

(n.)
Calmness of mind; moderation; equanimity; composure; as, to keep one's temper.