Middle English Dictionary Entry
temperāment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | temperāment n. Also temprament. |
| Etymology | L temperāmentum |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The action of moderating the excessive degree of a quality in a bodily component; the regulation of the vital spirit of the body; (b) a moderate or an intermediate level with respect to qualities; with ~, at a medium or intermediate degree with respect to a particular quality of a medicinal ingredient; (c) a restraint or moderation in the administration of justice.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)23a/a : Þe kepinge of þe kinde hete is a temperat indrawinge of coold aier & þe kepinge of..spiritus vitalis..Of þe temperament of þis spirit is þe spirit gendrid þat hatte animalis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)38b/a : Þe heed haþ somwhat of fleissche & þat is nedeful for þe temperament of bones & synewis lest to grete coolde of bone schulde greue þe tendirnes of þe brayne.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)111b/b : Gouernaunce preseruatif haþ 3 intensionz: la. is..complete with dewe administracioun of 5 þingez noȝt naturale & of 3 not necessarie which..ar annexed to hem as beþ aier, mete & drynke, &cetera declynyng to temperament.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)176b/a : Degre..in complexioned þingez is eleuacioun..of a qualite of any complexioun aboue temperament after hole distaunce þat is seid for þe 3 metez or merkez noȝt hole in euery degre.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/a : Glandez ar fruytez fri. wiþ temperament [Ch.(2): temperaunce], sic. in 2°, consolidatiue.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Litargirum is filth of lede..with temperament [Ch.(2): temperure], declining to siccite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178b/a : Nux indica is a fruyte ca. in primo, wiþ temperament [Ch.(2): temprynge] of siccite, whos oile conforteþ neruez.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)303 : Yiff the humour in qualite exceedith, Or heete or blood passe his temperament, In-to a fevere anoon a man it leedith.
c
- (1475) RParl.6.144b : To th'entent that..a dewe moderation and temperament be observed on every behalf, [etc.].
2.
(a) Physiol. The addition or mixture of a bodily humor to form a proportionate blend; also, the condition in which bodily humors or fluids are proportionately combined [last quot.]; (b) alch. ?the condition of proportionate balance of elements; also, a mixture with due balance of the qualities.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)22b/b : Þe vertu of appetite..drawiþ to þe lymes couenabil foode, as to þe fode of fleisch it drawith temperament of blood, to þe foode of þe brayn & of þe longes temperament of flewme.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68a/a : For passinge hete þe mater of þe childe schulde be distroyed & wastid, but it fongiþ temperament of wommannes blood þat haþ contrarie qualite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Ventynge of eyr comynge to spiritis is cause of amendement of hem & of clensinge & of purgacioun..lettynge humours þat þey be nouȝt I-brende, ffor eire I-drawe by þe longen to þe herte and by þe herte to al þe body ȝeueþ temprament þerto.
b
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)417 : Fyrste of elementtes make rotacion; In-to water thyne erthe torne..then the water makythe ayer..so in-to temperament is browte our stone, off naturs contrarius 4 be made i.
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)776 : Of hem thus comperat may goo A temperament note so thycke as ye body is And nother so thynne as ye water was.