(a) To be mixed (with sth.); combine (ingredients), blend (a mixture of ingredients); also, be mixed with (sth.) [quot. c1400 Why werre]; ~ (al) togeder, ~ up; (b) ~ with, to mix (sth.) with (sth. else), blend (a mixture) with (sth.); also fig.; ~ up with; wel tempred with, of the law: well blended with (love); (c) to bring (a mixture of substances or a medicinal preparation) to a proper consistency by mixing or being mixed; bring (a medicinal ingredient or mixture) to a proper consistency by mixing (with sth.); ~ togeder, ~ up; ~ thikke, ~ as thikke as honi; ppl. tempred, of a medicinal ingredient: ?prepared (to a proper consistency) by mixing (with sth.); of thick milk: diluted (with water); tempred glaire, whites of eggs, usually beaten, used as a binding medium; (d) to bring (clay) to a proper consistency by the admixture of a liquid; bring (lime, plaster, etc.) to a proper consistency by mixing (with a liquid); mix (blood with mortar); (e) to prepare (a pigment) by blending or mixing with a binding agent; mix (a pigment with a binding agent); ~ up; ppl. tempred, of pigment: mixed with a binding agent.

(a) To soften (sth.); break up or soften (sth. with a liquid); soften or dissolve (sth. in a liquid); also, make (hogs' flesh) tender; ppl. tempringe, softening something; ppl. tempred, softened by mixing (with sth.); of wax: softened; (b) to moisten (sth.); wet or moisten (sth. with a liquid); also fig.; also, soak or steep (medicinal ingredients in a liquid); of saliva: moisten (the dryness of ingested food); ppl. tempred, of a medicated roll or pledget: soaked (in an oil); (c) to impart moisture to (the earth), moisten; ppl. tempred, of soil: ?moistened; (d) to soften (someone's heart), weaken.

(a) To calm (an angry person), soothe; moderate (harshness), assuage (wrath); alleviate (sorrow, suffering, etc.), mitigate (the horror of death); also, modulate (righteousness, mercy, etc.), temper; (b) to moderate (a penance), lighten (a punishment); (c) to moderate or assuage the excessiveness of bodily qualities or pathological conditions [quots. a1398, 232b/b & 234b/b]; moderate (the intensity of heat or cold, excessiveness or strength of primary elements, etc.); moderate (excessive qualities of bodily organs or components); reduce the heat generated in (a bodily organ); also fig.; ~ from, fig. ?bring about moderation in (the mind) from (the fervor of sin); (d) to restore (a morbid humor) to a normal or proper level or condition; bring the fat in (a hawk) to a normal level; (e) ppl. tempred as adj., of flesh: moderate or intermediate between softness and hardness; of heat: moderate; of the nature of a medicinal ingredient: intermediate between extreme degrees with respect to the qualities; ?also, as adv.: moderately [quot. ?a1450]; wel tempred, having the proper blend of qualities;— used fig.; (f) ppl. tempringe, of a medicinal ingredient: ?mild, gentle.

(a) To restrain (one's flesh, passion, etc.); curb (one's flesh from wine); also, measure (one's words or speech); (b) refl. to restrain oneself, exercise moderation; control oneself emotionally; restrain oneself (from sth.); (c) ppl. tempred, observing moderation (in eating, drinking, etc.); self-controlled; also, of one's life: characterized by moderation; queinte (sad, wel) tempred; (d) to exercise moderation in assigning (duties or labors), maintain (matters) in a measured state.

(a) To subdue (a people), curb (the wicked); (b) refl. to subject oneself (to sb.); submit oneself (to do sth.); ppl. tempringe, obedient, submissive.

(a) To regulate the temperature of (a bath); adjust (the quantity or quality of medication); of the epiglottis: control the flow of (air); (b) to maneuver or guide (siege engines) against a target; (c) to govern (one's heart or temperament); have control of (the quantity of love); regulate (sth. with sth. else), control; also, steer (the tongue toward truth or to say sth.); (d) of God: to determine (fate or destiny); mete out (tribulation, teaching, etc.), apportion, dispense; (e) to modify (a view, method, etc.); ppl. tempred, modified; (f) to cause (one's soul) to conform (to God's will); cause (God) to conform (to one's will).

(a) To tune a musical instrument (in a certain way); adjust (a musical instrument, the strings of an instrument), tune; also fig.; ppl. tempred as adj., of a musical instrument: properly tuned; (b) to harmonize (noises, songs).

(a) Of an element: to maintain a proper balance with (the other elements); (b) physiol. to provide a proper balance of the humors or qualities to (a bodily part or fluid, the constitution or complexion of a bodily part); evenest and best tempred, having the most balanced complexion or constitution; wel tempred, with the qualities in proper balance; (c) of God: to constitute (the body) in a condition in which the parts are in proper balance; (d) ?to make a balanced judgment or an estimate of (sth.).

(a) To work (metal or glass) to a proper degree of hardness and elasticity; cause (metal) to be malleable, forge; temper (ironware, arrow heads); of metal: undergo tempering [last quot.]; ppl. tempred, of steel: hardened by tempering; (b) ?to fashion (wood or stone) to a suitable or proper condition for building; (c) to strengthen (a quality), fortify; (d) ?to sharpen (one's wits), ?refresh.

In misc. senses: (a) to prepare (the gravy for roasted meat); ?concoct (poison); also, ?prepare (one's diet);—used fig.; (b) to coat (a mirror with tin as a backing); ppl. tempred, of bricks or tiles: bonded (with bitumen); (c) to plan (sth.), plot; (d) ?error for tempten v.