temper

• n. 脾气；（钢等）回火；性情；倾向
• vt. 使回火；锻炼；调和；使缓和
• vi. 回火；调和

来自 temper,调和。在中世纪医学理论特指人体内的四种体液的组合或融合，即血液，黏液， 胆汁液，黑胆汁，这四种体液的组合决定了人的脾性和性情，因而引申诸相关词义。词义火 气缩写自 bad temper.更多参照 humor 词源。

来自拉丁语 temperare,调节，管控，掌握火候，把控时间，来自 tempus,时间，词源同 temporal. 比喻用法，即掌握好时间。

1. a sudden outburst of anger;

"his temper sparked like damp firewood"

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"

3. a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger;

"his temper was well known to all his employees"

4. the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

temper

temper: [OE] The verb temper was borrowed into Old English from Latin temperāre ‘mix, blend’. This seems originally to have meant ‘mix in due proportion’, and so may have been derived from Latin tempus ‘time, due time’ (source of English temporary). The noun temper was derived from the verb in the 14th century in the sense ‘mixture of elements’, and this led on in the 17th century to ‘set of mental traits’ (a meaning that has now largely passed to the derivative temperament [15]).

The modern sense ‘ill humour’ emerged from this in the 19th century. Another meaning of Latin temperāre was ‘restrain oneself’, which has come through into the derivatives temperance [14] and temperate [14]. Other relatives include distemper and temperature. Tamper probably originated as an alteration of temper.
=> distemper, tamper, tempera, temperature

temper (v.)

late Old English temprian "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits," from Latin temperare "observe proper measure, be moderate, restrain oneself," also transitive, "mix correctly, mix in due proportion; regulate, rule, govern, manage," usually described as from tempus "time, season" (see temporal), with a sense of "proper time or season." Meaning "to make (steel) hard and elastic" is from late 14c. Sense of "to tune the pitch of a musical instrument" is recorded from c. 1300. Related: Tempered; tempering.

temper (n.)

late 14c., "due proportion of elements or qualities," from temper (v.). The sense of "characteristic state of mind, inclination, disposition" is first recorded 1590s; that of "calm state of mind, tranquility" in c. 1600; and that of "angry state of mind" (for bad temper) in 1828. Meaning "degree of hardness and resiliency in steel" is from late 15c.

temper, character, nature, personality, disposition, complexion

这些名词均有"性格，气质，性情，习性"之意。

temper： 指从感情方面体现出来，决定处理问题或应付形势的方式的性格或性情，这种性情可以是暂时的也可以长久的。

character： 指对个性或人格所作出的客观评价，常常与道德有关。

nature： 指天生的、不可改变性格。

personality： 主要指一个人稳定的心理特征。

disposition： 书面用词，指人的主要爱好或思想、精神方面的重要习性、气质。也可指短暂的情绪。

complexion： 指由思维方式、态度和情绪所决定的本质特征。

He had a terrible temper, and once threatened to kill another child.

出自-2015年12月听力原文

She cannot stand her boss's bad temper.

出自-2010年12月听力原文

a violent/short/quick, etc. temper

烈性子、急性子、火性子等

牛津词典

He must learn to control his temper .

他得学会捺住性子。

牛津词典

She broke the plates in a fit of temper .

她一气之下把盘子摔碎了。

牛津词典

After an hour of waiting, tempers began to fray (= people began to get angry) .

等了一个小时后，大伙儿开始冒火了。

牛津词典

to fly into a temper

勃然大怒

牛津词典

She says awful things when she's in a temper .

她一发脾气说话就难听。

牛津词典

Come back when you're in a better temper.

心情好些时再回来。

牛津词典

to be in a bad, foul, etc. temper

心情不好、很坏等

牛津词典

good-/bad-tempered

脾气好 / 坏

牛津词典

a sweet-tempered child

性情温和的小孩

牛津词典

She lost her temper with a customer and shouted at him.

她对一位顾客发了脾气，冲着人家大喊大叫。

牛津词典

I struggle to keep my temper with the kids when they misbehave.

孩子们淘气时，我强捺住性子不发脾气。

牛津词典

Justice must be tempered with mercy.

法外尚需施恩。

牛津词典

He had a temper and could be nasty...

他脾气不大好，有时凶得很。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

His short temper had become notorious...

他的臭脾气是出了名的。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I was in a bad temper last night...

昨晚我心情不好。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He was in a very good temper...

他当时心情非常好。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

For others, especially the young and foolish, the state will temper justice with mercy...

对待其他人时，尤其是年轻人和愚蠢的人，国家会刚柔并济。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.

他得学着给自己的热情降温。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

She was still in a temper when Colin arrived...

科林到的时候，她气还没有消。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

When I try to explain how I feel he just flies into a temper.

我刚要解释我心里是怎么想的，他就勃然大怒。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I've never seen him get cross or lose his temper...

我从未见过他生气或者发火。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I lost my temper and banged my book down on the desk.

我大发雷霆，把书砰地往课桌上一摔。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children.

他发火了,暴躁地斥责孩子们.

《简明英汉词典》

He has a savage temper.

他脾气粗暴.

《现代英汉综合大词典》