tempered

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling
  2. verb harden by reheating and cooling in oil
  3. verb adjust the pitch (of pianos)

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

anneal, temper, normalize

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