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temperamentmore about temperament

temperament


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Temperament  \Tem"per*a*ment\,  n.  [L.  temperamentum  a  mixing  in 
  due  proportion,  proper  measure,  temperament:  cf  F. 
  temp['e]rament.  See  {Temper},  v.  t.] 
  1.  Internal  constitution;  state  with  respect  to  the  relative 
  proportion  of  different  qualities,  or  constituent  parts 
 
  The  common  law  .  .  .  has  reduced  the  kingdom  to  its 
  just  state  and  temperament.  --Sir  M.  Hale. 
 
  2.  Due  mixture  of  qualities;  a  condition  brought  about  by 
  mutual  compromises  or  concessions.  [Obs.] 
 
  However,  I  forejudge  not  any  probable  expedient,  any 
  temperament  that  can  be  found  in  things  of  this 
  nature,  so  disputable  on  their  side  --Milton. 
 
  3.  The  act  of  tempering  or  modifying;  adjustment,  as  of 
  clashing  rules  interests,  passions,  or  the  like  also 
  the  means  by  which  such  adjustment  is  effected. 
 
  Wholesome  temperaments  of  the  rashness  of  popular 
  assemblies.  --Sir  J. 
  Mackintosh. 
 
  4.  Condition  with  regard  to  heat  or  cold;  temperature.  [Obs.] 
 
  Bodies  are  denominated  ``hot''  and  ``cold''  in 
  proportion  to  the  present  temperament  of  that  part 
  of  our  body  to  which  they  are  applied.  --Locke. 
 
  5.  (Mus.)  A  system  of  compromises  in  the  tuning  of  organs, 
  pianofortes,  and  the  like  whereby  the  tones  generated 
  with  the  vibrations  of  a  ground  tone  are  mutually  modified 
  and  in  part  canceled,  until  their  number  reduced  to  the 
  actual  practicable  scale  of  twelve  tones  to  the  octave. 
  This  scale,  although  in  so  far  artificial,  is  yet  closely 
  suggestive  of  its  origin  in  nature,  and  this  system  of 
  tuning,  although  not  mathematically  true,  yet  satisfies 
  the  ear,  while  it  has  the  convenience  that  the  same  twelve 
  fixed  tones  answer  for  every  key  or  scale,  C[sharp] 
  becoming  identical  with  D[flat],  and  so  on 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  temperament 
  n  1:  your  usual  mood;  "he  has  a  happy  disposition"  [syn:  {disposition}] 
  2:  excessive  emotionalism  or  irritability  and  excitability 
  (especially  when  displayed  openly) 




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