temperament

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For the temperament is the man; the thing tricked out with clothes and named Man is merely its Shadow, nothing more.

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Definitions (20)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person: a nervous temperament. See Synonyms at disposition.
  2. noun The distinguishing mental and physical characteristics of a human according to medieval physiology, resulting from dominance of one of the four humors.
  3. noun Excessive irritability or sensitiveness: an actor with too much temperament.

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Examples (50)

  • He speaks of her affectionately as “Cosette” and “Cosimette.” Like his own, her temperament was artistic and responsive, and she also inherited his charm of manner and his exquisite tact, which, if anything, her early bringing up in Paris enhanced. —  The Loves of Great Composers
  • And so I think his steadiness, his temperament has been the dramatic theme of this campaign, dramatic in being undramatic. —  The Corner
  • For the temperament which is so plain in the best of his writings must have been present in his life--an unobtrusive, because a never directly implied, superiority and an ironical humour. —  The Comedies of William Congreve Volume 1 [of 2]
  • The half-hysterical persons who class themselves among the possessors of this temperament are apt to overlook that important distinction Mademoiselle Sophie" gained none of her courage from insensitiveness. —  The Idler Magazine, Vol III. May 1893 An Illustrated Monthly
  • Whether the temperament is a blessing or a curse largely depends upon the health of the artist. —  The Idler Magazine, Vol III. May 1893 An Illustrated Monthly
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

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Used in the same contextWord Family

temperament:   temperaments
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Latin temperāmentum, from temperāre, to temper; see temper.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from French tempérament = Spanish Portuguese Italian temperamento, from Latin temperamentum, due proportion, proper measure, from temperare, modify, proportion: see temper.
  2. from temperament, n.
 

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/ˈtɛmpərəmənt/
by American Heritage

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