Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

contemper

/kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: con-tem-per
IPA: /kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate or soften.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Though earth hath engroſſed the name yet water hath proved the ſmarteſt grave; which in forty dayes ſwallowed almoſt mankinde, and the living creation ; Fiſhes not wholly eſcaping, except the Salt Ocean were handſomely contempered by a mixture of the freſh Element."
"The antidotes […] have at leaſt allayed its bitterneſs, and contempered its malignity."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin contemperō, from con- + temperō (“to temper”). Compare contemperate.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: contemperō

Usage

Inflected Forms

contempers (present, singular) contempering (participle, present) contempered (participle, past) contempered (past)

Frequently Paired Words

contemperation contemperature temper

Rhymes With

temper temper temper distemper attemper

Questions

How do you pronounce contemper?: The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/.
What does contemper mean?: To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate or soften.
Where does contemper come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce contemper

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Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kənˈtɛmpə(ɹ)/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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