Tem*pe"an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Temple, a valley in Thessaly,
celebrated by Greek poets on account of its beautiful scenery;
resembling Temple; hence, beautiful; delightful; charming.
Tem"per (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tempered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Tempering.] [AS. temprian or OF. temper, F. tempérer, and (in sense 3)
temper, L. temperare, akin to tempus time. Cf. Temporal, Distemper,
Tamper.] 1. To mingle in due proportion; to prepare by combining; to
modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient;
hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm.
Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy
itself could not have dictated a milder system.
Bancroft.
Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes
without you.
Otway.
But thy fire Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher.
Byron.
She [the Goddess of Justice] threw darkness and clouds about her, that
tempered the light into a thousand beautiful shades and colors.
Addison.