Attemperance

/əˈtɛmpərəns/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being attempered; moderation or regulation; the act of adjusting or moderating.

Etymology

From attemper + -ance suffix (similar formation to 'temperance'). This rare variant emphasizes the process of adjustment rather than the quality of moderation.

Kelly Says

This word is basically the neglected sibling of 'temperance'—they mean similar things, but 'temperance' (meaning moderation/sobriety) won the language game, leaving 'attemperance' stranded in old medical and philosophical texts.

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