The process of moderating, softening, or adjusting something to a proper balance or consistency.
From Old French 'attemper' meaning 'to mix in proper proportions,' derived from Latin 'attemperare' (ad- 'to' + temperare 'to mix, regulate'). The -ing suffix makes it a present participle or gerund form.
This word reveals how metallurgy and cooking share deep linguistic roots—both 'tempering' steel and 'tempering' chocolate involve precise heat adjustment, and they share the same Latin ancestor that originally meant 'mixing in right measure.'
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