temperate

[ tem-per-it, tem-prit ]

adjective

1. moderate or self-restrained; not extreme in opinion, statement, etc.:

   a temperate response to an insulting challenge.

   Synonyms: dispassionate, sober

2. moderate as regards indulgence of appetite or passion, especially in the use of alcoholic liquors.
3. not excessive in degree, as things, qualities, etc.
4. moderate in respect to temperature; not subject to prolonged extremes of hot or cold weather.
5. Microbiology. (of a virus) existing in infected host cells but rarely causing lysis.

temperate

/ ˈtɛmprɪt; ˈtɛmpərɪt /

adjective

1. having a climate intermediate between tropical and polar; moderate or mild in temperature
2. mild in quality or character; exhibiting temperance

temperate

/ tĕm′pər-ĭt /

1. Marked by moderate temperatures, weather, or climate.

Derived Forms

• ˈtemperately, adverb
• ˈtemperateness, noun

Other Words From

• temper·ate·ly adverb
• temper·ate·ness noun
• non·temper·ate adjective
• non·temper·ate·ly adverb
• non·temper·ate·ness noun
• pre·temper·ate adjective
• pre·temper·ate·ly adverb
• un·temper·ate adjective
• un·temper·ate·ly adverb
• un·temper·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of temperate¹

1350–1400; Middle English temperat < Latin temperātus, past participle of temperāre to exercise restraint, control. See temper, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of temperate¹

C14: from Latin temperātus

Synonym Study

See moderate.

Example Sentences

Houston, where I have been working as a consultant, hardly qualifies as one of the most physically attractive or temperate cities.

From The Daily Beast

Many Indians regard it as a quasi-mythical place, a land of lush hills, temperate climate, martial men, and handsome women.

From The Daily Beast

From a lazy young man about town, I had become active, energetic, temperate, and above all—oh, above all else—ambitious.

From The Daily Beast

Oregonians suffer through them in anticipation of the blissfully sunny and temperate summer.

From The Daily Beast

In conversation, he is no less articulate, but he is decidedly more temperate, cheerful, even conciliatory.

From The Daily Beast

The climate of those mountains is cold rather than temperate, and less healthful than sickly.

From Project Gutenberg

The same change occurs, though to a much smaller extent, in the soil in temperate climates.

From Project Gutenberg

He was of frugal and temperate habits, a wiry man at the height of his physical powers, with lean flanks and a deep chest.

From Project Gutenberg

While the tobacco of the tropics is the finest in flavor, the more temperate regions produce the finest and best colored leaf.

From Project Gutenberg

Doubtless the varieties grown in the tropics will be much finer than the varieties grown in a more temperate region.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agreeable
• balmy
• levelheaded
• mild
• pleasant
• restrained
• sober