Etymology dictionary

teetotaler (n.) — temporality (n.)

teetotaler (n.)

also teetotaller, "one who formally pledges to entire abstinence from intoxicating drink," 1834, agent noun from teetotal (q.v.). Related: Teetotaleress (1834); teetotalist (1840).

"small dreidel-like toy or device like a spinning top, with a letter on each of its four sides indicating the outcome for the player who spins it," 1700, originally T-totum, from T + Latin totum "all, the whole" (see total (adj.)).

T was the letter on it that indicated totum, and if it turns up the player takes everything in the pot. The T tends to be interpreted in English as representing take (v.). Other letters noted as being on the English version were H for take half (of the stake); N for nothing; P for put down a stake equal to what was originally placed.

tefillin (n.)

1610s, "Jewish phylacteries or the texts inscribed on them," from Rabbinical Hebrew t'phillim, plural of t'phillah "prayer."

Teflon (n.)

commercially important synthetic polymer, 1945, a proprietary name registered in U.S. by du Pont, from syllables found in the chemical name (poly)te(tra)fl(uoroethylene) + arbitrary ending -on. Marketed as a coating of non-stick pans from 1960s. The metaphoric extension, especially in reference to U.S. President Ronald Reagan, is attested by 1983 (Aug. 2, speech in House of Representatives by Rep. Pat Schroeder, D-Colo.).

teg (n.)

sheep in its second year, 1520s, a word of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish tacka "ewe"). Also formerly applied to a female fallow deer.

tegular (adj.)

"of or like a tile," 1796, from Latin tegula "tile" (see tile (n.)) + -ar. Related: Tegulated. Tegula itself was taken into English 19c. in various technical and scientific senses.

tegument (n.)

"a covering, a natural protection of the body or some part of it," mid-15c., from Latin tegumentum "a covering, a cover," from tegere "to cover" (from PIE root *(s)teg- "to cover"). Related: Tegumental; tegumentary.

Tehran

also Teheran, Iranian capital, said to mean "flat, level, lower," but sometimes derived from Old Persian teh "warm" + ran "place." Related: Teherani.

Tejano

"native or inhabitant of Texas," 1925, from American Spanish, formerly Texano "a Texan" (see Texas).

*teks-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to weave," also "to fabricate," especially with an ax, also "to make wicker or wattle fabric for (mud-covered) house walls."

It forms all or part of: architect; context; dachshund; polytechnic; pretext; subtle; technical; techno-; technology; tectonic; tete; text; textile; tiller (n.1) "bar to turn the rudder of a boat;" tissue; toil (n.2) "net, snare."

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit taksati "he fashions, constructs," taksan "carpenter;" Avestan taša "ax, hatchet," thwaxš- "be busy;" Old Persian taxš- "be active;" Latin texere "to weave, fabricate," tela "web, net, warp of a fabric;" Greek tekton "carpenter," tekhnē "art;" Old Church Slavonic tesla "ax, hatchet;" Lithuanian tašau, tašyti "to carve;" Old Irish tal "cooper's ax;" Old High German dahs, German Dachs "badger," literally "builder;" Hittite taksh- "to join, unite, build."

tektite (n.)

small roundish glass bodies, probably of meteoric origin, 1909, from German tektit (Suess, 1900), from Greek tektos "molten," from tekein "to melt."

telaesthesia (n.)

"telepathy, perception at a distance," 1882, a word in Latin form from Greek elements; for first, see tele-; second is from Greek aisthēsis "feeling" (from PIE root *au- "to perceive"). For the abstract noun ending, see -ia.

Telamon

in Greek mythology, father of Great Ajax, brother of Peleus, Greek Telamōn, from Greek telamōn "broad strap for bearing something," in architecture, "a column, base of a column" (ultimately from PIE root *tele- "to bear, carry"). So the name is, etymologically, "the Bearer;" Beekes speculates that the reference in the personal name was "perhaps originally the bearer of the vault of heaven." Compare Atlas, from the same root.

Hence the word sometimes in architecture for "figure of a man taking the place of a column" in supporting some surface or structure (1706).

telangiectasia (n.)

in anatomy, "dilation of small vessels," 1831, Modern Latin, from Greek telos "end" (see telos), + angeion "vessel" (see angio-), + ektasis "a stretching out, extension, dilation," from ek (see ex-) + tasis "a stretching, tension, intensity" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch") + abstract noun ending -ia. Related: Telangiectasis; telangiectatic.

telar (adj.)

"having the character of a web or tissue," 1640s, with -ar + Latin tela "web, warp; loom" (from PIE *teks-la-, from root *teks- "to weave," also "to fabricate"). Latin tela also was taken into English in scientific senses relating to tissues of the body.

tele-

before vowels properly tel-, word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "far, far off, operating over distance," from Greek tēle "far off, afar, at or to a distance," related to teleos (genitive telos) "end, goal, completion, result" (from PIE root *kwel- (2) "far" in space or time).

The element also could mean "telegraph" by mid-19c. (teleprinter); "telephone" by late 19c. (telecopier), "television" by 1928 (tele-talkie, "motion picture broadcast by television"); and "by electronic means" by 1981 (teleshopping, originally hypothetical).

telecast (n.)

"act of broadcasting by television; a program so broadcast," by 1937, from tele- "television" + ending from broadcast (n.). The verb is recorded from 1940. Related: Telecasting.

telecom (n.)

abbreviation of telecommunication, attested by 1963.

telecommunication (n.)

"communication over long distance by electrical means," 1932, from French télécommunication (see tele- + communication). Related: Telecommunications.

telecommute (v.)

"work an office job from home by means of phone connections, data links, etc.," by 1974 (as a hypothetical experience), from tele- + commute (v.). Related: Telecommuted; telecommuter (by 1975). Compare telecommuting.

telecommuting (n.)

by 1975, as a hypothetical arrangement where an office job is done from home by means of electrical equipment; verbal noun from telecommute. It is said to have been coined by Jack Niles of USC.

teleconference (n.)

1952, originally a proprietary name, from tele- + conference. Not in common use until c. 1974.

telegenic (adj.)

1939, from tele- "television" + ending from photogenic.

telegony (n.)

supposed influence of a sire on the offspring of a female by a later sire, 1893, translating a German article; the word is Latinized from Greek tēle "far off" (from PIE root *kwel- (2) "far" in space or time) + -geneia "origin," from -genes "born" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget"). Related: Telegonic; telegonous.

telegram (n.)

"telegraphic dispatch, communication sent by telegraph," according to Bartlett's 1859 edition a coinage of E. Peshine Smith of Rochester, N.Y., from tele-, as in telegraph + -gram, and introduced in the Albany "Evening Journal" of April 6, 1852. Whoever coined it, the word was damned in the cradle by purists, some of whome pointed out that the correct formation would be telegrapheme.

Related: Telegrammic "of or pertaining to a telegram."

telegraph (v.)

"transmit (a speech, message, etc.) by means of a telegraph system," 1805, from telegraph (n.). Figurative meaning "signal one's intentions" is suggested by 1867; especially (by 1925) in boxing, "move in such a way as to indicate one's next blow," from which it was in general use by 1952. Related: Telegraphed; telegrapher; telegraphing.

telegraph (n.)

any apparatus for transmitting intelligible messages at a distance; 1794, originally in reference to a semaphore apparatus involving flags on poles (hence the Telegraph Hill neighborhoods in some cities), etymologically "that which writes at a distance," from French télégraphe, from télé- "far" (from Greek tēle-; see tele-) + -graphe (see -graphy).

The signaling device had been invented in France in 1791 by the brothers Chappe, who had called it tachygraphe, literally "that which writes fast," but the better name was suggested to them by French diplomat Comte André-François Miot de Mélito (1762-1841).

In 1797 the word first was applied to an experimental electric telegraph (designed by Dr. Don Francisco Salva at Barcelona); the practical version was developed 1830s by U.S. inventor Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872). The meaning "telegraphic message" is from 1821 (compare telegram). Related: Telegraphy.

telegraphic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a telegraph; communicated by telegraph," 1794, originally of semaphore, etc.; from telegraph (n.) + -ic. The electric telegraph sense is by 1823. Related: Telegraphically.

telegraphese (n.)

"severely condensed form of English (omitting articles, pronouns, auxiliary verbs, etc.) used to save expenses in writing telegraphs," which charged by the word, 1885, from telegraph (n.) + -ese. In early use sometimes also in jocular reference to the writing style in the London "Daily Telegraph," which was rather the reverse. Also compare cablese.

telegraphy (n.)

"art or skill of communicating by telegraphy," 1795, from telegraph + -y (1).

telekinesis (n.)

in spiritualism, "movement of an object produced without contact," 1890, said in early references to have been coined by Alexander N. Aksakof (1832-1903), Imperial Councilor to the Czar, in Modern Latin. It means, etymologically, "motion at a distance," from tele- + Greek kinēsis "movement, motion" (from PIE root *keie- "to set in motion"), and it translates German Fernwirkung. Related: Telekinetic.

Telemachus

son of Odysseus and Penelope; the name is a Latinized form of Greek Telemakhos, etymologically "fighting from afar," from tēle "from afar" (see tele-) + makhē "a battle, fight" (see -machy).

telemarketing (n.)

"marketing by telephone," usually implying cold-calling, 1970, from tele- "telephone" + marketing. Related: Telemarketer (by 1974), also tele-marketer.

telemeter (n.)

by 1860 in reference to a kind of rangefinder for surveying and artillery-firing, from French télémètre (1852), from télé- "far" (see tele-) + mètre "device or instrument for measuring" (see -meter).

The word was used later in the sense of "apparatus for recording meteorological observations, etc., electrically at a distance" (1891). It was re-coined by 1953 in reference to a pay-as-you-watch TV system with a coin box attached to the set, from tele- "television." Related: Telemetry "art of measuring distances by use of a telemeter" (1885).

teleo-

before vowels properly tele-, word-forming element of Greek origin used from late 19c. in forming scientific terms and meaning "perfect, complete," from Greek teleos "entire, perfect, complete," genitive of telos "end, goal, result" (see telos).

teleology (n.)

"study of final causes," 1740, from Modern Latin teleologia, coined 1728 by German philosopher Baron Christian von Wolff (1679-1754) from Greek teleos "entire, perfect, complete," genitive of telos "final end, completion, goal, result" (see telos), + -logia (see -logy). Related: Teleologist; teleological; teleologically.

telepathic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to telepathy," 1884, from telepathy + -ic. Related: Telepathically.

telepathy (n.)

"direct communication of one mind with another by extraordinary phenomena," 1882, coined (along with telæsthesia) by English psychologist Frederic Myers. Etymologically, "feeling from afar," from tele- + -pathy. The noun telepath (by 1889) apparently is a back-formation.

telepheme (n.)

proposed word for "telephonic message, news received by phone," 1882, from tele- "telephone" + -pheme, from Greek phēmē "speech, voice, utterance, a speaking" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say"). It did not succeed.

telephone (v.)

"communicate by telephone," 1878, from telephone (n.). Related: Telephoned; telephoning. In reference to a place, telephonable, "reachable by telephone," is from 1908.

telephonic (adj.)

1830, "pertaining to communication by sound over great distances," originally theoretical, from tele- + phonic. From 1834 in reference to the system of Sudré using musical sounds (see telephone), and from 1876 with reference to Bell's electrical invention. In these cases it can be taken as from telephone + -ic. Related: Telephonically.

telephone (n.)

1835, "system for conveying words to a distant point by means of musical notes," from French téléphone (c. 1830), from télé- "far" (see tele-) + phōnē "sound, voice" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say").

The system was devised in 1828 by French composer Jean-François Sudré (1787-1862); each tone played over several octaves represented a letter of the alphabet. It never proved practical. The word also was used in early 19c. in reference to other mechanisms, including "instrument similar to a foghorn for signaling from ship to ship" (1844).

The electrical communication apparatus was first described in modern form by Philip Reis (1861); it was developed by Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) and so called by him from 1876.

Telephone-book, listing local telephone subscribers and their numbers, is attested by 1880, telephone-number by 1882. Telephone-wire is from 1881. Telephone-table is by 1920.

Telephone-booth, in reference to call boxes with direct lines to police stations in big cities, is by 1883; telephone-box in the same sense is from 1880. By 1890 both were used of installations in businesses, banks, etc., for making private calls. Telephone-kiosk, generally more common in U.K., is attested by 1895.

telephony (n.)

1835, "a system of signaling by musical sounds;" from telephone (n.) in the oldest sense. It is attested from 1876 as "the operation or art of working an electric telephone;" see telephone (n.) + -y (4). Related: Telephonist.

telephoto (adj.)

also tele-photo, 1898, shortened form of telephotographic (1892), in reference to lenses introduced at that time to increase the magnification of photographs taken by a camera, from tele- + photographic.

teleportation (n.)

1931 as a term in psychics; by 1951 in science fiction; from tele- + ending of transportation. Apparently coined by Charles Fort (1874-1932).

teleport (v.)

1940, in reference to religious miracles, from tele- + ending from transport (v.). In the science fiction sense by 1957. Related: Teleported; teleporter; teleporting (1931).

teleprompter (n.)

"electric device displaying a speaker's script out of sight of cameras," 1951, originally a proprietary name in U.S., from tele- + prompter. The equivalent British proprietary name is Autocue.

telescope (n.)

"optical instrument by means of which distant objects appear nearer and larger," 1640s, from Italian telescopio (Galileo, 1611), and Modern Latin telescopium (Kepler, 1613), both from Greek tēleskopos "far-seeing," from tēle- "far" (from PIE root *kwel- (2) "far" in space or time) + -skopos "watcher" (from PIE root *spek- "to observe").

Said to have been coined by Prince Cesi, founder and head of the Roman Academy of the Lincei (Galileo was a member). Used in English in Latin form from 1619. The dim constellation Telescopium was added to the sky atlases by La Caille (1752).

telescope (v.)

"force together one inside the other" (in the manner of the sliding tubes of some telescopes), 1867, from telescope (n.). Related: Telescoped (1861); telescoping.

telescopic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a telescope; that can be seen with the aid of a telescope," 1705, from telescope (n.) + -ic. Related: Telescopical; telescopically.

telescopy (n.)

"art of constructing or using a telescope," by 1861, from telescope (n.) + -y (4).

Teletex (n.)

proprietary name for a computer data-sharing network, 1978; see Telex + text.

telethon (n.)

prolonged TV fundraiser, 1949, from tele- "television" + ending from marathon (see -athon). Milton Berle's celebrity-studded 16-hour television cancer fundraiser April 9, 1949, seems to have been the first so called.

Teletype (n.)

1904, trademark for a system of typewriters connected electronically, short for teletypewriter (1904), a form of telegraph in which the receiver prints messages in the manner of a typewriter, from tele- + typewriter. As a verb by 1924.

televangelist (n.)

"evangelist preacher with a television program," 1973, from tele(vision) + evangelist. Earliest usages are in reference to Rex Humbard (1919-2007). Television evangelist is attested from 1958.

television (n.)

1907, in reference to a theoretical system to transmit moving images over telegraph or telephone wires; formed in English or borrowed from French télévision; see tele- + vision.

Other proposals for the name of a then-hypothetical technology for sending pictures over distance were telephote (1880) and televista (1904). The successful technology was developed in the 1920s and '30s. Nativized in German as Fernsehen. Shortened form TV is from 1948; tee-vee by 1949. The meaning "a television set" is from 1941. Meaning "television as a medium" is from 1927. For consumers of it, televiewer (1935) and televisioner (1928) were tried.

televise (v.)

"transmit by television," by 1927, a back-formation from television, on model of other verbs from nouns ending in -vision (such as revise). Related: Televised; televising; televisable; televisual.

Telex

"a communication system of teletypewriters," 1932, from first elements of Teletype exchange.

telic (adj.)

"indicating purpose, noting a final end," 1835, in Biblical philology, from Latinized form of Greek telikos "final," from telos "end, goal, result" (see telos).

tell (v.)

Middle English tellen, "speak, talk, say; count, reckon," from Old English tellan "reckon, calculate, number, compute; consider, think, esteem, account" (past tense tealde, past participle teald), from Proto-Germanic *taljan "mention in order" (source also of Old Saxon tellian "tell," Old Norse telja "to count, number; to tell, say," Old Frisian tella "to count; to tell," Middle Dutch and Dutch tellen, Old Saxon talon "to count, reckon," Danish tale "to speak," Old High German zalon, German zählen "to count, reckon"), according to Watkins from PIE root *del- (2) "to count, reckon" (see tale).

The meaning "narrate, announce, relate" in English is from c. 1000; that of "make known by speech or writing, announce" is from early 12c. The meaning "discern so as to be able to say" is from late 14c. The sense of "reveal or disclose" is from c. 1400. The meaning "order (someone to do something)" is from 1590s.

In intransitive use, c. 1300 as "give an account;" 1530s as " tell tales, act as an informer, 'peach;' " 1650s as "talk, chat, gossip." To hear tell "hear reported" is from c. 1200. To tell off is from 1804 as "count off;" to tell (someone) off "reprimand" is from 1919, from the "speak" sense of the word.

The older "counting" sense is preserved in teller and phrases such as tell time "count the hours," all told "when all are counted." For sense evolution, compare French conter "to count," raconter "to recount;" Italian contare, Spanish contar "to count, recount, narrate;" German zählen "to count," erzählen "to recount, narrate." Klein also compares Hebrew saphar "he counted," sipper "he told."

tell (n.)

"mound, hill," by 1864, also in Middle Eastern place-names (Tel Aviv); from Arabic tall, related to Hebrew tel "mount, hill, heap." Compare Hebrew talul "lofty," Akkadian tillu "woman's breast."

telling (adj.)

"effective, having effect or force," 1852, past-participle adjective from tell (v.).

tellable (adj.)

late 15c., tellabyll, "able to be told, speakable, worth telling," see tell (v.) + -able.

tell-all (adj.)

of biographies, etc., "revelatory, tending to disclose details of private life," 1959, from the verbal phrase, which was used by 1910 in headlines, etc., for "tell all that one knows, reveal the details;" see tell (v.) + all.

teller (n.)

late 15c., "one who pays, receives, and counts money," an official government or institutional officer, agent noun from tell (v.) in its secondary sense of "count, enumerate," which is the primary sense of cognate words in many Germanic languages. By 19c. especially of bank clerks who pay or receive money. Related: Tellership.

The agent noun is attested earlier from the other sense of tell; "person who announces or narrates, one who states or communicates something" (late 14c., late 13c. as a surname), also "a preacher; one who talks freely."

telly (n.)

chiefly British English shortening of television, attested by 1942. "Billboard" headlines used tele by 1936 as a shortening of television.

telltale (n.)

also tell-tale, "discloser of secrets, one who officiously or heedlessly reveals the private affairs of others," 1540s, from the verbal phrase tell a tale "relate a false or exaggerated story" (mid-13c.); see tell (v.) + tale. As an adjective, "disposed to tell or reveal secrets," from 1570s. Tale-teller "informant" is from late 14c. An old colloquial word for it was tell-pye (1828; see pie (n.2)).

telluric (adj.)

1800, "containing or derived from tellurium;" 1835, "pertaining to or proceeding from the earth;" 1836, "pertaining to Earth as a planet." The last two senses are from Latin tellus, tellum (genitive telluris) "earth, the earth" (see tellurian). Also see -ic. Related: Tellurial.

tellurian (adj.)

"pertaining to or characteristic of the earth," 1846, from -ian + Latin tellus (genitive telluris) "earth, land, ground; the earth" (related to Tellus, Roman goddess of the earth), probably from PIE root *telho- "ground, floor" (source also of Sanskrit talam "plain, sole of the foot;" Greek telia "dice board;" Latvian telint "to spread out;" Lithuanian tils "bottom of a barge, flooring," patalas "bed;" Old Prussian tallus "floor;" Old Church Slavonic tilo "floor;" Russian potolok "ceiling;" Old Irish talam "earth;" Old Norse ilja, Middle Dutch dele "plank"). Or possibly from PIE *telh- "to bear."

As a noun, "inhabitant of Earth" (with reference to supposed inhabitants of other worlds) from 1847.

telluride (n.)

"compound of tellurium," 1849, from tellurium + -ide.

tellurium (n.)

metallic element, 1800, coined 1798 in Modern Latin by German chemist and mineralogist Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1743-1817) from Latin tellus (genitive telluris) "earth" (see tellurian). With metallic element ending -ium. Related: Tellurous.

telo-

word-forming element used from late 19c. in science and especially biology, from Greek telos "the end, limit, goal" (see telos).

telos (n.)

"ultimate object or aim," 1904, in biology, from Greek telos "the end, limit, goal, fulfillment, completion," from PIE *kwel-es-, suffixed form of root *kwel- (1) "revolve, move round; sojourn, dwell," perhaps via the notion of "turning point (of a race-course, a field)."

telophase (n.)

1895 in cytology, "final phase of mitosis," from Greek telo-, combining form of telos "the end, fulfillment, completion" (see telos) + phase (n.).

telson (n.)

1855, in zoology, "last section of the abdomen of a crustacean," from Greek telson "a limit, boundary, end of the field," where the plow is turned, a word of uncertain origin. (see tele-). Beekes finds "unsatisfactory" the derivation from the root of telos "the end, limit, goal, fulfillment, completion."

Telugu (n.)

Dravidian language of southern India, 1731, a native name of uncertain origin.

*tem-

also *temə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut."

It forms all or part of: anatomy; atom; contemplate; contemplation; diatom; dichotomy; -ectomy; entomolite; entomology; entomophagous; epitome; phlebotomy; temple (n.1) "building for worship;" tmesis; tome; -tomy; tonsorial; tonsure.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek temnein "to cut," tomos "volume, section of a book," originally "a section, piece cut off;" Old Church Slavonic tina "to cleave, split;" Middle Irish tamnaim "I cut off," Welsh tam "morsel."

temblor (n.)

"earthquake," 1876, in southwestern U.S., from American Spanish temblor "earthquake," from Spanish temblor, literally "a trembling," from temblar "to tremble," from Vulgar Latin *tremulare "to tremble, shiver, quake" (see tremble (v.)). Often italicized through 19c.

temerity (n.)

early 15c., temerite, "extreme venturesomeness, rashness, recklessness," from Old French temerite (14c.) and directly from Latin temeritatem (nominative temeritas) "blind chance, accident; rashness, indiscretion, foolhardiness," from temere "by chance, at random; indiscreetly, rashly, recklessly;" probably, etymologically, "blindly."

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *temsro- "dark" (adj.), source also of Sanskrit tamisra- "dark night," tamsrah "dark;" Avestan temah "darkness;" Middle Persian tar "darkness," tarig "dark;" Lithuanian tamsa "darkness," tamsus "dark;" Old Church Slavonic tima "darkness;" Old High German dinstar "dark," demar "twilight;" Old Irish temel "darkness."

The connecting notion would be "blindly, in darkness," hence "without foreseeing." Compare Latin tenebrio "dishonest person," apparently "person who operates in darkness" (see tenebrous).

temeration (n.)

"contamination, profanation," 1640s, from Latin temerationem (nominative temeratio) "a dishonoring or profaning," noun of action from past-participle stem of temerare "violate, pollute," etymologically "treat rashly," from temere "blindly, rashly, by chance" (see temerity).

temerous (adj.)

"heedless, rash, reckless," mid-15c., by analogy of other adjectives, from Latin temere "indiscreetly, rashly, by chance" (see temerity). Also compare temerarious. Other adjectives in the same sense included temerary (early 15c.), temeritous (1892)

temerarious (adj.)

"rash, reckless, heedless of consequences," 1530s, from Latin temerarius "rash, heedless, indiscreet; that happens by chance," from temere "blindly, rashly, by chance" (see temerity). Probably obsolete. Related: Temerariously; temerariousness.

Tempe

vale in Thessaly, celebrated by classical poets for its beauty, hence figurative of a beautiful place (1590s). The place name is Greek Tempē, contracted from Tempea. Related: Tempean.

temp

1886 as a noun, short for temperature. By 1909 as an adjective, American English, a shortened form of temporary (job, worker, etc.). As a noun in this sense by 1932; as a verb by 1973. Temp. "in the time of" is attested from 1650s, an abbreviation of Latin tempore. Related: Temped; temping.

temperate (adj.)

late 14c., of persons, "modest, forbearing, self-restrained, not swayed by passion" (translating Latin modestus); also, in reference to climates or seasons, "not liable to excessive heat or cold;" from Latin temperatus "restrained, regulated, limited, moderate, sober, calm, steady," past participle of temperare "to moderate, regulate" (see temper (v.)).

By early 15c. as "moderate with regard to indulgence." Related: Temperately; temperateness. Temperate zone, between the torrid and the frigid, is attested from 1550s. To go with temper (n.) in the recent sense of "short temper, disposition to give way to anger," tempersome (1875) and tempery (1905) have been tried.

temper (v.)

"mix or work up into proper condition, adjust or restore to proper proportions;" Middle English temperen, from late Old English temprian "to moderate by mixture, bring to a proper or suitable state, modify (some excessive quality), restrain within due limits," from Latin temperare "observe proper measure, be moderate, restrain oneself," also transitive, "mix correctly, mix in due proportion; regulate, rule, govern, manage."

This often is described as from Latin tempus "time, season" (see temporal (adj.1)), with a notion of "proper time or season." But as the root sense of tempus seems to be "stretch," the words in the "restrain, modify" sense might be from a semantic shift from "stretching" to "measuring" (compare temple (n.1)).

The meaning "make (steel) hard and elastic" is from late 14c. The sense of "tune the pitch of a musical instrument" is recorded from c. 1300. Related: Tempered; tempering.

temper (n.)

late 14c., "due proportion of elements or qualities," in reference to bodily humors, medicinal ingredients, etc., from temper (v.). Also "moderation, restraint," also "temperance" (early 15c.); "calm state of mind, tranquility" (c. 1600).

The sense of "characteristic state of mind, inclination, disposition" is attested by 1590s, based on the supposed effect of the humors in old physiology (compare temperament). The meaning "angry state of mind, disposition to give way to anger" (for bad temper) is by 1828. The meaning "degree of hardness and resiliency in steel" is attested from mid-15c.

temperance (n.)

mid-14c., temperaunce, "self-restraint, forbearance, moderation" (also a cardinal virtue), from Anglo-French temperaunce (mid-13c.), from Latin temperantia "moderation, sobriety, discretion, self-control," from temperans, present participle of temperare "to moderate" (see temper (v.)).

By late 14c. as "mildness, gentleness," also "observance of a balanced or moderated course of action" generally. Latin temperantia was used by Cicero to translate Greek sōphrosynē "moderation." In English, temperance was used to render Latin continentia or abstinentia, and by mid-16c. the English word was specifically used of moderation or restraint in drinking alcohol and eating; the narrower focus on "total abstinence from intoxicants" is from early 19c., when it arose as a social movement (compare teetotal). Related: Temperancy; temperant.

tempered (adj.)

"brought to desired hardness" (of metals, especially steel), 1650s, past-participle adjective from temper (v.). The meaning "toned down by admixture" also is from 1650s. In modern use in reference to music or musical instruments, "tuned to a particular temper," from 1727.

tempera (n.)

also tempra, method of painting (also called distemper), 1832, from Italian tempera (in phrase pingere a tempera), back-formation from temperare "mix (colors); temper," from Latin temperare "mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain oneself" (see temper (v.)).

temperament (n.)

late 14c., "proportioned mixture of elements;" also "action of moderating excessive quality or spirit," from Latin temperamentum "proper mixture, a mixing in due proportion," from temperare "mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain oneself" (see temper (v.)).

In old physiology and medicine, it referred to a proportionate combining of qualities (hot, cold, moist, dry) that determined the nature of an organism. Thus, by correspondence, also, "that combination of the four humors (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) that make up a person's characteristic disposition and manner of acting and feeling." The general sense of "habit of mind, natural disposition" is by 1821.

temperamental (adj.)

1640s, "of or pertaining to temperament," from temperament + -al (1); in the sense of "moody, having an erratic temper" it is recorded by 1907. Related: Temperamentally.

temperature (n.)

mid-15c., "fact of being tempered, proper proportion;" 1530s, "character or nature of a substance" as determined by the four qualities (hot, cold, mist, dry); from Latin temperatura "a tempering, moderation," from temperatus, past participle of temperare "to mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain oneself" (see temper (v.)).

The modern scientific sense of "degree of heat or cold" is by 1670 (Boyle), from Latin temperatura, which had been used in this sense by Galileo. As "the thermal element of weather" by 1820; in reference to the degree of heat of a living body, by 1876. The meaning "fever, high temperature" is attested by 1898.

tempest (n.)

"intense windstorm; violent strong wind accompanied by rain, snow, hail, etc.," late 13c., from Old French tempeste "storm; commotion, battle; epidemic, plague" (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *tempesta, from Latin tempestas "a storm, commotion; weather, season; occasion, time," which is related to tempus "time, season" (see temporal (adj.1)).

Latin sense evolution is from "period of time" to "period of weather," to "bad weather" to "storm." Words for "weather" originally were words for "time" in languages from Russia to Brittany.

The figurative sense of "violent commotion, flurry, excitement" in English is recorded from early 14c. The figurative tempest in a teapot "great disturbance over a small matter" is attested by 1818; the image is older in other forms, e.g. storm in a creambowl (1670s).

tempestuous (adj.)

late 14c., also tempestious, tempestous, "very strong, turbulent, rough with wind and storm," from Late Latin tempestuosus "stormy, turbulent," from Latin tempestas, tempestus "storm, commotion; weather, season; occasion, time," related to tempus "time, season" (see temporal (adj.1)).

For sense development, see tempest. The figurative sense is older in English; the literal sense is from c. 1500. Related: Tempestuously; tempestuousness.

From the Latin word in the "time, season" sense, early Modern English made tempestive "timely, seasonable" (c. 1600, from Latin tempestivus), which shortened, but did not improve, tempestivious (1570s).

temple (n.1)

[building for worship, edifice dedicated to the service of a deity or deities] Old English tempel, from Latin templum "piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, building for worship of a god," a word of uncertain signification.

It has been referred to PIE root *tem- "to cut," on the notion of "place reserved or cut out" [Watkins], or to a root *temp- "to stretch" [Klein, de Vaan], on the notion of "cleared (measured) space in front of an altar" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch;" compare temple (n.2)), the notion being perhaps the "stretched" string that marks off the ground. Compare Greek temenos "sacred area around a temple," literally "place cut off," from stem of temnein "to cut."

The figurative sense of "any place regarded as occupied by divine presence" was in Old English. Used of buildings for public Christian worship (especially for grand churches) from late 14c. Applied to Jewish synagogues from 1590s. In France, noted as the designation for Protestant churches, église being reserved for those of Catholics.

temple (n.2)

[flattened area on either side of the forehead], early 14c., from Old French temple "side of the forehead" (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *tempula (plural taken as fem. singular), from Latin tempora, plural of tempus (genitive temporis) "side of the forehead," generally accepted as having originally meant "the thin stretch of skin at the side of the forehead" and being from PIE *temp- "to stretch," an extension of root *ten- "to stretch." The sense development would be from "stretchings" to "stretched skin."

A similar notion seems to be at work in Old English ðunwange, Old Norse þunn-vangi, Old High German dunwangi "temple," literally "thin cheek." The less-likely guess associates the Latin word with tempus span "timely space" (for a mortal blow with a sword).

Templar (n.)

"member of the medieval religious/military order known as Knights Templars" (c.1118-1312), late 13c., templer (c. 1200 as a surname), from Anglo-French templer, Old French templier (c. 1200), from Medieval Latin templaris (mid-12c.). So called for their headquarters in a building near Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem (see temple (n.1)). Their distinguishing garb was a white mantle with a red cross.

template (n.)

1670s, templet, in building construction, "horizontal piece under a girder or beam," a word of uncertain origin, probably from French templet "weaver's stretcher," a diminutive of temple, which meant the same thing, from Latin templum "plank, rafter," also "consecrated place" (see temple (n.1)).

The meaning "pattern or gauge indicating the proper shape in a finished work" is recorded by 1819, in masonry; earlier in this sense as temple (1680s). The form was altered mid-19c., probably influenced by plate [Barnhart], but the pronunciation did not begin to shift until more recently (templet is still the primary entry for the word in Century Dictionary, 1895).

tempo (n.)

in music, "relative rapidity of rhythm," 1724, from Italian tempo, literally "time" (plural tempi), from Latin tempus "time, season, portion of time" (see temporal). Extended (non-musical) senses are attested by 1898.

temporality (n.)

late 14c., "temporal power," a sense now obsolete, from Late Latin temporalitas, from temporalis "of a time, but for a time" (see temporal (adj.1)). The meaning "relation to time, state of being in time" is from 1630s. Temporalty is attested from late 14c. as "worldly goods or concerns," from Old French temporalte.