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n. 1. Any of various infectious diseases of animals, especially: a. canine distemper. 2. An illness or disease; an ailment: "He died ... of a broken heart, a distemper which kills many more than is generally imagined" (Henry Fielding). 3. Ill humor; testiness. 4. Disorder or disturbance, especially of a social or political nature. tr.v. dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers 1. To put out of order. 2. Archaic To unsettle; derange. [From Middle English distemperen, to upset the balance of the humors, from Old French destemprer, to disturb, from Late Latin distemperāre : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin temperāre, to mix properly.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. 1. a. A process of painting in which pigments are mixed with water and a glue-size or casein binder, used for flat wall decoration or scenic and poster painting. b. The paint used in this process. 2. A painting made by this process. tr.v. dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers 1. To mix (powdered pigments or colors) with water and size. 2. To paint (a work) in distemper. [Middle English distemperen, to dilute; see DISTEMPER1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
