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

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

Other Word Forms

• temperately adverb
• temperateness noun
• nontemperate adjective
• nontemperately adverb
• nontemperateness noun
• pretemperate adjective
• pretemperately adverb
• untemperate adjective
• untemperately adverb
• untemperateness 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

The team found that its ancient relatives thrived for nearly 25 million years in lowland temperate rainforests, including those that once covered the Riversleigh region between 25 and 12 million years ago.

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His mind had no temperate zone: He was either possessed by a subject or not interested in it at all.

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They liked the area’s temperate climate and, obviously, the cost of living, and they were required to pay into the national insurance program for healthcare.

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Roughly 6 million common dolphins inhabit tropical and temperate waters worldwide, making them the most numerous members of the cetacean family, which includes whales and porpoises.

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House representative from Orange County, said that she was “pushing back on” the reporter’s implication that she needed to be more temperate politically.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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