English
temperance
Temperance comes from Latin temperantia ‘moderation, sobriety, discretion, self-control’, from temperans ‘tempering’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temp- ‘to stretch, string’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temp-‘to stretch, string’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tempos‘stretch’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperōas temperare, present participle‘to moderate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperans‘tempering’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperantia‘moderation, sobriety, discretion, self-control’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400temperance
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temp-‘to stretch, string’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tempos‘stretch’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperōas temperare, present participle‘to moderate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperans‘tempering’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperantia‘moderation, sobriety, discretion, self-control’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400temperance
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602same form
Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “[…] in the verie Torrent, Tempeſt, and (as I…”
Formed from temper + -ance
Proto-Indo-European *temp- ‘to stretch, string’
…
Latin tempus ‘time, fit season’
Latin temperō ‘(transitive) to divide or proportion duly, to…’
Old English ġetemprian ‘to temper, moderate’
Middle English temperen
English temper
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *temp- ‘to stretch, string’
antenna, temporal, contemplate, contemplation, templar, contemporaneous, 25 more
through Proto-Italic *tempos ‘stretch’
contemporary, temple, temporary, tense, template, tempo, matin, tempura, 20 more
through Latin temperō ‘to moderate’
Today it means
noun Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *temp- / temperance