English
tempura
Tempura comes from Portuguese tempero ‘seasoning’, from Latin temperāre ‘to mix, to temper’, 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 CEtempus‘a time’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*temposreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperāre‘to mix, to temper’
- Portuguesec. 1500–presenttemperar‘to season, to temper’
- Portuguese, derivedc. 1500–presenttempero‘seasoning’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009tempura
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 CEtempus‘a time’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*temposreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtemperāre‘to mix, to temper’
- Portuguesec. 1500–presenttemperar‘to season, to temper’
- Portuguese, derivedc. 1500–presenttempero‘seasoning’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009tempura
Earliest quotation: 2009, Tim Thornton, The Alternative Hero: “At last you spot a tempura stand. Not quite…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *temp- ‘to stretch, string’
antenna, contemplate, contemplation, templar, contemporaneously, 19 more
through Proto-Italic *tempos ‘stretch’
temperature, temporal, tamper, temperate, temperance, contemporaneous, tempera, 13 more
through Latin tempus ‘a time’
contemporary, temple, temporary, tense, temper, template, tempo, matin, tempestuous, 12 more
through Latin *tempos
Today it means
noun A Japanese dish made by deep-frying vegetables, seafood, or other foods in a light batter.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *temp- / tempura