Temperament

tem′pėr-a-ment, n. state with respect to the predominance of any quality: internal constitution or state: disposition, one of the peculiarities of physical and mental organisation which to a certain extent influence our thoughts and actions— choleric or bilious , lymphatic , nervous , sanguine : the adjustment of imperfect concords, so that the difference between two contiguous sounds is reduced to a minimum and the two appear identical—a system of compromise in the tuning of keyed instruments.— adj. Tempera men′tal .— adv. Tempera men′tally . [L. temper amentum — temperāre .]