distemper (distemper)

[Also written destemper; = F. détrempe, distemper, water-colors, a painting in water-colors; from the verb.] 1. A method of painting in which the colors are mixed with any binding medium soluble in water, such as yolk of egg and an equal quantity quantity of water, yolk and white of egg beaten together and mixed with an equal quantity of togeth milk, fig-tree sap, vinegar, wine, wine, ox-gall, etc. Strictly speaking, distemper painting is painting in watercolor with a vehicle of which yolk of egg is the chief ingredient, upon a surface usually of wood or canvas, covered with a ground of chalk or plaster mixed with gum, this ground itself being frequently called distemper. See distemper - ground. If the glutinous medium is present in too great quantity, the colors will scale off when the painting is exposed to the air, so that they should be applied in thin layers and not be retouched until they are perfectly dry. They glued a linnen cloth upon the wall, and covered that with plaister, on which they painted in distemper . Walpole, Anecdotes of Painting, I. 44. This mode of painting [tempera), which is undoubtedly the most ancient, and which, in trade purposes, is called distemper painting, derives its name from the fact that the colours are "tempered" or mixed with some liquid or medium to bind their separate particles to each other and to the surface to which the paint is to be applied. Field's Grammar of Colouring (ed. Davidson), p. 160. 2. A pigment prepared for painting according to this method. There has also lately a curious fact been discovered, namely, that a couch of distemper , which covered the envelope of a mummy, was composed of plaister mixed with animal glue. W. B. S. Taylor, tr. of Mérimée's Painting in Oil and [Fresco, p. 218. Common distemper, a coarse method of painting used for walls or other rough or commercial purposes, in which the colored pigments are mixed with white, with the addition of gum or glue. - Distemper colors. See color . distemper an cet (dis-tem'per-ans), n. [ tempransa = Sp. destemplanza = Pg. destempe- rança = It. distemperanza , stemperanza , , perturbation, disturbance of condition, distemper an ( t- )s, ppr. of distempe- rare , distemper: see distemper1 , v .] 1. Intem- perance; self-indulgence. Chaucer .-2. In- temperatene ; inclemency; severity. Chau- cer.-3. Derangement of temperature. They [meats] annoye the body in causyng distemper Sir T. Elyot , Castle of Health, ii. Pardon a weak, distempered soul, that swells With sudden gusts, and sinks as soon in calms, The sport of pa ions. Add is on , Cato, i. 1. 4. Disordered; prejudiced; perverted: as, dis- tempered minds. The imagination, when completely distempered , is the most incurable of all disordered faculties. Buck minster . distempered ne (dis-tem'pėrd-nes), n. The state of being distempered. Bailey , 1727. distemper-ground (dis-tem'per-ground), n. A ground of chalk or plaster mixed with a glut i- nous medium, and laid on a surface of wood, plaster, etc., to prepare it for painting in dis- temper; or such a ground laid on without refer- ence to subsequent operations. See distemper2 , n., 1. There are, for instance, many pictures of Titian painted upon a red ground; generally, they are painted upon dis- temper grounds, made of plaster of Paris and glue. W. B. S. Taylor, tr. of Mérimée's Painting in Oil and [Fresco, p. 16. IMG:content-2884.jpg:[blocks in formation] If you shall judge his flame Dis temperately weake, as faulty much In stile, in plot, in spirit. IMG:content-2885.png:[blocks in formation] des temp rem ent, destrempement, a mixture, tem- per ament (also prob. a distempered state), = Pg. destemper a men to =It. distemper a men to , stem- per a men to , distemper amentum , a distem- pered state, distemper are , distemper: see dis- temper1, v.] Distempered state; distemper a- Then, as some sulphurous spirit sent By the torne air's distemper ment , To a rich palace, finds within Some sainted maid or Sheba queen. Feltham , Lusoria, xxiv. distemperuret, n. [ME., OF. destemprure , destrempure, temper: see distemper1 and -ure . Cf. distemperature .] Distemperature. Minsheu . distend (dis-tend'), v. [OF. des tendre, F. dis- tendre = It. distend ere , stendere , distend ere , pp. distent us , LL. distensus , stretch asunder, tendere , stretch: see tend1, tension. Cf. attend, contend, extend , etc.] I. trans. 1. To stretch or spread in all direc- tions; dilate; expand; swell out; enlarge: as, to distend a bladder; to distend the lungs. The effect of such a ma of garbage is to distend the stomach. J. C. Prichard, Phys. Hist. Mankind. How such ideas of the Almighty's power (Ideas not absurd) distend the thought! Young , Night Thoughts, ix. 2. To stretch in any direction; extend. [Rare.] Upon the earth my body I distend . What mean those colour'd streaks in heaven Distended, as the brow of God appeased? By his death he it recovered: But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized . Spenser, F. Q., IL. x. 44. distich (dis'tik), a. and n. [First, in E., as a noun; sometimes, as L., distich on ; early mod. E. also distick ; distich on , δίστιχον , α distich, neut. of δίστιχος , having two rows or verses, δι- , two-, + στίχος , a row, rank, line, verse: see stich .] I. a. Having two rows: same as distichous . 5. Confusion; commixture of contrarieties; lo 3. To widen; spread apart. [Rare.] of regularity; disorder.-6. Illne ; indisposi- tion. A huge infectious troop Of pale distemperatures , and foes to life. Shak., C. of E., v. 1. I found so great a distemperature in my body by drink- inflammation in my face. Coryat , Crudities, I. 96. II. in trans. To become distended; swell. And now his heart Milton , P. L., i. 572. distended (dis-ten'ded), p. a. [Pp. of dis- tend, v.] In entom ., dilated: as, distended tarsi. [Rare.] distender (dis-ten'der), n . One who or that which distends. IMG:content-2886.png:[graphic] His maister had mervell what it ded mene So sodenly to see hym in that case, All distemperyd and out of colour clene. O Sun, that healest all distempered vision, Thou dost content me so, when thou resolvest That doubting pleases me no le than knowing. IMG:content-2887.png:[blocks in formation] distensible (dis-ten'si-bl), a . [ distent us , pp. of distend ere , dis- tend (see distend ), + -ible .] Capable of being distended, dilated, or expanded. distension, n. See distention . distensive (dis-ten's iv), a . [= It. stensivo , distensus , later form of L. distent us , pp. of distend ere, distend: see distend .] 1. That may be distended.-2. Having the property of dis- tending; causing distention. Smart. distent (dis-tent'), a. and n. [L. distent us , pp. of distend ere , stretch asunder: see distend .] I. Is in his retirement, marvellous distempered . Once more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! The king, by me, requests your presence straight. Shak., K. John, iv. 3. Should I have heard dishonour spoke of you, Behind your back, untruly, I had been As much distemper'd and enrag'd as now. 3. Deprived of temper or moderation; immod- erate; intemperate: as, distempered zeal. A woman of the church of Weymouth being cast out for some distempered speeches, by a major party, her husband complained to the synod. IMG:content-2888.png:[blocks in formation] chodon. Müller and Troschel. Dist i chop or a (dis-ti- kop'ō-rä), n. [NL., δίστιχος , having two rows (see dis- tich ), + πόρος, α pore.] A genus of hydrocorallines, rep- resenting the family The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: The Century dictionary distichously