distemper

1 of 4

verb (1)

dis·​tem·​per dis-ˈtem-pər How to pronounce distemper (audio)
distempered; distempering; distempers

transitive verb

1
: to throw out of order
2
archaic : derange, unsettle

distemper

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: bad humor or temper
2
: a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals: such as
a
: a highly contagious virus disease of canines and especially of dogs that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Canine morbillivirus) and is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms

called also canine distemper

b
3
: ailment, disorder
vice and folly are situated not in human nature … but in distempers of intellectGeorge Stade
distemperate adjective

distemper

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a process of painting in which the pigments are mixed with an emulsion of egg yolk, with size, or with white of egg as a vehicle and which is used for painting scenery and murals
2
a
: the paint or the prepared ground used in the distemper process
b
: a painting done in distemper
3
: any of various water-based paints

distemper

4 of 4

verb (2)

distempered; distempering; distempers

transitive verb

: to paint in or with distemper

Examples of distemper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection is offering free distemper vaccines for Arlington pet owners throughout March. Dallas News, 8 Mar. 2022 It may also have been born infertile and susceptible to a host of canine diseases, such as parvovirus, distemper, and brucellosis. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023 Booming populations of feral dogs feast on unclaimed carcasses, increasing the spread of brucellosis, distemper and rabies. William H. Funk, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2016 The affidavit said five of the dogs had no veterinary history, five had expired rabies/distemper vaccines exceeding two year and that four of the dogs had never received a rabies/distemper vaccine. Steven Goode, courant.com, 17 Aug. 2020 After nearing extinction amid an epidemic of distemper, the population has rebounded to about 2,000. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023 The population is largely healthy, though the Yellowstone wolves have suffered from diseases like distemper and a skin infection known as sarcoptic mange, which is transmitted by mites. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 And there was a recent distemper outbreak, which forced them to limit the amount of space available. Dallas News, 11 July 2022 The clinic will offer distemper and Bordetella for dogs, distemper for cats, and rabies vaccines for dogs, cat, and ferrets. Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distemper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English distempren, distemperen "(in medieval physiology) to upset the proper balance of the humors, (of the body) be upset by improper balance of the humors, be diseased, (of a person) be indisposed, anger, (in medicine) to blend (two ingredients), dissolve, dilute, moisten," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French destemprer, destemperer, destremper "to mix together (ingredients, colors), prepare (a potion), moisten, cleanse" (also continental Old & Middle French, "to soften, dilute"), borrowed from Medieval Latin distemperāre "to affect (climate, the body) by disproportionate mixture, mix, soak," going back to Late Latin, "to mix (with another liquid), temper, mix badly," from Latin dis- dis- + temperāre "to bring to a proper strength by mixing" — more at temper entry 2

Noun (1)

probably in part noun derivative of distemper entry 1, in part from dis- + temper entry 1

Noun (2)

probably borrowed (with conformation to distemper entry 2) from Middle French destrempre "pigment prepared by the distemper process," noun derivative of destremper "to soften, dilute, prepare by mixing or diluting (a drink, mortar)," going back to Old French destemprer — more at distemper entry 1

Verb (2)

derivative of distemper entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distemper was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near distemper

Cite this Entry

“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distemper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

distemper

noun
dis·​tem·​per
dis-ˈtem-pər
: a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs marked by fever and by respiratory and sometimes nervous symptoms

Medical Definition

distemper

noun
dis·​tem·​per dis-ˈtem-pər How to pronounce distemper (audio)
: a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals: as
a
: a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs that is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms and that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Canine morbillivirus)

called also canine distemper

b
d
: a severe frequently fatal infectious nasopharyngeal inflammation of rabbits

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