Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

contemperation

noun
plural -s

Definition of contemperation 

obsolete

: the act of contempering or state of being contempered : accommodation also : something that contempers : compromise

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for contemperation

Middle French, from Late Latin contemperation-, contemperatio, from Latin contemperatus (past participle of contemperare) + -ion-, -io -ion

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about contemperation

Share contemperation

Statistics for contemperation

Look-up Popularity

Comments on contemperation

What made you want to look up contemperation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

millefleur

having a pattern of small flowers

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games