temperance
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temperance¹
- /ˈtɛmp(ə)ɹ(ə)n(t)s/
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from Middle English temperaunce (“forbearance, restraint; moderation, temperateness; gentleness, modesty; action of achieving a compromise between two extremes; etc.”), from Anglo-Norman temperaunce, from Latin temperantia (“moderation, self-control, sobriety, temperance”), from temperantem + -ia (suffix forming abstract nouns). Temperantem is the accusative singular form of temperāns (“restrained, self-controlled”), the present participle of temperō (“to moderate, temper; to be moderate or temperate; to govern, manage; etc.”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- (“to cut”) or *temp-, *ten- (“to extend, stretch”). By surface analysis, temper (verb) + -ance (suffix forming nouns indicating conditions or states).
As regards noun sense 1.2 (“moderation in regard to the indulgence of natural appetites and passions”), in Biblical texts the word is generally used to translate Ancient Greek ἐγκρᾰ́τειᾰ (enkrắteiă, “mastery; self-control”).
The adjective is derived from the noun.
noun temperances · temperaunce
-
Moderation or self-control in any action; control of the desire to act emotionally; calmness; (countable) an instance of this.
[A]s to be gouerned by a maieſtrate flowing in ſcience ⁊ knowledge, ⁊ fayling of nobleneſſe, is both miſerable ⁊ troubleſome: ſo, it cannot but be intollerable to liue under yͤ controulment of him, to whom fortune hath geuen greatnes of place ⁊ birth, ⁊ grace ⁊ nature denied diſcreſſion ⁊ other temp
Similar: patience, sedateness · Opposite: intemperance
-
Restraint or self-control when made angry or frustrated; forbearance.
He gheſt his nature by his countenance, / And calmd his vvrath vvith goodly temperance.
Similar: patience, sedateness · Opposite: intemperance
-
moderation in regard to the indulgence of natural appetites and passions; moderate or restrained indulgence.
temperance in eating and drinking
Opposite: intemperance, gluttony, overindulgence
-
Moderation in the use of intoxicating substances; sobriety; specifically, complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages; teetotalism.
So having furniſhed our ſelves vvith neceſſary materials, and agreed upon ſome particular Rules, eſpecially of Temperance and Sobriety, by reaſon of the length of our intended Voyage, vve all vvent on board our Ship.
Opposite: intemperance, gluttony, overindulgence
-
Synonym of chastity (“abstinence from any sexual activity considered immoral”).
Similar: chastity · Opposite: intemperance, gluttony, overindulgence
-
The action of bringing to a temperate or moderate state.
[H]e [Marcus Aurelius] addyng to abundaunce of lernyng became therby a wonderfull and perfecte prince: beynge neyther by ſtudy withdrawen from affaires of the publike weale: nor by any buſynes⸝ vtterly pluckyd frome Philoſophy⸝ and other noble doctrynes⸝ by the whiche mutuall coniunction and iuſt te
Opposite: intemperance
-
Proper moderation between extreme or opposing qualities; (countable) an instance of this.
[L]ette theym take the counſayle of an honeſt and perfyte phiſytion, and no aduenture to myxte thynges togyther, without knowynge the temperaunce of them in degrees, […]
Opposite: intemperance
-
Temperature which is neither too cold nor too hot.
[T]his Iſland ſeeme to be deſert. […] It muſt needs be of ſubtle, tender, and delicate temperance.
Opposite: intemperance
adjective
- Advocating or practising complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. […] I wouldn't have any of the whisky, and they were angry with me at that. 'They're temperance down at the Point in these times,' they said, and then they all laughed; and that was wonderful too, their knowing about the Point.
Temperance²
Where it comes from
From temperance. A virtue name first used by Puritans in the 16th century.
proper noun
- A female given name from English.
- The fourteenth trump or major arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: moderation, sobriety, temper, self-control, abstinence, restraint, abstemiousness, frugality, reserve, forbearance, temperateness, continence, self-discipline, self-restraint, austerity, prudence
Translations
Every language
noun moderation or self-control in any action; control of the desire to act emotionally; an instance of this
| Español | temperancia, templanza |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 節制 sessei |
| 中文 | 節制 /节制 jiézhì |
| Français | tempérance, sobriété |
| Deutsch | Temperenz, Enthaltsamkeit, Mäßigung |
| Italiano | temperanza |
| Ελληνικά | εγκράτεια egkráteia |
| עברית | התנזרות hìtnāzrut, איפוק ipuk, מתינות mētìnut |
noun (habitual) moderation in regard to the indulgence of natural appetites and passions
| Español | templanza, temperancia |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 節制 sessei, 禁酒 kinshu |
| Français | sobriété |
| Deutsch | Mäßigung, Mäßigkeit im Alkoholgenuss |
| Română | cumpătare, sobrietate |
| Русский | сде́ржанность sdéržannostʹ, тре́звенность trézvennostʹ, уме́ренность umérennostʹ |
| עברית | מתינות mētìnut |
noun complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages — see also teetotalism
| 中文 | 戒酒 jièjiǔ |
|---|
name fourteenth trump or major arcana Tarot card
| Español | temperancia, templanza |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 절제 jeolje |
| 日本語 | 節制 sessei |
| Português | temperança |
| Français | tempérance |
| Deutsch | Mäßigkeit |
| Italiano | temperanza |
| עברית | מתינות mētìnut |
Talk about this word "temperance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/temperance. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. temperance. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/temperance "temperance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/temperance.Cite this
@misc{temperance_2026,
title = {temperance},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/temperance},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
