verb
temper
To make something less extreme or forceful.
She tempers her criticism with a few words of praise.
Etymology
The Latin verb concerns adjusting proportions. Tempering something reduces its excessive strength by bringing it into a more balanced condition.
More examples
- Cloud cover tempers the afternoon heat.
- The coach tempered expectations before the team's first game.
- We need to temper our enthusiasm with caution.
Forms
temper · tempers · tempered · tempering
moderation noun — The avoidance of extremes or excess.