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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CONTEMPER

v.t.[L., to mix or temper. See Temper. ] To moderate; to reduce to a lower degree by mixture with opposite or different qualities; to temper. The leaves qualify and contemper the heat.

CONTEMPERAMENT

n.Moderated or qualified degree; a degree of any quality reduced to that of another; temperament.

CONTEMPERATE

v.t.[See Contemper. ] To temper; to reduce the quality of, by mixing something opposite or different; to moderate.

CONTEMPERATION

n. 1. The act of reducing a quality by admixture of the contrary; the act of moderating or tempering.
2. Temperament; proportionate mixture; as the contemperament of humors in different bodies.
[Instead of these words, temper and temperament are now generally used. ]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

CONTEMPER

Con *tem "per, v. t. Etym: [L. contemperare, -temperatum; con- +temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate. ]

Defn: To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs. ] The antidotes... have allayed its bitterness and contempered its malignancy. Johnson.

CONTEMPERATE

Con *tem "per *ate, v. t. Etym: [See Contemper. ]

Defn: To temper; to moderate. [Obs. ] Moisten and contemperate the air. Sir T. Browne.

CONTEMPERATION

CONTEMPERATION Con *tem `per *a "tion, n.

1. The act of tempering or moderating. [Obs. ] Sir T. Browne.

2. Proportionate mixture or combination. "Contemperation of light and shade. " Boyle.

CONTEMPERATURE

CONTEMPERATURE Con *tem "per *a *ture, n.

Defn: The condition of being tempered; proportionate mixture; temperature. [Obs. ] The different contemperature of the elements. SDouth.