Obtempered

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To be tempered or moderated in one's actions or emotions; to exercise restraint or control over something; to maintain a balanced and calm disposition in various situations
2. Having been modified or adjusted for improved qualities; showing the ability to adapt or withstand pressure while remaining stable; reflecting a state of composure amidst challenges
3. Characterizing a state of being adjusted or moderated; indicating a degree of balance or equilibrium in behavior; displaying a tranquil approach in the face of adversity

Etymology: "Obtempered" is the past tense of "obtemper," a verb meaning to comply with an order or command. The verb is a back-formation from "obtemperate," so the simpler verb came from the longer one rather than the other way around. The longer form is the older of the two, built on Latin roots that together convey the idea of tempering oneself to something placed before one. The core of "obtemperate" is the Latin "temperare," meaning to mix in due proportion, to moderate, or to regulate. Adding the prefix "ob-," meaning toward or in the face of, gives a sense of bending oneself to meet something. Over time, that physical idea of adjusting or yielding to a demand narrowed into the specific sense of submitting to authority, which is the meaning the word carries today.