Temperings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A process involving the adjustment of a material's properties, especially in metallurgy or food; the act of moderating one's emotions or reactions; the state of a mixture being refined or altered for improved characteristics
2. The modification of metal's hardness through controlled heating and cooling, alongside emotional regulation for balanced behavior; the blending of ingredients to achieve a desired consistency; the refining of a mixture to enhance its form or function
3. The treatment that enhances or adjusts physical properties, emotional balance in interpersonal interactions, and the combination of elements to produce a desirable quality or effect

Etymology: "Temperings" is the plural of "tempering," so it is the form used when speaking of several acts or instances of the process. "Tempering" is itself the noun made from "temper," which in its older sense meant to bring something to a proper mixture or condition, as when metalworkers combined substances in the right proportions. The plural therefore refers to separate episodes of adjusting a material's qualities, such as repeated heat treatments applied to a blade.

Synonyms: adjustments, modifications