temperament etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: temperamentum, from temperare "to moderate, mix, blend"
  • Temperament is derived from the past participle of the Latin verb temperare, meaning "to mix in due proportion, to moderate, or to attune."

Meaning:

  • A person's characteristic combination of emotional reactions and behaviors.
  • The balance of humors or bodily fluids believed in ancient and medieval medicine to influence a person's temperament.

Origin:

  • The concept of temperament as a combination of humors can be traced back to ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), who believed that the human body was composed of four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. The relative proportions of these humors were thought to determine a person's physical and mental traits.
  • In medieval Europe, the humoral theory of temperament was popularized by Galen (129-210 CE), a Greek physician who refined Hippocrates' system and associated each humor with specific personality traits:
    • Sanguine: Blood-dominated, cheerful and sociable
    • Phlegmatic: Phlegm-dominated, calm and sluggish
    • Choleric: Yellow bile-dominated, hot-tempered and irritable
    • Melancholic: Black bile-dominated, sad and introspective
  • The humoral theory of temperament remained influential until the 18th century, when it began to be replaced by more scientific approaches to psychology. However, the concept of temperament as a fundamental aspect of personality persists to this day.

temperament relate terms

  • temper

    Etymology The word temper derives from the Latin word temperāre which means to mix

  • temporal

    Etymology The word temporal is derived from Latin temporalis which in turn comes fro

  • temple

    Etymology The English word temple is derived from the Latin word templum which in t

  • tempered

    Etymology The word tempered comes from the Middle English word temperen which itself

  • temper

    Etymology The word temper derives from the Latin word temperāre which means to mix

  • temper

    Etymology The word temper derives from the Latin word temperāre which means to mix

  • temperament

    Etymology Latin temperamentum from temperare to moderate mix blend Temperament is

  • temperamental

    Etymology From Latin temperamentum blend temperament from temperare to mix tem

  • temperament

    Etymology Latin temperamentum from temperare to moderate mix blend Temperament is

  • disposition

    Etymology Latin dispositio arrangement disposition From disponere to arrange d

  • mettle

    Etymology and Meaning Mettle originates from the Old French word metaille which origi

  • complexion

    Etymology From Late Latin complexio the nominative of complexionis a derivative of co

  • idiosyncrasy

    Etymology Greek idios one s own special synkrasis mixture blend Meaning

  • morale

    Etymology Old French moralité Latin moralis Indo European root mer to think pond

  • lymphatic

    Etymology The word lymphatic is derived from the Latin word lympha meaning water

  • stable

    Etymology The word stable comes from the Latin word stabilis meaning firm or stea

  • cheer

    Etymology The word cheer has its roots in the Middle English word chere which in tu

  • earth

    Etymology The word earth derives from the Old English word eorþe which itself is d

  • heart

    Etymology The word heart comes from the Old English word heorte which is related to