dis·tem·per

1 [dis-tem-per]
noun
1.
Veterinary Pathology.
a.
Also called canine distemper. an infectious disease chiefly of young dogs, caused by an unidentified virus and characterized by lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting.
b.
Also called colt distemper, equine distemper, strangles. an infectious disease of horses, caused by the bacillus Streptococcus equi and characterized by catarrh of the upper air passages and the formation of pus in the submaxillary and other lymphatic glands.
c.
Also called cat distemper, feline agranulocytosis, feline distemper, feline infectious enteritis, feline panleukopenia. a usually fatal viral disease of cats, characterized by fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration.
2.
a deranged condition of mind or body; a disorder or disease: a feverish distemper.
3.
disorder or disturbance, especially of a political nature.
verb (used with object)
4.
Obsolete. to derange physically or mentally.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English distemp(e)ren, destempren (v.) (< Middle French destemprer) < Medieval Latin distemperāre, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + temperāre to temper

Related forms
dis·tem·pered·ly, adverb
dis·tem·pered·ness, noun
00:10
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to separate one thing from another thing
difference;condition of inequality
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

dis·tem·per

2 [dis-tem-per]
noun
1.
Art.
a.
a technique of decorative painting in which glue or gum is used as a binder or medium to achieve a mat surface and rapid drying.
b.
(formerly) the tempera technique.
2.
a painting executed by this method.
3.
British. whitewash; calcimine.
verb (used with object)
4.
to paint in distemper.
5.
British. to whitewash a wall, cottage, etc.; calcimine.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English distemperen (v.) (< Anglo-French distemprer) < Medieval Latin distemperāre to dissolve, dilute, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + temperāre to blend, temper

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To distemper
Collins
World English Dictionary
distemper1 (dɪsˈtɛmpə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  hard pad See also strangles any of various infectious diseases of animals, esp canine distemper, a highly contagious viral disease of dogs, characterized initially by high fever and a discharge from the nose and eyes
2.  archaic
 a.  a disease or disorder
 b.  disturbance
 c.  discontent
 
—vb
3.  archaic (tr) to disturb
 
[C14: from Late Latin distemperāre to derange the health of, from Latin dis-1 + temperāre to mix in correct proportions]

distemper2 (dɪsˈtɛmpə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a technique of painting in which the pigments are mixed with water, glue, size, etc, used for poster, mural, and scene painting
2.  the paint used in this technique or any of various water-based paints, including, in Britain, whitewash
 
—vb
3.  (tr) to mix (pigments) with water and size
4.  to paint (something) with distemper
 
[C14: from Medieval Latin distemperāre to soak, from Latin dis-1 + temperāre to mingle]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

distemper
late 14c. (v.), 1550s (n.), from L. distemperare "vex, make ill," lit. "upset the proper balance of bodily humors," from dis- "un-, not" + temperare "mingle in the proper proportion" (see temper). Related: Distempered.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

distemper dis·tem·per (dĭs-těm'pər)
n.

  1. An infectious viral disease occurring in dogs, characterized by loss of appetite, a catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting, partial paralysis, and sometimes death.

  2. A similar viral disease of cats characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea leading to dehydration, and sometimes death.

  3. Any of various similar mammalian diseases.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
distemper   (dĭs-těm'pər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. An infectious disease occurring especially in dogs, caused by the canine distemper virus of the genus Morbillivirus. It is characterized by loss of appetite, a discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting, fever, lethargy, partial paralysis caused by destruction of myelinated nerve tissue, and sometimes death.

  2. An infectious disease of cats caused by the feline panleukopenia virus of the genus Parvovirus, characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea leading to dehydration, and sometimes death.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Of course, in a era of high unemployment and economic distemper, keeping a low profile makes political sense.
After several years thus spent, his distemper having seized his vitals, he perceived his end to draw near.
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