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distempered

 - 8 dictionary results

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, esp. of a political nature.
–verb (used with object)
4. Obsolete. to derange physically or mentally.
Use distempered in a Sentence
Origin:
1300–50; ME distemp(e)ren, destempren (v.) (< MF destemprer) < ML distemperāre, equiv. to L dis- dis- 1 + temperāre to temper

Related forms:
dis⋅tem⋅pered⋅ly, adverb
dis⋅tem⋅pered⋅ness, noun

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; ME distemperen (v.) (< AF distemprer) < ML distemperāre to dissolve, dilute, equiv. to L dis- dis- 1 + temperāre to blend, temper
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To distempered
dis·tem·per 1   (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, fever, lethargy, partial paralysis caused by destruction of myelinated nerve tissue, and sometimes death. Also called canine distemper.

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

    3. Any of various similar mammalian diseases.

  2. An illness or disease; an ailment: "He died . . . of a broken heart, a distemper which kills many more than is generally imagined" (Henry Fielding).

  3. Ill humor; testiness.

  4. Disorder or disturbance, especially of a social or political nature.

tr.v.   dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers

  1. To put out of order.

  2. Archaic To unsettle; derange.


[From Middle English distemperen, to upset the balance of the humors, from Old French destemprer, to disturb, from Late Latin distemperāre : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin temperāre, to mix properly.]
dis·tem·per 2   (dĭs-těm'pər)   
n.  

    1. A process of painting in which pigments are mixed with water and a glue-size or casein binder, used for flat wall decoration or scenic and poster painting.

    2. The paint used in this process.

  2. A painting made by this process.

tr.v.   dis·tem·pered, dis·tem·per·ing, dis·tem·pers

  1. To mix (powdered pigments or colors) with water and size.

  2. To paint (a work) in distemper.


[Middle English distemperen, to dilute; see distemper1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

distemper 
c.1386 (v.), c.1555 (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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·tem·per
Pronunciation: dis-'tem-p&r
Function: noun
: a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals:as a : a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs that is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms and that is caused by amorbillivirus called also canine distemper b : STRANGLES c : PANLEUKOPENIA d : a severe frequently fatal infectious nasopharyngeal inflammation of rabbits
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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
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.
Cite This Source
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