Now Obs. or rare. [ad. L. type *contemperātūr-a, f. contemperāre (see above); cf. temperature.] A blending or mingling together in proportion or harmony; the temperament or quality so produced, harmonious mixture.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 27. Their smell, which to the learned teacheth their contemperature.
1615. J. Stephens, Ess. & Char., Worthy Poet. By a sweet contemperature of Tune and Ditty, hee entices others to goodnesse.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Revelation Unrevealed, § 9. What an unimaginable commixture of subjects! what a contemperature of heaven and earth!
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1737), IX. ix. 270. Whether colour be a quality emergent from the different contemperature of the elements.
1888. S. Gilbert, in Advance (Chicago), 2 Feb., 65. Peculiarly fortunate in possessing the happiest combination and contemperature of qualities.
