Obs. Also 4–6 -peraunce, 6 -praunce, atemperance. [a. OF. atemprance, f. atemprer: see ATTEMPER and -ANCE.]
1. Temperance, moderation.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 759. Attemperaunce, that holdith the mene in alle thinges.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 131. Of so noble attemperaunce, that she kepte her husbonde … oute of wrathe.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 60 a. These people handled the matter with more attempraunce.
2. = ATTEMPERAMENT.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vi. 144. Þis attemperaunce noryssiþ and brynggeþ furþe al þinge þat brediþ lyfe in þis worlde.
1555. Fardle Facions, I. ii. 33. Through the attemperaunce of that moysture and heate.
3. The blending or attuning of sounds, harmony.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. xii. 37. Of this science of musyque cometh alle attemperaunce.
4. Temperament, natural constitution.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vi. 138. As men were wont to demen or speken of complexiouns and attemperaunces of bodies. Ibid. Þe leche þat knoweþ þe manere and þe attemperaunce of heele and of maladie.
