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temperance

TEM-per-uhns · noun

LatinAnglo-NormanEnglish

Origin

Temperance comes through Anglo-Norman temperance from Latin temperantia, meaning moderation, sobriety, discretion, or self-control. That noun traces back to temperans, the present participle of temperare, 'to moderate.'

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Journey

Temperantia already carried the sense of moderation and self-control in Latin, and English temperance kept that core sense.

Related words

English temper comes from the same root, temperare, making it a close relative built straight from the same Latin verb.

More words

From Anglo-Norman

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