temper

Your temper is the way you usually react emotionally, especially how easily you become angry. Everyone has one, but some people have a "short temper," which means they get upset quickly. If someone "loses their temper," they stop controlling their anger. You can also use the word for a person's usual mood, so a person may have a calm or cheerful temper. As a verb, "temper" means to soften or control something, or to heat and cool metal so it becomes stronger and less likely to break.

The word "temper" reaches beyond simple anger. At its core, it can describe a person's usual state of mind, especially the way they respond emotionally. It is often linked to anger, as in a "short temper," but it is not limited to rage alone.

You might say someone "lost their temper" when they reacted with sudden, uncontrolled anger, or describe a child as having a "fiery temper" if they are quick to shout or argue. On the other hand, a person with a calm temper stays steady and does not get upset easily. In this sense, the word is about more than whether someone gets angry. It also suggests how quickly that feeling rises and how strongly it takes over.

The word also has an important verb sense. To "temper" something is to soften, moderate, or bring it under control. You can temper criticism with kindness, or temper hope with caution. In metalwork, to temper steel means to heat and cool it in a controlled way so that it becomes harder, stronger, or less brittle. That practical idea of balance helps explain the broader meaning of the word.

Historically, "temper" comes from the Latin temperare, meaning "to mix" or "to moderate." That origin fits well: whether we are speaking about emotions, judgment, or metal, the word often carries the idea of balance, control, and measured force. So when you hear someone talk about "keeping their temper," the idea is not only avoiding anger, but holding their feelings in check.