temperament
TEM-pruh-munt
/ˈtɛmprəmənt/
An animal's or person's innate nature, disposition, and emotional response pattern.
Focuses on inherent, genetically influenced personality traits rather than temporary moods.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'temperamentum', meaning a proper mixture of humors. Ancient physicians believed that a individual's balance of bodily fluids dictated emotional disposition.
Word relationships
- disposition: Disposition describes general mood patterns, while temperament implies inherited emotional tendencies.
- instability: Refers to erratic, unpredictable behavior rather than a balanced innate disposition.
Commonly confused with
- Mood: Mood is temporary and transient, while temperament is enduring and fundamental.
Word family
- temperamental (adjective): Prone to erratic mood changes or inherent behavior patterns.
Collocations
- even temperament
- temperament test
- calm temperament
Example sentences
- "Golden Retrievers are widely famous for their gentle and calm temperament." Breed selection advice
- "The trainer tested the dog's temperament under noisy working conditions." Working dog evaluation
Memory hook
TEMPERAMENT is the TEMPO of your personality. Innate nature balanced like a mix.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a temporary emotional state like anger or excitement.
Fun facts
- Official breed standards evaluate temperament just as strictly as physical appearance.
Related words
Explore more words
innate, maturation, extrovert, neurodivergent, idiosyncratic, reactive
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