English Dictionary

TEMPERAMENTAL

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does temperamental mean? 

TEMPERAMENTAL (adjective)
  The adjective TEMPERAMENTAL has 3 senses:

1. relating to or caused by temperamentplay

2. subject to sharply varying moodsplay

3. likely to perform unpredictablyplay

  Familiarity information: TEMPERAMENTAL used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


TEMPERAMENTAL (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or caused by temperament

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

temperamental peculiarities

Pertainym:

temperament (your usual mood)

Derivation:

temperament (your usual mood)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Subject to sharply varying moods

Synonyms:

moody; temperamental

Context example:

a temperamental opera singer

Similar:

emotional (of more than usual emotion)

Derivation:

temperament (excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability (especially when displayed openly))


Sense 3

Meaning:

Likely to perform unpredictably

Synonyms:

erratic; temperamental

Context example:

that beautiful but temperamental instrument the flute

Similar:

undependable; unreliable (not worthy of reliance or trust)


 Context examples 


The complex of all the attributes—behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental—that characterize a unique individual.

(Personality, NCI Thesaurus)

Both men had lost hope—Johnson, because of temperamental despondency; Leach, because he had beaten himself out in the vain struggle and was exhausted.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I am too classical, not enough up-to-date in the interpretative branches of science, and I can only plead the disadvantages of my education and a temperamental slothfulness that prevents me from doing the work.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Not that I—a confirmed and, as Furuseth phrased it, a temperamental idealist—was to be compelled; but that Wolf Larsen stormed the last strongholds of my faith with a vigour that received respect, while not accorded conviction.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time." (English proverb)

"The snake moves, erasing its tracks with its tail." (Albanian proverb)

"No one knows a son better than the father." (Chinese proverb)

"Be patient with a bad neighbor. Maybe he’ll leave or a disaster will take him out." (Egyptian proverb)



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