TEM'PERANCE, noun [Latin temperantia, from tempero.] 1. Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess. 2. Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion. He calm'd his wrath with goodly temperance [Unusual.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI