Where does “temperature” come from?
Temperature comes from Latin temperatura, derived from Latin tempero, which is rooted in Latin tempus meaning time, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European tempos and temp-.
temperature (English): A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with...
Definitions
- A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with...
Ancestry of “temperature”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | temperatura | due or proper measure, proportion, composition or... |
| 2 | Latin | temperō | to divide duly, qualify, temper, moderate |
| 3 | Latin | tempus | time, period, age; season; kairos, right time,... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | tempos | stretch |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | temp- | to extend, stretch, span; to stetch, string; to... |