temperature Look up temperature at Dictionary.com
1533, "fact of being tempered," also "character or nature of a substance," from L. temperatura "a tempering, moderation," from temperatus, pp. of temperare "to moderate" (see temper). Sense of "degree of heat or cold" first recorded 1670 (Boyle), from L. temperatura, used in this sense by Galileo. Meaning "fever, high temperature" is attested from 1898.