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contemperare

to balance; to reconcile

verb kon-tem-peh-RAH-reh Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: From Latin contemperare ('to mix in due proportion'), from con- + temperare ('to temper').

Also means

to temper

Usage Note

Contemperare is a formal, juridical, and administrative verb meaning to reconcile competing interests or requirements: contemperare le esigenze di tutti (to balance everyone's needs). It is rarely used in everyday speech and is most common in legal texts, political discourse, and formal writing. It takes avere as its auxiliary.

Examples

"La legge deve contemperare libertà e sicurezza."

Natural Translation

The law must balance freedom and security.

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