distemper
1. dis.tem.per \dis-'tem-p*r\ vt [ME distempren, fr. LL distemperare to
temper badly, fr. L dis-)X + temperare to temper 1: to throw out of order
archaic 2: UNSETTLE, DERANGE
2. distemper \dis-'tem-p(*-)r*t\ n 1: bad humor or temper 2: a disordered
or abnormal bodily state usu. of a lower animal : as 2a: a highly
contagious virus disease esp. of dogs marked by fever and by r espiratory
and sometimes nervous symptoms 2b: STRANGLES 2c: PANLEUCOPENIA 2d: a
severe frequently fatal infectious nasopharyngeal inflammation of rab bits
3: political or social disorder - dis.tem.per.ate aj
3. distemper vt [ME distemperen, fr. MF destemprer, fr. L dis- + temperare]
obs 1: to dilute with or soak, steep, or dissolve in a liquid 2a: to mix
(ingredients) to produce distemper 2b: to paint in or with distemper
4. distemper n 1: a process of painting in which the pigments are mixed
with an emulsion o f egg yolk, with size, or with white of egg, or with
size only as a vehicle and which is usu. used for scene painting or mural
decoration 2a: the paint or the prepared ground used in the distemper
process 2b: a painting done in distemper 3: any of a number of paints
using water as a vehicle