distemper

1 of 4

verb (1)

dis·​tem·​per dis-ˈtem-pər 

distempered; distempering; distempers

transitive verb

1

: to throw out of order

2

archaic : derange, unsettle

distemper

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: bad humor or temper

2

: a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals: such as

a

: a highly contagious virus disease of canines and especially of dogs that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Canine morbillivirus) and is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms

called also canine distemper

b

: strangles

c

: panleukopenia

3

: ailment, disorder

vice and folly are situated not in human nature … but in distempers of intellect

—George Stade

distemperate

dis-ˈtem-p(ə-)rət 

adjective

distemper

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a process of painting in which the pigments are mixed with an emulsion of egg yolk, with size, or with white of egg as a vehicle and which is used for painting scenery and murals

2

a

: the paint or the prepared ground used in the distemper process

b

: a painting done in distemper

3

: any of various water-based paints

distemper

4 of 4

verb (2)

distempered; distempering; distempers

transitive verb

: to paint in or with distemper

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• derail
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• unsettle
• upset
• weird out
• worry

Noun (1)

• affection
• ail
• ailment
• bug
• complaint
• complication
• condition
• disease
• disorder
• distemperature
• fever
• ill
• illness
• infirmity
• malady
• sickness
• trouble

Examples of distemper in a Sentence

Verb (1)

despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life

Noun (1)

contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What is distemper in dogs?Understanding the canine disease, symptoms and causes Where is Fat Bear Week held? —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024

Beyond parasites, unattended poop may also be contaminated with canine or feline viruses, such as parvovirus, distemper virus and canine coronavirus, that can create life-threatening disease in other dogs and cats, especially in adult animals that are unvaccinated and puppies and kittens. —Julia Wuerz, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2024

However, coyotes can contract rabies, distemper, parvo, heartworms and other diseases that can be passed to pets. —Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Axios, 12 Aug. 2024

Few distemper paintings on linen have survived from 15th century Europe, but this rare gem is from a four- or five-part altarpiece, with related panels housed at Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum and London’s National Gallery. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English distempren, distemperen "(in medieval physiology) to upset the proper balance of the humors, (of the body) be upset by improper balance of the humors, be diseased, (of a person) be indisposed, anger, (in medicine) to blend (two ingredients), dissolve, dilute, moisten," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French destemprer, destemperer, destremper "to mix together (ingredients, colors), prepare (a potion), moisten, cleanse" (also continental Old & Middle French, "to soften, dilute"), borrowed from Medieval Latin distemperāre "to affect (climate, the body) by disproportionate mixture, mix, soak," going back to Late Latin, "to mix (with another liquid), temper, mix badly," from Latin dis- dis- + temperāre "to bring to a proper strength by mixing" — more at temper entry 2

Noun (1)

probably in part noun derivative of distemper entry 1, in part from dis- + temper entry 1

Noun (2)

probably borrowed (with conformation to distemper entry 2) from Middle French destrempre "pigment prepared by the distemper process," noun derivative of destremper "to soften, dilute, prepare by mixing or diluting (a drink, mortar)," going back to Old French destemprer — more at distemper entry 1

Verb (2)

derivative of distemper entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1873, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing distemper

• canine distemper
• cat distemper
• feline distemper

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

distemper

noun

dis·​tem·​per

dis-ˈtem-pər

: a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs marked by fever and by respiratory and sometimes nervous symptoms

Medical Definition

distemper

noun

dis·​tem·​per dis-ˈtem-pər 

: a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals: as

a

: a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs that is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms and that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Canine morbillivirus)

called also canine distemper

b

: strangles

c

: panleukopenia

d

: a severe frequently fatal infectious nasopharyngeal inflammation of rabbits