Intemperate

 WORD OF THE DAY

intemperate / adjective / in-TEM-puh-rut

Definition
1: having extreme conditions
2: having or showing a lack of emotional calmness or control
3: given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors

Examples
"It is probably useful … for us to let our ideas flow with intemperate fervor on topics about which we care passionately."
— Jim Slusher, The Chicago Daily Herald, 2 Sept. 2021

Something more assertive is required: a crust that can stand up for itself, that holds without crumbling and can survive intemperate handling and a long, brisk walk.
— Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2021

Did You Know?
Intemperate means more or less "not well tempered"-and that definition also provides a clue about its origins.
The word derives from Latin intemperatus, formed by combining "in-" with a form of the verb temperare, meaning "to temper" or "to mix."
Both "intemperate" and its antonym "temperate" entered the English language in the 14th century.
Other "temperare" words include "distemper," "temperament," "temperature," "temperance," and "temper" itself.
Synonyms of "intemperate" in the sense of "not controlled" include "unbounded," "unbridled," "unrestrained," and "unchecked."