Temperál

Temperál is a Hungarian verb with several related meanings centered on the ideas of moderation, adjustment, and refinement. In a broad sense, it means to moderate emotions, behavior, or rhetoric, and to bring something into a desired proportion or balance. In specific technical contexts, temperál can refer to the heat treatment of metals to improve their properties. The noun form temperálás denotes the act or process of tempering.

Etymology and usage have Hungarian roots in the concept of temperare, meaning to regulate or adjust in a proper proportion. The term is borrowed from Latin and entered Hungarian through European linguistic influences, taking on both general and technical senses.

In metallurgy, temperálás is a heat-treatment process applied to steel and other alloys after hardening. The material is heated to a chosen temperature below the critical point, held for a period, and then cooled in air or in oil or water. The goal is to reduce brittleness and residual stresses while preserving an adequate level of hardness and strength. The specific tempering temperature and cooling method determine the final mechanical properties, and the procedure is common for tools, springs, blades, and structural components.

Figuratively, temperál is used to describe moderating traits or statements. A person may temper their emotions, temper their expectations, or temper the tone of a discussion. The related adjective temperált (tempered) is often used to characterize a tone, approach, or outcome that has been adjusted toward greater balance or suitability.

See also: tempering, tempering steel, tempering process.