Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Lack of temperance, as in the indulgence of an appetite or a passion.
- noun Excessive use of alcoholic beverages.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The quality of being intemperate; lack of temperance or moderation; immoderateness or excess in any kind of action; excessive indulgence of any passion or appetite.
- noun In a restricted sense, excessive indulgence in intoxicating drink; habitual lack of temperance in drink, with or without actual drunkenness.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of becoming, or state of being, intemperate; excess in any kind of action or indulgence; any immoderate indulgence of the appetites or passions.
- noun Habitual or excessive indulgence in alcoholic liquors.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Lack of
moderation ortemperance ; excess - noun Drunkenness;
gluttony
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the quality of being intemperate
- noun excess in action and immoderate indulgence of bodily appetites, especially in passion or indulgence
- noun consumption of alcoholic drinks
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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_On the contrary, _ The Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 12) that "we apply the term intemperance* to childish faults."
Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas
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The word intemperance is generally employed as applying to the abuse of strong drinks.
Life and Conduct J. Cameron Lees
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Incontinence is a term applied only by analogy in the case of the latter; its proper concern -- as with the moral vice, which we call intemperance -- is with the former.
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 13 — Religion and Philosophy Various 1909
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In all these cases the idea of intemperance is excluded.
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And though they call intemperance the being governed by pleasures, yet it happens to them that, by being mastered by some pleasures, they master others, and this is similar to what was just now said, that in a certain manner they become temperate through intemperance. "
Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates 427? BC-347? BC Plato
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All I have to impress upon you is, to beware of intemperance, which is very prevalent in this country, and when you find it convenient, to pay Government the money that was allowed you for subsistence while in prison. '
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Here, at home, is the chief source of that wide-spread ruin by intemperance, that is every year robbing society of thousands of young men, who, by education, culture, and social standing are fitted for useful and honorable positions.
Choice Readings for the Home Circle Anonymous
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Therefore intemperance, which is overcome by pleasure, is a less grievous sin than cowardice, which is overcome by fear.
Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas
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Sad memory brings up our last meeting, and when the subject of his intemperance was the theme of our parting conversation.
The Memories of Fifty Years Sparks, William H 1870
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Now, as to this disease of intemperance, which is a social and moral as well as
Grappling with the Monster The Curse and the Cure of Strong Drink 1847
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