Collins English-English Dictionary

distemper [dɪs'tεmpə]

1. 1. n any of various infectious diseases of animals, esp canine distemper, a highly contagious viral disease of dogs, characterized initially by high fever and a discharge from the nose and eyes - See also hard pad strangles

2. 2. n [Archaic] a disease or disorder

3. 3. n disturbance

4. 4. n discontent

5. 5. vt. [tr] [Archaic] to disturb

6. 6. vt. [Etymology] C14: from Late Latin distemperare to derange the health of, from Latin dis-¹ + temperare to mix in correct proportions

distemper [dɪs'tεmpə]

1. 1. n a technique of painting in which the pigments are mixed with water, glue, size, etc, used for poster, mural, and scene painting

2. 2. n the paint used in this technique or any of various water-based paints, including, in Britain, whitewash

3. 3. vt. [tr] to mix (pigments) with water and size

4. 4. vt. to paint (something) with distemper

5. 5. vt. [Etymology] C14: from Medieval Latin distemperare to soak, from Latin dis-¹ + temperare to mingle