The Collaborative International Dictionary
Contemper
Contemper \Con*tem"per\ (k[o^]n*t[e^]m"p[~e]r), v. t. [L. contemperare, -temperatum; con- + temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate.] To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs.]
The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and
contempered its malignancy.
--Johnson.
Wiktionary
contemper
vb. (context obsolete transitive English) To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate or soften.