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C1 noun #10,000 más común 12 min de lectura

intertempance

Top 10,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos intertempance en 30 segundos

Explicación intertempance in your Level:

In the beginning, you learn that 'intemperance' is a big word for 'doing too much' of something bad. Imagine a person who eats too much cake every day or drinks too much soda. They are not following a rule to be healthy. At this level, we use simple words like 'too much' or 'no control.' Intemperance is like when you cannot say 'no' to something you like, even if it makes you feel sick later. It is the opposite of being careful. You might not use this word in daily life, but you can think of it as the 'too much' word. It is a noun, which means it is a thing or a feeling. For example, 'His intemperance with candy made his teeth hurt.' This means he ate way too much candy and did not stop himself. It is a very formal way to say someone is overdoing it. Most people at A1 will just say 'He eats too much,' but it is good to know that 'intemperance' is the official name for that habit. It usually sounds like a serious problem, not just a small mistake.

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At the A2 level, you can start to see that 'intemperance' is about more than just food. It is about any habit where a person has no self-control. Think about someone who gets very angry very fast and shouts a lot. That is 'intemperance of anger.' It means they cannot control their feelings. You might hear this word in stories about people from a long time ago. In the past, people talked about 'intemperance' when they wanted others to stop drinking alcohol. It was a very important word for people who wanted to help others live better lives. When you use this word, you are saying that someone is not being moderate. 'Moderate' means staying in the middle—not too much, not too little. Intemperance is going way past the middle. If a student stays up all night every night to play games, you could call that intemperance. It is a formal word, so you might see it in a book or a school report. It helps you describe a bad habit in a more serious way than just saying 'bad habit.'

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For B1 learners, 'intemperance' becomes a useful tool for discussing social issues and character traits. You can now understand that this word often has a moral meaning. It suggests that a person is failing to use their willpower. In many cultures, being able to control yourself is a sign of being a strong adult. Intemperance is seen as a weakness. You might encounter this word in history lessons about the 19th century, especially the 'Temperance Movement' where people tried to ban alcohol. They believed that intemperance led to many problems like poverty and crime. You can also use it to describe weather or climates that are very extreme. An 'intemperate' climate is one that is very hot or very cold, with no middle ground. This word is great for writing essays where you want to sound more professional. Instead of saying 'The man drank too much,' you could write, 'The man struggled with intemperance throughout his life.' This makes your writing sound more academic and thoughtful. It shows you understand that the problem is not just the drinking, but the lack of control inside the person.

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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'intemperance' to describe abstract concepts. It is not just about physical things like food or drink; it is about the lack of balance in any area of life. You might read about the 'intemperance of the financial markets,' which refers to when people get too greedy and buy too much, leading to a crash. Or you might hear about 'intemperance in political debate,' where people are being too extreme and not listening to each other. This word is perfect for describing a lack of 'tempering'—which means balancing or softening. If you are writing a book review, you might criticize the 'intemperance' of the author's style if they use too many big words or too many dramatic scenes. It implies that the author didn't know when to stop. You should also notice how the word is used in formal legal or medical contexts. It is a precise way to describe a pattern of behavior that is harmful because it is excessive. Using 'intemperance' at this level shows you have a nuanced vocabulary and can discuss complex human behaviors with precision.

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As a C1 learner, you recognize 'intemperance' as a sophisticated term that carries significant historical, philosophical, and psychological weight. You understand that it is a noun denoting a lack of moderation, often specifically in the context of alcohol, but more broadly applicable to any indulgence. At this level, you should be able to distinguish 'intemperance' from its synonyms like 'dissipation' or 'profligacy' based on the specific context. You know that intemperance focuses on the internal failure of self-regulation. You can use it in high-level academic writing, such as analyzing the causes of social unrest or the flaws in a character's psyche in a classic novel. You also understand its role in historical discourse, particularly the Temperance Movements, and how it was used as a tool for social reform. You are capable of using the word metaphorically, such as describing an 'intemperance of spirit' or an 'intemperance of the seasons.' Your usage should reflect an awareness of its formal register, ensuring it is used to add weight and seriousness to your arguments. You are also aware of the adjective form 'intemperate' and can use both interchangeably to enhance your linguistic variety.

At the C2 level, you possess a masterly command of 'intemperance,' utilizing it with total precision and stylistic flair. You understand the deep etymological roots of the word, connecting it to the Latin 'temperare' (to mix or moderate), and you can see how this concept has evolved through centuries of ethical philosophy. You can use 'intemperance' to critique subtle aspects of human nature, such as the 'intemperance of a mind' that is too prone to radical ideas without sufficient grounding in reality. You might use it in a complex legal argument or a philosophical treatise to describe a systemic lack of restraint within an institution. Your understanding extends to the word's archaic uses, and you can identify it in the works of Shakespeare or Milton, appreciating the specific moral and religious connotations it held in those eras. You can also play with the word's register, perhaps using it ironically in a high-level piece of social satire. At this stage, 'intemperance' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a conceptual tool that you can use to dissect and describe the complexities of human behavior, societal trends, and natural phenomena with the highest degree of accuracy and sophistication.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

intertempance en 30 segundos

Intemperance means a lack of moderation or self-control in habits.
It often refers to excessive drinking or eating in formal contexts.
The word suggests a moral or personal failure to regulate one's desires.
It can also describe extreme weather or immoderate emotional outbursts.

The noun intemperance refers to a profound lack of moderation or self-control, particularly concerning physical appetites or emotional impulses. While the term can broadly describe any form of excess, it is most frequently encountered in historical, literary, or formal contexts to describe habitual overindulgence in alcohol or food. To understand intemperance is to understand the struggle between the rational mind and the primal urge for immediate gratification. In the context of the 19th-century Temperance Movement, the word was a moral lightning rod, used to describe the perceived social and moral decay resulting from the 'demon drink.' However, in a contemporary C1 vocabulary setting, it extends beyond the barroom to describe any behavior that lacks a 'governor' or a sense of proportion.

Philosophical Root: The concept traces back to the Aristotelian idea of the 'Golden Mean,' where virtue lies between the extremes of deficiency and excess. Intemperance is the vice of the extreme.

The scholar's intemperance in his studies eventually led to a total physical collapse, proving that even intellectual pursuits require moderation.

When you use this word, you are often making a moral or qualitative judgment. It is not merely 'doing a lot' of something; it is doing something to a degree that is harmful, unseemly, or irrational. For instance, 'intemperance of speech' refers to a person who cannot control their tongue, often speaking harshly or excessively without regard for the consequences. In financial contexts, one might speak of the 'intemperance of the markets,' referring to wild, irrational fluctuations driven by greed rather than fundamentals. The word carries a weight of gravity that 'overdoing it' lacks, making it ideal for formal essays, historical analysis, or high-level character descriptions in literature.

Social Context: In Victorian society, intemperance was viewed as a primary cause of poverty and domestic instability, leading to the creation of widespread temperance societies.

His intemperance was not limited to wine; he was equally immoderate in his anger and his spending.

In modern usage, the word is less about the 'sin' of drinking and more about the 'failure' of self-regulation. Psychologically, it can be linked to executive function deficits. If a politician shows an 'intemperance of temperament,' they are perceived as volatile and unfit for steady leadership. The word evokes a sense of spillover—where a person’s desires overflow the boundaries of social and personal health. It is a powerful noun because it encapsulates both the action (the excess) and the character flaw (the lack of restraint) in a single, sophisticated package. It is frequently paired with adjectives like 'chronic,' 'gross,' or 'habitual' to emphasize the repetitive nature of the lack of control.

Medical History: Old medical texts often used 'intemperance' as a diagnostic term for what we would now call alcoholism or metabolic disorders related to diet.

The report criticized the intemperance of the regulatory environment, which allowed for excessive risk-taking.

The king's intemperance at the banquet was whispered about by foreign dignitaries for weeks.

Avoiding intemperance in one's habits is considered a cornerstone of longevity in many cultures.

Using intemperance correctly requires an understanding of its weight. It is not a casual word. You wouldn't typically use it to describe a friend eating one too many cookies at a party. Instead, use it when the lack of moderation is a defining characteristic or a significant event. It functions as a noun, often acting as the subject of a sentence or the object of a preposition like 'of' or 'through.' Because it is an abstract noun, it rarely takes a plural form unless referring to specific instances or types of excess.

Sentence Structure 1: The Subject: 'Intemperance was his undoing.' Here, the word acts as the driving force of the narrative, suggesting that the lack of control caused the person's failure.

Such intemperance in a leader can lead to impulsive decisions that destabilize entire nations.

You can also use it to describe a specific domain of life. For example, 'intemperance in eating,' 'intemperance in speech,' or 'intemperance in emotion.' This helps the reader understand exactly where the lack of restraint is occurring. In academic writing, you might use it to describe a lack of balance in a theory or a dataset—'the intemperance of the variables.' This metaphorical use is highly sophisticated and marks a C1 or C2 level of English proficiency. It suggests a lack of 'tempering' or 'tuning' to the correct frequency.

Sentence Structure 2: Prepositional Phrases: 'He lived a life of intemperance.' This uses the word to define a lifestyle, placing it within the larger context of the person's history.

The critics were quick to point out the intemperance of the director's latest cinematic style.

When writing about history, particularly the 1800s in the US or UK, 'intemperance' is the standard term for the social issue of alcoholism. Using it in this context shows historical awareness. For instance: 'The sermon focused on the evils of intemperance and its effect on the working class.' In this case, the word is almost a proper noun for a specific social vice. In more poetic or literary writing, you might use it to describe nature: 'the intemperance of the storm' or 'the intemperance of the summer heat.' This personifies the weather as something that lacks the self-restraint to be mild, creating a vivid image of harshness and excess.

Metaphorical Usage: In literary analysis, you might discuss a character's 'intemperance of ambition,' suggesting that their desire for power has exceeded healthy limits.

The philosopher argued that intemperance is the root of all social disharmony.

Her intemperance in spending soon left the estate in financial ruin.

Despite his public image of sobriety, his private intemperance was a poorly kept secret.

You are unlikely to hear intemperance in a casual conversation at a coffee shop or in a TikTok video. It is a high-register word that thrives in specific environments. One of the primary places you will encounter it is in classic literature. Authors like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, or Nathaniel Hawthorne used it to describe characters who lacked moral fiber or physical restraint. When you read a 19th-century novel, 'intemperance' is the go-to word for a character's downward spiral into addiction or ruin. It carries a sense of tragic inevitability that more modern words like 'addiction' do not always convey.

Legal and Formal Contexts: In some jurisdictions, 'habitual intemperance' was historically listed as a grounds for divorce or as a reason for the termination of parental rights.

The judge cited the defendant's chronic intemperance as a factor in the sentencing phase.

Another place you'll hear this word is in historical documentaries or textbooks. The 'Temperance Movement' is a major topic in American and British history, and you cannot discuss it without using the word 'intemperance.' Historians use it to describe the social conditions of the 1800s, where heavy drinking was seen as a major threat to the Industrial Revolution's productivity and the nuclear family's stability. In this context, 'intemperance' isn't just a word; it's a historical phenomenon. You might also hear it in modern academic lectures on philosophy or ethics, specifically when discussing the 'Cardinal Virtues,' of which temperance is one.

Religious Discourse: Sermons and theological texts often use the word to describe the spiritual danger of letting physical desires override spiritual goals.

The pastor warned that intemperance of any kind creates a barrier between the soul and the divine.

Finally, you might encounter it in sophisticated journalism, particularly in op-eds or long-form essays. A writer might criticize the 'intemperance of the political discourse,' meaning that politicians are being too extreme, loud, or aggressive. Or they might describe the 'intemperance of consumer culture,' where the constant drive to buy more is seen as a lack of societal self-restraint. In these cases, the word is used to elevate the critique, making it sound more intellectual and grounded in historical or philosophical tradition. It is a word that signals the speaker or writer is well-educated and thinking deeply about the underlying causes of a problem.

Political Commentary: 'The intemperance of his rhetoric alienated moderate voters who were looking for a calm and steady hand.'

The editorial lamented the intemperance of modern online debates, where nuance is often sacrificed for outrage.

Even in the face of provocation, she maintained a level of poise that made his intemperance look all the more foolish.

The most common mistake with intemperance is using it in the wrong register. Because it is a high-level, formal word, using it to describe minor or casual overindulgence can sound sarcastic or unintentionally humorous. For example, saying 'I showed great intemperance by eating three cupcakes' to a group of friends might make you sound like you're trying too hard to be fancy. In casual speech, 'overdoing it' or 'losing control' is much more natural. Save 'intemperance' for situations where there is a serious lack of restraint or where you are writing in a formal capacity.

Register Mismatch: Avoid: 'My brother's intemperance with his video games is annoying.' Better: 'My brother's excessive gaming is annoying.' Use 'intemperance' for weightier issues.

The intemperance of the climate in the polar regions makes long-term habitation nearly impossible without specialized gear.

Another mistake is confusing the noun 'intemperance' with the adjective 'intemperate.' Remember that 'intemperance' is the quality or the act itself, while 'intemperate' describes a person or a thing. You might say 'His intemperance was obvious,' but you would say 'He was an intemperate man.' Another common confusion is with the word 'intensity.' While intemperance can involve intensity, they are not the same. Intensity is about the strength of something; intemperance is specifically about the *lack of moderation* or *excess*. A person can be intensely focused (a positive or neutral trait) without being intemperate (usually a negative trait).

Confusing with 'Indulgence': Indulgence can be positive (self-care), but intemperance is almost always negative, implying a loss of control that leads to harm.

One must distinguish between a well-earned reward and the intemperance that leads to addiction.

Finally, be careful not to limit the word only to alcohol. While that is its most common historical association, using it only for drinking misses the richness of the word. It can apply to any lack of restraint. However, if you use it in a context where drinking is also mentioned, the reader will almost certainly assume you are referring to alcohol. If you want to refer to a different type of excess, be sure to specify it clearly, as in 'intemperance of emotion' or 'intemperance of ambition.' This ensures that your meaning is precise and that the reader doesn't default to the historical 'alcohol' definition.

Spelling Note: Ensure you don't misspell it as 'intertempance.' The root is 'temper,' not 'temp' in the sense of time (though they share a distant Latin ancestor).

His intemperance during the debate—shouting over his opponent and using insults—cost him the election.

It is a common error to view intemperance as a sign of strength, rather than a failure of the will.

When you want to convey the idea of 'too much,' intemperance is just one option in a rich field of synonyms. Choosing the right one depends on the specific flavor of excess you want to describe. Let's compare 'intemperance' with its closest relatives. This will help you refine your writing and choose the word that fits your exact context. Remember that in C1 English, nuance is everything.

Intemperance vs. Gluttony: Gluttony is specifically about food and drink. Intemperance is broader, covering emotions, behavior, and physical desires. Gluttony is one *form* of intemperance.

While he was accused of gluttony at the table, his real problem was a general intemperance in all pleasures.

Another close synonym is 'dissipation.' This word specifically suggests that the excess is wasting one's life, energy, or money. If someone is living a life of 'dissipation,' they are likely partying too much and neglecting their responsibilities. 'Intemperance' focuses on the lack of control, while 'dissipation' focuses on the wasteful result of that lack of control. Then there is 'profligacy,' which is usually reserved for reckless extravagance with money. A profligate person spends wildly, which is a form of financial intemperance.

Intemperance vs. Immoderation: Immoderation is a very close synonym, but it lacks the historical and moral weight of intemperance. It sounds more like a technical or descriptive term.

The intemperance of his language was more shocking than the actual content of his complaints.

Finally, consider 'insobriety.' This is almost exclusively used for being drunk. If you specifically mean that someone is not sober, 'insobriety' or 'intoxication' are better choices. 'Intemperance' is the habit or character trait that leads to insobriety. By understanding these distinctions, you can use 'intemperance' when you want to point to the root cause—the failure of the will—rather than just the outward symptom. This level of precision is what separates a good writer from a great one.

Summary Table: 1. Gluttony: Food/Drink focus. 2. Dissipation: Wasteful focus. 3. Profligacy: Money focus. 4. Intemperance: Lack of control focus.

To cure his intemperance, the doctor prescribed a strict regimen of exercise and a bland diet.

The fall of many empires has been attributed to the intemperance of their ruling classes.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The root 'temperare' originally meant 'to mix in due proportion', used for mixing wine with water. 'Intemperance' thus implies a 'bad mix' or no mix at all (pure excess).

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ɪnˈtem.pər.əns/

US /ɪnˈtem.pɚ.əns/

Second syllable: in-TEM-per-ance

Rima con

Temperance Severance Reverence Deliverance Preference Deference Reference Difference

Errores comunes

Stressing the first syllable.
Adding an extra 't' (intertempance).
Pronouncing the 'per' too strongly.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 8/5

Common in 19th-century literature and academic texts.

Escritura 9/5

Requires careful use to avoid sounding overly dramatic or archaic.

Expresión oral 9/5

Rarely used in speech; sounds very formal.

Escucha 7/5

Recognizable in formal lectures or historical dramas.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Moderate Restraint Excess Temperance Indulge

Aprende después

Profligacy Dissipation Incontinence (philosophical sense) Asceticism Abstinence

Avanzado

Epicureanism Stoicism Hedonism Aristotelian Ethics

Gramática que debes saber

Abstract Nouns

Intemperance is often used without an article when discussing the general concept.

Prepositional Phrases

We say 'intemperance in' an activity, not 'intemperance of' (though 'intemperance of speech' is an exception).

Genitive Case

Using 'of' to show the subject: 'The intemperance of the king.'

Adjective-Noun Agreement

Using formal adjectives like 'habitual' or 'gross' to modify the noun.

Noun as Subject

Using the noun to drive the action: 'Intemperance destroyed his health.'

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Ejemplos por nivel

His intemperance with food made him feel very sick.

His habit of eating too much...

Noun as subject of the phrase.

The boy showed intemperance when he ate all the candy.

The boy showed no control...

Direct object of 'showed'.

Intemperance is not good for your health.

Eating or drinking too much is bad...

Simple subject-verb-adjective structure.

She stopped her intemperance and started to eat better.

She stopped overdoing it...

Noun following a possessive adjective.

Is intemperance the same as being greedy?

Is doing too much the same as greed?

Interrogative sentence.

My uncle struggled with intemperance for many years.

My uncle had a hard time with drinking...

Object of the preposition 'with'.

The teacher told us to avoid intemperance in our habits.

The teacher said don't do things too much...

Infinitive phrase following 'told us'.

Too much intemperance can make you very unhappy.

A lot of no-control can make you sad.

Noun modified by 'too much'.

He was famous for his intemperance at large parties.

He was known for drinking too much...

Noun in a prepositional phrase.

The old book warns about the dangers of intemperance.

The book talks about the bad side of no control.

Object of the preposition 'of'.

Does intemperance only mean drinking too much alcohol?

Does it only refer to drinking?

Question with auxiliary 'does'.

Her intemperance in shopping led to many debts.

Her lack of control in buying things...

Subject followed by a prepositional phrase.

The village had a society to fight against intemperance.

The village had a group to stop drinking.

Object of the preposition 'against'.

Intemperance can be a very difficult habit to break.

No control is a hard habit to stop.

Modal verb 'can be'.

We learned that intemperance was a problem in the 1800s.

We learned it was a social issue in the past.

Noun clause as object of 'learned'.

His intemperance caused him to lose his job.

His lack of moderation made him lose work.

Simple past tense verb 'caused'.

The speaker argued that intemperance was the root of poverty.

The speaker said drinking was the cause of being poor.

Noun clause using 'that'.

She tried to curb her intemperance by setting strict rules.

She tried to stop her excess with rules.

Infinitive 'to curb' followed by the noun.

Intemperance in speech can often hurt other people's feelings.

Talking too much or too harshly can hurt others.

Subject-prepositional phrase combination.

The doctor explained that chronic intemperance damages the liver.

The doctor said long-term drinking hurts the body.

Adjective 'chronic' modifying 'intemperance'.

Victorian novels often feature characters ruined by intemperance.

Old books have characters who fail because of drinking.

Passive participle 'ruined by'.

Is it possible to recover from a life of intemperance?

Can someone change after living with no control?

Expletive 'it' construction.

The government passed laws to reduce public intemperance.

The government made rules to stop people drinking in public.

Compound noun 'public intemperance'.

His intemperance was a sign of his internal unhappiness.

His lack of control showed he was sad inside.

Predicate nominative structure.

The intemperance of the weather made the expedition dangerous.

The extreme weather was a threat to the trip.

Abstract noun used for natural phenomena.

He criticized the intemperance of the modern consumer lifestyle.

He spoke against the excessive buying in today's world.

Direct object with multiple modifiers.

Intemperance of temper is a major flaw for any diplomat.

Losing one's cool is a bad trait for a negotiator.

Genitive construction 'intemperance of temper'.

The essay explores the theme of intemperance in Shakespeare's plays.

The writing looks at the idea of excess in old plays.

Object of a prepositional phrase.

Her intemperance was not a choice but a result of her environment.

Her lack of control was caused by where she lived.

Correlative conjunction 'not... but'.

The philosopher argued that virtue is the opposite of intemperance.

The thinker said being good is the reverse of excess.

Noun clause as object.

We must guard against the intemperance of our own desires.

We have to be careful not to let our wants take over.

Phrasal verb 'guard against'.

The report highlighted the intemperance of the bank's lending policies.

The report showed how the bank gave out too much money.

Possessive 'bank's' modifying the noun phrase.

The protagonist's tragic flaw was a habitual intemperance that alienated his allies.

The main character's problem was his constant lack of control.

Complex sentence with a relative clause.

Historical accounts suggest that intemperance was rampant in the mining camps.

History shows that drinking was very common in the camps.

Noun clause as object of 'suggest'.

The intemperance of the rhetoric during the campaign polarized the nation.

The extreme language in the election divided the country.

Subject-verb-object with abstract concepts.

One could argue that the current ecological crisis is a result of human intemperance.

The nature crisis is caused by people taking too much.

Conditional 'could argue' with a noun clause.

She managed to overcome her intemperance through a rigorous spiritual practice.

She stopped her bad habits using a strict spiritual routine.

Prepositional phrase 'through a...'

The judge remarked on the intemperance of the defendant's outburst in court.

The judge noted how the person couldn't control their shouting.

Possessive 'defendant's' modifying the noun phrase.

Intemperance is often a mask for deeper psychological traumas.

Lack of control is frequently a way to hide old mental pain.

Metaphorical usage of 'mask'.

The poem serves as a cautionary tale against the intemperance of youth.

The poem warns young people about being too reckless.

Prepositional phrase 'against the...'

The scholar's critique of the regime focused on its fiscal intemperance and lack of oversight.

The expert's review looked at the government's reckless spending.

Adjectival modifier 'fiscal' with 'intemperance'.

To label his behavior as mere 'partying' is to ignore the profound intemperance of his soul.

Calling it 'partying' misses how deeply he lacked control.

Infinitive as subject and object.

The intemperance of the winter gales left the coastal villages in a state of ruin.

The extreme winter storms destroyed the towns by the sea.

Personification of natural forces.

The dialectic between temperance and intemperance has long been a centerpiece of Western ethics.

The debate between balance and excess is key to Western thought.

Noun as part of a complex subject phrase.

His prose was marred by an intemperance of metaphor that obscured his actual meaning.

His writing was ruined by using too many metaphors.

Passive voice 'was marred by'.

The treaty was designed to curb the intemperance of imperial expansion in the region.

The agreement aimed to stop empires from growing too fast and recklessly.

Infinitive 'to curb' with a complex object.

We see in his later works a certain intemperance of color that borders on the hallucinatory.

His later paintings used colors so wildly they seemed like a dream.

Noun phrase with a relative clause.

The fall of the dynasty was precipitated by the moral intemperance of its final scions.

the end of the family line was caused by the bad behavior of the last members.

Adjectival modifier 'moral' with 'intemperance'.

Sinónimos

immoderation excess dissipation overindulgence profligacy unrestraint

Antónimos

temperance moderation restraint

Colocaciones comunes

habitual intemperance

gross intemperance

intemperance of speech

curb one's intemperance

evils of intemperance

fiscal intemperance

moral intemperance

intemperance of the climate

display intemperance

victim of intemperance

Frases Comunes

A life of intemperance

— A lifestyle characterized by lack of control.

A life of intemperance usually ends in regret.

Guilty of intemperance

— Having committed the act of overindulging.

He was found guilty of intemperance by his peers.

The scourge of intemperance

— Viewing excess as a great social evil.

Reformers sought to end the scourge of intemperance.

Intemperance in all things

— Lack of moderation in every aspect of life.

He practiced intemperance in all things, to his detriment.

Rooted in intemperance

— A problem caused by a lack of moderation.

The financial crisis was rooted in market intemperance.

Struggle with intemperance

— Trying to gain control over one's impulses.

Many characters in literature struggle with intemperance.

The height of intemperance

— The most extreme level of lack of control.

Drinking before noon was seen as the height of intemperance.

Avoid intemperance

— To stay away from excessive behaviors.

We should all strive to avoid intemperance.

Warn against intemperance

— To give a warning about the dangers of excess.

The pamphlet warned against the intemperance of the youth.

Marked by intemperance

— Showing clear signs of lack of control.

The era was marked by the intemperance of the ruling class.

Se confunde a menudo con

intertempance vs Intemperateness

They are synonyms, but intemperance is the standard noun.

intertempance vs Intensity

Intensity is strength; intemperance is lack of control.

intertempance vs Intemperance (vs Insobriety)

Intemperance is the habit; insobriety is the state of being drunk.

Modismos y expresiones

"Burn the candle at both ends"

— To overwork or overplay to the point of exhaustion, a form of intemperance.

By working all day and partying all night, he was burning the candle at both ends.

informal

"To have one too many"

— A euphemism for the result of intemperance with alcohol.

I think he's had one too many and should go home.

informal

"Paint the town red"

— To go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly, often involving intemperance.

They decided to paint the town red after the wedding.

informal

"Go overboard"

— To do something to an excessive degree.

He really went overboard with the decorations.

informal

"Eat like a horse"

— To eat excessively, a specific type of intemperance.

He's thin, but he eats like a horse.

informal

"Drink like a fish"

— To drink alcohol excessively.

In his younger days, he used to drink like a fish.

informal

"Lose one's cool"

— To display intemperance of temper.

He lost his cool and started shouting.

informal

"Throw caution to the wind"

— To act recklessly without restraint.

He threw caution to the wind and spent his savings.

informal

"Bite off more than one can chew"

— To take on more than one can handle, a form of ambition intemperance.

He bit off more than he could chew with that project.

informal

"Live high on the hog"

— To live in an expensive and luxurious way, often excessively.

They've been living high on the hog since they won the lottery.

informal

Fácil de confundir

intertempance vs Temperament

Similar root.

Temperament is a person's nature; intemperance is a lack of control.

He has a fiery temperament, but he shows no intemperance with drink.

intertempance vs Temperature

Same root.

Temperature is how hot or cold something is.

The temperature is rising, but his intemperance is cooling.

intertempance vs Temporal

Sounds like 'temp'.

Temporal relates to time; intemperance relates to moderation.

Temporal matters are fleeting, unlike the lasting effects of intemperance.

intertempance vs Temperance

Opposite meaning.

Temperance is moderation; intemperance is excess.

She chose temperance over the intemperance of her youth.

intertempance vs Tamper

Similar spelling.

To tamper is to interfere; intemperance is a lack of control.

Do not tamper with the evidence of his intemperance.

Patrones de oraciones

I have [noun].

I have intemperance with cake.

He showed [noun] at the [place].

He showed intemperance at the party.

It is hard to stop [noun].

It is hard to stop habitual intemperance.

The [noun] of [something] is [adjective].

The intemperance of the weather is dangerous.

[Noun] is the root of [problem].

Intemperance is the root of his financial problems.

Despite his [noun], he was [adjective].

Despite his intemperance, he was a brilliant scientist.

To ignore the [noun] is to [verb].

To ignore the intemperance of the regime is to invite disaster.

The [noun] was marred by [something].

The era was marred by a general intemperance of spirit.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Intemperance

Temperance

Intemperateness

Verbos

Temper (related root)

Adjetivos

Intemperate

Temperate

Relacionado

Temperature

Temperament

Tempering

Distemper

Tamper

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Low in daily speech, high in historical and literary texts.

Errores comunes

Using 'intertempance' → intemperance
There is no 'r' after the 'e' and no 'p' after the 'm'. It comes from 'temper'.
He is very intemperance. → He is very intemperate.
You must use the adjective form to describe a person directly after 'is'.
His intemperance of the cake was bad. → His intemperance with the cake was bad.
Use 'with' for specific objects of indulgence.
I have an intemperance. → I have a habit of intemperance.
It is usually an uncountable noun referring to a quality, not a countable object.
The intemperance was very hot today. → The temperature was very hot today.
Do not confuse 'intemperance' with 'temperature'.

Consejos

Use for Weight

Use 'intemperance' when you want to make a behavior sound like a serious character flaw rather than a minor mistake.

Historical Context

When reading about the 19th century, always assume 'intemperance' refers to the social problem of alcohol consumption.

Noun Form

Remember that 'intemperance' is a thing you *have* or *show*, not something you *are*.

Synonym Choice

Choose 'intemperance' over 'excess' when you want to emphasize the lack of internal willpower.

Metaphorical Use

Try using it to describe things like 'intemperance of color' or 'intemperance of the wind' for poetic effect.

Academic Tone

In essays, use 'fiscal intemperance' instead of 'spending too much money' to sound more professional.

Tone Recognition

If a speaker uses this word, they are likely taking a critical or judgmental stance on the subject.

Formal Speaking

In a debate, use 'intemperance of rhetoric' to criticize an opponent's extreme or aggressive language.

Literature Clue

In a novel, if a character is described as having 'intemperance,' expect them to face a downfall later in the story.

The 'In' Prefix

Always remember that 'in-' often means 'not,' so 'intemperance' is simply 'not temperance'.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of an 'In-Temper-Ant'. An ant that has a bad temper (intemperate) and eats too much sugar (intemperance).

Asociación visual

Imagine a scale that is completely tipped to one side, overflowing with food and wine bottles.

Word Web

Excess Alcohol Gluttony Restraint Moderation Habit Willpower Temper

Desafío

Try to use 'intemperance' in a sentence about someone's social media habits.

Origen de la palabra

From Middle English, derived from Old French 'intemperance', and directly from Latin 'intemperantia'.

Significado original: The Latin 'intemperantia' means 'inclemency' or 'lack of moderation'.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Latin

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using it to describe addiction, as it can sound moralizing or insensitive to the medical nature of the condition.

In the UK and US, it still carries a Victorian 'judgmental' tone.

The Temperance Movement Hogarth's 'Gin Lane' (visualizing intemperance) Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics'

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

History Class

The temperance movement
Evils of drink
Social reform
Industrial productivity

Literature Analysis

Tragic flaw
Moral decay
Lack of restraint
Character arc

Medical/Psychology

Impulse control
Addictive behavior
Habitual patterns
Self-regulation

Economics

Fiscal irresponsibility
Market volatility
Excessive risk
Unchecked growth

Ethics/Philosophy

The golden mean
Cardinal virtues
Human weakness
Rational control

Inicios de conversación

"Do you think modern consumer culture encourages a form of systemic intemperance?"

"How did the temperance movements of the 1800s shape our current laws on alcohol?"

"Can intemperance ever be a positive trait, perhaps in the pursuit of art or knowledge?"

"What is the difference between a healthy indulgence and a harmful intemperance?"

"In your culture, which form of intemperance is judged most harshly?"

Temas para diario

Reflect on a time when you displayed intemperance in a hobby or habit. What were the consequences?

Write a short story about a character whose primary flaw is intemperance of speech.

Argue for or against the idea that intemperance is a choice rather than a condition.

Describe a world where temperance is the law. How would life be different?

Analyze the 'intemperance of the digital age'—our constant need for notification and scrolling.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

While historically associated with alcohol, it can refer to any lack of moderation, including food, speech, or emotion.

Gluttony is specifically about food, whereas intemperance is a broader term for any lack of restraint.

No, the adjective form is 'intemperate.' 'Intemperance' is a noun.

Yes, but mostly in formal writing, academic contexts, or when discussing history.

It refers to extreme weather conditions that lack moderation (e.g., a very harsh storm).

Yes, it almost always carries a negative connotation of lack of discipline or moral failure.

It is pronounced in-TEM-per-ance, with the stress on the second syllable.

The direct opposite is 'temperance' or 'moderation.'

Only if the email is very formal and discusses something like 'fiscal intemperance' or 'intemperance of speech.'

Yes, it is a key word for understanding higher-level literature and formal essays.

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