short-tempered
UK[ˌʃɔːt ˈtempəd]US[ˌʃɔːrt ˈtempərd]
adj
Having a tendency to become angry very quickly and easily.
Morpheme Breakdown
short
temper
ed
short
brief/quick
temper
state of mind
ed
having the quality of
Etymology
The adjective "short-tempered" is a relatively modern English compound, first appearing in the early 19th century. It combines the Germanic root "short," implying a brief duration or quickness, with "temper," a word of Latin origin that evolved from the concept of mixing or balancing to denote one's state of mind. The suffix "-ed" gives it the adjectival quality of possession. Thus, the literal logic is "having a temper that is quick (to ignite)," perfectly capturing the modern abstract meaning of being easily provoked to anger.
Analysis
Structure: short (brief/quick) + temper (state of mind) + ed (having the quality of)
- short: From Old English sceort, of Germanic origin, meaning "not long" or "brief." In this compound, it implies "quick" or "rapid."
- temper: From Latin temperare ("to mix, regulate"), via Old English temprian and Middle English temperen. It evolved to mean "the state of one's mind or feelings."
- ed: A suffix of Germanic origin used to form adjectives from nouns, meaning "having" or "characterized by."
Examples
He is a kind man but can be very short-tempered when under pressure.
The short-tempered manager yelled at the staff for a minor mistake.
Lack of sleep often makes people irritable and short-tempered.