tamper

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: tam=per

CIDE DICTIONARY

tamper, n. 

•  One who tamps; specifically, one who prepares for blasting, by filling the hole in which the charge is placed.  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument used in tamping; a tamping iron.  [1913 Webster]

tamper, v. i. [A corruption of temper.].

•  To meddle; to be busy; to try little experiments; as, to tamper with a disease.  [1913 Webster]

  "'T is dangerous tampering with a muse."  [1913 Webster]
•  To meddle so as to alter, injure, or vitiate a thing.  [1913 Webster]
•  To deal unfairly; to practice secretly; to use bribery.  [1913 Webster]

  "Others tampered
  For Fleetwood, Desborough, and Lambert."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tamper, v.intr. (foll. by with)
1 meddle with or make unauthorized changes in.
2 exert a secret or corrupt influence upon; bribe.

Derivative

tamperer n. tamper-proof adj.

Etymology

var. of TEMPER