[mod.er.ate] adj [ME, fr. L moderatus, fr. pp. of moderare to moderate; akin to L modus measure] (15c) 1 a: avoiding extremes of behavior or expression: observing reasonable limits "a ~ drinker" b: calm, temperate
2. a: tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension b: having average or less than average quality: mediocre
3: professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
4: limited in scope or effect
5: not expensive: reasonable or low in price
6. of a color: of medium lightness and medium chroma -- mod.er.ate.ly adv -- mod.er.ate.ness n
[2]mod.er.ate vb -at.ed ; -at.ing vt (15c) 1: to lessen the intensity or extremeness of "the sun moderated the chill"
2: to preside over or act as chairman of ~ vi 1: to act as a moderator
2: to become less violent, severe, or intense -- mod.er.a.tion n [3]mod.er.ate n (1794): one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program