I. ˈmä-d(ə-)rət adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin moderatus, from past participle of moderare to moderate; akin to Latin modus measure
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits
a moderate 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 adverb
• mod·er·ate·ness noun
II. ˈmä-də-ˌrāt verb
( -at·ed ; -at·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to lessen the intensity or extremeness of
the sun moderated the chill
2. : to preside over or act as chairman of
intransitive verb
1. : to act as a moderator
2. : to become less violent, severe, or intense
the wind began to moderate
• mod·er·a·tion ˌmä-də-ˈrā-shən noun
III. ˈmä-d(ə-)rət noun
Date: 1794
: one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program