— moderately , adv. — moderateness , n.
adj. , n. /mod"euhr it, mod"rit/ ; v. /mod"euh rayt'/ , adj., n., v., moderated, moderating .
adj.
1. kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense: a moderate price.
2. of medium quantity, extent, or amount: a moderate income.
3. mediocre or fair: moderate talent.
4. calm or mild, as of the weather.
5. of or pertaining to moderates, as in politics or religion.
n.
6. a person who is moderate in opinion or opposed to extreme views and actions, esp. in politics or religion.
7. ( usually cap. ) a member of a political party advocating moderate reform.
v.t.
8. to reduce the excessiveness of; make less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous: to moderate the sharpness of one's words.
9. to preside over or at (a public forum, meeting, discussion, etc.).
v.i.
10. to become less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous.
11. to act as moderator; preside.
[ 1350-1400; ME moderate (adj.), moderaten (v.) moderatus (ptp. of moderari to restrain, control), equiv. to modera- v. s. (see MODEST) + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. reasonable, temperate, judicious, just, cool, steady, calm. MODERATE, TEMPERATE, JUDICIOUS, REASONABLE all stress the avoidance of excess - emotional, physical, intellectual, or otherwise. MODERATE implies response or behavior that is by nature not excessive: a moderate drinker, a moderate amount of assistance.
TEMPERATE, interchangeable with MODERATE in some general uses, usually stresses the idea of caution, control, or self-restraint: a surprisingly temperate response to the angry challenge. JUDICIOUS emphasizes prudence and the exercise of careful judgment: a judicious balance between freedom and restraint; judicious care to offend neither side. REASONABLE suggests the imposition or adoption of limits derived from the application of reason or good sense: a reasonable price; a reasonable amount of damages allotted to each claimant. 2. average. 8. meliorate, pacify, calm, mitigate, soften, mollify, temper, qualify, appease, abate, lessen, diminish. See allay .
Ant. 5, 6. radical.