I. ˈmäd(ə)rə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin moderatus, past participle of moderare, moderari to moderate, from modus measure, manner — more at mete
1.
a. : characterized by an avoidance of extremes of behavior : observing reasonable limits : showing discretion and self-control
a moderate drinker
a moderate eater
a person of moderate habits
b. : free from passion or excitement : calm , reasonable
though very much in favor of the measure, he expressed himself in moderate language
his demands were very moderate
2.
a. : tending toward the mean or average: as
(1) : neither small nor large
a family of moderate income
a room of moderate size
a moderate crop
(2) : neither short nor long
a book of moderate length
a moderate distance
b. : having an average or less than average quality : mediocre
cheesecakes very moderate indeed — H.E.Bates
wrote moderate poetry to the end of his life — Carl Van Doren
3. : not violent or rigorous : temperate
a moderate winter
a moderate wind
a moderate climate
4. : of or relating to a political or social philosophy or program that avoids extreme measures and violent or partisan tactics
has no interest in leading a party that goes off to extremes, that the party direction must be moderate and yet progressive and dynamic — New York Times
all left-wing and some moderate and right-wing groups had boycotted the election — Collier's Year Book
5.
a. : limited in scope or effect
made a moderate change in the bill which failed to satisfy its critics
his new wealth had only a moderate effect on his way of life
b. : not severe in effect : not seriously or permanently disabling or incapacitating
a few days of moderate illness accompanied by chilly sensations and loss of appetite — Morris Fishbein
of the 18 cases in which whooping cough developed … 13.3 percent were very mild, 4.8 percent were mild and 3.7 percent were moderate — Journal American Medical Association
6. : not expensive : reasonable or low in price
how to be well dressed at a moderate cost — Current Biography
a moderate price for a new house
7. of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma
II. ˈmädəˌrāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English moderaten, from Latin moderatus, past participle of moderare, moderari to moderate
transitive verb
1.
a. : to lessen the intensity or extremeness of : make less violent or excessive : keep within bounds : make moderate or temperate
considerations of logic and analogy and history and tradition which moderate and temper the promptings of policy and justice — B.N.Cardozo
moderated the harshness of their initial demands
a quick and efficient job of snow removal moderated the effect of the storm
b. : to lower or soften the tone of (a voice)
moderated his voice as they approached the sickroom
moderate your voice if you expect to be listened to
2. archaic : to exercise control over : regulate , rule
3. : to preside over or act as chairman at
moderated the debate with perfect fairness
moderated a small local variety show — Gladwin Hill
4. : to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)
intransitive verb
1. : to act as a moderator
became famous when he moderated on a weekly panel show
2. archaic : to act as a mediator
3. : to become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense
the wind has moderated
loitering a little because the night had moderated — Kay Boyle
Synonyms:
qualify , temper , attemper : moderate indicates abating extremes or excesses in keeping within reasonable or due limits
moderating his big voice to the dimensions of the room — Clifton Daniel
if the new poets can bring themselves to moderate their attitude of somewhat sensitive resentment towards those who call their art in question — J.L.Lowes
qualify may indicate addition of restriction or precise definition to make a comment less sweeping, inclusive, or open to objection; it may be a close synonym for moderate
the neat craftsman has means of qualifying or abating his own perilous air of arrant omniscience — C.E.Montague
but this simple and bare outline of the procedure must be supplemented and qualified — Samuel Alexander
qualified his reports in the Boston News-Letter according to the demands of the royal governor — F.L.Mott
temper may suggest an alleviating or mitigating of the severe or a modifying to accommodate to a situation
always a cool breeze tempered the sunshine — A.B.Osborne
close to being a major work in war fiction, and only my caution tempers my admiration — M.D.Geismar
the catalogue of one Virginia seminary was promising to temper the severities of arithmetic to the delicacy of the female mind — American Guide Series: Virginia
attemper is a close but now rarely used synonym for temper in the sense of lessening
the shadow … attempered the cheery western sunshine — Nathaniel Hawthorne
III. ˈmäd(ə)rə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: moderate (I) ; intended as translation of French modéré
1. : one who holds moderate views especially in politics or religion
the middle-of-the-road moderates in the world … who wanted both stability and liberalism — W.G.Carleton
always a moderate , he deprecated extremists of both sections — H.K.Beale
2. often capitalized : a member or adherent of a political party or group favoring a moderate program
second term as the candidate of the Moderates — Review of Reviews