— moderatorial /mod'euhr euh tawr"ee euhl, -tohr"-/ , adj. — moderatorship , n.
/mod"euh ray'teuhr/ , n.
1. a person or thing that moderates.
2. a person who presides over a panel discussion on radio or television.
3. a presiding officer, as at a public forum, a legislative body, or an ecclesiastical body in the Presbyterian Church.
4. Physics. a substance, as graphite or heavy water, used to slow neutrons to speeds at which they are more efficient in causing fission.
[ 1350-1400; ME moderator, equiv. to modera ( ri ) to control (see MODERATE) + -tor -TOR ]