MODERATE

moderate, temperate

(adjective) not extreme; “a moderate penalty”; “temperate in his response to criticism”

moderate

(adjective) being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme; “moderate prices”; “a moderate income”; “a moderate fine”; “moderate demands”; “a moderate estimate”; “a moderate eater”; “moderate success”; “a kitchen of moderate size”; “the X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart”

moderate, restrained

(adjective) marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes; “moderate in his demands”; “restrained in his response”

centrist, middle of the roader, moderate, moderationist

(noun) a person who takes a position in the political center

moderate

(verb) make less fast or intense; “moderate your speed”

temper, season, mollify, moderate

(verb) make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; “she tempered her criticism”

moderate, chair, lead

(verb) preside over; “John moderated the discussion”

mince, soften, moderate

(verb) make less severe or harsh; “He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears”

control, hold in, hold, contain, curb, moderate

(verb) lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; “moderate your alcohol intake”; “hold your tongue”; “hold your temper”; “control your anger”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

moderate (comparative more moderate, superlative most moderate)

Not excessive; acting in moderation

Mediocre

Average priced; standard-deal

Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.

(US, politics) Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.

Synonyms

• See also moderate

• See also intermediate

Noun

moderate (plural moderates)

One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.

(Christianity, historical) One of a party in Scottish Church history dominant in the 18th century, lax in doctrine and discipline, but intolerant of evangelicalism and popular rights. It caused the secessions of 1733 and 1761, and its final resultant was the Disruption of 1843.

Verb

moderate (third-person singular simple present moderates, present participle moderating, simple past and past participle moderated)

(transitive) To reduce the excessiveness of (something)

(intransitive) To become less excessive

(transitive) To preside over (something) as a moderator

(intransitive) To act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise

Synonyms

• (reduce excesses) temperate

• (preside) arbitrate, chair

Source: Wiktionary

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Mod"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. moderatus, p.p. of moderate, moderati, to moderate, regulate, control, fr. modus measure. See Mode.]

Definition: Kept within due bounds; observing reasonable limits; not excessive, extreme, violent, or rigorous; limited; restrained; as: (a) Limited in quantity; sparing; temperate; frugal; as, moderate in eating or drinking; a moderate table. (b) Limited in degree of activity, energy, or excitement; reasonable; calm; slow; as, moderate language; moderate endeavors. (c) Not extreme in opinion, in partisanship, and the like; as, a moderate Calvinist. A number of moderate members managed ... to obtain a majority in a thin house. Swift.

(d) Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle; as, a moderate winter. "Moderate showers." Walter. (e) Limited as to degree of progress; as, to travel at moderate speed. (f) Limited as to the degree in which a quality, principle, or faculty appears; as, an infusion of moderate strength; a man of moderate abilities. (g) Limited in scope or effects; as, a reformation of a moderate kind. Hooker.

Mod"er*ate, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Definition: One of a party in the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, and part of the 19th, professing moderation in matters of church government, in discipline, and in doctrine.

Mod"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moderated; p. pr. & vb. n. Moderating.]

1. To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence, intensity, or excess; to keep within bounds; to make temperate; to lessen; to allay; to repress; to temper; to qualify; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.; to moderate heat or wind. By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water. Arbuthnot. To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive. Spenser.

2. To preside over, direct, or regulate, as a public meeting; as, to moderate a synod.

Mod"er*ate, v. i.

1. To become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense; as, the wind has moderated.

2. To preside as a moderator. Dr. Barlow [was] engaged ... to moderate for him in the divinity disputation. Bp. Barlow's Remains (1693).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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