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Webster 1913 Edition

Moderate

Mod′er-ate

,
Adj.
[L.
moderatus
, p. p. of
moderate
,
moderati
, to moderate, regulate, control, fr.
modus
measure. See
Mode
.]
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
moderate
Republican
.
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

,
Noun.
(Eccl. Hist.)
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

,
Verb.
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.

Mod′er-ate

,
Verb.
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).

Webster 1828 Edition

Moderate

MOD'ERATE

,
Adj.
[L. moderatus, from moderor, to limit, from modus, a limit.]
1.
Literally, limited; restrained; hence, temperate; observing reasonable bounds in indulgence; as moderate in eating or drinking, or in other gratifications.
2.
Limited in quantity; not excessive or expensive. He keeps a moderate table.
3.
Restrained in passion, ardor or temper; not violent; as moderate men of both parties.
4.
Not extreme in opinion; as a moderate Calvinist or Lutheran.
5.
Placed between extremes; holding the mean or middle place; as reformation of a moderate kind.
6.
Temperate; not extreme, violent or rigorous; as moderate weather; a moderate winter; moderate heat; a moderate breeze of wind.
7.
Of a middle rate; as men of moderate abilities.
8.
Not swift; as a moderate walk.

MOD'ERATE

,
Verb.
T.
To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence; to lessen; to allay; to repress; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, &c.; to moderate heat or wind.
1.
To temper; to make temperate; to qualify.
By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water.

MOD'ERATE

,
Verb.
I.
To become less violent, severe, rigorous or intense. The cold or winter usually moderates in March; the heat of summer moderates in September.

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