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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.

Definition 2025

moderate

moderate

English

Adjective

moderate ‎(comparative more moderate, superlative most moderate)

  1. Not excessive; acting in moderation
    moderate language
    a moderate Calvinist
    travelling at a moderate speed
    • Jonathan Swift
      A number of moderate members managed […] to obtain a majority in a thin house.
  2. Mediocre
  3. Average priced; standard-deal
  4. Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.
    a moderate winter
    • Walter
      moderate showers
  5. (US, politics) Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.

Derived terms

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:moderate
  • See also Wikisaurus:intermediate

Translations

Noun

moderate ‎(plural moderates)

  1. One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.
    While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so
    The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To reduce the excessiveness of (something)
    to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.
    • Arbuthnot
      By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water.
    • Spenser
      To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive.
  2. (intransitive) To become less excessive
  3. (transitive) To preside over (something) as a moderator
    to moderate a synod
  4. (intransitive) To act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

  • moderate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • moderate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

German

Adjective

moderate

  1. inflected form of moderat

Italian

Verb

moderate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of moderare
  2. second-person plural imperative of moderare
  3. feminine plural of moderato

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

moderāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of moderō

References

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

moderate

  1. definite singular of moderat
  2. plural form of moderat

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

moderate

  1. definite singular of moderat
  2. plural form of moderat

Etymology

From Middle English moderat, from Latin moderātus, perfect active participle of moderor ‎(“regulate, restrain, moderate”), from moder-, modes-, a stem appearing also in modestus ‎(“moderate, discreet, modest”), from modus ‎(“measure”); see mode and modest.

Pronunciation

  • Adjective, noun:
    • (UK): IPA(key): /ˈmɒdərət/
    • (US): enPR: mäd'ər-ət, IPA(key): /ˈmɑdərət/
  • Verb:
    • (UK): IPA(key): /ˈmɒdəreɪt/
    • (US): enPR: mäd'ə-rāt, IPA(key): /ˈmɑdəreɪt/

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