moderate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not extreme

   a moderate penalty

2. 2
   adj

   marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes

   They were moderate always in their requests.

3. 3
   verb

   make less fast or intense

   moderate your speed

4. 4
   verb

   preside over

   John moderated the discussion

5. 5
   verb

   make less severe or harsh

   The teacher moderated their tone when the students burst out in tears.

6. 6
   adj

   Not excessive; acting in moderation

   moderate language

7. 7
   adj

   Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.

   a moderate winter

8. 8
   noun

   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

Etymology

From Middle English moderat(e) (“moderate, temperate”), borrowed from Latin moderātus, perfect active participle of moderor (“to regulate, to restrain, to moderate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from moder-, modes-, a stem appearing also in modestus (“moderate, discreet, modest”), from modus (“a measure”); see mode and modest. Doublet of moderato. Displaced native Old English ġemetlīċ (“moderate”) and metegian (“to moderate”). Cognate with French modéré.