Main Entry:

¹mod·er·ate

Pronunciation:

\ˈmä-d(ə-)rət\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin moderatus, from past participle of moderare to moderate; akin to Latin modus measure

Date:

15th century

1 a: avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits <a moderate drinker> b: calm, temperate2 a: tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension b: having average or less than average quality : mediocre3: professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme4: limited in scope or effect5: not expensive : reasonable or low in price6of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma

— mod·er·ate·ly adverb

— mod·er·ate·ness noun