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, temperate
2 a : tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension b : having average or less than average quality : mediocre
3 : professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
4 : limited in scope or effect
5 : not expensive : reasonable or low in price
6 of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma

— mod·er·ate·ly adverb

— mod·er·ate·ness noun