moderatio

Forms

moderātiō f (genitive moderātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from moderor “to moderate, control” with the suffix -tiō, from modus “measure”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of controlling.^[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the action of controlling or managing, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium, and in Cicero conduct that avoids extremes, moderation, self-control, temperateness, and the restraining or checking of something.^[2] Lewis & Short add the temperateness of weather.^[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for conduct that avoids extremes.^[6] It survives in Italian moderazione and Spanish moderación, and through Old French moderacion it gave English moderation in the early 15th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of moderation.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English moderation is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Moderation, restraint.^[2]
2. Self-control, temperateness.^[2]
3. Control, management.^[2]
4. Restraining, checking.^[2]

Word family

• immoderātiō

Related words

• moderor
• modus
• moderātus
• English moderation

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press