moderate English · revision 6767

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1392|origins=la moderor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɑdəɹət/, /ˈmɑdəɹeɪt/; /ˈmɒdəɹət/, /ˈmɒdəɹeɪt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English moderat, [[bor|la|moderātus|t=kept within bounds, restrained]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the past participle of [[m|la|moderor|alt=moderārī|t=to regulate, restrain]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from a stem *modes- related to [[m|la|modus|t=measure]] and [[m|la|modestus|t=modest]] (see [[modest]] and [[mode]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*med-|t=to take appropriate measures]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Not excessive or extreme, originally of weather and physical conditions: 1392 in Barnhart, 1398 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons, avoiding excess, it is from the early 15th century, of opinions from the 1640s and of prices from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to reduce the intensity of something, is from the early 15th century, probably before 1425 in Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) to preside over a debate from the 1570s,^(Etymonline) and to become less violent from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) The noun, a person of moderate views, is from 1794, in Burke;^(Etymonline) MWU dates it to 1648, intended as a translation of French modéré.^(MWU 2024) In Presbyterian churches to moderate is to preside over a church court.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1392 – not excessive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – the verb, to abate; of persons, temperate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – to preside over a debate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – of opinions.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1794 – a moderate person.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Mild or calm; [[temperate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Average in amount, quality or extent: ''moderate success''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Opposed to [[radical]] or extreme views, especially in politics.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person with moderate views.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become less extreme or violent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To preside over a meeting or discussion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[moderately]]

+ * [[moderateness]]

+ * [[moderation]]

+ * [[nonmoderate]]

+ * [[unmoderated]]

+ * [[unmoderating]]

+ * [[moderate breeze]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[modal]]

+ * [[modality]]

+ * [[mode]]

+ * [[model]]

+ * [[moderator]]

+ * [[module]]

+ * [[modest]]

+ * [[modicum]]

+ * [[immoderate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}