moderate

  • adjective 1 average in amount, intensity, or degree. 2 (of a political position) not radical or extreme.

  • noun a person with moderate views.

  • verb 1 make or become less extreme or intense. 2 review (examination papers or results) to ensure consistency of marking. 3 preside over (a deliberative body or a debate).

  — DERIVATIVES moderately adverb.

  — ORIGIN from Latin moderare ‘reduce, control’; related to MODEST.

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