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Moderate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means average in amount; not extreme

Where does the word "moderate" come from? It comes from Latin moderatus, adopted directly into English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
moderatus
Latin · ancient
"kept within limits"
from 'modus', measure
2
Stage 2 of 2
moderate
English · 1300s
"restrained"
political 'moderates' date from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Moderate’s story begins in Latin: moderatus meant “kept within limits.” From 'modus', measure. It reached English by 1300s as moderate. Political 'moderates' date from the 1700s. Today, moderate means average in amount; not extreme.