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Attenuate vs Moderate - What's the difference?

attenuate | moderate |

In transitive terms the difference between attenuate and moderate

is that attenuate is to rarefy while moderate is to preside over (something) as a moderator.

As a noun moderate is

one who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.

attenuate

English

Verb

(attenuat)
  • To reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.
  • * 1874 , , Far From the Madding Crowd , ch. 40:
  • A manor-house clock from the far depths of shadow struck the hour, one, in a small, attenuated tone.
  • To make thinner, as by physically reshaping, starving, or decaying.
  • * 1899 , , His New Mittens , ch. 4:
  • Clumps of attenuated turkeys were suspended here and there.
  • * 1906 , , The Malefactor , ch. 1:
  • Lovell, wan and hollow-eyed, his arm in a sling, his once burly frame gaunt and attenuated with disease, nodded.
  • To weaken.
  • * Coleridge
  • The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts.
  • * Sir F. Palgrave
  • We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagreness.
  • To rarefy.
  • * 1901 , , The First Men in the Moon , ch. 23:
  • "It speedily became apparent that the entire strangeness of our circumstances and surroundings—great loss of weight, attenuated but highly oxygenated air, consequent exaggeration of the results of muscular effort, rapid development of weird plants from obscure spores, lurid sky—was exciting my companion unduly."
  • (medicine) To reduce the virulence of a bacteria or virus.
  • (electronics) To reduce the amplitude of an electrical signal.
  • Antonyms

    * amplify (electronics)

    Derived terms

    * attenuation * attenuable

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (botany, of leaves) Gradually tapering into a petiole-like extension toward the base.
  • ----

    moderate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not excessive; acting in moderation
  • moderate language
    a moderate Calvinist
    travelling at a moderate speed
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • A number of moderate members managed to obtain a majority in a thin house.
  • Mediocre
  • Average priced; standard-deal
  • Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.
  • a moderate winter
  • * Walter
  • moderate showers
  • (US, politics) Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.
  • Derived terms

    * moderately * moderateness

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also

    Noun

    (wikipedia moderate) (en noun)
  • One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.
  • ''While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so
    The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.

    Verb

    (moderat)
  • To reduce the excessiveness of (something)
  • to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.
  • * Arbuthnot
  • By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water.
  • * Spenser
  • To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive.
  • To become less excessive
  • To preside over (something) as a moderator
  • to moderate a synod
  • To act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise
  • Synonyms

    * (reduce excesses ) temperate * (preside ) arbitrate, chair

    Derived terms

    * moderation * moderating

    References

    * * English heteronyms ----