moderation

Etymology

From Middle French [Term?], from Old French moderacion, from Latin moderātiō. Morphologically moderate + -ion.

noun

1. The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes
   ...It regulates and governs the Passions of the Mind, and brings them into due moderation and frame... 1696, William Stephens, An Account of the Growth of Deism in England, page 17
   Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation! 1772, Robert Clive, http://books.google.com/books?id=twVuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA394
   America is a model of force and freedom and moderation - with all the coarseness and rudeness of its people. 1821 October 12, Lord Byron, http://books.google.com/books?id=5q4XBa5jsy8C&pg=PA7
2. An instance of moderating: bringing something away from extremes, especially in a beneficial way
   With the quick moderation of the weather some buying has appeared that had been held up because of the extremely cold weather […]. 1936 March, The Southern Lumberman, page 34
3. The process of moderating a discussion
   The moderation of a large online forum can be hard work.