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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Moderato(u)r, n. [e.m.E. (c 1560), ME. (once, Trevisa), F. modérateur (15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. moderātor.]

1. A ruler, governor, director. 1551 Smit Bronnen II. 724.
My lordis burromaisters, counsale and moderatours of commoun weil of the towne of Middilburghe 1560 Bk. Disc. 244.
Yf any be noted with curiositie, or bringyng in any strange doctrine, he must be admonished by the moderatouris, the ministeris and eldaris

2. One chosen to preside over and control (deliberations, a deliberative body); a president or chairman. 1574 Conv. Burghs I. 30.
That … in quhatsumevir burch the conventioun is appoyntit to be haldin, the principall of that burch … to be moderator in all thingis that salbe … ressonit in the said conventioun 1582 Ib. 138. 1582 Perth Guildry 450.
In this conwentioun [of royal burghs] magister Patrik Quhitlaw … ane of our counsell for the tym wes moderator 1626 Linlithgow B. Rec. 29 Sept.
Giff the provest be absent the baillie presentt to be moderator

b. spec. One chosen so to act in a meeting, or in one of the courts, of the Reformed Church.The presiding minister or elder of a congregational meeting, Kirk session, General Assembly, etc., or the minister who ‘moderates a call’ (Moderat v. 3 c).The F. word and its corresp. verb were similarly used in the French Reformed Church of that period.Also constant (= permanent, ex officio) moderator.(1) 1564 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 52.
For eschewing of confusioun … it was thoght good that ane moderator sould be appointed 1581 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IV. 184.
Patrik Gillaspy minister … chosin be moniest votts moderator to the said elderschip 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 476.
Moderatour of the haill presbiterie of Striveling 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 148. 1596 St. A. Kirk S. 823.
That ane moderatour of the sessioun be chosin 1598 Ellon Presb. 18. 1598 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 165.
Being accusit afoir the presbyterie be the moderator 1600-1610 Melvill 415.
Whow to get a moderator meit for the purpose c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 5 b.
They … chiyced Mr Robert Bruce to be moderator and then he sayes to them all, ‘Wherat shall we begin, brethrene?’ 1618 Misc. Spald. C. II. 160. 1625 Moray Synod 10.
Mr Gavin Dunbar, chantour of Murray, deputt moderator by the bishop at his going to the southe 1638 Baillie I. 124. Ib. 130; etc. 1639 T. Hope Diary 163. 1641 Government and Order of the Church of Scotland 36.
The moderator is either chosen or they doe moderate by course, providing that none bee moderator while any matter is treated, which concerns his own particular 1642 Dunferm. Kirk S. ii.
Mr James Reddy schoolemaister was chosen moderator a1650 Row xli. Ib. 290.
Being accompanied with the Bishop of Dunkeld as moderator of the presbytery 1643 Misc. Spald. C. I. 14.
Mr. Robert Douglas moderatour of the last generall assemblye c1650 Spalding II. 421. 1655 Argyll Synod II. 89. 1671 Dunkeld Presb. I. 341. 1692 Pitcairne Assembly ii. iii. 32.
Let us not … give him any … jeestice, Moderator(2) 1607 Stirling Presb. in Hume xxxvii.
Meikelles is he habill to dischairge himself as apperteinis of the office of ane constant moderator 1609 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1072.
A controversy of the Kirk … whether the moderatour should be constant or circular as they termed it 1600-1610 Melvill 720.
Refuissing synodall, unchosine, constant moderators a1650 Row 318.
Though the constant moderators in presbyteries be nothing els in effect but the bishops' deputts c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 48.
Mr. William Struthers, minister and constant moderator of the presbytery

3. In Edinburgh: The president or chairman of the High Constables, of the captains of the Trained Bands, or of the stentmasters.See, for further examples, J. Marwick High Constables of Edinburgh (1865) 117 and the indexes to the relevant volumes of Edinb. B. Rec. 1649 Edinb. B. Rec. MS. in Marwick High Constables 117. 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 197.
[The constables] to doe all diligence for clenȝing the toun … , the moderator of the constables to intimate this ordour to the rest of the constables 1678 Ib. 353.
Captan Patoun [is elected] to be captan of the orange colours and moderator of the captanes for this year to come Ib. 344.

4. A president, in other situations.a. An umpire or referee of a race. b. A person chosen as ruler or chairman of a drinking party. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 382.
The Lord … proponed this race to us; He is president and moderator of the race 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS. 6 May.
Andro Moreis declairit that the said Robert Allane being maid moderatour of the lawin pat him in xl s. and tuik his tua clokis frome him becaus he waild nocht pay it