How should 'moderately armed and armored' be understood in a dictionary definition of a cruiser?
Short answerThe phrase is contextual. A moderate cruiser armament or armor scheme in 1910 is different from one in the 1930s.
NotesThe word 'moderate' depends on the comparison being made. What counted as moderate armament and armor in 1910 differed from the standards of the 1930s. The same dictionary wording therefore describes different material standards over time. A cruiser definition has to be read within its historical setting.