moral

[mawr-uh l, mor-] /ˈmɔr əl, ˈmɒr-/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical:
moral attitudes.
2.
expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work.
3.
founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom:
moral obligations.
4.
capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct:
a moral being.
5.
conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral):
a moral man.
6.
virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.
7.
of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character:
moral support.
8.
resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual:
a moral certainty.
noun
9.
the moral teaching or practical lesson contained in a fable, tale, experience, etc.
10.
the embodiment or type of something.
11.
morals, principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English < Latin mōrālis, equivalent to mōr- (stem of mōs) usage, custom + -ālis -al1
Related forms
moralless, adjective
antimoral, adjective
hypermoral, adjective
hypermorally, adverb
overmoral, adjective
overmorally, adverb
premoral, adjective
premorally, adverb
pseudomoral, adjective
quasi-moral, adjective
quasi-morally, adverb
supermoral, adjective
supermorally, adverb
undermoral, adjective
Can be confused
moral, morale (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
5. upright, honest, straightforward, open, virtuous, honorable. 11. integrity, standards, morality. Morals, ethics refer to rules and standards of conduct and practice. Morals refers to generally accepted customs of conduct and right living in a society, and to the individual's practice in relation to these: the morals of our civilization. Ethics now implies high standards of honest and honorable dealing, and of methods used, especially in the professions or in business: ethics of the medical profession.
Examples from the web for moral
  • The tone of sentiment which prevails throughout is noble and elevated, and the political and moral precepts highly commendable.
  • That's not merely an academic question,but a sort of ethical and moral issues.
  • Shutting the door on scientific truth seekers, working to better the lot of mankind is a moral, ethical abomination.
  • What comes to mind when I say moral blind spots?
  • The room grew unbearably hot as researchers gathered to discuss the moral development of students.
  • Tales gradually got softer, sweeter, and primly moral.
  • In a classic example, people seem to understand moral virtue as if it were akin to physical cleanliness.
  • The moral of the story? If you drink a wine in down-the-hatch fashion, you simply won't get the full impact of its flavor.
  • Integrity is more than a moral compass.
  • For now I see the moral.
British Dictionary definitions for moral

moral

/ˈmɒrəl/
adjective
1.
concerned with or relating to human behaviour, esp the distinction between good and bad or right and wrong behaviour: moral sense
2.
adhering to conventionally accepted standards of conduct
3.
based on a sense of right and wrong according to conscience: moral courage, moral law
4.
having psychological rather than tangible effects: moral support
5.
having the effects but not the appearance of (victory or defeat): a moral victory, a moral defeat
6.
having a strong probability: a moral certainty
7.
(law) (of evidence, etc) based on a knowledge of the tendencies of human nature
noun
8.
the lesson to be obtained from a fable or event: point the moral
9.
a concise truth; maxim
10.
(pl) principles of behaviour in accordance with standards of right and wrong
Derived Forms
morally, adverb
Word Origin
C14: from Latin mōrālis relating to morals or customs, from mōs custom
Word Origin and History for moral
adj.

mid-14c., "pertaining to character or temperament" (good or bad), from Old French moral (14c.) and directly from Latin moralis "proper behavior of a person in society," literally "pertaining to manners," coined by Cicero ("De Fato," II.i) to translate Greek ethikos (see ethics) from Latin mos (genitive moris) "one's disposition," in plural, "mores, customs, manners, morals," of uncertain origin. Perhaps sharing a PIE root with English mood (1).

Meaning "morally good, conforming to moral rules," is first recorded late 14c. of stories, 1630s of persons. Original value-neutral sense preserved in moral support, moral victory (with sense of "pertaining to character as opposed to physical action"). Related: Morally.

n.

"moral exposition of a story," c.1500, from moral (adj.) and from French moral and Late Latin morale.

moral in Technology


Mentioned in "An Overview of Ada", J.G.P. Barnes, Soft Prac & Exp 10:851-887 (1980).