moral English · revision 5061

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1340|origins=la moralis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmɒr.əl/, US /ˈmɔːr.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|moral]], [[bor|fro|moral]] and directly from [[la|mōrālis|t=relating to manners or customs]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from mōs, mōris “disposition, custom”, plural mōrēs “manners, morals”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Cicero is said to have coined mōrālis to render Greek ēthikós “ethical”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The origin of mōs is uncertain,^(Etymonline) though it may share a root with English [[mood]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[morale]], [[mores]] and [[morose]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to character or conduct as good or bad: before 1340 in the OED, about 1340 in Richard Rolle's Psalter in Barnhart, the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Concerned with the rules of right conduct as a subject of study is from 1387.^(OED 1989) Of persons, habitually following moral rules, it is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) and of rights and duties founded on morality rather than law from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) The sense “affecting character or mind rather than the body” is from the 1590s, as in ''moral support'' (1823) and ''moral victory'' (1888).^(Etymonline) As a noun, the plural rendered Latin Moralia, the title of Gregory the Great's commentary on Job, from about 1380,^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) and the lesson of a fable or story is from about 1500.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Morals'', habits of conduct, are from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) French ''morale'' was borrowed in the 18th century and later spelled with -e to show the stress.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) In dialect ''the very moral of'' meant an exact likeness.^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1340 – adjective, of conduct.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – the Moralia.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – moral philosophy.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – noun, the lesson of a story.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1630s – of persons, virtuous.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – ''moral support''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Following accepted standards of right behaviour; [[virtuous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Based on conscience or a sense of right rather than law: ''a moral obligation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Psychological rather than physical: ''moral support''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The lesson taught by a story or event.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(plural)'' Principles of right conduct, especially in sexual matters.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[morally]]

+ * [[moralless]]

+ * [[hypermoral]]

+ * [[moralistic]]

+ * [[nonmoral]]

+ * [[premoral]]

+ * [[moral hazard]]

+ * [[Moral Majority]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[morale]]

+ * [[morality]]

+ * [[moralize]]

+ * [[mores]]

+ * [[morose]]

+ * [[mood]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Moral, ethical, virtuous and righteous all mean in keeping with right conduct, but moral is used chiefly of personal character and behaviour, especially sexual conduct, and ethical more of rules of right conduct, such as those of a profession.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}