MORAL
moral
(adjective) concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles; “moral sense”; “a moral scrutiny”; “a moral lesson”; “a moral quandary”; “moral convictions”; “a moral life”
moral
(adjective) psychological rather than physical or tangible in effect; “a moral victory”; “moral support”
moral, lesson
(noun) the significance of a story or event; “the moral of the story is to love thy neighbor”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
moral (comparative more moral, superlative most moral)
Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially for teaching right behaviour.
Conforming to a standard of right behaviour; sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment.
Capable of right and wrong action.
Probable but not proved.
Positively affecting the mind, confidence, or will.
Synonyms
• (conforming to a standard of right behaviour): ethical, incorruptible, noble, righteous, virtuous
• (probable but not proved): virtual
Antonyms
• immoral, unethical, corrupt, unscrupulous, amoral, non-moral, unmoral
Noun
moral (plural morals)
(of a narrative) The ethical significance or practical lesson.
(chiefly, in the plural) Moral practices or teachings: modes of conduct.
(obsolete) A morality play.
(slang, dated) A certainty.
(slang, dated) An exact counterpart.
Synonyms
• (moral practices or teachings): ethics, mores
Hyponyms
• golden rule
Verb
moral (third-person singular simple present morals, present participle moralling or moraling, simple past and past participle moralled or moraled)
(intransitive) To moralize.
Anagrams
• Marlo, molar, romal
Source: Wiktionary
Mor"al, a. Etym: [F., fr. It. moralis, fr. mos, moris, manner,
custom, habit, way of life, conduct.]
1. Relating to duty or obligation; pertaining to those intentions and
actions of which right and wrong, virtue and vice, are predicated, or
to the rules by which such intentions and actions ought to be
directed; relating to the practice, manners, or conduct of men as
social beings in relation to each other, as respects right and wrong,
so far as they are properly subject to rules.
Keep at the least within the compass of moral actions, which have in
them vice or virtue. Hooker.
Mankind is broken loose from moral bands. Dryden.
She had wandered without rule or guidance in a moral wilderness.
Hawthorne.
2. Conformed to accepted rules of right; acting in conformity with
such rules; virtuous; just; as, a moral man. Used sometimes in
distinction from religious; as, a moral rather than a religious life.
The wiser and more moral part of mankind. Sir M. Hale.
3. Capable of right and wrong action or of being governed by a sense
of right; subject to the law of duty.
A moral agent is a being capable of those actions that have a moral
quality, and which can properly be denominated good or evil in a
moral sense. J. Edwards.
4. Acting upon or through one's moral nature or sense of right, or
suited to act in such a manner; as, a moral arguments; moral
considerations. Sometimes opposed to material and physical; as, moral
pressure or support.
5. Supported by reason or probability; practically sufficient; --
opposed to legal or demonstrable; as, a moral evidence; a moral
certainty.
6. Serving to teach or convey a moral; as, a moral lesson; moral
tales. Moral agent, a being who is capable of acting with reference
to right and wrong.
– Moral certainty, a very high degree or probability, although not
demonstrable as a certainty; a probability of so high a degree that
it can be confidently acted upon in the affairs of life; as, there is
a moral certainty of his guilt.
– Moral insanity, insanity, so called, of the moral system; badness
alleged to be irresponsible.
– Moral philosophy, the science of duty; the science which treats
of the nature and condition of man as a moral being, of the duties
which result from his moral relations, and the reasons on which they
are founded.
– Moral play, an allegorical play; a morality. [Obs.] -- Moral
sense, the power of moral judgment and feeling; the capacity to
perceive what is right or wrong in moral conduct, and to approve or
disapprove, independently of education or the knowledge of any
positive rule or law.
– Moral theology, theology applied to morals; practical theology;
casuistry.
Mor"al, n.
1. The doctrine or practice of the duties of life; manner of living
as regards right and wrong; conduct; behavior; -- usually in the
plural.
Corrupt in their morals as vice could make them. South.
2. The inner meaning or significance of a fable, a narrative, an
occurrence, an experience, etc.; the practical lesson which anything
is designed or fitted to teach; the doctrine meant to be inculcated
by a fiction; a maxim.
Thus may we gather honey from the weed, And make a moral of the devil
himself. Shak.
To point a moral, or adorn a tale. Johnson.
We protest against the principle that the world of pure comedy is one
into which no moral enters. Macaulay.
3. A morality play. See Morality, 5.
Mor"al, v. i.
Definition: To moralize. [Obs.] Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition