moral

²mor·al

noun \ˈmȯr-əl, ˈmär-; 3 is mə-ˈral\

Definition of MORAL

1

a : the moral (see ¹moral) significance or practical lesson (as of a story) b : a passage pointing out usually in conclusion the lesson to be drawn from a story

2

plural a : moral practices or teachings : modes of conduct b : ethics

3

: morale

Examples of MORAL

1. The moral of the story is to be satisfied with what you have.
2. The moral here is: pay attention to the warning lights in your car.
3. Socrates was accused of corrupting the morals of the youth of Athens.
4. The author points to recent cases of fraud as evidence of the lack of morals in the business world.

Origin of MORAL

(see ¹moral)

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody