mora

noun

mo·​ra ˈmȯr-ə How to pronounce mora (audio)
plural morae ˈmȯr-(ˌ)ē How to pronounce mora (audio)
-ˌī
or moras
: the minimal unit of measure in quantitative verse equivalent to the time of an average short syllable

Word History

Etymology

Latin, delay; akin to Old Irish maraid it lasts

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mora was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near mora

Cite this Entry

“Mora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mora. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mora

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!