moral

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin moralis, from mor-, mos custom Date: 14th century 1. a. of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior ; ethical <

moral judgments

> b. expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <

a moral poem

> c. conforming to a standard of right behavior d. sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <

a moral obligation

> e. capable of right and wrong action <

a moral agent

> 2. probable though not proved ; virtual <

a moral certainty

> 3. perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect <

a moral victory

> <

moral support

> • morally adverb Synonyms: moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <

the basic moral values of a community

>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <

committed to the highest ethical principles

>. virtuous implies moral excellence in character <

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <

wished to be righteous before God and the world

>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

>. II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a. the moral 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