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Today it means

moral

relating to principles of right and wrong behavior

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Where does the word "moral" come from? It comes from Latin mos, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "moral" come from? It comes from Latin mos, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Moral’s story begins in Latin: mos meant “custom, manner.” Custom, manner, the plural mores meaning customs or morals. It reached English by 1300s as moral. Settled as the English word for principles of right and wrong behavior. Today, moral means relating to principles of right and wrong behavior.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mos "custom, manner", custom, manner, the plural mores meaning customs or morals.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s moral "relating to principles of right and wrong behavior", settled as the English word for principles of right and wrong behavior.

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