moratorium

Where does the word "moratorium" come from? It comes from Latin mora, and was adopted directly into English (1870s).

Moratorium’s story begins in Latin: mora meant “delay.” Delay; 'morātōrius' meant delaying. It reached English by 1870s as moratorium. First a legal suspension of debt payments granted by governments in crisis. Today, moratorium means a temporary ban or suspension.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mora "delay", delay; 'morātōrius' meant delaying.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1870s moratorium "temporary suspension", first a legal suspension of debt payments granted by governments in crisis.