morality

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Recognition of the distinction between good and evil or between right and wrong; respect for and obedience to the rules of right conduct; the mental disposition or characteristic of behaving in a manner intended to produce morally good results.
  2. A set of social rules, customs, traditions, beliefs, or practices which specify proper, acceptable forms of conduct.
  3. A set of personal guiding principles for conduct or a general notion of how to behave, whether respectable or not.
  4. A lesson or pronouncement which contains advice about proper behavior.
  5. A morality play.
  6. Moral philosophy, the branch of philosophy which studies the grounds and nature of rightness, wrongness, good, and evil.
  7. A particular theory concerning the grounds and nature of rightness, wrongness, good, and evil.

Pronunciation

/məˈɹælɪti/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-morality.wav

Word forms

morality moralities

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman moralité, Middle French moralité, from Late Latin mōrālitās (“manner, characteristic, character”), from Latin mōrālis (“relating to manners or morals”), from mōs (“manner, custom”). equivalent to moral + -ity.

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