Where does “moral” come from?

moral (Spanish) comes from Spanish mora, from Vulgar Latin mora, from Latin mōrum, from Ancient Greek μόρον, from Proto-Indo-European mórom — mulberry, blackberry.

moral (Spanish): moral; morals, standard; morale

Definitions

  1. moral; morals, standard; morale

Ancestry of “moral”, step by step

moral traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Spanish mora

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishmoraa mulberry, a mulberry fruit; default; mora
2Vulgar Latinmoradelay, or any duration of time; hindrance
3Latinmōrummulberry (fruit)
4Ancient Greekμόρονblack mulberry; blackberry
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmórommulberry, blackberry

via Latin mōrālis

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinmōrālisOf or pertaining to manners, morals or ethics; moral
2Latinmōsway or manner; behavior; conduct
3Proto-Italic*mōs—

Words derived from “moral”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European mórom →