Quite thoroughly off topic, but solely at the invitation of
Daniel A(
), we present some English lessons:
1.
Moral -
n. the moral significance or practical lesson (as of a story) Example: "The
moral of the story is that you should not attack anyone named King John unless you want to fight a very long war."
2.
Morals -
n. pl. moral practices or teachings : modes of conduct
Example: "My
morals preclude me from pausing during a war."
3.
Moral -
adj. of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior Example: He is a
moral player whose
moral judgment is impeccable.
4.
Morale -
n. the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand Example: His
morale is low after he lost five provinces in one war.
Now, interestingly,
morale and
moral both derive from the same French word,
moral, which, if I understand and remember correctly, can be an adjective with meaning similar to the English adjectival form, can be a masculine noun with a meaning similar to meaning 4 above, and can be a feminine noun (
morale) with a meaning similar to that English uses in 1 and 2 above. The French version derives from
mos, Latin for "custom", through the adjectival form
moralis.
Interestingly,
Merriam-Webster OnLine, from which the above definitions are excerpted, offers as a meaning for
morale a meaning synonymous with 1 above, and says it derives directly from the feminine form of the French word. However, my three printed dictionaries, including my quite massive old one from my college days, do not offer that as a possible use of
morale in English, and I certainly would never use it in that fashion.
How is that for much more than you wanted to know?
