morality

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /məˈɹælɪti/ Rhymes: -ælɪti === Noun === morality (countable and uncountable, plural moralities) (uncountable) 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. (countable) A set of social rules, customs, traditions, beliefs, or practices which specify proper, acceptable forms of conduct. (countable) A set of personal guiding principles for conduct or a general notion of how to behave, whether respectable or not. (countable, archaic) A lesson or pronouncement which contains advice about proper behavior. (countable) A morality play. (uncountable, rare) Moral philosophy, the branch of philosophy which studies the grounds and nature of rightness, wrongness, good, and evil. (countable, rare) A particular theory concerning the grounds and nature of rightness, wrongness, good, and evil. ==== Usage notes ==== Although the terms morality and ethics may sometimes be used interchangeably, philosophical ethicists often distinguish them, using morality and its related terms to refer to actual, real-world beliefs and practices concerning proper conduct, and using ethics to refer to theories and conceptual studies relating to good and evil and right and wrong. In this vein, the American philosopher Brand Blanshard wrote concerning his friend, the eminent British ethicist G. E. Moore: "We often discussed ethics, but seldom morals. . . . He was a master in ethical theory, but did not conceive himself as specially qualified to pass opinions on politics or social issues." ==== Synonyms ==== (recognition of or obedience to the rules of right conduct): decency, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness, virtuousness (personal guiding principles): morals (set of customs, traditions, rules of conduct): conventions, morals, mores (lesson or pronouncement which contains advice): homily (branch of philosophy): ethics, moral philosophy (particular theory concerning the grounds and nature of rightness, wrongness, etc.): ethics, moral philosophy ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “recognition of or obedience to the rules of right conduct”): amorality, immorality ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== “morality”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “morality”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “morality”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === References === === Anagrams === molarity