A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

morale --- 1752, "moral principles or practice," from Fr. morale "morality, good conduct," from fem. of O.Fr. moral "moral" (see moral (adj.)). Meaning "confidence" (especially of military) first recorded 1831, from confusion with Fr. moral (Fr. distinguishes le moral "temperament" and la morale "morality").

morality --- c.1386, "moral qualities," from O.Fr. moralité, from L.L. moralitatem (nom. moralitas) "manner, character," from L. moralis (see moral (adj.)). Meaning "goodness" is attested from 1592.

morass --- wet, swampy tract, 1655, from Du. moeras "marsh, fen," from M.Du. marasch, from O.Fr. marais "marsh," from Frank., possibly from W.Gmc. *marisk, from P.Gmc. *mariskaz "like a lake," from *mari "sea." The M.Du. word was infl. by Du. moer "moor" (see moor (n.)). Fig. use is attested from 1867.

moratorium --- 1875, originally a legal term for "authorization to a debtor to postpone payment," from neut. of L.L. moratorius "tending to delay," from L. morari "to delay," from mora "pause, delay," originally "standing there thinking." The word didn't come out of italics until 1914. General sense of "a postponement, deliberate temporary suspension" is first recorded 1932.

Moravian --- 1746, Protestant sect founded in the former Ger. state of Moravia (now in Czech Republic), from M.L., named for River Morva (Ger. March, L. Marus), which runs through it.

moray --- 1624, from Port. moreia, from L. muraena "sea eel, lamprey," from Gk. smyraina, from smyros "sea eel."

morbid --- 1656, "of the nature of a disease, indicative of a disease," from L. morbidus "diseased," from morbus "sickness, disease," from root of mori "to die," or from PIE base *mor- "to rub, pound, wear away" (cf. Gk. marainein "to consume, exhaust," marasmus "consumption"). Transf. use, of mental states, is from 1777.

mordant (adj.) --- 1474, "caustic" (of words, speech), from M.Fr. mordant, lit. "biting," prp. of mordre "to bite," from L. mordere "to bite or sting" (see smart (v.)). The noun sense in dyeing is first recorded 1791; the adj. in this sense is from 1902.

Mordecai --- masc. proper name, biblical cousin of Esther, from Heb. Mordekhay, from Akkad. Marduk, chief god of the city of Babylon.

more --- O.E. mara (adj.) "greater, more," used as a comp. of micel "great" (see mickle), from P.Gmc. *maizon (cf. O.S. mera, O.N. meiri, O.Fris. mara, M.Du. mere, O.H.G. mero, Ger. mehr), from PIE *meis (cf. Avestan mazja "greater," O.Ir. mor "great," Gk. -moros "great," Oscan mais "more"). O.E. used related ma "more" as adv., n., from P.Gmc. *mais; this became M.E. mo, but more in this sense began to predominate in later M.E.

moreover --- c.1374, in phrase and yit more ouer "there is more to say;" from more + over. Used as one word from 1393.

mores --- customs, 1907, from L. mores "customs, manners, morals" (see moral).

Morgan --- type of horses, 1843, named for Justin Morgan (1747-98), Amer. teacher; the breed was developed in New England from a stallion he owned.

morganatic --- 1727, from Fr. morganatique, from M.L. matrimonium ad morganaticam "marriage of the morning," probably from O.H.G. *morgangeba (M.H.G. morgengabe) "morning gift," corresponding to O.E. morgengifu (see morn + gift). In an unequal marriage between a man of royal blood and a common woman, this was a gift traditionally given to the wife on the morning after consummation, representing the only share she and her children may claim in the husband's estate. Also known as left-handed marriage, because the groom gives the bride his left hand instead of his right, but sometimes this latter term is used of a class of marriage (esp. in Germany) where the spouse of inferior rank is not elevated, but the children inherit rights of succession.

morgen --- old measure of land in Holland (hence also in S.Africa and colonial N.Y. and N.J.), roughly two acres, probably lit. "morning," meaning "the amount of land one man can plow in a morning."

morgue --- mortuary, 1821, from Fr. Morgue, originally a specific building in Paris where bodies were exposed for identification; originally the place where new prisoners were displayed to keepers to establish their identification. Probably from morgue "haughtiness," originally "a sad expression, solemn look," from O.Fr. morguer "look solemnly," from V.L. *murricare "to make a face, pout," from *murrum "muzzle, snout." Adopted as a general term in U.S., 1880s, replacing earlier dead house, etc. In newspaper slang, "collection of pre-written obituary material of living persons" (1903), hence "library of clips, photos, etc.," 1918.

moribund --- 1721, "about to die," from Fr. moribund (16c.), from L. moribundus "dying," from mori "to die" (see mortal). Fig. sense of "near an end" is from 1837.

morituri te salutant --- from L., lit. "those about to die salute you," words addressed to emperor by gladiators upon entering the arena. Third person sing. is moriturus te salutat, first person sing. is moriturus te saluto.

Mormon --- 1830, coined by religion founder Joseph Smith (1805-1844) in Seneca County, N.Y., in allusion to Mormon, supposed prophet and author of "The Book of Mormon," explained by Smith as meaning more mon, from Eng. more + Egyptian mon "good."

morn --- contracted from M.E. morwen, from O.E. (Mercian) margen (dat. marne), earlier morgen (dat. morgne), from P.Gmc. *marganaz, *murganaz "morning" (cf. O.H.G. morgen, Goth. maurgins), perhaps from PIE base *mergh- "to blink, twinkle" (cf. Lith. mirgeti "to blink").

morning --- c.1250, morn, morewen (see morn) + suffix -ing, on pattern of evening. Originally the time just before sunrise. Morning after "hangover" is from 1884; as a type of contraception, attested from 1867. Morning sickness first recorded 1879 (O.E. had morgenwlætung). Morning glory is from 1814, in ref. to the time the flowers open. Morning star "Venus in the east before sunrise" is from 1535 (O.E. had morgensteorra).

morocco --- kind of fine flexible leather, 1634, short for Morocco leather, from Morocco, the country in northwest Africa, where the tanned leather was first made. The country name is from It., from Berber Marrakesh (properly the name of the city of Marrakesh), from Ar. Maghrib-al-Aqca "Extreme West."

moron --- 1910, from Gk. (Attic) moron, neut. of moros "foolish, dull" (probably cognate with Skt. murah "idiotic;" L. morus "foolish" is a loan-word from Gk.). Adopted by the American Association for the Study of the Feeble-minded with a technical definition "adult with a mental age between 8 and 12;" used as an insult since 1922 and subsequently dropped from technical use. Linnæus had introduced morisis "idiocy."

morose --- 1534 (implied in morosity), "gloomy," from L. morosus "morose, peevish, fastidious," from mos (gen. moris) "habit, custom" (see moral). Though in Eng., manners by itself means "(good) manners," here the implication in L. is "(bad) manners."

morpheme --- 1896, "part of a word which contains the affixes," from Fr. morphème, coined from Gk. morphe "form, shape" (see morphine), on analogy of phonème.

morphine --- 1828, from Fr. morphine or Ger. Morphin (1816), name coined in allusion to L. Morpheus, Ovid's name for the god of dreams, son of Sleep, lit. "the maker of shapes," from Gk. morphe "form, shape, beauty, outward appearance," perhaps from PIE *merph-, possible Gk. root meaning "form," of unknown origin. So called because of the drug's sleep-inducing properties.

morphing --- as a special effect, 1991, from (meta)morph(osis).

Morris --- style of furniture, wallpaper, etc., 1880, in ref. to poet and craftsman William Morris (1834-96).

morris dance --- 1458, moreys daunce "Moorish dance," from Flem. mooriske dans, from O.Fr. morois "Moor." Unknown why the Eng. dance was called this, unless in ref. to fantastic dancing or costumes (cf. It. Moresco, a related dance, lit. "Moorish," Ger. moriskentanz, Fr. moresque).

morrow --- c.1275, morwe, shortened variation of morewen "morrow" (see morn).

Morse code --- 1867, earlier Morse key (1858), in allusion to Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872), U.S. inventor who produced a system of telegraphic communication 1836. He invented both the recording telegraph and the alphabet of dots and dashes.

morsel --- c.1290, from O.Fr. morsel (Fr. marceau) "small bite," dim. of mors "a bite," from L. morsus "biting, bite," neut. pp. of mordere "to bite" (see mordant).

mortal (adj.) --- c.1368, "deadly," also "doomed to die" (c.1374), from O.Fr. mortel "destined to die," from L. mortalis "subject to death," from mors (gen. mortis) "death," from PIE base *mor-/*mr- "die" (cf. Skt. mrtih "death," Avestan miryeite "dies," O.Pers. martiya- "man," Armenian meranim "die," Lith. mirtis "mortal man," Gk. brotos "mortal" (hence ambrotos "immortal"), O.C.S. mrutvu "dead," O.Ir. marb, Welsh marw "died," O.E. morþ "murder"). The most widespread IE root for "to die," forming the common word for it except in Gk. and Gmc. The noun meaning "mortal thing or substance" is first recorded 1526. Mortality "condition of being mortal" is attested from 1340. In the sense of "loss of life on a large scale" it is from c.1400; as "number of deaths in a given period" it is first recorded 1645.

mortar (1) --- mixture of cement, c.1290, from O.Fr. mortier, from L. mortarium "mortar," also "crushed drugs," probably the same word as mortarium "bowl for mixing or pounding" (see mortar (2)). Mortarboard "academic cap" (1854) so called because it resembles a mason's square board for carrying mortar.

mortar (2) --- bowl for pounding, c.1300, from O.Fr. mortier, from L. mortarium "bowl for mixing or pounding," also "material prepared in it," of unknown origin and impossible now to determine which sense was original. O.E. had mortere, from the same L. source.

mortar (3) --- short cannon, 1558, originally mortar-piece, from M.Fr. mortier "short cannon," from O.Fr. "bowl for mixing or pounding" (see mortar (2)). So called for its shape.

mortgage (n.) --- 1390, from O.Fr. morgage (13c.), mort gaige, lit. "dead pledge" (replaced in modern Fr. by hypothèque), from mort "dead" + gage "pledge;" so called because the deal dies either when the debt is paid or when payment fails. O.Fr. mort is from V.L. *mortus "dead," from L. mortuus, pp. of mori "to die" (see mortal). The verb is first attested 1467.

mortician --- 1895, Amer.Eng., coined from mort(uary) + -ician, as in physician.

mortify --- 1382, "to kill," from O.Fr. mortifier, from L.L. mortificare "cause death," from mortificus "producing death," from L. mors (gen. mortis) "death" (see mortal) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Religious sense of "to subdue the flesh by abstinence and discipline" first attested c.1412. Sense of "humiliate" first recorded 1645 in mortification (which is attested c.1386 in its base sense of "mortifying the flesh").

Mortimer --- masc. proper name, from Mortemer, name of a place in Normandy.

mortise --- c.1400, "hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint," from O.Fr. mortaise (13c.), possibly from Ar. murtazz "fastened," pp. of razza "cut a mortise in." Cf. Sp. mortaja.

mortmain --- inalienable ownership, 1450, from O.Fr. mortemain "dead hand," from M.L. mortua manus. Probably a metaphorical expression.

Morton's Fork --- 1889, in ref. to John Morton (c.1420-1500), archbishop of Canterbury, who levied forced loans under Henry VII by arguing the obviously rich could afford to pay and the obviously poor were obviously living frugally and thus had savings and could pay, too.

mortuary --- 1330, from Anglo-Fr. mortuarie "gift to a parish priest from a deceased parishioner," from M.L. mortuarium, from neut. of mortuarius "pertaining to the dead," from L. mortuus, pp. of mori "to die" (see mortal). Meaning "place where bodies are kept temporarily" first recorded 1865, a euphemism for earlier deadhouse.

mosaic --- c.1400, from O.Fr. mosaicq "mosaic work," from M.L. musaicum "mosaic work, work of the Muses," neut. of musaicus "of the Muses," from L. Musa (see muse). Medieval mosaics were often dedicated to the Muses. The word formed in M.L. as though from Gk., but the (late) Gk. word for "mosaic work" was mouseion. Fig. use is from 1644.

Mosaic --- pertaining to Moses, 1662 (earlier Mosaical, 1563), from L. Mosaicus, from Moses (q.v.).

Mosasaurus --- 1830, from L. Mosa "the river Meuse;" the fossils of the ancient reptile were first discovered 1780 near Maastricht, on the Meuse.

Moselle --- 1687, "wine from the valley of the river Moselle.

Moses --- masc. proper name, name of Hebrew prophet and lawgiver, from L., from Gk. Mouses, from Heb. Mosheh, of unknown origin.

mosey --- 1829, Amer.Eng. slang, of unknown origin, perhaps related to British dial. mose about "go around in a dull, stupid way." Or perhaps from Sp. vamos (see vamoose).

mosh --- to dance (with a certain amount of violence) to metal music in a tightly packed arena, 1987, perhaps a variant of mash.

Moslem --- see Muslim.

mosque --- c.1400, moseak, probably from M.Fr. mosquée, from It. moschea, from Sp. mesquita (modern mezquita), from Arabic masjid "temple, place of worship," from sajada "he worshipped" + prefix ma- denoting "place." In M.E. as muskey, moseache, etc.

mosquito --- c.1583, from Sp. mosquito "little gnat," dim. of mosca "fly," from L. musca "fly," from PIE base *mu-, perhaps imitative of the sound of humming insects. Colloquial form skeeter is attested from 1839.

moss --- O.E. meos "moss," related to mos "bog," from P.Gmc. *musan (cf. O.H.G. mios, Ger. Moos), also in part from O.N. mosi "moss, bog," and M.L. mossa "moss," from the same Gmc. source, from PIE *meus- (cf. L. muscus "moss," Lith. musai "mold, mildew," O.C.S. muchu "moss"), from base *meu- "moist, marsh." All the Gmc. languages have the word in both senses, which is natural since moss is the characteristic plant of boggy places. It is impossible to say which sense is original.

most --- O.E. mast "greatest number, amount, extent," earlier mæst, from P.Gmc. *maistaz (cf. O.S. mest, O.N. mestr, Ger. meist, Goth. maists "most"), superlative form of P.Gmc. *maiz, root of O.E. ma, mara (see more). Used in O.E. as superl. of micel "great, large" (see mickle). Vowel influenced by more. Original sense of "greatest" survives in phrase for the most part (c.1400). Slang meaning "the best, extremely good" is attested from 1953. Double superlative mostest is 1885, from U.S. Southern and Black English.

mot --- a witty saying, 1586, from Fr. mot, lit. "word," cognate of It. motto (q.v.). Mot juste (1912) is from Fr., lit. "exact word," the precisely appropriate expression in some situation.

mote --- particle of dust, O.E. mot, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Du. mot "dust from turf, sawdust, grit." Many references are to Matt. vii.3.

motel --- 1925, coined from motor + hotel. Originally a hotel for automobile travelers.

motet --- choral composition on a sacred text, c.1380, from O.Fr. motet (13c.), dim. of mot "word," from L. mutum "grunt, murmur."

moth --- O.E. moððe (Northumbrian mohðe), common Gmc. (cf. O.N. motti, M.Du. motte, Ger. Motte "moth"), perhaps related to O.E. maða "maggot," or from the root of midge (q.v.). Until 16c. used mostly of the larva, usually in reference to devouring clothes (cf. Matt. vi.20).

mothball --- 1906, naphthalene ball stored among fabrics to keep off moths, from moth + ball. The verb in the figurative sense is first recorded 1949, in ref. to retiring of U.S. warships after World War II.

mother --- O.E. modor, from P.Gmc. *mothær (cf. O.S. modar, Dan. moder, Du. moeder, Ger. Mutter), from PIE *mater- (cf. L. mater, O.Ir. mathir, Lith. mote, Skt. matar-, Gk. meter, O.C.S. mati). Spelling with -th- dates from early 16c., though that pronunciation is probably older. The verb meaning "to take care of" is first recorded 1863. Mother nature first attested 1601; mother earth is from 1586. Mother tongue "one's native language" first attested c.1380. Mother's Day set by act of Congress, May 9, 1908. Mother of all ________ 1991, is Gulf War slang, from Saddam Hueein's use in ref. to the coming battle; it is an Arabic idiom, cf. Ayesha, second wife of Muhammad, known as Mother of Believers. Mother Carey's chickens is late 18c. sailors' nickname for storm petrels, or for snowflakes.

Mother Goose --- probably a translation of mid-17c. Fr. contes de ma mère l'oye, which meant "fairy tales." The phrase appeared on the frontispiece of Charles Perrault's 1697 collection of eight fairy tales ("Contes du Temps Passé"), which was translated in Eng. 1729 as "Mother Goose's Tales", and a very popular collection of traditional nursery rhymes published by John Newbery c.1765 was called "Mother Goose's Melody." Her own biographical story is no earlier than 1806. Old Mother Hubbard, nursery rhyme, was printed 1805, written by Sarah Catherine Martin (1768-1826) but based on earlier material of unknown origin (the name is attested from 1591).

mother of pearl --- 1510, translating M.L. mater perlarum, with the first element perhaps connected in popular imagination with obsolete mother "a thick substance concreting in liquors; the lees or scum concreted" [Johnson], which is from the root of mud.

mother-in-law --- c.1440, "mother of one's spouse," from mother + in-law (q.v.). Also in early use, "stepmother." In British slang c.1884, mother-in-law was "a mixture of ales old and bitter."

motif --- 1848, from Fr. motif "dominant idea, theme" (see motive).

motion (n.) --- c.1374, from O.Fr. motion (13c.), from L. motionem (nom. motio) "a moving, an emotion," from motus, pp. of movere "to move" (see move). The verb sense in parliamentary procedure first recorded 1747; with meaning "to guide or direct by a sign, gesture, movement" it is attested from 1787.

motivate --- 1885, "to stimulate toward action," from motive (q.v.), perhaps modeled on Fr. motiver or Ger. motivieren. Motivation first recorded 1873; the psychological sense of "inner or social stimulus for an action" is from 1904.

motive --- 1362, "something brought forward," from O.Fr. motif (n.), from motif (fem. motive), adj., "moving," from M.L. motivus "moving, impelling," from L. motus, pp. of movere "to move" (see move). Meaning "that which inwardly moves a person to behave a certain way" is from c.1412.

motley --- c.1386, from Anglo-Fr. motteley, probably from O.E. mot "speck" (see mote). "Diversified in color," especially of a fool's dress. Hence, allusively, "a fool" (1600).

motor --- 1447, from L. motor, lit. "mover," from movere "to move" (see move). From 15c. as "controller, prime mover" (in reference to God); sense of "agent or force that produces mechanical motion" is first recorded 1664; that of "machine that supplies motive power" is from 1856. With explosive use 20c. as a comb. form of motor-car. First record of motor-cycle attested 1896; motor-boat is from 1902. Motor-car is from 1895; motorist is from 1896. For motorcade (1913) see cavalcade. First record of slang motor-mouth "fast-talking person" is from 1971.

Motown --- recording label launched 1960 by Berry Gordy Jr., from Mo(tor) Town, nickname for Detroit.

mottle --- 1676, probably a back-formation from motley.

motto --- 1589, from It. motto "a saying, legend attached to a heraldic design," from L.L. muttum "grunt, word," from L. muttire "to mutter."

mould --- see mold.

moulder --- see molder.

moult --- see molt.

mound --- 1515, as a verb, "to fence in;" the noun is 1551, and originally meant "fence, hedge," now only dial. in that sense; commonly supposed to be from O.E. mund "hand, protection, guardianship" (cognate with L. manus), but this is not certain. Perhaps a confusion of the native word and M.Du. mond "protection," used in military sense for fortifications of various types, including earthworks, and infl. by mount (n.). Sense of "artificial elevation" (especially over a grave) is from 1726.

mount (n.) --- hill, mountain, c.1250, from Anglo-Fr. mount, from O.Fr. mont "mountain;" also partly from O.E. munt "mountain;" both the O.E. and the O.Fr. from L. montem (nom. mons, gen. montis) "mountain," from PIE base *men- "to stand out, project" (cf. Welsh mynydd "mountain").

mount (v.) --- 13c., from O.Fr. monter "to go up, ascend, climb, mount," from V.L. *montare, from L. mons (gen. montis) "mountain" (see mount (n.)). Meaning "to set or place in position" first recorded 1539. Sense of "to get up on (a horse, etc.) to ride" is from 1509; "to get up on for purposes of copulation" is from 1592. The colloquial noun meaning "a horse for riding" first recorded 1856.

mountain --- c.1205, from O.Fr. montaigne, from V.L. *montanea "mountain, mountain region," lit. fem. of *montaneus "of a mountain, mountainous," from L. montanus "mountainous," from mons (gen. montis) "mountain" (see mount (n.)). Until 18c., applied to a fairly low elevation if it was prominent (e.g. Sussex Downs, the hills around Paris). Mountain dew "raw and inferior whiskey" first recorded 1839.

mountebank --- a doctor that mounts a bench in the market, and boasts his infallible remedies and cures [Johnson], 1577, from It. montambanco, contraction of monta in banco "quack, juggler," lit. "mount on bench" (to be seen by crowd), from monta, imperative of montare "to mount" + banco, var. of banca "bench."

Mountie --- 1914, member of the Royal Canadian (originally North West) Mounted Police, formed 1873 to keep order in the former Hudson's Bay Company lands.

mourn --- O.E. murnan "to mourn," also "be anxious, be careful" (class III strong verb; past tense mearn, pp. murnen), from P.Gmc. *murnanan (cf. O.H.G. mornen, Goth. maurnan "to mourn," O.N. morna "to pine away"), perhaps from PIE *smer- "to remember," or, if the O.N. sense is the base one, from *mer- "to die, wither."

mouse --- O.E. mus "small rodent," also "muscle," from P.Gmc. *mus (cf. O.N., O.Fris., M.Du. mus, Ger. Maus "mouse"), from PIE *muHs- (cf. Skt. mus "mouse, rat," O.Pers. mush "mouse," O.C.S. mysu, L. mus, Lith. muse "mouse," Gk. mys "mouse, muscle"). Plural form mice (O.E. mys) shows effects of i-mutation. Meaning "black eye" (or other discolored lump) is from 1842. Computer sense is from 1965, though applied to other things resembling a mouse in shape since 1750, mainly nautical. Mousetrap is from c.1475 (O.E. had musfealle).

mousse --- 1892, from Fr. mousse, from O.Fr. mousse "froth, scum," from L.L. mulsa "mead," from L. mulsum "honey wine, mead," from neut. of mulsus "mixed with honey," related to mel "honey." Meaning "preparation for hair" is from 1970s.

moustache --- see mustache.

mouth --- O.E. muþ, from P.Gmc. *munthaz (cf. O.Fris. muth, O.N. munnr, M.Du. mont, Ger. Mund, Goth. munþs "mouth"), with characteristic loss of nasal consonant in O.E. (cf. tooth, goose, etc.), from PIE *mnto-s (cf. L. mentum "chin"). In the sense of "outfall of a river" it is attested from c.1122; as the opening of anything with capacity (a bottle, cave, etc.) it is recorded from c.1200. The verb is c.1300, "to speak," from the noun. Mouthful "a lot to say" is from 1748.

mouthpiece --- piece of a musical instrument that goes in the mouth, 1776, from mouth + piece. Sense of "one who speaks on behalf of others" is from 1805; in the specific sense of "lawyer" it is first found 1857.

mouton enragé --- 1932, from Fr., lit. "angry sheep." "A normally calm person who has become suddenly enraged or violent."

move (v.) --- 1275, from Anglo-Fr. movir (O.Fr. moveir), from L. movere "move, set in motion" (pp. motus, freq. motare), from PIE base *meue- (cf., Skt. kama-muta "moved by love" and probably mivati "pushes, moves;" Lith. mauti "push on;" Gk. ameusasthai "to surpass," amyno "push away"). Meaning "to affect with emotion" is from c.1300; that of "to prompt or impel toward some action" is from c.1380. Sense of "to change one's place of residence" is from 1707. Meaning "to propose (something) in an assembly, etc.," is first attested 1452. The noun in the gaming sense is from 1656. Phrase on the move "in the process of going from one place to another" is from 1796; get a move on "hurry up" is Amer.Eng. colloquial from 1888. A moveable feast (1430) is one in the Church calendar which, though always on the same day of the week, varies its date from year to year.