*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of mora

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mer-? Proto-Indo-European *merh₂- Proto-Indo-European *morh₂éh₂ Proto-Italic *morā Latin moralbor. English mora Learned borrowing from Latin mora (“duration of time, delay”).

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
noun

A delay in bringing a claim. · A unit used to measure lines and stanzas of poetry. · A unit of syllable weight used in phonology, by which stress, foot structure, or timing of utterance is determined in some languages (e.g., Japanese).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mer-? Proto-Indo-European *merh₂- Proto-Indo-European *morh₂éh₂ Proto-Italic *morā Latin moralbor. English mora Learned borrowing from Latin mora (“duration of time, delay”).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":lbor",
        "3": "la:mora<t:duration of time, delay>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mer-?\nProto-Indo-European *merh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *morh₂éh₂\nProto-Italic *morā\nLatin moralbor.\nEnglish mora\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"gloss\" : \"duration of time, delay\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*morā\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*morh₂éh₂\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"id\" : \"die\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mer-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*merh₂-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"mora\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"mora\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"mora\">\nLearned borrowing from Latin mora (“duration of time, delay”)."
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":lbor",
        "3": "la:mora<t:duration of time, delay>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mer-?\nProto-Indo-European *merh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *morh₂éh₂\nProto-Italic *morā\nLatin moralbor.\nEnglish mora\nLearned borrowing from Latin mora (“duration of time, delay”)."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "*mer-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/mer-#Proto-Indo-European:_die"
    ],
    [
      "*merh₂-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/merh₂-"
    ],
    [
      "mora",
      "mora#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "mora",
      "mora#Latin"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A delay in bringing a claim.",
        "A unit used to measure lines and stanzas of poetry.",
        "A unit of syllable weight used in phonology, by which stress, foot structure, or timing of utterance is determined in some languages (e.g., Japanese)."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "fad90d118c15032d14fab83ea7db615b5bcee8fec352ae13d591649532f7953f",
      "rawRecordSha256": "6383a6288712c110fdaa1749bf5d3151b799cd4ba8536aa8383ebe5b89a258cb",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 413940
    }
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  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

Any tree of the genus Mora of large South American trees.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From New Latin from a botanical name, from Tupi moira-tinga and/or Arawak mora.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "bor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la-new",
        "3": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "New Latin"
    }
  ],
  "links": [],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "Any tree of the genus Mora of large South American trees."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "b2307d0d807855979aa4c171137300dd8271f34db8ff9558b0073e1482551e7e",
      "rawRecordSha256": "dea77cc82c8f7f5a3628408450aef50dd36fec207a0861df746298406e841ea9",
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}

Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗
noun

An ancient Spartan military unit of about a sixth of the Spartan army, typically composed of hoplites.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Ancient Greek μείρομαι (meíromai) Ancient Greek -ᾱ (-ā) Ancient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā)lbor. English mora Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":lbor",
        "3": "grc:μόρᾱ",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nAncient Greek μείρομαι (meíromai)\nAncient Greek -ᾱ (-ā)\nAncient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā)lbor.\nEnglish mora\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"gloss\" : \"receive one's share\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"μείρομαι\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"-ᾱ\", \"status\" : \"ambiguous\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"μόρᾱ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"mora\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"mora\">\nLearned borrowing from Ancient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā)."
    },
    {
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":lbor",
        "3": "grc:μόρᾱ",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nAncient Greek μείρομαι (meíromai)\nAncient Greek -ᾱ (-ā)\nAncient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā)lbor.\nEnglish mora\nLearned borrowing from Ancient Greek μόρᾱ (mórā)."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "μείρομαι",
      "μείρομαι#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "-ᾱ",
      "-α#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "μόρᾱ",
      "μόρα#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "μόρᾱ",
      "μόρα#Ancient_Greek"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "An ancient Spartan military unit of about a sixth of the Spartan army, typically composed of hoplites."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ],
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      "rawRecordSha256": "202305b4f0ef03f70662556b33909d92837a78e494b640c850b11d566b3b9c83",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 413944
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for mora →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-bW9yYQ