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noun Uncommon

mora

MAW-ruh

Mora (noun) means a unit used to measure the weight or timing of a syllable in certain languages. Example: “In Japanese, a long vowel counts as two morae.”

noun
1
A unit used to measure the weight or timing of a syllable in certain languages.
"In Japanese, a long vowel counts as two morae."
2
(law) An unreasonable delay in fulfilling an obligation or bringing a claim.
"The court found the debtor in mora for failing to pay on time."

How to use mora

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA technical term used in linguistics (a unit of syllable timing) and in law (a delay in performing an obligation).

Word forms

morae plural, moras plural, moras plural, moras plural, morai plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The court found the debtor in _____ for failing to pay on time.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin mora, "delay."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for mora

See all rhymes for mora →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mora” mean?

The word “mora” means a unit used to measure the weight or timing of a syllable in certain languages. In plain terms, a technical term used in linguistics (a unit of syllable timing) and in law (a delay in performing an obligation).

How do you pronounce “mora”?

“Mora” is pronounced MAW-ruh (/ˈmɔːɹə/ in IPA).

How do you use “mora” in a sentence?

Here is “mora” used in a sentence: “In Japanese, a long vowel counts as two morae.”

What part of speech is “mora”?

“Mora” is a noun.

Where does the word “mora” come from?

The word “mora” comes from Latin. Learned borrowing from Latin mora, "delay.".

Is “mora” a common word?

“Mora” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mora” have?

“Mora” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit used to measure the weight or timing of a syllable in certain languages.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial