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."
"Instead of syllables, Japanese is supported by mora. (Tokyo is To-o-kyo-o, a four-mora word.) The word Nihongo consists of four morae, ni-ho-n-go, pronounced with four rhythmical units of sound."
— Senko K. Maynard, Learning Japanese for Real (2011)
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 notesIn plain EnglishA technical term used in linguistics (a unit of syllable timing) and in law (a delay in performing an obligation).
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Word forms
- Plural
- morae, moras, morai
Fill the gap
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The court found the debtor in _____ for failing to pay on time.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin mora, "delay."
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.
