noun
mora
MAW-ruh
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 notesIn 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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The court found the debtor in _____ for failing to pay on time.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin mora, "delay."