Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
An inner sense that distinguishes right from wrong, functioning as a guide for morally appropriate behavior.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: ethics, human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: conscience, moral sense
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A belief system, person, etc., serving as a guide for morally appropriate behavior.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: ethics, human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The full range of actions, vices, or virtues, which may affect others and which are available as choices to a person, group, or people in general.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
Topics: ethics, human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From moral (“of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour; conforming to a standard of right behaviour”) + compass (“device used to determine the cardinal directions”), from the fact that a compass indicates various directions on its face (sense 3), and enables its user to find the correct direction to go in (sense 1).
Across languages
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
