moratorium

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*mere“to delay, hinder”
2. Latin · derived frommoror“to delay”
3. Late Latin · derived frommorātōrium
4. English todaymoratorium

New Latin from Late Latin morātōrium, noun use of the neuter of morātōrius (“moratory, delaying”), from Latin moror (“to delay”), from mora (“delay”), from Proto-Indo-European *mere (“to delay, hinder”). See also moratory.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. An authorization to a debtor, permitting temporary suspension of payments.
• from 20th c. A suspension of an ongoing activity.
• Coined by developmental psychologist Erik Erikson. A period of delay granted to someone, especially an adolescent or young adult, during which they are not yet required to take on adult obligations or make permanent commitments; an extended phase of identity exploration.