April 11, 2009

One of my current favorites

mor⋅a⋅to⋅ri⋅um

[mawr-uh-tawr-ee-uhm, -tohr-, mor-] Show IPA
–noun, plural -to⋅ri⋅a [-tawr-ee-uh, -tohr-] Show IPA , -to⋅ri⋅ums.
1. a suspension of activity: a moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons.
2. a legally authorized period to delay payment of money due or the performance of some other legal obligation, as in an emergency.
3. an authorized period of delay or waiting.

Origin:
1870–75; < class="ital-inline">morātōrium, n. use of neut. of morātōrius moratory

1 comment:

Loni said...

I didn't know you were a tree climber!