moratorium

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

First attested 1875, from the Late Latin morātōrium, the neuter of morātōrius (“‘moratory, delaying’”) from the Latin morārī (“‘to delay’”) from mora (“‘delay’”). The word had been written in italics up until 1914. See also moratory.

[edit] Noun

moratorium (plural moratoriums or moratoria)

1. An authorization to a debtor, permitting temporary suspension of payments.
2. A suspension of an ongoing activity

   Canada may put a moratorium on cloning for research.

[edit] Translations

• Russian: мораторий 'm.'
• Icelandic: greiðslustöðvun 'f.'; frestur 'm.'; stöðvun 'f.'
• Italian: moratoria 'f.'
• Spanish: moratorio 'm.'
• German: Moratorium 'n.'