MORALISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does moralise mean? 

• MORALISE (verb)
  The verb MORALISE has 3 senses:

1. interpret the moral meaning of

2. speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements

3. improve the morals of

  Familiarity information: MORALISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MORALISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they moralise    ... he / she / it moralises   
Past simple: moralised   
Past participle: moralised   
-ing form: moralising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Interpret the moral meaning of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

moralise; moralize

Context example:

moralize a story

Hypernyms (to "moralise" is one way to...):

interpret; rede (give an interpretation or explanation to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

moralise; moralize; preachify; sermonise; sermonize

Context example:

This man always sermonizes

Hypernyms (to "moralise" is one way to...):

advocate; preach (speak, plead, or argue in favor of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue moralise

Derivation:

moralisation (indulgence in moral pronouncements; the exposition (often superficially) of a particular moral code)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Improve the morals of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

moralise; moralize

Hypernyms (to "moralise" is one way to...):

reclaim; rectify; reform; regenerate (bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

moralisation (the act of making moral (or more moral))

 Context examples 

He did not formulate the law in clear, set terms and moralise about it.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He was quite as undaunted and as lively as ever; and, after seeing him, Emma thus moralised to herself:—I do not know whether it ought to be so, but certainly silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Even Mr. Weston shook his head, and looked solemn, and said, Ah! poor woman, who would have thought it! and resolved, that his mourning should be as handsome as possible; and his wife sat sighing and moralising over her broad hems with a commiseration and good sense, true and steady.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)