morale
[muh-ral]
- emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc., especially in the face of opposition, hardship, etc.: the morale of the troops.
Origin of morale
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for morale
Contemporary Examples
That announcement dealt a huge blow to our morale internally and to the case that we made to minority voters externally.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s IndispensableJoshua DuBois
November 18, 2014
Itani told me that news of the letter was awful for the morale of the opposition forces.
“All this boosts the morale of the Afghan Taliban,” says the colonel.
With the Pentagon concerned about fatigue and morale, a lost piece of valuable property is the last thing these families need.
At a meeting, a chaplain said “Morale seems to be up… at least for those headed home.”
Historical Examples
Thirdly, we were to emphasise to the men that Turkish morale was on the wane.
With Manchesters in the EastGerald B. Hurst
In this battle there was as great a change in morale as in the battle of the Ourcq.
In seventy-two hours he has wrecked the morale of Manhattan.
The Mind MasterArthur J. Burks
The men take pride in keeping up the morale of the regiment.
Three Years in the Federal CavalryWillard Glazier
This retirement on the Somme is clever, though it may tell on the morale of his men.
War Letters of a Public-School BoyPaul Jones.
morale
- the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism
Word Origin
C18: morals, from French, n. use of moral (adj)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for morale
n.
1752, "moral principles or practice," from French morale "morality, good conduct," from fem. of Old French moral "moral" (see moral (adj.)). Meaning "confidence" (especially in a military context) first recorded 1831, from confusion with French moral (French distinguishes le moral "temperament" and la morale "morality").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper