moral (subs.) Copy link Outline I. Drift, application of a fableII. Only pl., morals, as a domain of human life1. mōres, um, m.2. offĭcium (moral duty) • moral (subs.). I. Drift, application of a fable: expr. by significare, pertinere, etc.: the m. of this fable is that ..., haec significat fabula ..., Phaedr. 2, 8, 27: what is the m. of this story, hoc quo pertineat, id. 3, 1, 7: the m. of this fable is, 'handsome is that handsome does,' nihil agere quod non prosit fabella admonet, id. 3, 17, 13: so with docere, demonstrare, id. See also lesson. II. Only pl., morals, as a domain of human life: 1. mōres, um, m.: what avail laws, powerless without m.s, quid leges sine moribus vanae proficiunt? Hor. Od. 3, 24, 35: to treat of human life (character) and m.s, de hominum vita et moribus disputare, Cic. Br. 8, 31 (v. character): under pretence of reforming (public) m.s, specie morum corrigendorum, Suet. Tib. 59: the supervision of m.s, praefectura morum, id. Caes. 76; also, morum regimen, id. Aug. 27, fin. See also ethics. (N.B.--Mores form the subject matter of the science called ethice or philosophia moralis.) 2. offĭcium (moral duty): esp. pl.: what they have written on the subject of m.s, quae de officiis tradita ab illis et praecepta sunt, Cic. Off. 1, 2, 4: comp. title of Cic.'s work, De Officiis: no precepts in the field of m.s (duty, moral obligation), nulla officii praecepta, id. 1, 2, 5.