moralize

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

MOR'ALIZE, verb transitive 1. To apply to a moral purpose, or to explain in a moral sense. This fable is moralized in a common proverb. Did he not moralize this spectacle? 2. To furnish with manners or examples. 3. To render moral or virtuous; to correct the morals of. It had a large share in moralizing the poor white people of the country. [This sense, though the most strictly etymological, is rare, or to make moral reflections. MOR'ALIZE, verb intransitive To speak or write on moral subjects, or to make moral reflections.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

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