- Today's Word
Moratorium
mor-uh-TOR-ee-um
Definition
(noun) A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, often by legal authority.
Example
The city announced a moratorium on new construction permits.
Fun Fact
Moratorium is often used in legal, governmental, or corporate settings to put a temporary halt to something controversial or under review—think eviction moratoriums or moratoriums on drilling. It originally comes from Latin morari, meaning “to delay.” You’ll often hear it in debates around environmental policy, legislation, and labor strikes—where it signals a pause, but not a solution.
(verb) To stop or intercept someone unexpectedly, especially in order to attack, rob, or engage them in unavoidable conversation
She tried to slip out of the conference early but was waylaid by three colleagues with questions before she reached the door.
Waylay is a compound of way (path or road) and lay — from the Old English licgan, meaning “to lie in wait.” The word has been in use since the 16th century, originally describing the literal act of lying in ambush along a road to attack a traveler, before broadening to include any form of unexpected interception.