- Today's Word
Mores
MOR-ayz
Definition
- (noun – plural) The accepted customs, values, or behaviors of a society or group.
Example
Changing social mores have influenced how people view work-life balance in the modern age.
Fun Fact
“Mores” comes from Latin, meaning “customs” or “ways.” While some mores are written into law, many exist as unspoken social norms—like shaking hands in greeting or tipping at restaurants. Over time, mores evolve, reflecting shifts in culture, technology, and societal expectations.
(verb) To suggest or assume something as a basis for reasoning or argument without prior proof.
The scientist postulated that the mysterious signals were coming from a previously undiscovered layer of the atmosphere, a theory that took years to confirm.
Postulate derives from the Latin postulare, meaning “to demand” or “to claim,” rooted in poscere, meaning “to ask urgently.” In medieval logic and mathematics, a postulate was a foundational assumption that didn’t require proof — something demanded to be accepted as a starting point. Euclid’s famous geometric postulates, written around 300 BCE, are among the most influential examples in intellectual history.