Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Law An authorization to a debtor, such as a bank or nation, permitting temporary suspension of payments.
- n. Law An authorized period of delay in the performance of an obligation.
- n. A suspension of an ongoing or planned activity: a moratorium on the deployment of a new weapon.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In law, legal title to delay in making a due payment: as a legislative authorization of suspension of payment by a government bank.
- n. In law, legal title to delay in making a due payment: as a legislative authorization of suspension of payment by a government bank.
Wiktionary
- n. An authorization to a debtor, permitting temporary suspension of payments. [from 19th c.]
- n. A suspension of an ongoing activity. [from 20th c.]
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A period during which an obligor has a legal right to delay meeting an obligation, esp. such a period granted, as to a bank, by a moratory law.
- n. a suspension of an activity.
- n. an officially authorized period of delay or waiting.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged
- n. suspension of an ongoing activity
Etymologies
- From Late Latin morātōrium, neuter of morātōrius, delaying; see moratory.
Examples
“Greenbury says the moratorium is a welcome breather in an industry that has moved very fast for 30 years.”
Voice of America: Businesses Warm to Indonesia's Moratorium on Forest Clearing
“Rather, the idea behind such a moratorium is a simple one: one does not send in the crime scene investigators while the fire is in progress -- one sends in the fire department.”
“Just consider Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's recent tirade in which he called the moratorium an "economic calamity" that has jeopardized thousands of jobs.”
The Huffington Post: Keith Harrington: Good News for Deepwater-Oil Junkies
“Council members said the moratorium is a way to generate dialogue on violence in Los Angeles neighborhoods.”
“For his part, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has grown increasingly assertive that he will walk away from the table with the endorsement of the Arab League if the "moratorium" is not extended by October 6.”
The Huffington Post: Josh Ruebner: Obama's Misplaced Missive
“Oil and gas executives are steeling for a slower and more costly permitting process that could hinder drilling even after the moratorium is lifted.”
The Washington Post: As offshore drilling moratorium nears an end, questions about what's next
“Barak, who returned Sunday from meetings in New York with U.S. officials, told the BBC in an interview that "the chance of achieving a mutually agreed understanding about a moratorium is 50-50.”
“The 10-month moratorium is due to expire on Sunday.”
Voice of America: Settlement Deadline Threatens Mideast Peace Talks
“The moratorium is already watered down," said Shaath.”
Voice of America: US Envoy Intensifies Bid to Salvage Israeli-Palestinian Talks
“On Friday, the Arab League will very likely back Abbas's position that he cannot proceed with the talks unless the settlement moratorium is renewed.”
The Washington Post: Netanyahu and Obama on the brink -- again
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘moratorium’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
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Interesting words
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
concupiscence, brize, scree, scoria, forestaff, spanaemia, valetudinarianism, distasture, pyrethrum, laudanum, gentian, bicameral and 1128 more...
jwjarvis ETC Group, a group based in Canada, called for a global moratorium on synthetic biology May 24, 2010