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Fig.: To be guilty of a misstep; to commit an offense against morality, propriety, or rule; to err; to mistake; to fail. "Till his tongue trip." Locke. A blind will thereupon comes to be led by a blind understanding; there is no remedy, but it must trip and stumble. South. Virgil is so exact in every word that none can…

or proposition; an established principle, fixed law, or the like; as, the great truths of morals. Even so our boasting . . . is found a truth. 2 Cor. vii. 14.

, tutelary goddesses. This, of all advantages, is the greatest . . . the most tutelary of morals. Landor.

As a final consequence; at last; in the end; as, afflictions often tend to correct immoral habits, and ultimately prove blessings.

ich is uncertain; something unknown. Our shepherd's case is every man's case that quits a moral certainty for an uncertainty. L'Estrange.

Morally impure. "Adultery of the heart, consisting of inordinate and unclean affections." Perkins. -- Un*clean"ly, adv. -- Un*clean"ness, n. Unclean animals (Script.), those which the Israelites were forbidden to use for food. -- Unclean spirit (Script.), a wicked spirit; a demon. Mark i. 27.

Not conformable; not agreeable; not conforming. Moral evil is an action unconformable to it [the rule of our duty]. I. Watts.

To bring to poverty; to impoverish; to ruin, as in reputation, morals, hopes, or the like; as, many are undone by unavoidable losses, but more undo themselves by vices and dissipation, or by indolence. That quaffing and drinking will undo you, Shak.

Hence, to join by a legal or moral bond, as families by marriage, nations by treaty, men by opinions; to join in interest, affection, fellowship, or the like; to cause to agree; to harmonize; to associate; to attach. Under his great vicegerent reign abide, United as one individual soul. Milton. The king proposed nothin…

To destroy the moral principles of. [R.]

Being without principles; especially, being without right moral principles; also, characterized by absence of principle. -- Un*prin"ci*pled*ness, n.

Not spotted; free from spot or stain; especially, free from moral stain; unblemished; immaculate; as, an unspotted reputation. -- Un*spot"ted*ness, n.

Morally erect; having rectitude; honest; just; as, a man upright in all his ways. And that man [Job] was perfect and upright. Job i. 1.

f or pertaining to utilitarianism; supporting utilitarianism; as, the utilitarian view of morality; the Utilitarian Society. J. S. Mill.

The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness.

One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n., 5. You . . . take vanity the puppet's part. Shak.

A moral fault or failing; especially, immoral conduct or habit, as in the indulgence of degrading appetites; customary deviation in a single respect, or in general, from a right standard, implying a defect of natural character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; a…

strength or force of body or mind; capacity for exertion, physically, intellectually, or morally; force; energy. The vigor of this arm was never vain. Dryden.

Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful; in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. "Such vile base practices." Shak. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee Job xl. 4.

The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force. That seal You ask with such a violence, the king, Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me. Shak. All the elements At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn With the violence of this confl…