mora

The minimal unit of metrical time in quantitative verse, equal to the short syllable.

A unit of phonological quantity based on both vowel quantity and the occurrence of consonants within a given syllable.

A majestic leguminous tree, Dimorphandra (Mora) excelsa, abounding in Guiana and Trinidad.

An old game still common in Italy, in which one of the players, after raising the right hand, suddenly lowers it, with one or more of the fingers extended, the other players trying to guess the number so extended.

In Greek antiquity, one of the six main divisions of the army of Sparta, commanded by a polemarch.

In ancient prosody, the unit of time, equivalent to the ordinary or normal short; the semeion or primary time. See time.

In civillaw, any unjustifiable delay in the fulfilment of an obligation, for which the party delaying is responsible.

A game of guessing the number of fingers extended in a quick movement of the hand, — much played by Italians of the lower classes.

A leguminous tree of Guiana and Trinidad (Dimorphandra excelsa); also, its timber, used in shipbuilding and making furniture.

Delay; esp., culpable delay; postponement.