ENGLISH
REFERENCE

moran

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //mɝˈæn// moran

n. a young man who is a warrior in the Maasai or Samburu cultures of East Africa. This person usually goes through special ceremonies to reach this status.

n. a warrior or young man belonging to a specific age grade in Maasai or Samburu society. Refers to a social stage involving specific cultural duties and rites of passage.


SIMPLE

The moran stood tall with his traditional spear.

CONTEXTUAL

After the ceremony, the young man was officially recognized as a moran within his community.

COMPLEX

The transition from childhood to the status of moran involves rigorous physical challenges and communal rituals that reinforce the cultural identity of the Maasai people.

Origin

* As an Irish surname, an anglicisation of Ó Móráin, from Ó (“descendant”) and Móráin (“of Mórán”), from mór (“large, great”). * Also as an Irish surname, from Ó Moghráin, Ó Mughróin (“descendant of Mughrón”), personal name from mogh (“slave”) + rón (“seal”). Sometimes also shortened from McMorran, of the same meaning. * As an English surname, variant of Morrin. * As a Spanish surname, variant of Morán. * As a French surname, variant of Morin. * Variant of the English and French surname Morant.

Usage

Often used in ethnographic or travel contexts; usually capitalized in academic writing but lowercase in general prose.

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