moralize

verb moralizes · moralizing · moralized · moralise

1. intransitive To make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral. 1589, Robert Greene, Menaphon, London: Sampson Clarke, “Arcadia,” […] his Ladie reaching him a Marigold, he began to moralize of it thus merely. I meruaile the Poets that were so prodigall in painting the amorous affection of the Sunne to his Hyacinth, did neuer obserue the relation of loue twixt hi

   Similar: judge

2. transitive To say (something) expressing a moral reflection or judgment. “Unless I heard the whole repeated, I cannot continue it,” she said. / “Yet it was quickly learned, ‘soon gained, soon gone,’” moralized the tutor.
3. transitive To render moral; to correct the morals of; to give the appearance of morality to. Let gratefull Aromatick odours burne, Let pious incense smoake, for the returne Of Great Flaminius, in whom abide More Art, then raised Athens to her pride, More civill Ethicks he containe, then may Well moralize all sauage India.
4. transitive To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality of, either for better or worse. 1716, Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, Part 3, in Religio Medici; its sequel Christian Morals, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1844, p. 211, For since good and bad stars moralize not our actions, and neither excuse nor commend, acquit or condemn our good or bad deeds at the present or l
5. obsolete, transitive To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense; to draw a moral from. Did he not moralize this spectacle?
6. obsolete, transitive To supply with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to lend a moral to. Kind Nature’s charities his steps attend, In every babbling brook he finds a friend, While chast’ning thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road.