Ethical dame is not involved in melodrama (5)

I believe the answer is:

moral

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'ethical' is the definition.
('moral' can be a synonym of 'ethical')

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for moral that I've seen before include "Virtuous and principled" , "Pertaining to right and wrong conduct" , "Underlying significance of a story or event" , "Practical lesson to be drawn from an experience" , "knowing right from wrong" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

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