motto

Borrowed from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”), from Latin muttum (“a mutter, a grunt”), late 16th c.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ.toʊ/

motto (plural mottos or mottoes)

1. (heraldry) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.
2. A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Joseph Addison

     It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, ... Serve God, and be cheerful.

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎:

     “ […] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
       Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […] ”

3. (obsolete) A paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, etc., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto.

• See also Thesaurus:saying

• motto (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• moto n (less common)

• IPA^(key): [ˈmoto]
• Rhymes: -oto

motto n

1. motto
2. epigraph

• krédo

• motto in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• motto in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

motto n (singular definite mottoet, plural indefinite mottoer)

1. motto

• “motto” in Den Danske Ordbog

From Italian motto (“a word, a saying”).

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mot‧to

motto n (plural motto's, diminutive mottootje n)

1. motto
2. (heraldry) motto

• leus, leuze
• wapenspreuk

motto

1. A motto (sentence or a phrase with guiding principle).
2. (heraldry) A motto.

• tunnuslause
• vaalilause (in heraldry sense)

• motot

From Latin muttum (“mutter”).

• Rhymes: -ɔtto

motto m (plural motti)

1. Witty remark
2. motto, maxim
3. posy (A motto inscribed inside a ring)

motto

1. Rōmaji transcription of もっと

motto

1. worm

• Ed. Key, Mary Ritchie and Comrie, Bernard. The Intercontinental Dictionary Series, Carib (De'kwana).

motto

1. motto

From Italian motto

motto n (definite singular mottoet, indefinite plural motto or mottoer, definite plural mottoa or mottoene)

1. a motto

• “motto” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

From Italian motto

motto n (definite singular mottoet, indefinite plural motto, definite plural mottoa)

1. a motto

• “motto” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

• Audio

  (file)

motto n

1. motto

• valspråk