English Dictionary: motto | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for motto | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Motto \Mot"to\, n.; pl. {Mottoes}. [It. motto a word, a saying, L. muttum a mutter, a grunt, cf. muttire, mutire, to mutter, mumble; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. {Mot} a word.] 1. (Her.) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievment. 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. It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, . . . [bd]Serve God, and be cheerful.[b8] --Addison. |