n. [ F. See Motto. ] 1. A word; hence, a motto; a device. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tarquin's eye may read the mot afar. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A pithy or witty saying; a witticism. [ A Gallicism ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Here and there turns up a . . . savage mot. N. Brit. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A note or brief strain on a bugle. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. [ Sing. pres. ind. Mot, Mote, Moot pl. Mot, Mote, Moote, pres. subj. Mote; imp. Moste. ] [ See Must, v. ] [ Obs. ] May; must; might. [ 1913 Webster ]

He moot as well say one word as another Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wordes mote be cousin to the deed. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men moot [ i.e., one only ] give silver to the poore freres. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

So mote it be, so be it; amen; -- a phrase in some rituals, as that of the Freemasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. motacille. ] (Zool.) Any singing bird of the genus Motacilla; a wagtail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. motare, motatum, to keep moving. ] The act of moving; motion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Moot, a meeting. ] [ Obs., except in a few combinations or phrases. ] 1. A meeting of persons for discussion; as, a wardmote in the city of London. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A body of persons who meet for discussion, esp. about the management of affairs; as, a folkmote. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A place of meeting for discussion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mote bell, the bell rung to summon to a mote. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. mot, AS. mot. ] A small particle, as of floating dust; anything proverbially small; a speck. [ 1913 Webster ]

The little motes in the sun do ever stir, though there be no wind. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are motes in the midst of generations. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The flourish sounded on a horn by a huntsman. See Mot, n., 3, and Mort. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. See 1st Mot. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Filled with motes, or fine floating dust; as, the air. “Moted sunbeams.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., a dim. of mot word; cf. It. mottetto, dim. of motto word, device. See Mot, Motto. ] (Mus.) A composition adapted to sacred words in the elaborate polyphonic church style; an anthem. [ 1913 Webster ]