Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A short pithy sentence or phrase, sometimes a single word, used to indicate the tenor of that to which it is attached (as an essay or a treatise), or adopted as expressive of one's guiding idea or principle, or appended to a device or a coat of arms.
- noun The poetry or verse contained in a motto-kiss or paper cracker.
- noun A motto-kiss.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Her.) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievment.
- noun 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.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun heraldry A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic
achievement . - noun A
sentence ,phrase , orword ,prefixed to anessay ,discourse ,chapter ,canto , or the like,suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestiveexpression of aguiding principle ; amaxim .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a favorite saying of a sect or political group
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The Latin motto is "audacia et prudentia" - courage and prudence.
Joshua Memorial Stone: new regina doman 2007
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The Latin motto is "audacia et prudentia" - courage and prudence.
Archive 2007-08-01 regina doman 2007
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Let's face it...on the surface, the biggest thing happening in this town is the "Kanawha Kordsmen Barbershop Chorus" performing tonight at the "Clay Center for the Arts," & the town's motto is Latin for "Hey, we just got cable!"
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Possibly in a bid to allay fears that nationalism and protectionism were driving the agenda--though it's hard to wonder how they couldn't in a country whose motto translates as "we wish to remain what we are"--a Luxembourg minister said on Tuesday that the takeover law, which it plans to enact in May, was in no way aimed at creating impediments to Mittal's play for Arcelor.
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The motto translates as "By Dilgence, Courage and Work" - the initials of the Latin rendering spelling an early form of the town's name, Ivel.
unknown title 2009
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I don't care much anymore, but my motto is the same ...
Clinton says she expects lead in popular vote, primary delegates 2008
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Glad you like the title motto—Zelda sends best—Remember me to Ted.
A Life in Letters F. SCOTT FITZGERALD 1994
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Glad you like the title motto—Zelda sends best—Remember me to Ted.
A Life in Letters F. SCOTT FITZGERALD 1994
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Very well, your motto is the advancement of the interests of Canada and a United Empire.
Imperialism 1906
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I once know'd a Yankee who had what he called a motto, an 'it was this, ` Never give in,' xcept w'en yer wrong. '
The Pioneers 1859
oroboros commented on the word motto
The longest common word that, when written in Morse code, consists entirely of dashes (10 of them, to be precise).
--Will Shortz's intro to "Wordplay: A curious dictionary of language oddities" by Chris Cole.
See also, sissies.
May 17, 2008