mot·ley (m t l )adj.1. Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous: "Most Ivy League freshman classes are chosen from a motley collection of constituencies . . . and a bare majority of entering students can honestly be called scholars" New York Times. 2. Having many colors; variegated; parti-colored: a motley tunic. n. pl. mot·leys 1. The parti-colored attire of a court jester. 2. A heterogeneous, often incongruous mixture of elements.
[Middle English motlei, variegated cloth, variegated, probably from Anglo-Norman, probably from Middle English mot, speck; see mote1.] |
motley Adjective 1. made up of people or things of different types: a motley assortment of mules, donkeys, and camels 2. multicoloured Noun History the costume of a jester [perhaps Old English mot speck]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | motley - a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; "a great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions"grab bag - an assortment of miscellaneous items range - a variety of different things or activities; "he answered a range of questions"; "he was impressed by the range and diversity of the collection" selection - an assortment of things from which a choice can be made; "the store carried a large selection of shoes" farrago, gallimaufry, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, melange, mingle-mangle, mishmash, oddments, odds and ends, omnium-gatherum, ragbag - a motley assortment of things alphabet soup - a confusing assortment; "Roosevelt created an alphabet soup of federal agencies" sampler - an assortment of various samples; "a candy sampler"; "a sampler of French poets" | | 2. | motley - a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume)garment - an article of clothing; "garments of the finest silk" motley - a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England | | 3. | motley - a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century Englandcloth, fabric, textile, material - artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent"; "woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material for a dress" motley - a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume) | | Verb | 1. | motley - make something more diverse and varied; "Vary the menu"diversify - make (more) diverse; "diversify a course of study" checker, chequer - variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns | | 2. | motley - make motley; color with different colors | | Adj. | 1. | motley - consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds; "an arrangement of assorted spring flowers"; "assorted sizes"; "miscellaneous accessories"; "a mixed program of baroque and contemporary music"; "a motley crew"; "sundry sciences commonly known as social"- I.A.Richardsheterogeneous, heterogenous - consisting of elements that are not of the same kind or nature; "the population of the United States is vast and heterogeneous" | | 2. | motley - having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; "a jester dressed in motley"; "the painted desert"; "a particolored dress"; "a piebald horse"; "pied daisies"multi-color, multi-colored, multi-colour, multi-coloured, multicolor, multicolored, multicolour, multicoloured, particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied, varicolored, varicoloured, calico, painted colored, coloured, colorful - having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination; "colored crepe paper"; "the film was in color"; "amber-colored heads of grain" |
motley
Translationsmotley [ˈmɔtlɪ] adj → bunt (gemischt)
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