motto

mot·to  (mt)

n. pl. mot·toes or mot·tos

1. A brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal. See Synonyms at saying.

2. A sentence, phrase, or word of appropriate character inscribed on or attached to an object.

3. A maxim adopted as a guide to one's conduct.

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[Italian, word, motto, probably from Vulgar Latin *mttum, word; see mot.]

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motto [ˈmɒtəʊ]

n pl -toes, -tos

1. (History / Heraldry) a short saying expressing the guiding maxim or ideal of a family, organization, etc., esp when part of a coat of arms

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a short explanatory phrase inscribed on or attached to something

3. (Literature / Poetry) a verse or maxim contained in a paper cracker

4. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a quotation prefacing a book or chapter of a book

5. (Music, other) a recurring musical phrase

[via Italian from Latin muttum utterance]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

motto - a favorite saying of a sect or political group catchword, shibboleth, slogan locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression" catch phrase, catchphrase - a phrase that has become a catchword mantra - a commonly repeated word or phrase; "she repeated `So pleased with how its going' at intervals like a mantra" rallying cry, war cry, watchword, battle cry, cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'"

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motto

noun saying, slogan, maxim, rule, cry, formula, gnome, adage, proverb, dictum, precept, byword, watchword, tag-line What is your regiment's motto?

Translations

motto [ˈmɒtəʊ] N (mottoes or mottos (pl))

1. [of family, person] → lema m

2. (Heraldry) → divisa f

3. (= watchword) → consigna f

4. (in cracker) (= joke) → chiste m

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motto [ˈmɒtəʊ] [mottoes] (pl) n

[school, regiment] → devise f

(= guiding principle) → devise f

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motto

n pl <-es> → Motto nt, → Wahlspruch m; (personal also) → Devise f; (Her also) → Sinnspruch m; (in cracker, on calendar) → Spruch m; the school motto → das Motto der Schule

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motto [ˈmɒtəʊ] n (mottoes (pl)) → motto

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motto [ˈmɒtəʊ] n (mottoes (pl)) → motto

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motto

n motto [ˈmotəu]

1 (a short sentence or phrase which expresses) a principle of behaviour etc Honesty is the best policy' is my motto; a school motto. motto, slagspreuk شِعار мото moto, téma motto; valgsprog das Motto έμβλημα, κανόνας ζωής, προσωπικό πιστεύω lema moto شعاروپند motto devise סִיסמָה, מוֹטוֹ आदर्श वाक्य geslo, moto mottó semboyan einkunnarorð motto モットー 좌우명, 표어, 금언 moto, devizas moto; devīze cogankata motto motto, valgspråk dewiza lema moto; deviză девиз; лозунг motto moto motto, valspråk, devis ภาษิต düstur, özdeyiş 座右銘，格言, 箴言 девіз, гасло کلیہ، مقولہ phương châm 座右铭，格言, 箴言

2 a printed saying etc, often found inside a Christmas cracker. slagspreuk, spreuk شِعار داخِل عُلْبَة تسالي يوم الميلاد девиз průpovídka visdomsord der Spruch απόφθεγμα lema soovilause حکمت kasku devise de diablotin פִּתגָם मोटो duhovna izreka jelmondat pepatah spakmæli massima, detto つじうら 금언 šmaikštus pamokymas []teiciens cogan kata zinspreuk visdomsord epigram dito răvaş пожелание veršík, úslovie geslo, reklo moto tänkespråk คำขวัญ niyet 警句 висловлення کرسمس کریکر کے اندر رکھا جانے والا مطبوع مقولہ lời nhận xét hoặc câu đố vui in trên vỏ kẹo Giáng Sinh 警句