motto
(ˈmɒtəʊ)
Pl. -os, -oes. Also 7 mot(h)o; pl. motti.
[a. It. motto = F. mot: see mot1.]
1. a. Originally, a word, sentence, or phrase attached as a legend to an ‘impresa’ or emblematical design, and serving to explain or emphasize its symbolic import. Hence, in wider sense, a short sentence or phrase inscribed on some object, and expressing a reflection or sentiment considered to be appropriate to its purpose or destination; also, a proverbial or pithy maxim adopted by a person as his rule of conduct.
| 1589 Greene Span. Masquerado A 3 b, The Spanish Masquerado with the Mottos. 1 The Pope, hauing put off his triple Crowne,..saith thus. Neque Petrus, neque Paulus, quid igitur restat? 2 Phillip king of Spaine..saith thus. Iubet Ecclesia, dissentire non audeo [etc.]. 1608 Shakes. Per. ii. ii. 44 The fift, an Hand enuironed with Clouds, Holding out Gold, that's by the Touch-stone tride: The motto thus Sic spectanda fides. 1643 Plain English 2 We have found it not impossible to be miserable under the Motto of Beati pacifici. 1720 Swift Let. Advice Yng. Poet Misc. (1722) 91 Posies of Rings, Motto's of Snuff-Boxes, the Humours of Sign-Posts [etc.]. 1796 Burke Let. Noble Ld. Wks. VIII. 27 ‘Nitor in adversum’ is the motto for a man like me. 1860 Trollope Castle Richmond I. vi. 106 Strike when the iron's hot; that's my motto. |
b. spec. in Her. A significant word or sentence usually placed upon a scroll, either below an achievement of arms or above the crest, occas. having some reference to the name or exploits of the bearer, to the charges upon the shield or to the crest, but more often expressing merely a pious aspiration or exalted sentiment.
| 1600 Camden in Hearne Collect. (1771) I. 267 Mr. Richard Carew..used under his armes this Italian motto, Chiverace durera, which also conteyneth his name anagramatically. 1605 Relat. Journ. Earl of Nottingham 14 His Moto or word being Desir N'a Repos. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry vi. vi. 271 An other ornament there is externally annexed to Coat-armour, and that is the Motto, or Word. 1644 Bp. Hall Serm. 9 June, Wks. 1837 V. 498 The motto that was wont to be written upon the Scottish coin, as the emblem of their Thistle, Nemo me impunè lacesset. 1784 H. Clark Hist. Knighthd. I. 101 All between three Imperial crowns, placed within the motto of the Order; viz. Tria Juncta in Uno. 1882 Cussans Her. (1893) 196 Festina Lente—‘Hasten slowly’, or ‘On slow’, is the Motto of the Onslow family; and Doe no yll, quoth D'Oyle, that of Doyley. |
c. The poetical lines contained in a motto-kiss or paper-cracker.
| 1848 A. H. Clough Bothie ii. 12 You ask me to join you in snapping—What but a pink-paper comfit, with motto romantic inside it? 1850 Dickens Dav. Copp. xxxiii. 340 There were crackers..with the tenderest mottos. 1869 W. S. Gilbert Ferd. & Elvira 30 Tell me, Henry Wadsworth..or Mister Tupper Do you write the bonbon mottoes my Elvira pulls at supper? |
† 2. A pithy expression, a saying. Cf. mot2.
| 1614 T. Tomkis Albumazar iv. xiii, You tip your speeches with Italian Motti, Spanish Refranes, and English Quoth Hee's. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 183 That evangelicall motho arundinem vento agitatam. |
3. A short quotation (or sometimes an original passage simulating a quotation) prefixed to a literary work or to one of its parts, and expressing some idea appropriate to the contents.
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 221 ¶4 But as for my unlearned Friends, if they cannot relish the Motto, I take care to make Provision for them in the Body of my Paper. 1894 J. L. Robertson in Scott's Poet. Wks. Pref. 3 The mottoes and lyrical fragments of the Novels are of all Scott's work the most difficult part to edit. |
4. Mus. A recurrent phrase. Freq. attrib., as motto theme.
| 1891 Times 10 Oct. 11/1 In the final number the ‘motto’ or recurrent phrase of four notes is subjected to double diminution. 1934 C. Lambert Music Ho! v. 316 The ascription of actual individuality to a recurrent or ‘motto theme’ and the attaching of symbolic significance to its later transformations, devices wholly at variance with the classic principles of symphonic form, are here perfectly justified. 1935 Downside Rev. LIII. 30 Against the noble motto-theme of the introduction is set a restless surging subject in the distant tonality of D minor. 1962 Times 13 June 13/1 The symphony's motto-theme. 1964 Listener 2 Apr. 570/3 The sixth quartet is more difficult to analyse, though the crucial factor is probably the motto-theme which appears in increasingly contrapuntal guise before each movement. 1966 Ibid. 17 Nov. 746/3 The first (Largo) begins with imitative entries of the ‘motto’ and quotes the opening of the first symphony, twice. |
5. U.S. = motto-kiss.
| 1835 Southern Lit. Messenger I. 358, I only ate..a few macaronies and mottoes. 1860 North-West (Port Townsend, Washington) 5 July 3/3 Candies, Gum drops, Mottoes. 1890 in Century Dict. |
6. attrib., as motto-band (Her.), motto-monger, motto-pamphlet, motto-scroll; motto-kiss, a sweetmeat wrapped in fancy paper, having a motto or scrap of poetry inclosed with it.
| 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 53 His Motto-Pamphlet still remaineth in each Window, Misericordias Domini in æternum Cantabo. 1748 Richardson Clarissa Wks. 1883 VIII. 480, I..ever was a censurer of the motto-mongers among our weekly and daily scribblers. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Motto-kisses. 1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xvii. (ed. 3) 282 The Motto-Scroll forms both a convenient and sufficiently secure standing-place for Supporters. Ibid. xviii. 289 Standards were also generally divided bend-wise into compartments by Motto-Bands. |
Hence ˈmotto v. trans., to inscribe with a motto. ˈmottoed ppl. a., inscribed with a motto † or legend. ˈmottoless, without a motto.
| 1738 Gentl. Mag. VIII. 212/2 A motto'd silk garter. 1765 E. Thompson Meretriciad (ed. 6) 45 My Lord makes his approach, But at the corner leaves the motto'd Coach. 1827 Hone Every-day Bk. 16 Nov. II. 1546 The engraving that pictures [this incident] is mottoed, ‘The Spoiled Child!’ 1835 Beckford Recoll. 87 Every armorial device, every mottoed lambel. a 1845 Hood To Moon v, Thou art a sadder dial..Than ever I have found..Motto'd with stern and melancholy rhyme. 1891 Standard 14 May 5/2 The London Municipality is at this moment armless, and crestless, and mottoless. |