Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Motto"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Motto \Mot"to\, n.; pl. {Mottoes}. [It. motto a word, a saying,
L. muttum a mutter, a grunt, cf. muttire, mutire, to mutter,
mumble; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. {Mot} a word.]
1. (Her.) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an
heraldic achievment.

2. 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.

It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety
and good works, . . . ``Serve God, and be
cheerful.'' --Addison.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

motto
n : a favorite saying of a sect or political group [syn: {slogan},
{catchword}, {shibboleth}]


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