Definition of MOTE

mote

Plural: motes

Noun

  • A very small particle or speck, often of dust.
  • (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
  • A small particle; a speck.
  • A meeting for discussion.
  • A body of persons who meet for discussion, especially about the management of affairs.
  • A place of meeting for discussion.
  • A tiny computer for remote sensing; a component element of smartdust.

Verb

Verb Forms: moste

  • May or might.
  • Must.
  • Forming subjunctive expressions of wish: may.

Verb (Archaic)

  • Archaic verb meaning "may" or "might"; to be able to.

Examples

  • a folk mote
  • a wardmote in the city of London
  • Even a tiny MOTE of a word can sometimes block an opponent’s big play.
  • If he MOTE only find the right letters, a bingo would be possible.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English mot, from Old English mot (“grain of sand; mote; atom”), from Proto-West Germanic *mot (“grain of dirt or sand, speck”). Perhaps linked to and English mud.
Compare West Frisian mot (“peat dust”), Dutch mot (“dust from turf; sawdust; grit”), Low German mut (“peat dust, grit”), Norwegian mutt (“speck; mote; splinter; chip”), Italian mota (“mud”), Spanish mota (“speck”).

Scrabble Score: 6

mote: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
mote: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
mote: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

mote: valid Words With Friends Word