Dictionary of Meaning
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Motto
*** Shopping-Tip: Motto
:''For the mottos' elections see
:Motto of the day.''
A '''motto''' is a
phrase or a short list of
words meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. Many countries, cities, universities, and other institutions have mottos, as do families with coats of arms.
Mottos are traditionally written in
Latin or
Romance languages, as well as in
English language English or
German language German. There are many exceptions:
Fraternities and sororities typically have their (ususally secret) mottos in the
Greek language; in modern
heraldry, for example, the mottos of the
Hawaii State of Hawaii and the
University of Hawaii University of Hawaii are in
Hawaiian language Hawaiian, and the motto of
Nunavut is in
Inuktitut, while in
England the motto of the
Counties of England County of
Somerset is written in
Old English language Anglo-Saxon.
A
canting motto is one that contains
word play. For example, the motto of the
Earl of Onslow is ''Festina lente'', punningly interpreting ''on-slow'' (literally "hurry slowly").
In
heraldry, a motto is often depicted in an achievement of arms, typically on a scroll below the shield, or else above the crest as in Scots heraldry.
In
music musical usage, a '''motto''' is a
melody melodic section larger than a
motif (music) motif and may appear at the beginning and often just before the end of a
musical composition.
'''Motto''' may also refer to a short
quotation,
joke, or an
anecdote anecdotal message printed on a piece of paper inside a
Christmas cracker.
Ships and submarines in the
Royal Navy each have a crest and motto, as do units of the
Royal Air Force.
Lists of mottos
*
List of fraternity and sorority secret greek mottos
*
List of state mottos
*
List of mottos
*
List of U.S. state mottos
*
List of Military Unit Mottoes by Country
*
List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
*
Royal Mottos
*
Unofficial national mottos of Poland
*
List of university mottos
See also
*
Tripartite motto
*
Slogan
*
Inscription
*
Epigram
*
:Mottos' Committee Mottos' Committee of
Category:Mottos Mottos
Category:Melodic sections
da:Motto
de:Motto
es:Lema
fa:شعار
fr:Devise (phrase)
gl:Lema
id:Motto
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is:Kjörorð
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hu:Mottó
nl:Motto
he:מוטו
ja:モットー
no:Motto
pl:Motto
pt:Lema
ru:Девиз
sk:Motto
fi:Motto
sv:Valspråk
tl:Motto
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*** Shopping-Tip: Motto
