mote

¹

[moht]

noun

1. a small particle or speck, especially of dust.

2. moit.

mote

²

[moht]

verb

Archaic.

past

moste 

1. may or might.

mote

¹

/ məʊt /

noun

1. a tiny speck

mote

²

/ məʊt /

verb

1. archaic,  (takes an infinitive without to) may or might

Other Word Forms

• motey adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mote¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English mot speck; cognate with Dutch mot grit, sawdust, Norwegian mutt speck

Origin of mote²

before 900; Middle English mot ( e ), Old English mōt; cognate with German muss. See must ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mote¹

Old English mot; compare Middle Dutch mot grit, Norwegian mutt speck

Origin of mote²

Old English mōt, first person singular present tense of mōtan to be allowed

Example Sentences

That is said with nary a mote of sarcasm.

From Salon

These machines, which are a mere one-billionth of a meter in size, are no larger than a mote of dust, truly living up to the name "nano."

From Salon

It takes a hard heart to not feel a mote of empathy for Gosselin as she runs dead last in a short marathon to their barracks, ugly crying the entire time.

From Salon

Dust motes floated through the sunset-red light and disappeared into dark shadows like lost, lonely phantoms.

From Literature

In the dusky shadows, Frankie’s eyes were as luminously gold as the constellations of dust motes floating above our heads.

From Literature