mote

Meaning

Noun

A small particle; a speck.

Verb

1. (archaic, no-present-participle) May or might.
2. (no-present-participle, obsolete) Must.
3. (archaic, no-present-participle) Forming subjunctive expressions of wish: may.

Synonyms

speck

particle

speck of dust

atom

corpuscle

molecule

elementary particle

powder

dust

tumulus

barrow

subatomic particle

atomy

Translations

Stäubchen

zerre

partícula

atome

particule

partícula

partícula

particella

grain

stofje

bri

🧵

مِثْقال ذرّة

Partikel

pessic

Pronounced as (IPA)

/moʊt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: mot

Inherited from Old English: mot

Cognate with Spanish: mota

Cognate with Western Frisian: mot

Cognate with Dutch: mot

Cognate with Norwegian: mutt

Inherited from Middle English: moten

Inherited from Old English: mōtan

Cognate with Dutch: moeten

Cognate with German: müssen

Cognate with Ancient Greek: μέδω

In summary

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”).