mottoとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Borrowed from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”), from Latin muttum (“a mutter, a grunt”), late 16th c.. Doublet of mot.

発音

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑt.oʊ/
• (Received 発音) IPA^(key): /ˈmɒtəʊ/
• 韻: (General 米国用法) -ɑtoʊ, (Received 発音) -ɒtəʊ

名詞

motto (複数形 mottos または mottoes)

1. (heraldry) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 10:

     ‘Gentlemen, I can tell you what the new queen will take as her motto. It is Bound to Obey and Serve.’

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.
   • 1715 June 5 (Gregorian calendar)​, Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 45. Wednesday, May 25. [1715.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, OCLC 1056445272:

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

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎^[1]:

     “ […] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
       Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […] ”

3. (obsolete) A paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, etc., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto.

同意語

• See also Thesaurus:saying

Further reading

• motto (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.