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Mote vs Dote - What's the difference?

mote | dote |

In obsolete terms the difference between mote and dote

is that mote is a place of meeting for discussion while dote is an imbecile; a dotard.

As nouns the difference between mote and dote

is that mote is a small particle; a speck while dote is a darling, a cutie.

As verbs the difference between mote and dote

is that mote is may or might while dote is to be excessively fond of.

mote

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small particle; a speck.
  • *
  • Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
  • A tiny computer for remote sensing. Also known as smartdust.
  • See also
    * floater

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) moten, from (etyl) . Related to (l).

    Verb

    (head)
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.7:
  • he […] kept aloofe for dread to be descryde, / Untill fit time and place he mote' espy, / Where he ' mote worke him scath and villeny.
  • (obsolete) Must.
  • * 1980 , (Erica Jong), Fanny :
  • ‘I shall not take Vengeance into my own Hands. The Goddess will do what She will.’ ‘So mote it be,’ said the Grandmaster.
    Usage notes
    * Generally takes an infinitive without to .

    Etymology 3

    See .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A meeting for discussion.
  • a wardmote in the city of London
  • (obsolete) A body of persons who meet for discussion, especially about the management of affairs.
  • a folkmote
  • (obsolete) A place of meeting for discussion.
  • Derived terms
    * mote bell

    Anagrams

    * ----

    dote

    English

    Alternative forms

    * doat (obsolete)

    Verb

    (dot)
  • To be excessively fond of.
  • Little Bill's parents just keep doting on him.
  • (archaic) To act in a foolish manner; to be senile.
  • * Dryden
  • Time has made you dote , and vainly tell / Of arms imagined in your lonely cell.
  • * South
  • He survived the use of his reason, grew infatuated, and doted long before he died.

    Synonyms

    * (to be fond of) adore, love

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Ireland) A darling, a cutie.
  • * Ted’s daughter is such a dote .
  • (obsolete) An imbecile; a dotard.
  • (Halliwell)

    Anagrams

    * ----