Noun

(en-noun)

(heraldry) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.

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.

* (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)

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

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)

, chapter=1 citation , passage=“[…] 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. […]”}}

Noun

(en noun)

Mental acceptance of a claim as likely true.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-12-06, author=(George Monbiot)

, volume=189, issue=26, page=48, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Why I'm eating my words on veganism – again , passage=The belief that there is no conflict between [livestock] farming and arable production also seems to be unfounded: by preventing the growth of trees and other deep vegetation in the hills and by compacting the soil, grazing animals cause a cycle of flash floods and drought, sporadically drowning good land downstream and reducing the supply of irrigation water.}}

Faith or trust in the reality of something; often based upon one's own reasoning, trust in a claim, desire of actuality, and/or evidence considered.

(countable) Something believed.

(uncountable) The quality or state of believing.

(uncountable) Religious faith.

(in the plural) One's religious or moral convictions.