mote Hear it!

mote1 definition

mote (mōt)

noun

a speck of dust or other tiny particle

Etymology: ME < OE mot, akin to Du, sawdust, grit

mote2 definition

mote (mōt)

auxiliary verb

Archaic may; might

Etymology: ME moten < OE motan, akin to Ger müssen: basic sense “it is permitted”; must (OE moste) is the pt. of this v.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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