Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MOT'TO, n. [It. id.; Sp. and Port. mote; Fr. mot; Sax. mæthelan, to speak; Ir. meadhair, talk, discourse; Goth. mathlei, id.; Gr. μυθος, μυθευω, μυθεομαι.]

Primarily, a word; but more commonly, a sentence or phrase prefixed to an essay or discourse, containing the subject of it, or added to a device. In heraldry, the motto is carried in a scroll, alluding to the bearing or to the name of the bearer, or expressing some important idea.