mote

Etymology 1

From Middle English mot, from Old English mot (“grain of sand; mote; atom”), but of uncertain ultimate origin. Sometimes linked to Spanish mota (“speck”) and English mud. Compare West Frisian mot (“peat dust”), Dutch mot (“dust from turf; sawdust; grit”), Norwegian mutt (“speck; mote; splinter; chip”).

noun

1. A small particle; a speck.
   What shall a Mote up to a Monarch rise? An Emmet match an Emperor in might? a. 1729, Edward Taylor, Meditation. Joh. 14.2. I go to prepare a place for you
   I wanted to shrink myself to a mote of dust, plunge into this pool I held in my own cyclopean hands, soar down these runs of light to places where light itself was born from this colloquy of dust. 1979, J.G. Ballard, The Unlimited Dream Company, chapter 9

Etymology 2

From Middle English moten, from Old English mōtan (“to be allowed, be able to, have the opportunity to, be compelled to, may, must”), from Proto-Germanic *mōtaną (“to be able to, have to, be delegated”), from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to acquire, possess, be in charge of”). Cognate with Dutch moeten (“to have to, must”), German müssen (“to have to, must”), Ancient Greek μέδω (médō, “to prevail, dominate, rule over”). Related to empty.

verb

1. (archaic) May or might.
2. (obsolete) Must.
3. (archaic) Forming subjunctive expressions of wish: may.
   ‘I shall not take Vengeance into my own Hands. The Goddess will do what She will.’ ‘So mote it be,’ said the Grandmaster. 1980, Erica Jong, Fanny

Etymology 3

See moot (“a meeting”).

noun

1. (obsolete) A meeting for discussion.
   a wardmote in the city of London
2. (obsolete) A body of persons who meet for discussion, especially about the management of affairs.
   a folk mote
3. (obsolete) A place of meeting for discussion.

Etymology 4

From remote, with allusion to the other sense of mote (“a speck of dust”).

noun

1. A tiny computer for remote sensing; a component element of smartdust.