motley
8 dictionary results for: motley
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
mot·ley 
[mot-lee] Pronunciation Key adjective, noun, plural -leys.
[mot-lee] Pronunciation Key adjective, noun, plural -leys. –adjective
–noun
| 1. | exhibiting great diversity of elements; heterogeneous: a motley crowd. |
| 2. | being of different colors combined; parti-colored: a motley flower border. |
| 3. | wearing a parti-colored garment: a motley fool. |
| 4. | a combination of different colors. |
| 5. | a parti-colored effect. |
| 6. | the parti-colored garment of a jester. |
| 7. | a heterogeneous assemblage. |
| 8. | a medley. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Mot·ley
[mot-lee] Pronunciation Key
[mot-lee] Pronunciation Key –noun
| John Lo·throp
[loh-thruhp] Pronunciation Key, 1814–77, U.S. historian and diplomat. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| mot·ley
(mŏt'lē) Pronunciation Key
adj.
n. pl. mot·leys
[Middle English motlei, variegated cloth, variegated, probably from Anglo-Norman, probably from Middle English mot, speck; see mote1.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
motley
motley
c.1386, from Anglo-Fr. motteley, probably from O.E. mot "speck" (see mote). "Diversified in color," especially of a fool's dress. Hence, allusively, "a fool" (1600).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| motley | |
adjective | |
| 1. | consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds; "an arrangement of assorted spring flowers"; "assorted sizes"; "miscellaneous accessories"; "a mixed program of baroque and contemporary music"; "a motley crew"; "sundry sciences commonly known as social"- I.A.Richards [syn: assorted] |
| 2. | having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; "a jester dressed in motley"; "the painted desert"; "a particolored dress"; "a piebald horse"; "pied daisies" |
noun | |
| 1. | a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; "a great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions" |
| 2. | a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume) |
| 3. | a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England |
verb | |
| 1. | make something more diverse and varied; "Vary the menu" [syn: vary] |
| 2. | make motley; color with different colors |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This
Motley County, TX (county, FIPS 345) Location: 34.08474 N, 100.78928 W
Population (1990): 1532 (1026 housing units)
Area: 2562.6 sq km (land), 1.1 sq km (water)
Motley, MN (city, FIPS 44422) Location: 46.33566 N, 94.64325 W
Population (1990): 441 (219 housing units)
Area: 3.2 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Motley
Mot"ley\, a. [OE. mottelee, motle; cf. OF. mattel['e] clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonn['e] a mottled sky, mate, maton, curdled milk, Prov. G. matte curd. Cf. Mottle.]1. Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; party-colored; as, a motley coat. 2. Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley, n., 1. "A motley fool." --Shak. 3. Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley style. --Byron.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Motley
Mot"ley\, n. 1. A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool. --Chaucer. "Motley 's the only wear." --Shak. 2. Hence, a jester, a fool. [Obs.] --Shak. Man of motley, a fool. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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