[ˈmɒtəʊ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a short sentence or phrase chosen as encapsulating the beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution
(e.g: the family motto is ‘Faithful though Unfortunate’)

- a phrase which recurs throughout a musical work and has some symbolical significance
(e.g: they were developing the use of leitmotifs or mottoes that appear throughout an opera)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century: from Italian, ‘word’