MOTLEY Definition & Meaning

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motley

[ mot-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

exhibiting great diversity of elements:
a motley crowd.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,
Antonyms: , , , ,
being of different colors combined:
a motley flower border.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
Antonyms: ,
wearing a parti-colored garment:
a motley fool.

noun

plural motleys.

a combination of different colors.
a parti-colored effect.
the parti-colored garment of a jester.
a heterogeneous assemblage.
a medley.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , ,

Motley

[ mot-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

John Lo·throp [loh, -thr, uh, p], 1814–77, U.S. historian and diplomat.

motley

/ ˈ��ɒ�ٱ�ɪ /

adjective

made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc
multicoloured

noun

a motley collection or mixture
the particoloured attire of a jester
obsolete.
a jester

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of motley¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English motele, motlay, mottelay “mixture of colors, variegated; a parti-colored garment”; of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to mote ¹. See -ly ( def )

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of motley¹

C14: perhaps from mot speck, mote ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

One of the key modernist figures formed her dance company 60 years ago as a motley troop of five women who danced spontaneously outdoors for passersby.

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Yeoh describes “Section 31” as “Mission: Impossible” in space, with “a motley crew” of morally flexible spies.

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To this day, she shares her home with a motley crew of horses, dogs and cats — either rescued or invited in because they arrived one day and refused to leave.

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Co-writer Dylan plays Jack Fate, a washed-up musician enlisted by John Goodman’s Uncle Sweetheart to join a motley crew of circus acts and con artists for a benefit concert.

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It was such a weird, motley crew of people — Jersey Shore-type guys.”

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