mot

move

Quick Summary

The Latin root word mot means “move.” This Latin root is the word origin of a large number of English vocabulary words, including motivation, remote, and emotion. The root word mot is easily recalled through the word motion, for motion is nothing but “moving” of some kind.

Motor Along with Mot!

The root word mot means “move.” Let’s really “move” on this motivational Latin roots podcast so as to motor through many English vocabulary words that have mot in them!

Humans love to move, and to move fast. Automotives, or motorcars, a more formal word for car, were built with such “movement” in mind, allowing their drivers to “move” anywhere there is a road. Someone who drives such a motorcar or automotive is a motorist, the one who drives the “moving” vehicle. On a larger scale, a locomotive, or “engine” of a train, “moves” passenger or freight cars from one place to another. On a much smaller scale, a motorcycle is a small, two-wheeled vehicle that quickly “moves” a motorcyclist, or driver of the motorcycle, from one place to another. All of these various vehicles that “move” people or things are powered by motors, or machines which produce “movement” while consuming fuel. All motors are built to produce motion, or “movement” of some kind, often in the form of spinning.

Ever wonder what the difference is between a hotel and a motel? Whereas a hotel lodges guests, a motel is specifically a type of hotel for motorists which provides for direct access to the parking space for each motorist’s motor vehicle.

Let’s look at a few more words that also come from the Latin root mot meaning “move.” Most people who work are motivated, or “moved,” to make money. Because of this “moving” desire, people will often try to get promoted in their company, or “moved” forward in job rank. One of the greatest fears of an employee is to get demoted, or “moved” down from his current status. Employees can get pretty emotional, or strongly “moved,” when it comes to either a promotion or demotion!

I think that we have now “moved” over enough material about the Latin root word mot. Now you no longer need to feel remote or “moved” back from the meanings of English words that have mot in them!

  1. automotive: car that “moves” by itself
  2. motorcar: car that “moves”
  3. motorist: one who “moves” a car by driving it
  4. locomotive: engine that “moves” freight cars
  5. motorcycle: two-wheeled vehicle that “moves”
  6. motorcyclist: the driver of a motorcycle
  7. motor: engine or machine that “moves”
  8. motion: the condition of “moving”
  9. motel: a hotel for “motorists”
  10. motivate: to “move” a person so that she will do something
  11. promote: to “move” forward
  12. demote: to “move” down or from a position
  13. promotion: a “moving” forward, as in social status
  14. demotion: a “moving” downward, as in social status
  15. emotional: pertaining to being strongly “moved”
  16. remote: that which is “moved” back

Usage

  • commotion

    A commotion is a noisy activity or loud disturbance.

  • leitmotif

    A leitmotif is a theme that recurs throughout a novel, history, or piece of music.

  • motivation

    Motivation is a reason for wanting to do something; it is also a way of getting someone to act.

  • emotional

    An emotional response to something is how you feel about it, such as being happy or sad.

  • motel

    a motor hotel

  • motif

    a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration

  • motile

    (of spores or microorganisms) capable of movement

  • motility

    ability to move spontaneously and independently

  • motion

    show, express or direct through movement

  • motive

    causing or able to cause motion

  • motor

    travel or be transported in a vehicle

  • motorcycle

    ride a motorcycle

  • automotive

    of or relating to motor vehicles

  • demote

    assign to a lower position

  • emote

    give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role

  • emoticon

    a representation of a facial expression (as a smile or frown) created by typing a sequence of characters in sending email

  • emotion

    any strong feeling

  • emotive

    characterized by emotion

  • locomotion

    the power or ability to move

  • promote

    contribute to the progress or growth of

  • remote

    located far away spatially

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