Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rote?

\Rote\, n. A root. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
\Rote\, n. [OE. rote, probably of German origin; cf. MHG. rotte, OHG. rota, hrota, LL. chrotta. Cf. {Crowd} a kind of violin.] (Mus.) A kind of guitar, the notes of which were produced by a small wheel or wheel-like arrangement; an instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy. Well could he sing and play on a rote. --Chaucer. extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes. --Sir W. Scott.
\Rote\, n. [Cf. {Rut} roaring.] The noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the shore. See {Rut}.
\Rote\, n. [OF. rote, F. route, road, path. See {Route}, and cf. {Rut} a furrow, {Routine}.] A frequent repetition of forms of speech without attention to the meaning; mere repetition; as, to learn rules by rote. --Swift. till he the first verse could [i. e., knew] all by rote. --Chaucer. Thy love did read by rote, and could not spell. --Shak.
\Rote\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Roted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Roting}.] To learn or repeat by rote. [Obs.] --Shak.
\Rote\, v. i. To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate. [Obs.]