/ ˈmɒtəʊ; NAmE ˈmɑːtoʊ/ noun
( pl. -oes or -os ) a short sentence or phrase that expresses the aims and beliefs of a person, a group, an institution, etc. and is used as a rule of behaviour :
The school's motto is: 'Duty, Honour, Country'.
'Live and let live.' That's my motto.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Italian , word .