I. ˈrōt noun
also ro·ta ˈrōd.ə ; or rot·ta ˈräd.ə ; or rotte ˈrät
( -s )
Etymology: rote from Middle English, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hruozza crowd, probably of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish crott harp; rota, rotta, rotte from Medieval Latin rota, rotta, from Old French rote — more at crowd
: crwth
II. ˈrōt, usu -ōd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, rote, custom, perhaps from Latin rota wheel — more at roll
1.
a. : the use of the memory usually with little intelligence — usually used in the phrase by rote
an arrogant adolescent repeating by rote — Harold Garfinkel
b. : something learned by memorizing
the tongue in his mouth would have waggled strange rote if they had encouraged him — Peggy Bennett
2. : routine carried out without understanding of its meaning or purpose : mechanical repetition of a pattern
bewildered by the entrance of science and technology into his realm where rote had ruled so long — F.L.Paxson
the champions of the liberal arts … have seemed content to live on rote and reputation — A.W.Griswold
unreasoning rote learning
only in the later Inca period do evidences of mass and rote production begin to present themselves — John Collier b.1884
copying their teachers by rote — C.W.Shumaker
we cannot guarantee loyalty … or patriotism by rote or by oath — J.B.Oakes
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : to repeat by rote
• rot·er -ōd.ə(r), -ōtə- noun -s
IV. noun
or rut ˈrət, usu -əd.+V
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rauta to roar — more at rout
: the noise of the surf crashing on the shore
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin rotare to rotate
archaic : to go out or change by rotation