The word ᴹQ. motto first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “blot” as a derivative of the root ᴹ√MBOTH (Ety/MBOTH). It reappeared in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 as a derivative of √MOT “fen, marsh”, apparently of the same meaning. Its 1957 Sindarin form both < mbotto implies the root may have been √M(B)OT. For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d keep both the 1957 and 1930s senses, as derivations of slightly different roots.
Quenya
motto
blot
motto
noun. fen, marsh, fen, marsh; [ᴹQ.] blot
Cognates
- S. both “fen, marsh, fen, marsh; [N.] puddle, small pool” ✧ PE17/165
Derivations
- √MOT “fen, marsh” ✧ PE17/165
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √MOT > motto [motto] ✧ PE17/165
motto noun "blot" (MBOTH)