Old English

Verb

mōtan

1. to be able; may
2. must, have to

Conjugation

Descendants

• English: mote, must

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *mōtaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoːtɑn/

Verb

mōtan

1. to may, to be able to
   • gern uuas he suīðo that he it thurh ferhtan hugi frummean mōsti‎

     He was really willing that he may accomplish it with wise thoughts

     (Heliand, verse 93)
2. to must, to be allowed to
   • than mōtun gi thea fruma ēgan‎

     Then you have to possess the profit

     (Heliand, verse 1460)

Conjugation

Descendants

• Middle Low German: möten
  • Low German: möten

Romanian

Etymology

Origin unknown. Probably from motoc, possibly influenced by mâțan. See cotoi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /moˈtan/

Noun

motan m ‎(plural motani)

1. tomcat
2. (epithet given to) a person who is uncommunicative, secretive, hypocritical.

Declension

See also

• cotoi
• mâț
• mâță
• mâțan
• mâțoi
• motoc
• pisică
• pisoi