rote

¹

[roht]

adjective

1. proceeding mechanically and repetitiously; being mechanical and repetitious in nature; routine; habitual.

   rote performance;

   rote implementation;

   His behavior became more rote with every passing year.

noun

1. a fixed, habitual, or mechanical course of procedure; routine.

   the rote of daily living.

rote

²

Also rota

[roht]

noun

Music.

1. crowd.

rote

³

[roht]

noun

1. the sound of waves breaking on the shore.

rote

¹

/ rəʊt /

noun

1. a habitual or mechanical routine or procedure

2. by repetition; by heart (often in the phrase learn by rote )

rote

²

/ rəʊt /

noun

1. an ancient violin-like musical instrument; crwth

Word History and Origins

Origin of rote¹

First recorded in 1300–150; Middle English; of obscure origin

Origin of rote²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rote, rotte, route, a kind of harp, from Old French rote, route “stringed instrument,” from unattested Frankish hrota (compare Old High German hruozza ); akin to crowd ²

Origin of rote³

First recorded in 1600–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Norse rauta “to roar”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rote¹

C14: origin unknown

Origin of rote²

C13: from Old French rote , of Germanic origin; related to Old High German rotta , Middle Dutch rotte

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by rote, from memory, without thought of the meaning; in a mechanical way.

   to learn a language by rote.

see by heart (rote).

Example Sentences

Friedland doesn’t waste time letting us know she has more on her mind than rote family drama or a spotlight on medical suffering.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the pieces in the book written before this real-life catastrophe, though, suffer from the rote world-weariness of the columnist accustomed to griping to order.

From Los Angeles Times

If one looks past Kennedy's rote words to his actions, a much different picture emerges, and it becomes clear that he thinks vaccines are for weak, lazy parents.

From Salon

The early songs that fans know by rote — “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” among others — came fast, in a mad swirl of ideas tied to a steady work ethic.

From Los Angeles Times

But by depersonalizing death and making it into a rote spectacle, Perkins loses any heart that could give his film the resonance it so desperately needs.

From Salon