A root. [Obs.] Chaucer.
A kind of guitar, the notes of which were produced by a small wheel or wheel-like arrangement; an instrument similar to the hurdy- gurdy. Well could he sing and play on a rote. Chaucer. extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes. Sir W. Scott.
The noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the shore. See Rut.
A frequent repetition of forms of speech without attention to the meaning; mere repetition; as, to learn rules by rote. Swift. till he the first verse could [i. e., knew] all by rote. Chaucer. Thy love did read by rote, and could not spell. Shak.
To learn or repeat by rote. [Obs.] Shak.
To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate. [Obs.] Z. Grey.
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