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motley

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The definition of motley is an assorted or mixed group or collection.

(adjective)

A mix of people of different ages, races, genders and ideologies is an example of a motley mix.

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See motley in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of many colors or patches of color
Rare wearing many-colored garments: a motley fool
having or composed of many different or clashing elements; heterogeneous: a motley group

Origin: ME mottley < ?

noun

cloth of mixed colors
Rare a garment of various colors, worn by a clown or jester
Rare a fool or jester
a combination of diverse or clashing elements

Motley, John Lothrop 1814-77; U.S. historian & diplomat

See motley in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous: “Most Ivy League freshman classes are chosen from a motley collection of constituencies . . . and a bare majority of entering students can honestly be called scholars” (New York Times).
Having many colors; variegated; parti-colored: a motley tunic.

noun pl. mot·leys

The parti-colored attire of a court jester.
A heterogeneous, often incongruous mixture of elements.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English motlei, variegated cloth, variegated

Origin: , probably from Anglo-Norman

Origin: , probably from Middle English mot, speck; see mote¹

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