mote

Mote is a noun that denotes a very small piece or speck, especially of dust or dirt. The term is largely archaic in modern everyday speech, but it remains recognizable in literary, historical, and religious contexts. In contemporary usage, speakers often substitute “speck” or “particle.”

Etymology and usage are tied to the idea of minuteness. The word originates from Middle English and is now chiefly encountered in fixed phrases or when an older, stylistic tone is desired. Because of its antiquated flavor, mote is more common in discussions of language, literature, or religious texts than in scientific writing.

In literature and culture, mote often functions metaphorically to describe a tiny fault or trivial point that is easy to overlook or magnify in argument or perception. A well-known biblical allusion, “the mote in your brother’s eye,” contrasts a minor defect in someone else with a larger flaw in one’s own behavior. This sense of the word as something minuscule but noticeable has made it a familiar device in poetry and prose seeking a delicate or antique tone.

Related terms include speck, dust mote, and particle. While modern science and everyday speech favor more precise terms for tiny matter, mote persists as a historical or rhetorical descriptor, conveying minuteness with a gentle, reflective nuance.