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adj. 1. Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous: a motley collection of students at the coffee shop. 2. Having many colors; variegated; parti-colored: a motley tunic. n. pl. mot·leys 1. The parti-colored attire of a court jester. 2. A heterogeneous, often incongruous mixture of elements. [Middle English motlei, variegated cloth, variegated, probably from Anglo-Norman, probably from Middle English mot, speck; see MOTE1.] |
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