\Rote\, n.
A root. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

\Rote\, n. [OE. rote, probably of German origin; cf. MHG.
rotte, OHG. rota, hrota, LL. chrotta. Cf. {Crowd} a kind of
violin.] (Mus.)
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.

\Rote\, n. [Cf. {Rut} roaring.]
The noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the
shore. See {Rut}.

\Rote\, n. [OF. rote, F. route, road, path. See {Route},
and cf. {Rut} a furrow, {Routine}.]
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.

\Rote\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Roted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Roting}.]
To learn or repeat by rote. [Obs.] --Shak.

\Rote\, v. i.
To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate. [Obs.]