A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Motus,-us (s.m.IV), abl.sg. motu; see motion;

1. “a stage in the growth of a plant:”

- tres esse motus in vite, seu potius in surculo, naturales: unum quo geminet; alterum quo floreat; tertium quo maturescat” (Lewis & Short), there being three natural stages in a vine, or rather in a shoot: one by which it may double [i.e. reproduce]; another by which it may flower; the third by which it may ripen.

2. a moving, motion, movement [> L. motus,-us (s.m.IV), a moving, motion; “a stage in the growth of a plant; (of the mind or heart): a movement, operation, impulse, emotion, affection, passion, agitation, disturbance; impulse, inspiration; a change, alteration; a motive” (Lewis & Short); see motion;

- terrae motus (Ital. terremuoto), an earthquake.

- Terrae motus non infrequentes in regno Algeriensi, et prope Oran saxa porosa innumera antiquis volcanibus eructata observantur (Desf.), earthquakes are not infrequent in the Algerian kingdom, and near Oran countless porose stones are observed cast out from ancient volcanoes.

- Motus intra cellulam incipiens propter spatii angustiam lentus et difficilis, gonidiis premendo et trudendo quasi per densam ipsorum turbami penetrantibus, aliis sursum, aliis deorsum repetentibus (Braun), the movement beginning within the cell is sluggish and difficult due to the narrowness of the space, with the gonidia penetrating as if through a dense multitude of [the gonidia themselves] by pressing and shoving, repeating over again, some upwards, some downwards.

- sed e descriptione autoris aquae vortice in apice libero corporis excitato et motu corporis soluti lento Euglenarum more contractorio naturam animalem, Characiis omnino alienam, comprobat (Braun), but it confirms it is true by the description of the author, that the animal nature [i.e. property] is completely alien [i.e. unrelated] to the [species of] Characium by the eddy of water aroused in the free apex of the body and by the sluggish movement of the separated body in the contractorious [ i.e. contractile] manner of the [species of] Euglena.

- zoogonidia intra et extra goniocytium alacri motu agitantur. Ciliae, dum agitantur, non conspicuae (Braun), the zoogonidia within and outside the goniocyte are agitated with a lively movement. The cilia, as long as they are agitated, are not conspicuous [i.e. easy to see].

- formationis gonidiorum processum, eorumdem emissionem, motum et germinationem observare mihi non licuit (Braun), I have not been permitted to observe the process of the formation of the gonidia, their emission [i.e. release or ejection], motion and germination.

- spermatia (spermatoconidia, androconidia), cellulae acrogenae tenerrimae, minimae, saepe motu vacillanti praeditae, steriles vel foecundantes (Braun), the spermatia (spermatoconidia, androconidia), very delicate acrogenous cells, very small, often provided with a vacillating [i.e. swinging to and fro] motion, sterile or fecundating.

- motus horologii, the motion of a clock [i.e. clockwise movement]; see clock.

- motus trichomatum regulariter et lente terebrans, haud irregularis et celer, motion of filaments regularly and slowly turning spirally, not irregular and rapid (Stearn).

- terrae motus non infrequentes in regno Algeriensi, et prope Oran saxa porosa innumera antiquis volcanibus [sic] eructata observantur (Desf.), movements of the ground not infrequent in the Kingdom of Algeria, and near Oran countless porous stones [i.e. pumice] are observed erupted from ancient volcanoes.

- caespites parvuli in aqua nubeculam tenuissimam referentes, et levissimo motu flexi ac undati (Agardh), somewhat small clumps resembling a very thin little cloud in the water, and turned and surging by the lightest movement.