ROTE (4)

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.