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Glite Dictionary
Mr. Moto

Mr. Moto

1 8.6
A fictional Japanese detective created by the American author John Marquand in novels and films
  • proper noun
: Mr. Moto
  • John Marquand's novels featuring Mr. Moto were bestsellers in the 1930s.

Examples

  • The film adaptation brought Mr. Moto's adventures to a much wider audience.

  • Many readers admire Mr. Moto for his intelligence and unpredictable nature.

  • I just finished reading a novel featuring Mr. Moto.

  • Have you ever seen a film with Mr. Moto in it?

  • John Marquand's novels featuring Mr. Moto were bestsellers in the 1930s.

  • Many readers admire Mr. Moto for his intelligence and unpredictable nature.

  • The film adaptation brought Mr. Moto's adventures to a much wider audience.

Surface Forms

Mr. Moto main

Morphology

Mr. + Moto

The expression is a proper name (title + name). Knowing 'Mr.' and the name 'Moto' only indicates a male person and does not convey that this particular name refers to a fictional Japanese detective appearing in novels and films. Proper names are referential rather than compositional, so the specific occupational/fictional meaning cannot be derived from the constituents by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Mr. Moto was created by American writer John Marquand in the 1930s as a polite, quiet Japanese 'detective' and secret agent who often seemed harmless but used clever plans to solve mysteries. That's why Mr. Moto brings to mind the image of a calm, clever investigator from old novels and films.