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.