My absolutely essential XTerm settings: ! Convert Meta-x into "ESC x", not "ø" X...

My absolutely essential XTerm settings:

  ! Convert Meta-x into "ESC x", not "ø"
  XTerm.VT100.metaSendsEscape: true
  
  ! Allow HT (TAB) in paste; i.e. do not convert to space character
  XTerm*VT100.DisallowedPasteControls: BS,DEL,ESC
  
  ! Assume window titles are UTF-8 encoded
  XTerm.VT100.utf8Title: true

(Add to your ~/.Xresources and/or ~/.Xdefaults file.)