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Motive
Definitions
- 1 Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move not-comparable
"a motive argument"
- 2 Relating to motion and/or to its cause not-comparable
"Debussy's melody is fractional, fragmentary. But at the core all his music is melodic and melody is its main motive force."
- 1 impelling to action wordnet
- 2 causing or able to cause motion wordnet
- 1 An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting. obsolete
"there's something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive."
- 2 the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior wordnet
- 3 An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.
"Many of them at first seemed kind to him, but it turned out their motives were not entirely altruistic."
- 4 a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration wordnet
- 5 A limb or other bodily organ that can move. obsolete, rare
"every joint and motive of her body"
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music wordnet
- 7 Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.
"What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?"
- 8 Alternative form of motif. alt-of, alternative
"If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive."
- 9 A party, gathering, or get-together. British
- 10 One's plans for the day or night. British
"What's the motive for tonight, lads?"
- 1 To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move. transitive
Etymology
From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
See also for "motive"
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