motive
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L338541 on Wikidata ↗noun
- reason for action
- reason for performing a criminal act
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈməʊtɪv/ / /ˈmoʊtɪv/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-der. Proto-Italic *moweō Late Latin moveō Late Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Late Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
- Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move
“a motive argument”
“motive power”
- Relating to motion and/or to its cause
“Debussy's melody is fractional, fragmentary. But at the core all his music is melodic and melody is its main motive force.”
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-der. Proto-Italic *moweō Late Latin moveō Late Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Late Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
- An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.
“there's something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive.”
- 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.”
““Your job here is to find the good things in your colleagues—the things their state saw—and not focus on the bad.” I said I understand. “And, Joe, never attack another man’s motive, because you don’t know his motive.””
- A limb or other bodily organ that can move.
“every joint and motive of her body”
- 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?”
“No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best.”
- Alternative form of motif.
“If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive.”
- A party, gathering, or get-together.
- One's plans for the day or night.
“What's the motive for tonight, lads?”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-der. Proto-Italic *moweō Late Latin moveō Late Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Late Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.
- To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.