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motive

mo·tive

UK/ˈməʊtɪv/ US/ˈmoʊtɪv/ common uk
noun (2) adjective (2)

noun

1.

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

  • “we did not understand his motivation”
  • “he acted with the best of motives”
Synonyms
2.

a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music

Synonyms

adjective

1.

causing or able to cause motion

  • “a motive force”
  • “motive power”
  • “motor energy”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

impelling to action

  • “it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function” Arthur Pap
  • “motive pleas”
  • “motivating arguments”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.

Phrases

  • appeal to motive
  • leading motive
  • motive power
  • motive power depot
  • profit motive
  • ulterior motive

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.