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leitmotiv

 - 2 dictionary results
leit·mo·tif also leit·mo·tiv   (līt'mō-tēf')   
n.  

  1. A melodic passage or phrase, especially in Wagnerian opera, associated with a specific character, situation, or element.

  2. A dominant and recurring theme, as in a novel.


[German Leitmotiv : leiten, to lead (from Middle High German, from Old High German leitan; see leit- in Indo-European roots) + Motiv, motif (from French motif; see motif).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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leitmotiv

noun
a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas) 
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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