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motive

 - 7 dictionary results

mo⋅tive

  [moh-tiv] noun, adjective, verb, -tived, -tiv⋅ing.
Use motive in a Sentence
–noun
1. something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
2. the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.
3. (in art, literature, and music) a motif.
–adjective
4. causing, or tending to cause, motion.
5. pertaining to motion.
6. prompting to action.
7. constituting a motive or motives.
–verb (used with object)
8. to motivate.
Origin:
1325–75; (adj.) ME (< MF motif) < ML mōtīvus serving to move, equiv. to L mōt(us) (ptp. of movēre to move ) + -īvus -ive; (n.) ME (< MF motif) < ML mōtīvum, n. use of neut. of mōtīvus

Related forms:
mo⋅tive⋅less, adjective
mo⋅tive⋅less⋅ly, adverb
mo⋅tive⋅less⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. motivation, incitement, stimulus, spur; influence, occasion, ground, cause. Motive, incentive, inducement apply to whatever moves one to action. Motive is, literally, something that moves a person; an inducement, something that leads a person on; an incentive, something that inspires a person. Motive is applied mainly to an inner urge that moves or prompts a person to action, though it may also apply to a contemplated result, the desire for which moves the person: His motive was a wish to be helpful. Inducement is never applied to an inner urge, and seldom to a goal: The pleasure of wielding authority may be an inducement to get ahead. It is used mainly of opportunities offered by the acceptance of certain conditions, whether these are offered by a second person or by the factors of the situation: The salary offered me was a great inducement. Incentive was once used of anything inspiring or stimulating the emotions or imagination: incentives to piety; it has retained of this its emotional connotations, but (rather like inducement) is today applied only to something offered as a reward, and offered particularly to stimulate competitive activity: to create incentives for higher achievement. 2. See reason.

-motive

 
a combining form of motive: automotive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To motive
mo·tive   (mō'tĭv)   
n.  

  1. An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action.

  2. (mō'tĭv, mō-tēv') A motif in art, literature, or music.

adj.  

  1. Causing or able to cause motion: motive power.

  2. Impelling to action: motive pleas.

  3. Of or constituting an incitement to action.

tr.v.   mo·tived, mo·tiv·ing, mo·tives
To motivate.

[Middle English motif, motive, from Old French motif, from Late Latin mōtīvus, of motion, from Latin mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move; see meuə- in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

motive 
1362, "something brought forward," from O.Fr. motif (n.), from motif (fem. motive), adj., "moving," from M.L. motivus "moving, impelling," from L. motus, pp. of movere "to move" (see move). Meaning "that which inwardly moves a person to behave a certain way" is from c.1412.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·tive
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French motif, from Middle French motif adjective, moving, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus, past participle of movEre to move
: something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act
NOTE: In criminal law, motive is distinguished from intent or mens rea. Although motive is not an element of a crime, evidence regarding motives can be introduced to help establish intent. In contract law, motive is usually distinguished from cause or consideration.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·tive
Pronunciation: 'mOt-iv
Function: noun
: something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

motive mo·tive (mō'tĭv)
n.
An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action. Also called learned drive. adj.
Causing or able to cause motion.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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