Nearby Words

self-motion

[moh-shuhn] Origin

mo·tion

[moh-shuhn]
noun
1.
the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.
2.
power of movement, as of a living body.
3.
the manner of moving the body in walking; gait.
4.
a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture.
5.
a proposal formally made to a deliberative assembly: to make a motion to adjourn.
EXPAND
6.
Law. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like.
7.
a suggestion or proposal.
8.
an inward prompting or impulse; inclination: He will go only of his own motion.
9.
Music. melodic progression, as the change of a voice part from one pitch to another.
10.
Machinery.
a.
a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function.
b.
the action of such a mechanism.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
11.
to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand: to motion a person to a seat.

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Self-motion is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
verb (used without object)
12.
to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand; gesture; signal: to motion to someone to come.
13.
go through the motions, to do something halfheartedly, routinely, or as a formality or façade.
14.
in motion, in active operation; moving: The train was already in motion when he tried to board it.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English mocio(u)n < Latin mōtiōn- (stem of mōtiō), equivalent to mōt(us) (past participle of movēre to move) + -iōn- -ion

mo·tion·al, adjective
mo·tion·er, noun
in·ter·mo·tion, noun
non·mo·tion, noun
self-mo·tion, noun
EXPAND
un·der·mo·tion, noun
un·mo·tioned, adjective
un·mo·tion·ing, adjective
COLLAPSE


1. Motion, move, movement refer to change of position in space. Motion denotes change of position, either considered apart from, or as a characteristic of, something that moves; usually the former, in which case it is often a somewhat technical or scientific term: perpetual motion. The chief uses of move are founded upon the idea of moving a piece, in chess or a similar game, for winning the game, and hence the word denotes any change of position, condition, or circumstances for the accomplishment of some end: a shrewd move to win votes. Movement is always connected with the person or thing moving, and is usually a definite or particular motion: the movements of a dance. 3. bearing, carriage.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

motion
late 14c., from O.Fr. motion (13c.), from L. motionem (nom. motio) "a moving, an emotion," from motus, pp. of movere "to move" (see move). The verb sense in parliamentary procedure first recorded 1747; with meaning "to guide or direct by a sign, gesture, movement" it is attested
EXPAND
from 1787. Related: Motioned; motioning.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

motion mo·tion (mō'shən)
n.

  1. The act or process of changing position or place.

  2. The manner in which the body or a body part moves.

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