motive

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French motif, motive, from motif, adjective, moving, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus, past participle of movēre to move Date: 15th century 1. something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act 2. a recurrent phrase or figure that is developed through the course of a musical composition 3. motif • motiveless adjective • motivelessly adverb • motivic adjective Synonyms: motive, impulse, incentive, inducement, spur, goad mean a stimulus to action. motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act <

a motive for the crime

>. impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution <

buying on impulse

>. incentive applies to an external influence (as an expected reward) inciting to action <

a bonus was offered as an incentive

>. inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another <

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

>. spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor <

fear was a spur to action

>. goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire <

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

>. II. adjective Etymology: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French motif, from Medieval Latin motivus Date: 1502 1. moving or tending to move to action 2. of or relating to motion or the causing of motion <

motive energy

> III. transitive verb (motived; motiving) Date: circa 1650 motivate